20210327 Lord Caitanya’s Dealings with Bengal Devotees (Part 3)

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on March 27th, 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!

Hare Krishna! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book,today's chapter is entitled as:

Lord Caitanya’s Dealings with Bengal Devotees Part 3

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.100: Śivānanda Sena then offered respects in bliss.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.101: He brought two jars of Gaṅgā water to Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.102: Seeing the water, Mahāprabhu, the ocean of mercy, sang its praises. His teeth gleaming between his lips, he spoke sweetly.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.103: “Give one jar to me, for the bathing ceremony of Jagannātha. Separate these two jars of Vāsudeva and Śivānanda.”

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.104: He understood the desire of Vāsudeva Datta and Śivānanda Sena. He said “Divide the water and give half to Jagannātha and leave the other half here.”

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.189: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Śivānanda! I know that you are also very much attached me.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.149

prabhukarttṛka śivānandera praśaṁsā:—
śivānande kahe prabhu,—tomāra āmāte
gāḍha anurāga haya, jāni āge haite

Translation: Then turning toward Śivānanda Sena, the Lord said, “I know that from the very beginning your affection for Me has been very great.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.150

śivānandera dainya:—
śuni’ śivānanda-sena premāviṣṭa hañā
daṇḍavat hañā pade śloka paḍiyā

Translation: Immediately upon hearing this, Śivānanda Sena became absorbed in ecstatic love and fell down on the ground, offering obeisances to the Lord. He then began to recite the following verse.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.151 and Caitanya- Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.190

[stotra-ratne 21]

bhagavānera dayā prārthanā:—
śrī-yāmunācārya-kṛta stotra-ratna (26)—
nimajjato ’nanta bhavārṇavāntaś
cirāya me kūlam ivāsi labdhaḥ
tvayāpi labdhaṁ bhagavann idānīm
anuttamaṁ pātram idaṁ dayāyāḥ

Translation: “O my Lord! O unlimited one! Although I was merged in the ocean of nescience, I have now, after a long time, attained You, just as one may attain the seashore. My dear Lord, by getting me, You have obtained the right person upon whom to bestow Your causeless mercy.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sivananda Sena, he offered this prayer to Lord Caitanya that He was so grateful for having received Lord Caitanya’s mercy.

Purport: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda: This is verse 21 from the Stotra-ratna, composed by Ālabandāru Yāmunācārya. One’s relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead may be reestablished even after one has fallen into the ocean of nescience, which is the ocean of material existence involving the repetition of birth, death, old age and disease, all arising out of the acceptance of the material body. There are 8,400,000 species of material life, but in the human body one attains a chance to get release from the repetition of birth and death. When one becomes the Lord’s devotee, he is rescued from this dangerous ocean of birth and death. The Lord is always prepared to shower His mercy upon fallen souls struggling against miserable material conditions. As Lord Kṛṣṇa states in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.7):

“The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.”

Thus every living being is struggling hard in this material nature. Actually the living entity is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, and when he surrenders unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he attains release from the ocean of birth and death. The Lord, being very kind to fallen souls, is always anxious to get the living entity out of the ocean of nescience. If the living entity understands his position and surrenders to the Lord, his life becomes successful.

Jayapataka Swami: This needs to be understood by the conditioned souls, they are meant to be liberated from this material nescience and the Lord is anxious to help them. But we don’t take His help, this shows how we should pray to the Lord and take His help.

(Śivānanda falls to the ground).

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.80: Murāri Gupta, his mind afflicted with depression, fell on the ground like a stick and, crying, spoke.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.81:  “I am miserable, full of sorrow, the most fallen person. You great devotees have brought me this far.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.82:  “I do not have the strength to go further. I do not have the rashness to see Jagannātha. If you inform Mahāprabhu of this, then I will gain the strength to go later.”

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.83: Saying this, in great depression and sorrow, Murāri Gupta remained fixed in his determination.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.152

murāri-guptera dainyavaśataḥ ātmagopana:—
prathame murāri-gupta prabhure nā miliyā
bāhirete paḍi’ āche daṇḍavat hañā

Translation: Murāri Gupta at first did not meet the Lord but rather remained outside the door, falling down like a stick to offer obeisances.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.153

bhagavānera bhaktānveṣaṇa:—
murāri nā dekhiyā prabhu kare anveṣaṇa
murāri la-ite dhāñā āilā bahu-jana

Translation: When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could not see Murāri amongst the devotees, He inquired about him. Thereupon many people immediately went to Murāri, running to take him to the Lord.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.105: The ocean of mercy then inquired with astonishment, “Where is Murāri? Where is Murāṛī? Bring him quickly.”

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.106: Hearing this, many devotees ran with zeal and came quickly to the bank of Narendra Sarovara.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.107: They saw Murāri lying on the ground, trembling and crying with a miserable heart. They said, “Quickly come.”

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.108-109: Hearing these words, Murāri in great joy, trembling, with eyes full of tears, covered with dust, crying with pitiful words, completely despondent, went to see the Lord.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.110:  Perspiring and stunned, he stumbled about continually. He covered his throat with the border of his cloth.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.111: Holding grass in his teeth, he moved like lowly grass. He wore a pearl garland of tears on his chest.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.112: As if blinded by prema, he gazed at the Lord for a long time. He could not speak because tears choked his throat for some time.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.113: Then with choked, pitiful voice, feeling most miserable, he uttered words and held the lotus feet of the Lord.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.114: He repeatedly sprinkled the tears flowing from his two eyes upon the Lord’s lotus feet.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.115: The Lord, with two blossoming lotus eyes, also sprinkled Murārī’s back with his tears.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.116: The people present there cried along with his crying. The time became similar to him, absorbed completely in his emotions.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.117: The Lord, seeing and hearing his pitiful words and intense crying, could not endure it for a moment, and felt great sorrow.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.118: Then the Lord, with Advaita and others, became charming and affectionate, like the moon decorated with stars.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.119: The moon of Gaurāṅga, smiling, tinged with beautiful red lips, bathed the faces of the directions in the effulgence of his limbs.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we see how Murāri Gupta was feeling intense humility and despondence, and while crying he held the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya. And while he washed the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya with his tears, Lord Caitanya washed his back with His tears. Everyone started crying and Lord Caitanya could not tolerate this sadness and now He is expressing His mercy with His special compassionate features. So, we see the exchange between Lord Caitanya and His devotees, it is very intense and it is full of deep emotion.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.154

murārira sadainye prabhu-darśana:—
tṛṇa dui-guccha murāri daśane dhariyā
mahāprabhu āge gelā dainyādhīna hañā

Translation: Thus, Murāri Gupta, catching two bunches of straw in his teeth, went before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with humility and meekness.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.155

āpanāke aspṛśya-jñāne murārira prabhu-sparśane saṅkocabodha:—
murāri dekhiyā prabhu āilā milite
pāche bhāge murāri, lāgilā kahite

Translation: Upon seeing Murāri come to meet Him, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went up to him, but Murāri began to run away and speak as follows.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.156

more nā chuṅiha, prabhu, muñi ta’ pāmara
tomāra sparśa-yogya nahe pāpa kalevara

Translation: “My Lord, please do not touch me. I am most abominable and am not fit for You to touch because my body is sinful.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.157

bhaktera dainye bhagavānera ārdrabhāva:—
prabhu kahe,—murāri, kara dainya saṁvaraṇa
tomāra dainya dekhi’ mora vidīrṇa haya mana

Translation: The Lord said, “My dear Murāri, please restrain your unnecessary humility. My mind is disturbed to see your meekness.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.158

eta bali’ prabhu tāṅre kaila āliṅgana
nikaṭe vasāñā kare aṅga sammārjana

Translation: Saying this, the Lord embraced Murāri and had him sit down by His side. The Lord then began to cleanse his body with His own hands.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we can see how loving and merciful is Lord Caitanya to His pure devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.159-160

candraśekhara, puṇḍarīka o gadādharādike prabhura praśaṁsā o āliṅgana:—
ācāryaratna, vidyānidhi, paṇḍita gadādhara
gaṅgādāsa, hari-bhaṭṭa, ācārya purandara
pratyeke sabāra prabhu kari’ guṇa gāna
punaḥ punaḥ āliṅgiyā karila sammāna

Translation: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then again and again embraced all the devotees, including Ācāryaratna, Vidyānidhi, Paṇḍita Gadādhara, Gaṅgādāsa, Hari Bhaṭṭa and Ācārya Purandara. The Lord described their good qualities and glorified them again and again.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.161

haridāsera anbeṣaṇa:—
sabāre sammāni’ prabhura ha-ila ullāsa
haridāse nā dekhiyā kahe,—kāhāṅ haridāsa

Translation: After thus offering respect to each and every devotee, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very jubilant. However, not seeing Haridāsa Ṭhākura, He inquired, “Where is Haridāsa?”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.162

ṭhākura haridāsera dainya-vaśataḥ dūre avasthāna:—
dūra haite haridāsa gosāñe dekhiyā
rājapatha-prānte paḍi’ āche daṇḍavat hañā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then saw in the distance that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was lying down flat on the road offering obeisances.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.163

milana-sthāne āsi’ prabhure nā mililā
rājapatha-prānte dūre paḍiyā rahilā

Translation: Haridāsa Ṭhākura did not come to the Lord’s meeting place but remained fallen flat on the common road at a distance.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.164

bhakta-gaṇera haridāsake prabhu-ājñā-jñāpana:—
bhakta saba dhāñā āila haridāse nite
prabhu tomāya milite cāhe, calaha tvarite

Translation: All the devotees then went to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, saying, “The Lord wants to meet you. Please come immediately.”

Jayapatākā Swami: We can see how Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Murāri Gupta they are so humble although they were the most advanced devotees. They were feeling themselves very unqualified and thus they were offering their obeisances at a distance, how Lord Caitanya called for them out of His causeless mercy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.165

maryādā-vidhi-saṁrakṣaṇa-pūrvaka haridāsera dainyokti:—
haridāsa kahe,—muñi nīca-jāti chāra
mandira-nikaṭe yāite mora nāhi ādhikāra

Translation: Haridāsa Ṭhākura replied, “I cannot go near the temple because I am a low-caste, abominable person. I have no authority to go there.”

Purport: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda: Although Haridāsa Ṭhākura was such a highly exalted Vaiṣṇava that he was addressed as Haridāsa Gosvāmī, he still did not like to disturb the common sense of the general populace. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was so exalted that he was addressed as ṭhākura and gosāñī, and these titles are offered to the most advanced Vaiṣṇavas. The spiritual master is generally called gosāñī, and ṭhākura is used to address the paramahaṁsas, those in the topmost rank of spirituality. Nonetheless, Haridāsa Ṭhākura did not want to go near the temple, although he was called there by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself. The Jagannātha temple still accepts only those Hindus who are in the varṇāśrama order. Other castes, especially those who are not Hindu, are not allowed to enter the temple. This is a long-standing regulation, and thus Haridāsa Ṭhākura, although certainly competent and qualified to enter the temple, did not want even to go near it. This is called Vaiṣṇava humility.

Jayapatākā Swami: Actually, this temple was inaugurated by Lord Brahmā and Brahmā came down as Haridāsa Ṭhākura and one of his name is Brahmā-Haridāsa. So, to teach him humility Lord Caitanya had him appear in a non-Hindu family. So, it is quite unique and astonishing that Lord Brahmā Himself is not allowed inside the temple when He came as Haridāsa Ṭhākura, so this is out of his great humility. Because Lord Caitanya did not present Himself as Kṛṣṇa Himself, He presented Himself as a devotee, and therefore He did not insist that Haridāsa Ṭhākura should be let inside the temple. Once the priest of the Jagannātha temple realized that Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṇa Himself and that they should allow the devotees to enter the temple.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.166

nibhṛte ṭoṭā-madhye sthāna yadi pāṅa
tāhāṅ paḍi’ raho, ekale kāla goṅāṅa

Translation: Haridāsa Ṭhākura then expressed his desire: “If I could just get a solitary place near the temple, I could stay there alone and pass my time.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.167

jagannātha-sevakera mora sparśa nāhi haya
tāhāṅ paḍi’ rahoṅ,—mora ei vāñchā haya

Translation: “I do not wish the servants of Lord Jagannātha to touch me. I would remain there in the garden alone. That is my desire.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.168

lokamukhe haridāsera dainyokti śuniyā prabhura ānanda:—
ei kathā loka giyā prabhure kahili
śuniyā prabhura mane baḍa sukha ha-ila

Translation: When this message was relayed to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by the people, the Lord became very happy to hear it.

Jayapatākā Swami: Because Lord Caitanya appreciated the humility so He was very pleased when Haridāsa Ṭhākura expressed his humility.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.202: Gopīnātha Ācārya: Lord, give the order for everyone to take rest.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.203: Śrī Caitanya: Ācārya, you tell them yourself to go. How can I say, You go?

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.204: Advaita and others understand the hint and they all exit).

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.205: Śrī Caitanya: Lord Purīśvara (Paramānanda Purī), dear Svarūpa, today I have become full.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.206: Svarūpa: My Lord, although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is by Himself perfect and complete, still, it is the company of His devotees that makes Him perfect and complete. Although being full, moon is void without being surrounded by the stars (lunar mansion or constellation in the moon's path).

Since it is evening, all of come here. With regard to you, even Paramānanda Purī has not yet taken his meal.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.207: Śrī Caitanya: It is so.

(Thus everyone exit)

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was relating with each of the devotees and so emotionally. He was completely full and Svarupa Dāmodara mentioned that although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is complete and full, He is actually complete when He is surrounded by His devotees. Just like the moon is not complete without being surrounded by stars. So, Lord Caitanya when He is with His devotees, He is complete and auspicious. But Lord Caitanya directly and indirectly he told everyone to go and take prasāda.

When Lord Caitanya is surrounded by His devotees, He is complete and auspicious.

Thus, ends the chapter entitled, Lord Caitanya’s Dealings with Bengal Devotees.