CHAPTER 5
The Activities of Saksi-gopala

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the following summary of the Fifth Chapter in his
Amrta-pravaha-bhasya: After passing through Yajapura, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
reached the town of Kataka (Cuttak) and there went to see the temple of Saksi-
gopala. While there, He heard the story of Saksi-gopala from the mouth of Sri
Nityananda Prabhu.

Once there were two brahmanas, one elderly and the other young, who were
inhabitants of a place known as Vidydnagara. After touring many places of
pilgrimage, the two brahmanas finally reached Vrndavana. The elderly brahmana
was very satisfied with the service of the young bréhmana, and he wanted to
offer him his youngest daughter in marriage. The young brahmana received the
promise of his elder before the Gopala Deity of Vrndavana. Thus the Gopila Deity
acted as a witness. When both brahmanas returned to Vidyanagara, the younger
brahmana raised the question of this marriage, but the elderly brahmana, due to
obligations to his friends and wife, answered that he could not remember his
promise. Because of this, the younger brahmana returned to Vrndavana and nar-
rated the whole story to Gopilaji. Thus Gopalaji, being obliged by the young
man’s devotional service, accompanied him to southern India. Gopilaji followed
the younger braéhmana, who could hear the tinkling sound of Gopilaji’s ankle
bells. When all the respectable gentlemen of Vidyaénagara were assembled,
Gopilaji testified to the promise of the elderly brahmana. Thus the marriage was
performed. Later, the King of that country constructed a fine temple for Gopala.

Afterwards, King Purusottama of Orissa was insulted by the King of Kataka,
who refused to give him his daughter in marriage and called him a sweeper of
Lord Jagannatha. With the help of Lord Jagannatha, King Purusottama fought the
King of Kataka and defeated him. Thus he took charge of both the King’s daughter
and the state of Kataka as well. At that time, Gopalaji, being very much obligated
by the devotional service of King Purusottama, was brought to the town of
Kataka.

After hearing this narration, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited the temple of
Gopila in great ecstasy of love of God. From Kataka He went to Bhuvanesvara and
saw the temple of Lord Siva. In this way, He gradually arrived at Kamalapura, and
on the banks of the Bhargi River He came to the temple of Lord Siva, where He en-
trusted His sannydsa staff to Nityananda Prabhu. However, Nityananda Prabhu
broke the staff into three pieces and threw it into the Bhargi River at a place
known as Atharanala. Being angry at not getting His staff back, Sri Caitanya

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