188 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 5
TRANSLATION
The pastime of the breaking of the staff is very deep. Only one whose devo-
tion is fixed upon the lotus feet of the two Lords can understand it.
PURPORT
One who understands Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu in
reality can understand Their identity as well as the breaking of the staff. All the
previous dcdryas, being induced to engage themselves fully in the service of the
Lord, gave up attachment for material life and thus accepted the staff, which sig-
nifies full engagement of the mind, speech and body in the service of the Lord. Sti
Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the regulative principles of the renounced order
of life. That is completely clear. However, in the paramahamsa stage there is no
need to accept a danda (staff), and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was certainly in the
paramahainsa stage. Nonetheless, to indicate that everyone should take sannydsa
at the end of life in order to engage fully in the service of the Lord, even
paramaharmsas like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His confidential devotees follow
the regulative principles unfailingly. Indeed, that was His purpose. Nityananda
Prabhu, who was His eternal servitor, believed that there was no need for Sti
Caitanya Mahaprabhu to carry the staff, and to declare to the world that Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu was above all regulations, He broke it into three pieces.
The pastime known as danda-bhanga-lild is thus explained by Stila Bhaktisiddhan-
ta Sarasvati Thakura.
TEXT 159
mamcticna-cotisticaa aaa a2 oD |
farsstare- sei Bia, caitei—Aeoew ii ses i
brahmanya-deva-gopalera mahima ei dhanya
nityananda—vakta ydra, srota —Sri-caitanya
SYNONYMS
brahmanya-deva—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is merciful to the
brahmanas;  gopalera—of Gopala; mahimad—glories; ei—these; dhanya—
glorified; nityananda—Lord Nityananda Prabhu; vakta—the speaker; yara—of the
narration; srota—the hearer; sri-caitanya—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
TRANSLATION
The glories of Lord Gopala, who is merciful to brahmanas, are very great.
The narration of Saksi-gopala was spoken by Nityananda Prabhu and heard by
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
