7.109
navadvipe yei sakti na kaila prakase
se sakti prakasi’ nistarila daksina-dese
SYNONYMS
navadvipe—at Navadvipa; yei—that which; sakti—the potency; na—not; kaila—did; prakase—manifestation; se—that; sakti—potency; prakasi’-manifesting; nistarila—delivered; daksina-dese—South India.
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest His spiritual potencies at Navadvipa, but He did manifest them in South India and liberated all the people there.
PURPORT
At that time there were many smartas (nondevotee followers of Vedic rituals) at the holy place of Navadvipa, which was also the birthplace of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Followers of the smrti-sastra are called smartas.
Most of them are nondevotees, and their main business is following the brahminical principles strictly.
However, they are not enlightened in devotional service.
In Navadvipa all the learned scholars are followers of the smrti-sastra, and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not attempt to convert them.
Therefore the author has remarked that the spiritual potency Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest at Navadvipa was by His grace manifest in South India.
Thus everyone there became a Vaisnava.
By this it is to be understood that people are really interested in preaching in a favorable situation.
If the candidates for conversion are too disturbing, a preacher may not attempt to spread Krsna consciousness amongst them.
It is better to go where the situation is more favorable.
This Krsna consciousness movement was first attempted in India, but the people of India, being absorbed in political thoughts, did not take to it.
They were entranced by the political leaders.
We preferred, therefore, to come to the West, following the order of our spiritual master, and by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu this movement is becoming successful.