Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 3.4
Understanding the Name Rāḍha-deśa
“After accepting the sannyāsa order, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, out of intense love for Kṛṣṇa, started for Vṛndāvana. However, He mistakenly wandered about in a trance continuously for three days in the tract of land known as Rāḍha-deśa.”
What the purport teaches
- The word Rāḍha-deśa comes from rāṣṭra, meaning “state.” Rāḍha is a corrupted form of rāṣṭra.
- The part of Bengal on the western side of the Ganges is known as Rāḍha-deśa. It is also called Pauṇḍra-deśa or Peṇḍo-deśa.
- Peṇḍo is a corrupted form of pauṇḍra. It appears that the capital of Rāṣṭra-deśa was situated in that part of Bengal.
Try this today
Note that Rāḍha-deśa is the part of Bengal west of the Ganges, where He wandered in a trance for three days.
Ask yourself
How does learning about Rāḍha-deśa help you picture Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s journey?
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.