20210506 Comparing the Opulence of the Goddess of Fortune and the Gopīs of Vṛndāvana, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and Svarūpa Dāmodara Engage in Friendly Banter
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation
The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 6th,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 Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book. Today's chapter is entitled as:
Comparing the Opulence of the Goddess of Fortune and the Gopīs of Vṛndāvana, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and Svarūpa Dāmodara Engage in Friendly Banter
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.203
śrī-rādhā-sevaka śrī-svarūpa o śrī-lakṣmī-nārāyaṇa-sevaka śrīvāsera saṁlāpa; śrīvāsera svīya īśvarīra aiśvarya-garva:—
śrīvāsa hāsiyā kahe,—śuna, dāmodara
āmāra lakṣmīra dekha sampatti vistara
Translation: At this time, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura smiled and told Svarūpa Dāmodara, “My dear sir, please hear! Just see how opulent my goddess of fortune is!
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.204
vṛndāvanera sampad dekha,—puṣpa-kisalaya
giridhātu-śikhipiccha-guñjāphala-maya
Translation: “As far as Vṛndāvana’s opulence is concerned, it consists of a few flowers and twigs, some minerals from the hills, a few peacock feathers and the plant known as guñjā.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.205
kṛṣṇera vraja-gamana-hetu lakṣmīra krodhābhimāna:—
vṛndāvana dekhibāre gelā jagannātha
śuni’ lakṣmī-devīra mane haila āsoyātha
Translation: “When Jagannātha decided to see Vṛndāvana, He went there, and upon hearing this, the goddess of fortune experienced restlessness and jealousy.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.206
eta sampatti chāḍi’ kene gelā vṛndāvana
tāṅre hāsya karite lakṣmī karilā sājana
Translation: “She wondered, ‘Why did Lord Jagannātha give up so much opulence and go to Vṛndāvana?’ To make Him a laughingstock, the goddess of fortune made arrangements for much decoration.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.207
“tomāra ṭhākura, dekha eta sampatti chāḍi’
patra-phala-phula-lobhe gelā puṣpa-bāḍī
Translation: “Then the maidservants of the goddess of fortune said to the servants of Lord Jagannātha, ‘Why did your Lord Jagannātha abandon the great opulence of the goddess of fortune and, for the sake of a few leaves, fruits and flowers, go see the flower garden of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī?
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.208
ei karma kare kāhāṅ vidagdha-śiromaṇi?
lakṣmīra agrete nija prabhure deha’ āni’”
Translation: “‘Your master is so expert at everything, but why does He do such things? Now bring your master before the goddess of fortune.’
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.209
lakṣmīra dāsī-gaṇakartṛka īśvarera doṣabhāgī sevakagaṇera bandhana o śāstipradāna —
eta bali’ mahā-lakṣmīra saba dāsī-gaṇe
kaṭi-vastre bāndhi’ āne prabhura nija-gaṇe
Translation: “In this way all the maidservants of the goddess of fortune arrested the servants of Jagannātha, bound them around the waist and brought them before the goddess of fortune.
Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura is comparing the opulence of Lakṣmī to the Vṛndāvana forest. So the aiśvarya is addressing the mādhurya, the opulence is addressing the sweetness of Vṛndāvana.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.210
lakṣmīra caraṇe āni’ karāya praṇati
dhana-daṇḍa laya, āra karāya minati
Translation: “When all the maidservants brought Lord Jagannātha’s servants before the lotus feet of the goddess of fortune, the Lord’s servants were fined and forced to submit.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.211
rathera upare kare daṇḍera tāḍana
cora-prāya kare jagannāthera sevaka-gaṇa
Translation: “All the maidservants began to beat the Ratha car with sticks, and they treated the servants of Lord Jagannātha almost like thieves.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.212
svīya prabhu jagannāthake pratyarpaṇārtha sevakagaṇera pratijñā:—
saba bhṛtya-gaṇa kahe,—yoḍa kari’ hāta
’kāli āni diba tomāra āge jagannātha’
Translation: “Finally all of Lord Jagannātha’s servants submitted to the goddess of fortune with folded hands, assuring her that they would bring Lord Jagannātha before her the very next day.
Jayapatākā Swami: So, the servants of Lord Jagannātha assured the Goddess of Fortune that tomorrow they would bring Lord Jagannatha.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.213
tacchravaṇe lakṣmīra krodha-śānti:—
tabe śānta hañā lakṣmī yāya nija ghara
āmāra lakṣmīra sampad—vākya-agocara
Translation: “Being thus pacified, the goddess of fortune returned to her apartment. Just see! My goddess of fortune is opulent beyond all description.”
Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura was the incarnation of Nārada Muni, so he was glorifying the opulence of Goddess of fortune.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.214
lakṣmīra aiśvarya varṇiyā śrīvāsera svarūpake parihāsa:—
dugdha āuṭi’ dadhi mathe tomāra gopī-gaṇe
āmāra ṭhākurāṇī vaise ratna-siṁhāsane
Translation: Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura continued to address Svarūpa Dāmodara: “Your gopīs are engaged in boiling milk and churning yogurt, but my mistress, the goddess of fortune, sits on a throne made of jewels and gems.”
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.215
śrīvāsa-vacana-śravaṇe prabhura rāgamārgīya bhaktagaṇera hāsya:—
nārada-prakṛti śrīvāsa kare parihāsa
śuni’ hāse mahāprabhura yata nija-dāsa
Translation: Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, who was enjoying the mood of Nārada Muni, thus made jokes. Hearing him, all the personal servants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to smile.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.216
prabhu-karttṛka śrīvāsa o śrī-svarūpera bhajana-vaiśiṣṭya varṇana:—
prabhu kahe,—śrīvāsa, tomāte nārada-svabhāva
aiśvarya-bhāve tomāte, īśvara-prabhāva
Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, “My dear Śrīvāsa, your nature is exactly like that of Nārada Muni. The Supreme Personality of Godhead’s opulence is having a direct influence upon you.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.217
iṅho dāmodara-svarūpa-śuddha-vrajavāsī
aiśvarya nā jāne iṅho śuddha-preme bhāsi’
Translation: “Svarūpa Dāmodara is a pure devotee of Vṛndāvana. He does not even know what opulence is, for he is simply absorbed in pure devotional service.”
Jayapatākā Swami: So, in Dvārakā the opulence is the major thing but in Vṛndāvana pure love of Kṛṣṇa is the major thing. So, Śrīvāsa was admiring the opulence of the Goddess of fortune, but Lord Caitanya was appreciating the pure devotion of the vrajavāsīs.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.218
svarūpa-karttṛka vrajera mādhurya-garimā-varṇana:—
svarūpa kahe,—śrīvāsa, śuna sāvadhāne
vṛndāvana-sampad tomāra nāhi paḍe mane?
Translation: Svarūpa Dāmodara then retorted, “My dear Śrīvāsa, please hear me with attention. You have forgotten the transcendental opulence of Vṛndāvana.
Jayapatākā Swami: So, Svarūpa Dāmodara is now going to tell the opulence of Vṛndāvana.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.219
mahā-vaikuṇṭhera aiśvarya vṛndāvanaiśvaryera eka kaṇamātra:—
vṛndāvane sāhajika ye sampat-sindhu
dvārakā-vaikuṇṭha-sampat-tāra eka bindu
Translation: “The natural opulence of Vṛndāvana is just like an ocean. The opulence of Dvārakā and Vaikuṇṭha is not even to be compared to a drop.
Jayapatākā Swami: Wow!
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.220
kṛṣṇera vṛndāvana-dhāma-varṇana:—
parama puruṣottama svayaṁ bhagavān
kṛṣṇa yāhāṅ dhanī tāhāṅ vṛndāvana-dhāma
Translation: “Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full of all opulences, and His complete opulences are exhibited only in Vṛndāvana-dhāma.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.221
cintāmaṇi-maya bhūmi ratnera bhavana
cintāmaṇi-gaṇa dāsī-caraṇa-bhūṣaṇa
Translation: “Vṛndāvana-dhāma is made of transcendental touchstone. Its entire surface is the source of all valuable jewels, and the cintāmaṇi stone is used to decorate the lotus feet of the maidservants of Vṛndāvana.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.222
kalpavṛkṣa-latāra-yāhāṅ sāhajika-vana
puṣpa-phala vinā keha nā māge anya dhana
Translation: “Vṛndāvana is a natural forest of desire trees and creepers, and the inhabitants do not want anything but the fruits and flowers of those desire trees.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.223
ananta kāma-dhenu tāhāṅ phire vane vane
dugdha-mātra dena, keha nā māge anya dhane
Translation: “In Vṛndāvana there are cows that fulfill all desires [kāma-dhenus], and their number is unlimited. They graze from forest to forest and deliver only milk. The people want nothing else.
Jayapatākā Swami: So, here Svarūpa Dāmodara is describing the opulence of the Vṛndāvana forest. Its like an ocean and the opulence of Dvārakā and Vaikuṇṭha are just like a drop, Kṛṣṇa never leaves Vṛndāvana, that’s shown here why.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.224
sahaja lokera kathā—yāhāṅ divya-gīta
sahaja gamana kare,—yaiche nṛtya-pratīta
Translation: “In Vṛndāvana, the natural speech of the people sounds like music, and their natural motion resembles a dance.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.225
sarvatra jala—yāhāṅ amṛta-samāna
cid-ānanda jyotiḥ svādya—yāhāṅ mūrtimān
Translation: “The water in Vṛndāvana is nectar, and the brahmajyoti effulgence, which is full of transcendental bliss, is directly perceived there in its form.
Jayapatākā Swami: So, Svarūpa Dāmodara is describing the relative ununderstood opulence of Vṛndāvana.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.226
lakṣmī jini’ guṇa yāhāṅ lakṣmīra samāja
kṛṣṇa-vaṁśī kare yāhāṅ priya-sakhī-kāya
Translation: “The gopīs there are also goddesses of fortune, and they surpass the goddess of fortune who abides in Vaikuṇṭha. In Vṛndāvana, Lord Kṛṣṇa is always playing His transcendental flute, which is His dear companion.
Jayapatākā Swami: So, in Vṛndāvana Lord Kṛṣṇa plays on His flute which attracts all the devotees, in fact attracts all living entities. So, this flute playing is especially prominent in Vraja dhāma.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.227
vṛndāvana-sthita vastura svarūpa o vicitra svabhāva varṇana:— [paragraph] Brahma-saṁhitāya (5.56)–
śriyaḥ kāntāḥ kāntaḥ parama-puruṣaḥ kalpa-taravo
drumā bhūmiś cintāmaṇi-gaṇa-mayī toyam amṛtam
kathā gānaṁ nāṭyaṁ gamanam api vaṁśī priya-sakhī
cid-ānandaṁ jyotiḥ param api tad āsvādyam api ca
Translation: “‘The damsels of Vṛndāvana, the gopīs, are super goddesses of fortune. The enjoyer in Vṛndāvana is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. The trees there are all wish-fulfilling trees, and the land is made of transcendental touchstone. The water is all nectar, the talking is singing, the walking is dancing, and the constant companion of Kṛṣṇa is His flute. The effulgence of transcendental bliss is experienced everywhere. Therefore Vṛndāvana-dhāma is the only relishable abode.’
Purport: This is a quotation from the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.56).
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.228
vṛndāvaneśvarya varṇana:—
Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.1.173) dhṛta bilvamaṅgala-vacana:—
cintāmaṇiś caraṇa-bhūṣaṇam aṅganānāṁ
śṛṅgāra-puṣpa-taravas taravaḥ surāṇām
vṛndāvane vraja-dhanaṁ nanu kāma-dhenu-
vṛndāni ceti sukha-sindhur aho vibhūtiḥ
Translation: “‘The anklets on the damsels of Vraja-bhūmi are made of cintāmaṇi stone. The trees are wish-fulfilling trees, and they produce flowers with which the gopīs decorate themselves. There are also wish-fulfilling cows [kāma-dhenus], which deliver unlimited quantities of milk. These cows constitute the wealth of Vṛndāvana. Thus, Vṛndāvana’s opulence is blissfully exhibited.’”
Purport: This verse, by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura, is quoted in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.1.173).
Jayapatākā Swami: When Kṛṣṇa was in Dvārakā, He was feeling great separation from Vṛndāvana. As expressed in the Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta and in fact the form of Jagannātha, Baladeva and Subhadrā is the form of feeling separation from Vṛndāvana So Śrīvāsa, he was appreciating the mood in Dvārakā but Svarūpa Dāmodara was appreciating the mood in Vṛndāvana. So this is a great comparison that Kṛṣṇa is satisfying all His devotees but those who like opulence He satisfies them in Vaikuṇṭha and Dvārakā, but for those who appreciate His loving sweetness, they like Vṛndāvana dhāma. So, according to ones taste they go to that place, but Svarūpa Dāmodara was saying how Vṛndāvana is more opulent and he gave the examples.
Thus ends the chapter entitled, Comparing the Opulence of the Goddess of Fortune and the Gopīs of Vṛndāvana, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and Svarūpa Dāmodara Engage in Friendly Banter.
Lecture Suggetions
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20210517 Murāri Gupta’s Firm Faith in Devotional Service to Lord Rāmacandra
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20210516 Mukunda Feigns Epilepsy to Hide His Love of Kṛṣṇa
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20210515 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.34
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20210515 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Teaches the Symptoms of a Vaiṣṇava to the Inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma (Part 2)
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20210515 Addressing: India for India
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20210515 Addressing ISKCON Canada – COVID Relief Event for Māyāpur and Bangladesh
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20210514 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Teaches the Symptoms of a Vaiṣṇava to the Inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma (Part 1)
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20210513 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Describes the Pure Devotional Service Rendered to Kṛṣṇa By Rāghava Paṇḍita
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20210512 Bidding Farewell to All the Devotees, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Extols the Love of His Mother Śacīdevī
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20210511 Pastimes in Gadādhara’s Garden
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20210510 Phalaśruti – The Result of Hearing About the Pastime of Lord Caitanya and Advaita Ācārya
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20210509 Indradeva Showers Rain to Fulfills the Desire of Advaita Ācārya to Feed Lord Caitanya Alone
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20210508 Śmṛti-sabhā: Homage to Śrīpāda Paṅkajāṅghri Prabhu
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20210508 Advaita Ācārya Invites Lord Caitanya to Take Lunch
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20210507 Lord Jagannātha Returns to His Abode in Nīlācala
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20210505 The Ecstatic Ornaments Decorating the Body of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī
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20210504 Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī: A Jewel Mine of Ecstatic Love and Transcendental Conjugal Mellows
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20210503 Varieties of Transcendental Egoistic Pride Manifested to Please Kṛṣṇa
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20210502 The Festival of Herā-pañcamī
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20210501 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.22
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20210501 Absorbed in the Mood of Vṛndāvana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His Devotees Perform Pastimes Near the Guṇḍicā Temple Part 2
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20210430 Absorbed in the Mood of Vṛndāvana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His Devotees Perform Pastimes Near the Guṇḍicā Temple
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20210429 Lord Jagannātha’s Car Moves by Dint of the Uncommon Strength of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
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20210428 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Accepts Lunch Prasāda With the Devotees
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20210427 Phalaśruti - The Result of Hearing About the Meeting of Mahārāja Pratāparudra with Lord Caitanya Part 2
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20210426 Phalaśruti - The Result of Hearing About the Meeting of Mahārāja Pratāparudra with Lord Caitanya Part 1
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20210425 Phalaśruti - The Result of Hearing About the Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yātrā
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20210424 Expressing Anger Externally, Lord Caitanya is Very Satisfied with King Pratāparudra
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20210424 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.29.17
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20210423 - 72nd Vyāsa-pūjā Address