Text 271] The Residents of Varanasi Become Vaisnavas 443
branches; dasa-dike—in all the ten directions; vahe—flows; yaha haite—from
which; se—those; caitanya-lili—pastimes of Sn Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haya—
are; sarovara aksaya—a transcendental eternal lake; manah-harhnsa—my mind,
which is like a swan; caréha’—please wander; tahate—in that lake.
TRANSLATION

The pastimes of Lord Krsna are the essence of all nectar. They flow in
hundreds of rivulets and in all directions. The pastimes of Sri Caitanya
Mahdaprabhu are an eternal reservoir, and one is advised to let his mind swim
like a swan on this transcendental lake.

PURPORT

The essence of spiritual knowledge is found in the pastimes of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, which are identical with the pastimes of Lord Krsna. This is the
essence of knowledge. If knowledge does not include the understanding of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krsna, it is simply superfluous. By Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu’s grace, the nectar of Lord Sri Krsna’s pastimes is flowing in different
directions in hundreds and thousands of rivers. One should not think that the
pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are different from Krsna’s pastimes. It is said:
sri-krsna-caitanya, radha-krsna nahe anya. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a com-
bination of Radha-Krsna, and without understanding His pastimes, one cannot un-
derstand Radha and Krsna. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura therefore sings: rdipa-
raghunatha-pade haibe akuti/ kabe hama bujhaba se yugala piriti. “When shall |
become very eager to study the books left by the six Gosvamis? Then | shall be
able to understand the conjugal pastimes of Radha and Krsna.” Caitanya
Mahaprabhu directly empowered Srila Ripa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami.
Following in their footsteps, the other six Gosvamis understood Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu and His mission. One should understand Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord
Sri Krsna from the Gosvamis in the parampard system. This Krsna consciousness
movement is following as strictly as possible in the footsteps of the Gosvamis.
Narottama dasa Thakura says, ei chaya gosafi yanra, mui tanra dasa: “| am the ser-
vant of the six Gosvamis.” The philosophy of Krsna consciousness is to become
the servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord. Whoever wants to under-
stand the difficult subject matter of krsna-katha should accept the disciplic suc-
cession. If one is somehow or other able to understand Krsna, his life will be suc-
cessful. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so ‘rjuna. A perfect devotee is
able to understand Krsna through the disciplic succession, and his entrance into
the kingdom of God is thereby certainly opened. When one understands Krsna,
there is no difficulty in transferring oneself to the spiritual kingdom.
