AMlikila
CHAPTER 9

A summary of Chapter Nine has been given as follows by Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura in his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya. \n the Ninth Chapter the author of Ca/tanya-
caritamrta has devised a figurative example by describing the “‘plant of bhakti.’’ He
considers Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is known as Visvambhara, to be the
gardener of this plant because He is the main personality who has taken charge of it.
As the supreme enjoyer, He enjoyed the flowers Himself and distributed them as
well. The seed of the plant was first sown in Navadvipa, the birthsite of Lord
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and then the plant was brought to Purusottama-ksetra
(Jagannatha Puri) and then to Vrndavana. The seed fructified first in Srila
Madhavendra Puri and then his disciple Sri Isvara Puri. It is figuratively described
that both the tree itself and the trunk of the tree are Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
The devotees, headed by Paramananda Puri and eight other great sannyasis, are like
the spreading roots of the tree. From the main trunk there extend two special
branches, Advaita Prabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu, and from those branches
grow other branches and twigs. The tree surrounds the entire world, and the flowers
of the tree are to be distributed to everyone. In this way the tree of Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu intoxicates the entire world. It should be noted that this is a figurative
example meant to explain the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

TEXT 1

Se He Tory swarcwar Aw HNHSVA |
aaron aft wether Wecae Ways t

tam Ssrimat-krsna-caitanya-devam vande jagad-gurum
yasyanukampaya svapi mahabdhim santaret sukham

SYNONYMS

tam—unto Him; srimat—with all opulence; Arsna-caitanya-devam—unto Lord
Krsna Caitanyadeva; vande—| offer obeisances; jagat-gurum—spiritual master of the
world; yasya—whose; anukampayad—by the mercy of; sv@ api—even a dog; maha-
abdhim—great ocean; santaret—can swim; sukham—without difficulty.

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