20220517 Cowherd Obtains the Blessing of Kṛṣṇa-prema

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 17th,2022 in Sri Dhama Mayapur, India.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book. Today's chapter is entitled as:

Cowherd Obtains the Blessing of Kṛṣṇa-prema

Under the section: Return to Nīlācala

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.1

nīlācale cale prabhu hariṣa-hiyāya
hā hā jagannātha! bali’’ anurāge dhāya

Translation: In a joyful mood Lord Caitanya moved quickly toward Nīlācala with great attachment exclaiming, “Hā! Hā! Jagannātha!”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was meditating on Lord Jagannātha every step and He was very anxious to come before Lord Jagannātha and he was chanting ha! Ha! Jagannātha

Haribol!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.2

premānande cale prabhu siṁhera gamane
saṁhati calite nāre saṅgera yata jane

Translation: Being blissful in kṛṣṇa-prema, Haribol! Lord Caitanya moved like a lion. He was moving so fast that His associates could not keep up.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was experiencing ecstasy and He almost moved very quickly like a lion.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.3

saṅge yāite nāre saṅgī dūre pāchu āila
araṇya bhitare prabhū ekalā calila

Translation: Not being able to walk along, the companions were left far behind by Lord Caitanya. So, He walked into the forest alone.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was going on His own pace and the associates could not keep up with Him, so He walked alone.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.13.22

Translation: Then, as the all-opulent Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, the jewel of mercy, travelled on the path, He saw a cowherd boy with a pot of buttermilk, and said to him:

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.4

araṇya-bhitare eka āchaye nagara
ghola becibāre yāya goyālā-koṅara

Translation: The Lord came to a small village in the forest and met a cowherd boy who was carrying a pot full of buttermilk to sell in the market.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya saw this cowherd boy selling buttermilk.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.13.23

Translation: “O gopa, I am thirsty. If it pleases you, give Me some buttermilk.” Hearing this, the cowherd boy very jubilantly gave Lord Caitanya the whole pot.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this reminds me of the lady in Vṛndāvana, who gave some fruits to baby Kṛṣṇa and then her basket was filled with jewels. Giving buttermilk to Lord Caitanya what will this boy get!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.5

ṭhākura dekhila tāre āveśa-āoyāsa
ghola deha gopa-mora lāgila piyāsa

Translation: Becoming overwhelmed within Lord Caitanya said, “O dear cowherd boy. I’m thirsty. Please give Me the buttermilk.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.6

e bola śuniñā gopa paḍila caraṇe
neha ghola–khāo gosāñi—yata laya mane

Translation: Hearing these words, the cowherd boy fell on the lotus feet of the Lord and said, “Oh Gosāi! Please drink as much as you like.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the cowherd boy was offering buttermilk to Lord Caitanya with full surrender.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.13.24

Translation: Lord Hari (Lord Caitanya), who is affectionate to His devotees, took the pot of buttermilk in His hands. After drinking it, He gave boon to the cowherd boy and then departed.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, He gave a boon to cowherd boy, what boon did he get!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.7

ghola pāna kaila–haila śūnya kalasī
ghola khāñā cali’ yāya kapaṭa-sannyāsī

Translation: He drank the buttermilk and the pot become empty. Then the so-called sannyāsī walked away.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.8

goyālāke baila–tumi thāka eikhāne
pāchu ye āise–kaḍi niha tāra sthāne

Translation: He said, “You stay here and collect the money from My colleagues who are following Me.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya had walked ahead of His associates and now He was telling the boy to collect from them.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.9

e bola baliyā prabhu calilā sattvara
seikhāne rahi’ gopa cintaye antara

Translation: After speaking this, the Lord quickly left that place. Staying in that place, the cowherd boy became thoughtful in his heart.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.10-11

kathokṣaṇe sannyāsīra saṅgī yatajana
sei pathe āise tārā prabhugata mana

puchila–goyālā pathe dekhile sannyāsī
gopa kahe–ghola khāila ekaṭi kalasī

Translation: After some time, the Lord’s devoted followers, who are exclusively devoted to Him, arrived there and inquired of that boy, “Did you see a sannyāsī?”

The cowherd boy said, “Yes, He drank all my buttermilk.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.12

kaḍi nite baila more tomā-sabhāra ṭhāñi
juyāya ta kaḍi deha—āmi ghare yāi

Translation: He said that you would pay for it. Pay me the money that is due to me, so that I can go home.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the cowherd boy was very honest, and he told the associates of Lord Caitanya exactly what Lord Caitanya did and told.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.13

e bola śuniyā sabhe sabhā-pāne cāi
sabhe kahe–kaḍi kothā āmā sabhāra ṭhāi

Translation: Surprised, Gaurāṅga’s associates looked at each other and said, “Where will we get money? We don’t have any money with us.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the associates of Lord Caitanya were expressing their inability to pay the boy.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.14

goyālā kahila–cala tabe nāhi dāya
mora sevā jānāibā sannyāsīra pāya

Translation: The cowherd boy said, “That’s all right. You are not liable. Just tell that sannyāsī that this was my service to His lotus feet.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the cowherd boy offered this pot of buttermilk as his service to Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.15

e bola baliyā se kalasī kare hāthe
bhāri bar̤a kalasa–tulite nāre māthe

Translation: After speaking this, he wanted to lift the pot on his head but it was so heavy he couldn’t pick it up.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, what did the pot have !

Haribol!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.16

ḍhākanā ghucāi ratna eka ye kalasī
dhāiyā calila hā! hā! kariyā sannyāsī

Translation: Removing the lid, he saw that it was full of precious jewels and gold. The cowherd boy ran down the road in the direction of Lord Caitanya, calling out, “Ha! Ha! sannyāsī.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, he got golden jewels but he is running after Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.17

kathodūre saṅgīra vilambe āche pahum̐
goyālā dekhiyā se mucaki hāse lahum̐

Translation: He found the Lord waiting for His associates a short distance away. Lord Caitanya smiled benevolently when he saw the cowherd boy.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya He smiled at the boy benevolently.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.18

saṅgera yateka jana āila takhana
dekhilā–goyālā prabhura pāñāche caraṇa

Translation: When Lord Caitanya’s associates arrived, they saw that the cowherd boy had attained the lotus feet of the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, although he got jewels and gold he went to Lord Caitanya and took shelter at His lotus feet.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.19

prabhū bale–gopa tumi cali’ yāha ghara
tore anugraha kṛṣṇa kaila–pāile bara

Translation: Lord Caitanya said, “Hey cowherd boy, you go back home. You obtained a boon and Kṛṣṇa gave you, His mercy.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.20

leuṭi āsite gopa pāila parasāda
nāciyā bulaye gopa premāra unmāda

Translation: While returning home, the cowherd boy obtained mercy. He danced and chanted madly in the ecstasy of kṛṣṇa-prema.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is how Lord Caitanya's mercy is greater than Kṛṣṇa's, Kṛṣṇa gave jewels for the fruit monger but he didn’t give love of godhead. not only the cowherd boy got jewels and god, he got love of godhead, he got kṛṣṇa-prema. Haribol!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.21

goyālā dekhiyā sabhāra bāḍhila ullāsa
gaurāguṇa gāya sukhe e locanadāsa

Translation: Everyone became overjoyed to see the cowherd boy who had received the mercy of the Lord. Locana dāsa happily sings the glories of Gaurāṅga.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, everyone got inspired to see how the cowherd boy got kṛṣṇa-prema from Lord Caitanya.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Cowherd Obtains the Blessing of Kṛṣṇa-prema

Under the section: Return to Nīlācala

Haribol! Lord Caitanya was walking in the jungle of Jhārikhaṇḍa and He got not only drink a whole pot of buttermilk and it’s was amazing to drink a whole pot and then in the pot was diamonds and gold but he took shelter of Lord Caitanya's lotus feet and got kṛṣṇa-prema.

So for twelve minutes I'll answer your questions.

I was in Barsana, in a village called Chiksauli. and there, they gave me buttermilk. And the monkeys lined up, and they were asking for the buttermilk. Haribol! So i gave *tch tch tch*.

A question from outside, from Alhādini Rādhā mātājī.

Question: Why Lord Caitanya, in the verses that we saw here, was being called as kapaṭa-sannyāsī?

—Alhādini Rādhā mātājī

Jayapatākā Swami: *laughter* Because he is never a sannyāsī! He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is playing the part of a sannyāsī. And he drank the whole pot of buttermilk. and the boy was like "Where is my money"? and then he couldn't lift the pot, it was filled with gold and jewels. He ran after the sannyāsī and got kṛṣṇa-prema.

HARIBOL !!

How many of you want kṛṣṇa-prema? Haribol!

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja. Accept my humble obeisances. (Accepted!)

I am trying to crack an India level exam to get admission to a top college for post-graduation, so that I can earn. Have to serve Kṛṣṇa. And I want to serve you Guru Mahārāja, by helping you to fulfill Śrīla Prabhupāda's instruction, With good material education I can develop my fathers business, and get good income to serve better. It will take three years to complete my studies, and I have to live in hostel where onion and garlic..

Jayapatākā Swami: HA!

I want to take initiation. Should I wait for three years or take initiation after the first year, as it will take one year for me to complete the requirements to take initiation. I am confused. What is the best thing to do right now? Please guide me.

—Your spiritual daughter, Anusha Pasam
Vaiṣṇavi Forum Hyderabad

Jayapatākā Swami: Take the test. As soon as you're qualified, take initiation. *repetition*. but avoid eating onion and garlic.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Question: Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. About reading the books, if a devotee feels a bit trauma, due to being convinced that his late dīkṣā-guru has cursed him. He feels that by reading the books, that he is reminded about the curse. He is convinced that he has been cursed to go to hell by his guru, because he did not act according to the preaching plans of his guru. How can he overcome this saṁskāra, or impression or conviction i.e of being cursed and will go to hell?

—Your humble servant, Maṅgalāvatī Citrā

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda is the guru of the gurus. and he said to read all the books. So by reading books, By reading the Gītā, Bhāgavata, Caitanya-caritāmṛta *repetition*, he is not going to go to hell. The ninth chapter of Bhagavad-gītā helps one to avoid curses *repetition*. And also many of the Ekādaśīs, Help one to avoid, to get over a curse. Once, Kuvera cursed a man to become a rākṣasa because he did some offense. Then he observed Ekādaśī. Or his wife observed, and gave him the fruits. Therefore he was free from the curse.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Question: Is it mandatory for an initiated devotee in ISKCON to wear three rounds of kaṇṭhī-mālā or just one round is sufficient ?

—Mādhava Kṛṣṇa dāsa

Jayapatākā Swami: An initiated devotee should wear minimum two rounds and maximum five *repetition*. That's what I've heard.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja, please accept my respectful obeisances. The phalaśruti says, when we hear these pastimes, we will be freed from distress. I see that I am still so much distressed. Is it because I am not hearing the pastimes with proper attitude and mood?

—Your very dear spiritual daughter,
Rasapriya Gopikā Devī Dāsī
from Śrīdhāma Māyāpur

Jayapatākā Swami: Maybe she's (questioner) not hearing? Well I can't say. She is thinking of her problems, not listening.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Question (from JPS Tamil Page): Dearmost Guru Mahārāja, when we see Bengali devotees they are naturally attached to yourself, Gaurāṇga and easily performing lot of devotional service very casually and consistently. Is it ever possible to have such humble attitude and at the same time perform loving devotional service consistently?

Jayapatākā Swami: Why not?

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Question: *Bengali* Dear Gurudeva, I wish to preach and take care of your devotees. How do I do it best?

—Your servant, Shravan Kumar Mondal

Jayapatākā Swami: So he wants to do pracāra.

Translator: Preaching and devotee care.

Jayapatākā Swami: So he can talk to the devotee care department. And if he wants to do preaching... he can talk to Bhakti Vijaya Bhāgavata Swami. or he can do the Nāmahatṭa, the Gītā course, Bhakti-Vṛkṣa *repetition*, Saṇkīrtana, some campus preaching, so many campus preaching. So there are many opportunities to preach.

Alright!