Text 168] The Residents of Varanasi Become Vaisnavas 391
SYNONYMS

nija-loka_ lafd—with His personal associates; prabhu—Sri_ Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; dila vasa-aghara—came to His residential place; varanasi—the city
of Varanasi; haila—became; dvitiya—second; nadiya-nagara—Navadvipa
(Nadia).

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then returned to His residence with His personal
associates. Thus He turned the whole city of Varanasi into another Navadvipa
[Nadiya-nagara].

PURPORT

Both Navadvipa and Varanasi were celebrated for their highly educational ac-
tivities. At the present time these cities are still inhabited by great, learned
scholars, but Varanasi is especially a center for Mayavadi sannydsis who are
learned scholars. However, unlike Navadvipa, there are hardly any devotees in
Varanasi. Consequently a discussion of Srimad-Bhdgavatam was very rare in
Varanasi. In Navadvipa, such a discussion was quite ordinary. After Sri Caitanya
Mahdaprabhu visited Varanasi and turned Prakasananda Sarasvati and his disciples
into Vaisnavas, VaranasT became like Navadvipa because so many devotees
began discussing Srimad-Bhagavatam. Even at the present moment one can hear
many discussions on Srimad-Bhagavatam taking place on the banks of the Ganges.
Many scholars and sannydsis gather there to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam and per-
form sankirtana.

TEXT 168
farerste esl aS Fez Bry Fh |
sacs alfa eae cafbas Stasifay yet
nija-gana laid prabhu kahe hasya kari’
kasite ami ailana vecite bhavakali
SYNONYMS

nija-gana lafid—with His personal associates; prabhu kahe—Sri Caitanya
Mahdaprabhu said; hasya kari’—laughingly; kasite—in Kasi; ami ailana—| came;
vecite—to sell; bhavakali—emotional ecstatic love.

TRANSLATION

Among His own associates, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu laughingly said, ‘1

came here to sell My emotional ecstatic love.
