Volume 3 - Prabhupada Books

110 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 8
namaskara kaila raya, prabhu kaila alingane
dui jane kmJa-katha kaya raha/:l-sthane
SYNONYMS
namaskara-obeisances; kai/a-offered; raya-Ramananda Raya; prabhu-Lord
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kai/a-did; a/ingane-embracing; dui-two; jane­
the persons; k[$Qa-katha-talks about Kr��a; kaya-discussed; raha/:l-sthane-in
a secluded place.
TRANSLATION
Ramananda Raya approached Lord Sri Caitanya and offered his respectful
obeisances, and the Lord embraced him. Then they both began to discuss
Kr�r:�a in a secluded place.
PURPORT
The word rahaf:J-sthane, "in a secluded place," is very significant. Talks about
Kr��a and His pastimes-especially His pastimes in Vrndavana and His dealings
with the gopis-are all very confidential. They are not subject matter for public
discussion because those who have no understanding of the transcendental
nature of Kr��a's pastimes always commit great offenses, thinking Kr��a to be an
ordinary human being and the gopis ordinary girls. Following the principle of Lord
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who never discussed the dealings between Kr��a and
the gopis publicly, devotees in the Kr��a consciousness movement are enjoined
not to discuss the pastimes of Lord Kr��a in Vrndavana in public. For the general
public, sankirtana is the most effective method to awaken Kr��a consciousness. If
possible, one should discuss the principles enunciated in Bhagavad-gita. Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu followed this principle very strictly and discussed the phi­
losophy of Bhagavad-gita with learned scholars like Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and
Prakasananda Sarasvati. However, He taught the principles of the bhakti cult to
students like Sanatana Gosvami and ROpa Gosvami, and He discussed with Sri
Ramananda Raya the topmost devotional dealings between Kr��a and the gopis.
For the general populace, He performed sankirtana very vigorously. We must also
follow these principles in preaching Kr�l)a consciousness all over the world.
TEXT 57
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