Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 14.96
Understanding the Garden Pastimes of Vṛndāvana
“Accompanied by His devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then went into the garden and enjoyed the pastimes of Vṛndāvana.”
What the purport teaches
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu entered the garden with His devotees and enjoyed the pastimes of Vṛndāvana. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains that this does not refer to Kṛṣṇa’s mixing with the gopīs or the transcendental mellow of parakīya-rasa.
- In His vṛndāvana-līlā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu conceived of Himself as the assistant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Her maidservants were very pleased when She enjoyed the company of Kṛṣṇa.
- His garden pastimes did not involve association with women or other people’s wives in the fashion transcendentally demonstrated by Śrī Kṛṣṇa. They should not be compared with the activities of the gaurāṅga-nāgarīs.
Try this today
Write one sentence noting how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu conceived of Himself in these pastimes.
Ask yourself
How does the explanation of His role as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s assistant clarify these garden pastimes for you?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.