20201113 Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāpabhu Relishes Describing the Character of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 13th November 2020 in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, 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!

Introduction: Today we are continuing with Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, today’s chapter entitled is: 

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāpabhu Relishes Describing the Character of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.170

prabhura purīcaritra varṇana kariyā ānanda :—

śrī-mukhe mādhava-purīra amṛta-carita
bhakta-gaṇe śunāñā prabhu kare āsvādita

Translation: Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally praised the nectarean characteristics of Mādhavendra Purī, and while He related all this to the devotees, He personally relished it.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He relished glorifying the pure devotees and he was in transcendental ecstasy describing the wonderful characteristics of Mādhavendra Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.171

nitāike prabhura purīra prema-mahimā kathana :—
prabhu kahe, — nityānanda, karaha vicāra
purī-sama bhāgyavān jagate nāhi āra

Translation: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Nityānanda Prabhu to judge whether there was anyone within the world as fortunate as Mādhavendra Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.172

dugdha-dāna-chale kṛṣṇa yāṅre dekhā dila
tina-bāre svapne āsi’ yāṅre ājñā kaila

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Mādhavendra Purī was so fortunate that Kṛṣṇa personally appeared before him on the plea of delivering milk. Three times the Lord gave orders to Mādhavendra Purī in dreams.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sometimes the devotees ask whether the dreams are important, Mādhavendra Purī received orders for Lord Kṛṣṇa three times He took it very seriously. One time the Lord said that He was left in the bushes, one time He told Mādhavendra Purī, He wants sandalwood pulp because His body was hot and one time He appeared to Mādhavendra Purī and told Him to give the sandalwood to Gopīnātha so these three dreams are very seriously accepted by Mādhavendra Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.173

yāṅra preme vaśa hañā prakaṭa ha-ilā
sevā aṅgīkāra kari’ jagata tārilā

Translation: “Being obliged because of the loving affairs of Mādhavendra Purī, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared as the Gopāla Deity, and, accepting his service, He liberated the whole world.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Deity of Gopāla is still worshipped in Nāthadvāra as Śrīnāthjī. So millions of people have darśana of the deity and get purified.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.174

yāṅra lāgi’ gopīnātha kṣīra kaila curi
ataeva nāma haila ‘kṣīra-corā’ kari’

Translation: “On account of Mādhavendra Purī, Lord Gopīnātha stole the pot of sweet rice. Thus He became famous as Kṣīra-corā [the thief who stole the sweet rice].

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was explaining some of the glories of Mādhavendra Purī. In our ISKCON temple in Toronto, they call it as New Remuṇā and the deity there is called Kṣīra-chora-Gopīnātha and now this Deity is world famous.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.175

karpūra-candana yāṅra aṅge caḍāila
ānande purī-gosāñira prema uthalila

Translation: “Mādhavendra Purī smeared the sandalwood pulp over the body of Gopīnātha, and in this way he was overpowered with love of Godhead.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.176

gopālera parivarte gopīnāthera candana parivāra tātparya :—
mleccha-deśe karpūra-candana ānite jañjāla
purī duḥkha pābe ihā jāniyā gopāla

Translation: “In the provinces of India governed by the Muslims, there was much inconvenience in traveling with sandalwood and camphor. Because of this, Mādhavendra Purī might have gotten into trouble. This became known to the Gopāla Deity.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.177

mahā-dayā-maya prabhu — bhakata-vatsala
candana pari’ bhakta-śrama karila saphala

Translation: “The Lord is very merciful and attached to His devotees, so when Gopīnātha was covered with sandalwood pulp, Mādhavendra Purī’s labor became successful.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Lord is known as very affectionate to His devotees bhakata-vatsala and He didn’t want His devotees to put into trouble crossing the provinces of the Kingdoms of the meat-eaters. So he had the sandalwood pulp put on the Gopīnātha Deity and this made loving endeavors of Mādhavendra Purī successful. Haribol.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.178

purīra prema o caritra-māhātmya :—
purīra prema-parākāṣṭhā karaha vicāra
alaukika prema citte lāge camatkāra

Translation: Caitanya Mahāprabhu placed the standard of Mādhavendra Purī’s intense love before Nityānanda Prabhu for judgment. “All his loving activities are uncommon,” Caitanya Mahāprabhu said. “Indeed, one is struck with wonder to hear of his activities.”

Purport: When the living entity feels spiritual separation from Kṛṣṇa (kṛṣṇa-viraha), he has achieved the prime success of life. When one becomes disinterested in material things, he is simply experiencing the other side of attraction for material things. However, feeling separation from Kṛṣṇa and engaging in the service of the Lord to fulfill His mission constitute the best example of love of Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to point out this intense love of Kṛṣṇa exhibited by Mādhavendra Purī. All Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s devotees later followed in the footsteps of Mādhavendra Purī, serving the Lord without personal considerations. 

Jayapatākā Swami: So, someone was questioning Mādhavendra Purī that His love was showing some parental affection. Actually, Mādhavendra Purī he was trying to satisfy the desires of Kṛṣṇa and He was always feeling separation from Lord. So Lord Caitanya has taught that we should serve Kṛṣṇa in separation and in this way one can achieve the actual level of love for Kṛṣṇa. So Mādhavendra Purī showed this intense love for Kṛṣṇa and try to satisfy the desires of Kṛṣṇa and accepted all kinds of difficulties. So we should be so dedicated to spread the movement of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, so we should accept any difficulty to do so.

So we see that His Divine Grace Abhaya Caraṇārvinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world, accepted many difficulties. This is the proof of His pure love for Kṛṣṇa. People say how can we serve Kṛṣṇa when there is difficulty but that is real test even in difficulty serving Kṛṣṇa. It is easy to serve Kṛṣṇa when everything is favorable even when there was difficulty Śrīla Prabhupāda he tried to carry out the orders of his spiritual master and spread the movement of Caitanya Mahāprabhu all over the world so we should follow in His footsteps accepting Him as our Founder Ācārya of International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.179

parama virakta, maunī, sarvatra udāsīna
grāmya-vārtā-bhaye dvitīya-saṅga-hīna

Translation: Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “Śrī Mādhavendra Purī used to remain alone. He was completely renounced and always very silent. He was uninterested in everything material, and for fear of talking about mundane things, he always lived without a companion.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.180

sevyera ājñāpālane niḥsambala purīra apūrva adhyavasāya :—
hena-jana gopālera ājñāmṛta pāñā
sahasra krośa āsi’ bule candana māgiñā

Translation: “After receiving the transcendental orders of Gopāla, this great personality traveled thousands of miles just to collect sandalwood by begging.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Receiving the transcendental orders from Gopāla that he wanted sandalwood pulp and that’s available thousands of miles away, Mādhavendra Purī had no capital and this was an impossible effort, but it didn’t cause Mādhavendra Purī to hesitate. He knew that Kṛṣṇa could do anything so He immediately went to Jagannātha Purī and on the way he initiated Advaita Gosāñi and he also had the deity of Gopīnātha stole a pot of kṣīra for him and then when he arrived in Jagannātha Purī people were offering all respects but He didn’t care for that but he was thinking how he could bring the sandalwood and camphor for the Gopāla Deity which was then provided to Him with a brāhmaṇa and a carrier. We think how selfless was Mādhavendra Purī and if we were given some instruction that we should do it how we will say oh I need money! I need this! I need that! But Mādhavendra Purī didn’t have anything he just had love and just had faith so he went, so its truly amazing! Wonderful! Jaya Mādhavendra Purī ki jaya!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.181

bhoke rahe, tabu anna māgiñā nā khāya
hena-jana candana-bhāra vahi’ lañā yāya

Translation: “Although Mādhavendra Purī was hungry, he would not beg food to eat. This renounced person carried a load of sandalwood for the sake of Śrī Gopāla.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Mādhavendra Purī followed a system that he would not beg for food if someone offers him he will eat if no one offers him he wouldn’t eat. So this kind of person taking a lot of valuable sandalwood for the sake of Śrī Gopāla Deity it is inconceivable how Śrīla Prabhupāda went to the West on a ship with no money no companion no followers and he went and to establish the worldwide movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He is following in the footsteps of Mādhavendra Purī and we are eternally indebted to Śrīla Prabhupāda and we are eternally indebted to Mādhavendra Purī. Haribol.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.182

nijera bahu duḥkhasattveo prabhura sevātei purīra ānanda :— 
‘maṇeka candana, tolā-viśeka karpūra
gopāle parāiba’ — ei ānanda pracura

Translation: “Without considering his personal comforts, Mādhavendra Purī carried one mana [about eighty-two pounds] of sandalwood and twenty tolās [about eight ounces] of camphor to smear over the body of Gopāla. This transcendental pleasure was sufficient for him.

Jayapatākā Swami: Actually, a mound of 40 killos of sandalwood is so valuable and it is very dangerous to carry it through all the provinces just trying to please and carry out the orders of Gopāla, he was experiencing transcendental pleasure, although it was a possibly impossible task, in the ecstasy of serving Gopāla, it didn’t matter and he was happy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.183

utkalera dānī rākhe candana dekhiñā
tāhāṅ eḍāila rāja-patra dekhāñā

Translation: “Since there were restrictions against taking the sandalwood out of the Orissa province, the toll official confiscated the stock, but Mādhavendra Purī showed him the release papers given by the government and consequently escaped difficulties.”

Jayapatākā Swami: These papers will only work in the area of Orissa, once he left Orissa, the Orissa King’s paper will have no value so if they would confiscate the sandalwood in Orissa what to speak in other countries where his release papers will have no value.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.184

mleccha-deśa dūra patha, jagāti apāra
ke-mate candana niba — nāhi e vicāra

Translation: “Mādhavendra Purī was not at all anxious during the long journey to Vṛndāvana through the provinces governed by the Muslims and filled with unlimited numbers of watchmen.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.185

saṅge eka vaṭa nāhi ghāṭī-dāna dite
tathāpi utsāha baḍa candana lañā yāite

Translation: “Although Mādhavendra Purī did not have a farthing with him, he was not afraid to pass by the toll officers. His only enjoyment was in carrying the load of sandalwood to Vṛndāvana for Gopāla.”

Jayapatākā Swami: People in the material world, they do their work for salary so that they want to get some sense gratification for that money is needed for Mādhavendra Purī, he just wants the satisfaction of Gopāla, that was only pleasure and that was his happiness so he didn’t think about anything else. This is the symptom if someone who has pure love for Lord  Kṛṣṇa, real love for Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.186

kṛṣṇapremikera lakṣaṇa :—
pragāḍha-premera ei svabhāva-ācāra
nija-duḥkha-vighnādira nā kare vicāra

Translation: “This is the natural result of intense love of Godhead. The devotee does not consider personal inconveniences or impediments. In all circumstances he wants to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Purport: It is natural for those who have developed intense love for Kṛṣṇa not to care for personal inconvenience and impediments. Such devotees are simply determined to execute the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representative, the spiritual master. In all circumstances, even amidst the greatest dangers, they undeviatingly carry on with the greatest determination. This definitely proves the intense love of the servitor. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.8), tat te ’nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇaḥ: those who seriously desire to get free from the clutches of material existence, who have developed intense love for Kṛṣṇa, are worthy candidates for going back home, back to Godhead. An intense lover of Kṛṣṇa does not care for any number of material discomforts, scarcity, impediments or unhappiness. It is said that when one sees apparent unhappiness or distress in a perfect Vaiṣṇava, it is not at all unhappiness for him; rather, it is transcendental bliss. 

In the Śikṣāṣṭaka (8), Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has also instructed, āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām [Cc. Antya 20.47]. The intense lover of Kṛṣṇa is never deviated from his service, despite all difficulties and impediments brought before him. 

Jayapatākā Swami: So we are abiding by the example of Mādhavendra Purī, how His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda carrying out the orders of his spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda Ṭhākura. He went to the West without any money without any help just to carry out the order. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.187

kṛṣṇera svabhakta-māhātmya-pradarśana :—
ei tāra gāḍha premā loke dekhāite
gopāla tāṅre ājñā dila candana ānite

Translation: “Śrī Gopāla wanted to show how intensely Mādhavendra Purī loved Kṛṣṇa; therefore He asked him to go to Nīlācala to fetch sandalwood and camphor.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Actually, to bring sandalwood and camphor to Vṛndāvana from Jagannātha Purī was logically impossible task but Mādhavendra Purī out of his intense love for Kṛṣṇa He didn’t hesitate to do it so Gopāla is showing how Mādhavendra Purī is having such intense love for him. This is an example for all the devotees to follow.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.188

bahu pariśrame candana remuṇā ānila
ānanda bāḍila mane, duḥkha nā gaṇila

Translation: “With great trouble and after much labor, Mādhavendra Purī brought the load of sandalwood to Remuṇā. However, he was still very pleased; he discounted all the difficulties.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.189

bhaktake parīkṣā o bhaktera parīkṣottaraṇa :—
parīkṣā karite gopāla kaila ājñā dāna
parīkṣā kariyā śeṣe haila dayāvān

Translation: “To test the intense love of Mādhavendra Purī, Gopāla, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, ordered him to bring sandalwood from Nīlācala, and when Mādhavendra Purī passed this examination, the Lord became very merciful to him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we see that Lord Gopāla, he was testing Mādhavendra Purī, Mādhavendra Purī showing that he was willing to go through all the problems to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa. Then the Lord became merciful and said that He could apply the sandalwood to Gopīnātha and that would cool Him down.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.190

bhakta o bhagavān—parasparera alaukikī rati :—
ei bhakti, bhakta-priya-kṛṣṇa-vyavahāra
bujhiteo āmā-sabāra nāhi adhikāra

Translation: “Such behavior exhibited in loving service between the devotee and the devotee’s lovable object, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is transcendental. It is not possible for a common man to understand. Common men do not even have the capacity.”

Jayapatākā Swami: This activity of Mādhavendra Purī was inconceivable for a common man. They can go to all edge to achieve some object of sense gratification, to get a gold medal in Olympics they do great austerity just to get little name and fame but how Mādhavendra Purī is doing something simply for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, there is no sense gratification rather all kinds of difficulties and impediments But he was happy to serve Kṛṣṇa, but we should not understand it by normal logic and it shows the super excellence of kṛṣṇa-prema and how Kṛṣṇa reciprocates with his pure devotee.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.191

prabhura purīkṛta atula mahimānvita śloka-pāṭha varṇana :—
eta bali’ paḍe prabhu tāṅra kṛta śloka
yei śloka-candre jagat karyāche āloka

Translation: After saying this, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu read the famous verse of Mādhavendra Purī. That verse is just like the moon. It has spread illumination all over the world.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.192

ghaṣite ghaṣite yaiche malayaja-sāra
gandha bāḍe, taiche ei ślokera vicāra

Translation: Continuous rubbing increases the aroma of Malaya sandalwood. Similarly, consideration of this verse increases one’s understanding of its importance.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.193

ratna-gaṇa-madhye yaiche kaustubha-maṇi
rasa-kāvya-madhye taiche ei śloka gaṇi

Translation: As the Kaustubha-maṇi is considered the most precious of valuable stones, this verse is similarly considered the best of poems dealing with the mellows of devotional service.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.194

ei śloka kahiyāchena rādhā-ṭhākurāṇī
tāṅra kṛpāya sphuriyāche mādhavendra-vāṇī

Translation: Actually, this verse was spoken by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Herself, and by Her mercy only was it manifest in the words of Mādhavendra Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.195

śrīrādhā, mādhavendra o gaura—tinerai āsvādana-yogyatā :—
kibā gauracandra ihā kare āsvādana
ihā āsvādite āra nāhi cauṭha-jana

Translation: Only Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has tasted the poetry of this verse. No fourth man is capable of understanding it. 

Purport: This indicates that only Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Mādhavendra Purī and Caitanya Mahāprabhu are capable of understanding the purport of this verse.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.196

śeṣa-kāle ei śloka paṭhite paṭhite
siddhi-prāpti haila purīra ślokera sahite

Translation: Mādhavendra Purī recited this verse again and again at the end of his material existence. Thus uttering this verse, he attained the ultimate goal of life. 

Jayapatākā Swami: That verse is from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and it is a verse of intense separation of Rādhārānī for Kṛṣṇa. Because Mādhavendra Purī accepted initiation in the Madhava line, so therefore Lord Caitanya accepted initiation from the dear disciple of Mādhavendra Purī. Thus, we are part of the Brahma-Madhva-Gauḍīya-sampradāya. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Thus ends the chapter entitled Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāpabhu Relishes Describing the Character of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī.