When Rūpa Gosvāmī heard that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had gone to Prayāga on the road along the banks of the Ganges, Rūpa and his brother Anupama went that way to meet the Lord. (209) After reaching Prayāga, Sanātana Gosvāmī, following the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, went to Vṛndāvana along the public road. (210) When Sanātana Gosvāmī met Subuddhi Rāya at Mathurā, Subuddhi Rāya explained everything about his younger brothers Rūpa Gosvāmī and Anupama. (211) Since Sanātana Gosvāmī went along the public road to Vṛndāvana and Rūpa Gosvāmī and Anupama went on the road along the Ganges’ banks, it was not possible for them to meet. (212)
Subuddhi Rāya and Sanātana Gosvāmī had known each other before accepting the renounced order. Therefore Subuddhi Rāya showed much affection to Sanātana Gosvāmī, but Sanātana Gosvāmī hesitated to accept his sentiments and affections. (213) Being very advanced in the renounced order, Sanātana Gosvāmī used to wander from forest to forest, never taking shelter of any habitation built of stone. He used to live under trees or beneath bushes both day and night. (214) Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī collected some books about archaeological excavations in Mathurā, and wandering in the forest, he sought to renovate all those holy places. (215) Sanātana Gosvāmī remained in Vṛndāvana, and Rūpa Gosvāmī and Anupama returned to Vārāṇasī. (216) When Rūpa Gosvāmī arrived at Vārāṇasī, he met the Maharashtriyan brāhmaṇa, Candraśekhara and Tapana Miśra. (217)
While Rūpa Gosvāmī was staying at Vārāṇasī, he resided at the house of Candraśekhara and took prasādam at the house of Tapana Miśra. In this way he heard of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s instructions to Sanātana Gosvāmī in Vārāṇasī. (218) While staying at Vārāṇasī, Rūpa Gosvāmī heard of all Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s activities. When he heard of His deliverance of the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs, he became very happy. (219) When Rūpa Gosvāmī saw that all the people of Vārāṇasī respected Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he became very happy. He even heard stories from the general populace. (220) After staying in Vārāṇasī for about ten days, Rūpa Gosvāmī returned to Bengal. In this way I have described the activities of Rūpa and Sanātana. (221) As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was returning to Jagannātha Purī, He passed through the solitary forest, and He received great pleasure in doing so. (222)
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu happily returned to Jagannātha Purī in the company of His servant, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya. As previously, the Lord performed many pleasing pastimes with the forest animals. (223) When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at a place known as Āṭhāranālā, near Jagannātha Purī, He sent Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya to call for His devotees. (224) Hearing news of the Lord’s arrival from Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, hordes of devotees became so happy that they seemed to be getting their lives back. It was as though their consciousness had returned to their bodies. Their senses also became agitated. (225) Being overwhelmed with great pleasure, all the devotees hastily went to see the Lord. They met Him on the banks of the celebrated lake called Narendra- sarovara. (226) When Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord offered them His respectful obeisances due to their being Godbrothers of His spiritual master. They both then embraced Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in love and affection. (227)
Devotees like Svarūpa Dāmodara, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Jagadānanda, Kāśīśvara, Govinda and Vakreśvara all came to meet the Lord. (228) Kāśī Miśra, Pradyumna Miśra, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Śaṅkara Paṇḍita also came there to meet the Lord. (229) All the other devotees also came and fell down at the Lord’s lotus feet. In return, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them all with great ecstatic love. (230) Thus they all merged in the ocean of transcendental bliss. Then the Lord and all His devotees proceeded toward the temple of Jagannātha to see the Deity. (321) As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Lord Jagannātha in the temple, He was immediately overwhelmed with love and affection. He chanted and danced with His devotees for a long time. (232)
The priests immediately brought them flower garlands and prasādam. The temple’s watchman, who was named Tulasī, also came and offered his obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (233) When the news spread that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had arrived at Jagannātha Purī, devotees like Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāmānanda Rāya and Vāṇīnātha Rāya all came to meet Him. (234) The Lord and all His devotees then went to the residence of Kāśī Miśra. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Paṇḍita Gosāṣi also invited the Lord to dine at their homes. (235) Accepting their invitation, the Lord asked them to bring all the prasādam there so that He could eat it with His devotees. (236) Upon receiving Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s order, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Paṇḍita Gosāṣi brought sufficient prasādam from the temple of Jagannātha. The Lord then dined with everyone at His own place. (237)
Thus I have described how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī from Vṛndāvana. (238) Whoever hears Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes with faith and love very soon attains shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet. (239) I have thus given a summary description of the Madhya līlā- līlā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s travels to and from Jagannātha Purī. Indeed, the Lord traveled to and fro continuously for six years. (240) After taking sannyāsa at the age of twenty- four, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lived another twenty- four years. For six of these years, He traveled extensively throughout India, sometimes going to Jagannātha Purī and sometimes leaving. After traveling for six years, the Lord fixed His residence at Jagannātha Purī and stayed there for the eighteen remaining years of His life. During these eighteen years He mainly chanted Hare Kṛṣṇa with His devotees. (240-241)
Deepen your Bhakti-yoga practice, harmonize relationships, and receive guided coaching — all at Vedavarsity.com
