17.54
ksane mana sthira haya, tabe mane vicaraya, balite ha-ila bhavodgama
pingalara vacana-smrti, karaila bhava-mati, tate kare artha-nirdharana
SYNONYMS
ksane—in a moment; mana—the mind; sthira haya—becomes patient; tabe—at that time; mane—within the mind; vicaraya—He considers; balite—to speak; ha-ila—there was; bhava-udgama—awakening of ecstasy; pingalara—of Pingala; vacana-smrti—remembering the words; karaila—caused; bhava-mati—ecstatic mind; tate—in that; kare—does; artha-nirdharana—ascertaining the meaning.
Suddenly, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became calm and considered His state of mind.
He remembered the words of Pingala, and this aroused an ecstasy that moved Him to speak.
Thus He explained the meaning of the verse.
PURPORT
Pingala was a prostitute who said, “To hope against hope produces only misery.
Utter hopelessness is the greatest happiness.” Remembering this statement, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became ecstatic.
The story of Pingala is found in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Eleventh Canto, Eighth Chapter, verses 22-44, as well as in Mahabharata, Santi-parva, Chapter 174.