20210304 Lord Caitanya Accepts Govinda as His Personal Servant

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on March 4th, 2021 in Śrī Dhāma 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!

Today Compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, today’s chapter entitled:

Lord Caitanya Accepts Govinda as His Personal Servant
Under the Section The Lord’s return to Jagannātha Purī

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 13.130

Translation: The devotee known as Govinda, endowed with a pure mind, and ocean of good fortune, eternally huge from wandering in many holy places, went to Purī.

Translation: There he saw the merciful Gaurāṅga, the ocean of mercy and became attached to serving His lotus feet constantly.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.130

bhaktaveṣṭita prabhu:—
āra dina sārvabhauma-ādi bhakta-saṅge
vasiyā āchena mahāprabhu kṛṣṇa-kathā-raṅge

Translation: The next day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat with all the devotees, headed by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and they discussed the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.131

govindera āgamana o nija-paricaya-pradāna:—
hena-kāle govindera haila āgamana
daṇḍavat kari’ kahe vinaya-vacana

Translation: At that time Govinda appeared on the scene, offered his respectful obeisances and spoke submissively.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.48: A Voice from Behind the Scenes: He is a devotee of Lord Krishna and a sincere servant of Isvara Puri. His heart is pure and he is renounced, detached from the objects of material sense-gratification.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.49: Sārvabhauma: (listening) Ah! One of Lord Jagannātha’s servants approaches. Who is he? Is he the representative of the temple-superintendent? No, since he (representative of the temple-superintendent) is not in the renounced order.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.50: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Ah! This person seems to have come from Īśvara Purī.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.51: Sārvabhauma: (looking) Let me see and find out.

(He looks very carefully).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.52: (The person named Govinda enters). Govinda: (to himself) Īśvara Purī sent me here, saying, “Go to Caitanya Mahāprabhu.” I cannot understand the limits of my great good fortune.

(He approaches and offers obeisances with folded hands).

Govinda (to Lord Caitanya): My Lord, Īśvara Purī said to me: “When I first saw Kṛṣṇa Caitanya I became filled with happiness. I do not see any other place for you. Go to Him”. In this way Īśvara Purī sent me to Your feet.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.132

īśvara-purīra bhṛtya, — ‘govinda’ mora nāma
purī-gosāñira ājñāya āinu tomāra sthāna

Translation: “I am the servant of Īśvara Purī. My name is Govinda, and following the orders of my spiritual master, I have come here.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.133

siddha-prāpti-kāle gosāñi ājñā kaila more
kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nikaṭe rahi seviha tāṅhāre

Translation: “Just before his departure from this mortal world to attain the highest perfection, Īśvara Purī told me that I should go to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and render service unto Him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.134

gurubhrātā kāśīśvarera pare āgamana-sambhāvanā-jñāpana:—
kāśīśvara āsibena saba tīrtha dekhiyā
prabhu-ājñāya muñi āinu tomā-pade dhāñā

Translation: “Kāśīśvara will also come here after visiting all the holy places. However, following the orders of my spiritual master, I have hastily come to be present at Your lotus feet.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.135

prabhura dainya –
gosāñi kahila, ‘purīśvara’ vātsalya kare more
kṛpā kari’ mora ṭhāñi pāṭhāilā tomāre

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “My spiritual master, Īśvara Purī, always favors Me with paternal affection. Therefore, out of his causeless mercy, he has sent you here.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya accepted Īśvara Purī, His spiritual master and having parental affection to him, and therefore He was accepting Govinda dāsa sent by Īśvara Purī.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.53: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: This is Īśvara Purī’s unlimited love and affection for Me.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.54: Sārvabhauma: You were Īśvara Purī’s servant?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.55: Govinda: Yes.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.56: Sārvabhauma: My Lord, how can You accept anyone who is not a brāhmaṇa (śūdra) as Your servant?

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.136

govinda-sambandhe sārvabhaumera praśna:—
eta śuni’ sārvabhauma prabhure puchila
purī-gosāñi śūdra-sevaka kāṅhe ta’ rākhila

Translation: After hearing this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “Why did Īśvara Purī keep a servant who comes from a śūdra family?”

Purport: Both Kāśīśvara and Govinda were personal servants of Īśvara Purī. After Īśvara Purī’s demise, Kāśīśvara went to visit all the holy places of India. Following the orders of his spiritual master, Govinda immediately went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for shelter. Govinda came from a śūdra family, but because he was initiated by Īśvara Purī, he was certainly a brāhmaṇa. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya here asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu why Īśvara Purī accepted a disciple from a śūdra family. According to the smṛti-śāstra, which gives directions for the management of the varṇāśrama institution, a brāhmaṇa cannot accept a disciple from the lower castes. In other words, a kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra cannot be accepted as a servant. If a spiritual master accepts such a person, he is contaminated. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya therefore asked why Īśvara Purī accepted a servant or disciple born of a śūdra family.

In answer to this question, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied that His spiritual master, Īśvara Purī, was so empowered that he was as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As such, Īśvara Purī was the spiritual master of the whole world. He was not a servant of any mundane rule or regulation. An empowered spiritual master like Īśvara Purī can bestow his mercy upon anyone, irrespective of caste or creed. The conclusion is that an empowered spiritual master is authorized by Kṛṣṇa and his own guru and should therefore be considered as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. That is the verdict of Viśvanātha Cakravartī: sākṣād-dharitvena An authorized spiritual master is as good as Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As Hari is free to act as He likes, the empowered spiritual master is also free. As Hari is not subject to mundane rules and regulations, the spiritual master empowered by Him is also not subject. According to the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya-līlā 7.11), kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana. An authorized spiritual master empowered by Kṛṣṇa can spread the glories of the holy name of the Lord, for he has power of attorney from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the mundane world, anyone possessing his master’s power of attorney can act on behalf of his master. Similarly, a spiritual master empowered by Kṛṣṇa through his own bona fide spiritual master should be considered as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. That is the meaning of sākṣād-dharitvena. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore describes the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the bona fide spiritual master as follows.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.137

prabhura saduttara-dāna—īśvara vā śaktiśālīra ācaraṇa; sneha kṛpā o maryādāra vaiśiṣṭya:—
prabhu kahe, — īśvara haya parama svatantra
īśvarera kṛpā nahe veda-paratantra

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Both the Supreme Personality of Godhead and My spiritual master, Īśvara Purī, are completely independent. Therefore neither the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead nor that of Īśvara Purī is subject to any Vedic rules and regulations.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.138

īśvarera kṛpā jāti-kulādi nā māne
vidurera ghare kṛṣṇa karilā bhojane

Translation: “The mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not restricted to the jurisdiction of caste and creed. Vidura was a śūdra, yet Kṛṣṇa accepted lunch at his home.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, because Krsna is independent, regardless of what caste Vidura was, because he was a devotee therefore Kṛṣṇa took lunch at his house, while Kṛṣṇa refused to take meals at Duryodhana ‘s house, because He was taking at His uncle Vidura’s house. He didn’t want to take food of a non-devotee.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.57: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Bhaṭṭācārya, don’t talk in that way. The independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, bestows His mercy without thinking of birth, caste, or any other external thing. Although He would not eat the food offered by the kṣatriya Duryodhana, Lord Kṛṣṇa happily accepted the food offered by the śūdra Vidura.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.58: Sārvabhauma: That is true.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.139

sneha-leśāpekṣā mātra śrī-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāra
sneha-vaśa hañā kare svatantra ācāra

Translation: “Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mercy is dependent only on affection. Being obliged only by affection, Lord Kṛṣṇa acts very independently.

Purport: Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is merciful, but His mercy does not depend on mundane rules and regulations. He is dependent only on affection and nothing else. Service to Lord Kṛṣṇa can be rendered in two ways. One can serve the Lord in affection or in veneration. When service is rendered in affection, it is the Lord’s special mercy. When service is rendered in veneration, it is doubtful whether Kṛṣṇa’s mercy is actually involved. If Kṛṣṇa’s mercy is there, it is not dependent on any prescribed caste or creed. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to inform Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya that Lord Kṛṣṇa is the spiritual master of everyone, and He does not care for mundane caste or creed. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu cited the example of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s accepting food at the house of Vidura, who was a śūdra by birth. By the same token, Īśvara Purī, an empowered spiritual master, could show mercy to anyone. As such, he accepted Govinda, although the boy was born in a śūdra family. When Govinda was initiated, he became a brāhmaṇa and was accepted as Īśvara Purī’s personal servant. In the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī states that one who is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master immediately becomes a brāhmaṇa. A pseudo spiritual master cannot transform a person into a brāhmaṇa, but an authorized spiritual master can do so. This is the verdict of śāstra, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all the Gosvāmīs.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is a very important conclusion. His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda went all over the world and initiated many people, men and women who were not even born in śūdra family. By his being empowered, anyone he initiated could be brāhmaṇa, that is the conclusion of śāstra, Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Kṛṣṇa Himself and the six Gosvāmīs.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.140

maryādā haite koṭi sukha sneha-ācaraṇe
paramānanda haya yāra nāma-śravaṇe

Translation: “In conclusion, dealings in affection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead bring happiness many millions of times greater than dealings with Him in awe and veneration. Simply by hearing the holy name of the Lord, the devotee is merged in transcendental bliss.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.141

govindake āliṅgana, govindera sarvabhakta-caraṇa vandana:—
eta bali’ govindere kaila āliṅgana
govinda karila prabhura caraṇa vandana

Translation: After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Govinda, and Govinda in turn offered his respectful obeisances unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lotus feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: He, Govinda, offered his respects not only to Caitanya Mahāprabhu but to all the Vaiṣṇavs. We can see although Govinda was born in a śūdra family, because he was accepted by Īśvara Purī Mahārāja, he was accepted by everyone, He was embraced by Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.142

bhaṭṭācāryake prabhura gurubhrātāra sevā-grahaṇera aucityānaucitya-jijñāsā:—
prabhu kahe, — bhaṭṭācārya, karaha vicāra
gurura kiṅkara haya mānya se āmāra

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then continued speaking to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya: “Consider this point. The servant of the spiritual master is always respectable for Me.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.143

tāṅhāre āpana-sevā karāite nā yuyāya
guru ājñā diyāchena, ki kari upāya

Translation: As such, it is not befitting that the guru’s servant should engage in My personal service. Yet My spiritual master has given this order. What shall I do?”

Purport: A guru’s servants or disciples are all Godbrothers to one another, and as such they should all respect one another as prabhu, or master. No one should disrespect his Godbrother. For this reason Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya what to do about Govinda. Govinda was the personal servant of Īśvara Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s spiritual master, and now Īśvara Purī had ordered Govinda to become Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s personal servant. So what was to be done? This was the inquiry Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu placed before Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, an experienced friend.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, He was asking Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, what to do in this case. These are kind of transcendental dealings with Caitanya Mahāprabhu, everything to be discussed on the basis of sādhu, śāstra and guru. 

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.144

sārvabhaumera uttara,—guru-ājñā avaśya pālanīyā:—
bhaṭṭa kahe, — gurura ājñā haya balavān
guru-ājñā nā laṅghiye, śāstra — pramāṇa

Translation: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “The order of the spiritual master is very strong and cannot be disobeyed. That is the injunction of the śāstras, the revealed scriptures.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.145

guru-ājñāpālanera paurāṇika dṛṣṭānta:—

Raghu Vaṁśa (14/46)—

sa śuśruvān mātari bhārgaveṇa
pitur niyogāt prahṛtaṁ dviṣad-vat
pratyagṛhīd agraja-śāsanaṁ tad
ājñā gurūṇāṁ hy avicāraṇīyā

Translation: “‘Being ordered by his father, Paraśurāma killed his mother,Reṇukā, just as if she were an enemy. When Lakṣmaṇa, the younger brother of Lord Rāmacandra, heard of this, He immediately engaged Himself in the service of His elder brother and accepted His orders. The order of the spiritual master must be obeyed without consideration.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Raghu-vaṁśa (14.46). Lord Rāmacandra’s statement to Sītā given below is from the Rāmāyaṇa (Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa 22.9).

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.146

gurura ājñā-pālanei jīvera niḥśreyasa-lābha:—

Rāmāyaṇe Ayodhyā-kāṇḍe (23.10)—

nirvicāraṁ guror ājñā
mayā kāryā mahātmanaḥ
śreyo hy evaṁ bhavatyāś ca
mama caiva viśeṣataḥ

Translation: “The order of a great personality like a father must be executed without consideration because there is good fortune in such an order for both of us. In particular, there is good fortune for Me.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.147

govindake sevaka-rūpe prabhura aṅgīkāra:—
tabe mahāprabhu tāṅre kaila aṅgīkāra
āpana-śrī-aṅga-sevāya dila adhikāra

Translation: After Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Govinda and engaged him in the service of His personal body.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.59: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: So be it. Although it is not right to accept service from the servant of a worshipable superior, if the superior orders, one must accept.

(He accepts Govinda and shows kindness to him).

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 13.132

Translation: From that time onwards, the very fortunate Govinda remained near the Lord’s lotus feet and, having given up all other activities, served him day and night.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.148

sarva-vaiṣṇavera priyapātra govinda:—
prabhura priya bhṛtya kari’ sabe kare māna
sakala vaiṣṇavera govinda kare samādhāna

Translation: Everyone respected Govinda as the dearest servant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and Govinda served all the Vaiṣṇavas and saw to their needs.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.149

tat-saṅge choṭa o baḍa haridāsa evaṁ rāmāi-nandāi:—
choṭa-baḍa-kīrtanīyā — dui haridāsa
rāmāi, nandāi rahe govindera pāśa

Translation: Both Haridāsa senior and Haridāsa junior, who were musicians, as well as Rāmāi and Nandāi, used to stay with Govinda.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.150

govindera sevā-saubhāgya:—
govindera saṅge kare prabhura sevana
govindera bhāgya-sīmā nā yāya varṇana

Translation: They all remained with Govinda to serve Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; therefore no one could estimate the good fortune of Govinda.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, on the order of Īśvara Purī, Govinda had the service of Lord Caitanya. Who can estimate his great good fortune? Because he was ordered by Īśvara Purī and the guru's order is always to be followed, therefore he was accepted in Lord Caitanya’s service. So there are many things we learn by this. We should understand that the empowered spiritual master can elevate anyone, and that he is blessed by Lord Caitanya. Similarly, the order of the spiritual master, who is bonafide and empowered, he can empower others also to do this special thing. So in this way the ācārya-paramparā empowers people to spread Lord Caitanya’s mission all over the world.

Hare Krishna! Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lord Caitanya Accepts Govinda as His Personal Servant.Under the Section The Lord’s return to Jagannātha Purī.