344 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 9

TEXT 96

Ars eps, Frat, Cay,— alee otha |
Cafe” aiafras Cae TVSIET FAN dv I

pulakasru, kampa, sveda, — yavat pathana
dekhi’ anandita haila mahaprabhura mana

SYNONYMS

pulaka—standing of the hairs of the body; asru—tears; kampa—trembling;
sveda—perspiration; yavat—during; pathana—the reading of the book; dekhi’—
seeing this; dnandita—very happy; haila—became; mahdprabhura—of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu; mana—the mind.

TRANSLATION

While reading the book, the brahmana experienced transcendental bodily
transformations. His hair stood on end, tears welled in his eyes, and his body
trembled and perspired as he read. Seeing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu be-
came very happy.

PURPORT

Although the brahmana could not pronounce the words very well due to il-
literacy, he still experienced ecstatic symptoms while reading Bhagavad-gitd. Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very pleased to observe these symptoms, and this in-
dicates that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased by devotion, not by
erudite scholarship. Even though the words were imperfectly pronounced, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Krsna Himself, did not think this very serious. Rather,
the Lord was pleased by the bhava (devotion). In Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.11) this
is confirmed:

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api

namany anantasya yaso ‘nkitani yat
srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah

“On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcen-
dental glories of the name, fame, forms and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme
Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing
about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization.
Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard,
sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.”
