Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya-lila Chapter 12 Verse 212

Madhya-līlā | Chapter 12: The Cleansing of the Guṇḍicā Temple

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 12.212

praphulla-kamala jini' nayana-yugala

nīlamaṇi-darpaṇa-kānti gaṇḍa jhalamala

SYNONYMS

praphulla-kamala — blossoming lotus flower; jini' — conquering; nayana-yugala — two eyes; nīlamaṇi — sapphire; darpaṇa — mirror; kānti — luster; gaṇḍa — neck; jhalamala — bright.

TRANSLATION

The eyes of Lord Jagannātha conquered the beauty of blossoming lotus flowers, and His neck was as lustrous as a mirror made of sapphires.

PURPORT

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu usually saw Lord Jagannātha from a distance, standing behind the column of Garuḍa. But because he had not seen Lord Jagannātha for fifteen days, Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt great separation from Him. In great eagerness, Caitanya Mahāprabhu crossed the meeting hall and entered the room where food was offered, just to see the face of Lord Jagannātha. In verse 210, this action is called maryādā-lańghana, a violation of the regulative principles. This indicates that one should not come very near a superior. Both the Lord's Deity form and the spiritual master should be seen from a distant place. This is called maryādā. Otherwise, as it is said, familiarity breeds contempt. Sometimes coming too near the Deity or the spiritual master degrades the neophyte devotee. Personal servants of the Deity and the spiritual master should therefore always be very careful, for negligence may overcome them in their duty.

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's eyes have been compared to thirsty bumblebees, and Śrī Jagannātha's eyes have been compared to blossoming lotus flowers. The author has made these comparisons in order to describe Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu while the Lord was deeply absorbed in ecstatic love for Lord Jagannātha.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness