Text 83) The Lord Travels to Vrndavana 41

TEXT 82

GUTS aA 1B THe “HA |
WUTS-Bia Coe Asay cfs hve i

ei-mata nana-sukhe prabhu dila ‘kasi’
madhydhna-sndana kaila manikarnikaya asi’

SYNONYMS
ei-mata—in this way; nand-sukhe—in great happiness; prabhu—Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; dila—came; kasi—to the holy place named Kasi; madhydhna-
sndna—afternoon bath; kaila—took; manikarnikaya—to the bathing place
known as Manikarnika; dsi’—coming.

TRANSLATION

Finally the Lord with great happiness arrived at the holy place called Kasi.
There He took His bath in the bathing ghat known as Manikarnika.

PURPORT

Kasi is another name for Vardnasi (Benares). It has been a place of pilgrimage
since time immemorial. Two rivers named Asih and Varuna merge there. Manikar-
nika is famous because, according to the opinion of great personalities, a be-
jeweled earring fell there from the ear of Lord Visnu. According to some, it fell
from the ear of Lord Siva. The word mani means “jewel,” and karnika means “from
the ear.” According to some, Lord Visvanatha is the great physician who cures the
disease of material existence by delivering a person through the ear, which
receives the vibration of the holy name of Lord Rama. Because of this, this holy
place is called Mani-karnika. It is said that there is no better place than where the
River Ganges flows, and the bathing ghat known as Manikarnika is especially
sanctified because it is very dear to Lord Vigvanatha. In the Kasi-khanda it is said:
samsari-cintamanir atra yasmat tarakarn sajjana-karnikayam. sivo ‘bhidhatte saha-
santa-kdle tad giyate ‘sau mani-karniketi. mukti-laksmi mahd-pitha-manis tac-
caranabjayoh. karnikeyam tatah prahur yam jana mani-karnikam. According to the
Kasi-khanda, if one gives up his body at Manikarnika, he is liberated simply by
remembering Lord Siva’s name.

TEXT 83

CHEB SrA BoA ster ATA |
ore cafe cant Sia fog foun aia tol
