1888
Šri Caitanya-caritāmrta
[[Madhya-lilā. Ch. 5]]
TRANSLATION
The pastime of the breaking of the staff is very deep. Only one whose devotion is fixed upon the lotus feet of the two Lords can understand it.
PURPORT
One who understands Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu in reality can understand Their identity as well as the breaking of the staff. All the previous  ācāryas , being induced to engage themselves fully in the service of the Lord, gave up attachment for material life and thus accepted the staff, which signifies full engagement of the mind, speech and body in the service of the Lord. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the regulative principles of the renounced order of life. That is completely clear. However, in the  paramaharṅsa  stage there is no need to accept a  daṇḍa  (staff), and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was certainly in the  paramaharṅsa  stage. Nonetheless, to indicate that everyone should take  sannyāsa  at the end of life in order to engage fully in the service of the Lord, even  paramaharṅsas  like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His confidential devotees follow the regulative principles unfailingly. Indeed, that was His purpose. Nityānanda Prabhu, who was His eternal servitor, believed that there was no need for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to carry the staff, and to declare to the world that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was above all regulations, He broke it into three pieces. The pastime known as  daṇḍa-bhaṅga-līlā  is thus explained by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thākura.
TEXT 159
অন্ধ্যাণ্যদেব-গোপালের মহিমা   এই ধন্য ।।
ନିଓଡ୍ରାନନ୍ଦ  — ବ୍ରଜ୍ଜ୍ୱା ସୀମ୍,   ଜ୍ୟୋତା — ଜ୍ଞାନৈତନ୍ତ୍ର  ॥ ୨৫৯ ॥
brahmaṇya-deva-gopālera mahimā ei dhanya nityānanda — vaktā yāra, śrotā — śrī-caitanya
SYNONYMS
brahmaṇya-deva —the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is merciful to the  brāhmaṇas ;  gopālera —of Gopāla;  mahimā —glories;  ei —these;  dhanya —glorified;  nityānanda —Lord Nityānanda Prabhu;  vaktā —the speaker;  yāra —of the narration;  śrotā —the hearer;  śrī-caitanya —Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
TRANSLATION
The glories of Lord Gopāla, who is merciful to brāhmaṇas, are very great. The narration of Sākṣi-gopāla was spoken by Nityānanda Prabhu and heard by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.