224 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 20

are manifest in one universe, and the next moment they are manifest in the next
universe. There are unlimited universes, and Krsna’s pastimes are manifest one
moment after the other in all of them. This rotation is explained through the ex-
ample of the sun’s moving across the sky. Krsna appears and disappears in innu-
merable universes, just as the sun appears and disappears during the day. Al-
though the sun appears to rise and set, it is continuously shining somewhere on
the earth. Although Krsna’s pastimes seem to appear and disappear, they are con-
tinuously existing in one brahmanda (universe) or another. Thus all of Krsna’s /ilas
are present simultaneously throughout the innumerable universes. By our limited
senses we cannot appreciate this; therefore Krsna’s eternal pastimes are very dif-
ficult for us to understand. One should try to understand how they are taking
place by understanding the allegory of the sun. Although the Lord is appearing
constantly in the material universes, His pastimes are eternally present in the
original Goloka Vrndavana. Therefore these pastimes are called nitya-lila (eter-
nally present pastimes). Because we cannot see what is going on in other uni-
verses, it is a little difficult for us to understand how Krsna is eternally manifesting
His pastimes. There are fourteen Manus in one day of Brahma, and this time
calculation is also taking place in other universes. Krsna’s pastimes are manifest
before fourteen Manus expire. Although it is a little difficult to understand the
eternal pastimes of Krsna in this way, we must accept the verdict of Vedic
literatures.

There are two types of devotees—the sddhaka, who is preparing for perfection,
and the siddha, who is already perfect. As far as those who are already perfect are
concerned, Bhagavad-gitd says, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so
‘juna: “After giving up this material body, such a devotee comes to Me.” After
leaving the material body, the perfect devotee takes birth in the womb of a gopi
on a planet where Krsna’s pastimes are going on. This may be in this universe or
another universe. This statement is found in the Ujjvala-nilamani, which is com-
mented upon by Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. When a devotee becomes per-
fect, he is transferred to the universe where Krsna’s pastimes are taking place.
Krsna’s eternal associates go wherever Krsna manifests His pastimes. As stated
before, first the father and mother of Krsna appear, then the other associates.
Quitting his material body, the perfect devotee also goes to associate with Krsna
and His other associates.

TEXT 398

SL Bas — HeAAeisiext “Ielez? |
HRCA, AACATICA—ASA’, Ae? 1 dv I

vraje _krsna——sarvaisvarya-prakase ‘pGrnatama’
puri-dvaye, paravyome — ‘purnatara’, ‘purna’
