Testing the intensity of Madhavendra Puri’s love, Gopal ordered him to bring sandalwood from Nilacala. When he successfully did so, the Lord became very pleased and bestowed great mercy upon him. Such is the nature of the loving exchanges between the Lord and His devotees. It is completely transcendental. Ordinary men have no capacity to understand them.”
Saying this, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu then recited the wonderful verse composed by Sripad Madhavendra Puri. Like the moon, this verse illuminates the entire world. As the repeated rubbing of Malaya sandalwood increases its fragrance, repeated meditation on this verse deepens one’s realization of its meaning. As the Kaustubha-mani is the best of all jewels, this verse is the best of all poems illuminating the mellows of devotional service. This verse expresses the sentiments of Śrīmati Rādhārānī, and by Her mercy, they manifested in the words of Madhavendra Puri. Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu tasted the beautiful mellow of this verse. Only He, Śrīmati Rādhārānī and Madhavendra Puri could ever relish it. At the very end of his life, Madhavendra Puri repeatedly recited this verse. In this way, he attained the ultimate goal of life.
ayi dina-dayardra natha he
mathură-nātha kadāvalokyase
hrdayam tvad-aloka-kātaram
dayita bhrāmyati kim karomy aham
“O most merciful master! O Lord of Mathura! When shall I see You again? Unable to see You, My mind is agitated and My heart has become overwhelmed. Such is my condition, O beloved, what shall I do?”
When Lord Krsna left Vrndāvana for Mathura all of the Vrajavasis felt intense separation from Him. Expressing these sentiments, Śrīmatī Rādhārānī spoke these words out of ecstatic feelings of separation and showed how Krsna can be loved in separation. Thus devotional service in separation is central to this verse.
When separated from the Lord, a devotee naturally feels himself very lowly. In this destitute condition, he pleads to the Lord to be merciful to him. Here this is done. indirectly by referring to the Lord as the ‘most merciful One’. The word mathurā-nātha indicates that Krsna, being the King of Mathura, no longer resides in Vrindavan. Thus there is very little chance of them seeing Him again. This thought agitates the heart of the Vrajavasis and they plead to Him to save them from the deep anguish they are experiencing.
Bhaktivinoda Thakur states that the seed of the religious doctrines of Caitanya Mahaprabhu – love in the mood of separation – is expressed in this verse by Madhavendra Puri. According to Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, the mood of conjugal love was first manifested by Madhavendra Puri. Prior to his appearance, it was absent in the Madhva line.
Adapted from Sri Caitanya Caritamrita (Madhya 4.189- 197)by Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami