Text 24] The Island of Jambidvipa 259
TRANSLATION

An intelligent person does not take interest in a place, even in
the topmost planetary system, if the pure Ganges of topics con-
cerning the Supreme Lord’s activities does not flow there, if there
are not devotees engaged in service on the banks of such a river of
piety, or if there are no festivals of sankirtana-yajiia to satisfy the
Lord [especially since sankirtana-yajia is recommended in this
age].

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in the land of Bharata-varsa,
specifically in Bengal, in the district of Nadia, where Navadvipa is situ-
ated. It is therefore to be concluded, as stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura, that within this universe, this earth is the best planet, and on
this planet the land of Bharata-varsa is the best; in the land of Bharata-
varsa, Bengal is still better, in Bengal the district of Nadia is still better,
and in Nadia the best place is Navadvipa because Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu appeared there to inaugurate the performance of the
sacrifice of chanting the Hare Krsna mahd-mantra. The sdstras recom-
mend:

krsna-varnam tvisdékrsnam
sdngopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi sumedhasah

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is always accompanied by His very confi-
dential associates such as Sri Nityananda, Sri Gadadhara and Sri Advaita
and by many devotees like Srivasa. They are always engaged in chanting
the name of the Lord and are always describing Lord Krsna. Therefore
this is the best among all the places in the universe. The Krsna con-
sciousness movement has established its center in Mayapur, the birthsite
of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to give men the great opportunity to
go there and perform a constant festival of sarikirtana-yajia, as recom-
mended herein (yajfiesa-makhaé mahotsavah) and to distribute prasada
to millions of hungry people hankering for spiritual emancipation. This
is the mission of the Krsna consciousness movement. Caitanya-
bhagavata confirms this as follows: “One should not desire to be elevated
