20210611 Lord Caitanya Reaches Rāghava Bhavana in Pānihāṭi Part 1

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on June 11th, 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:

Lord Caitanya Reaches Rāghava Bhavana in Pānihāṭi Part 1
Under the Section: The Lord’s Attempt to Go to Vṛndāvana

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 18.63

Translation: In this way, the son of Śacī performed pastimes in Purī for twenty years in joy and shone with his pastimes. During this time, with desire to travel, he went to the bank of the Gaṅgā and performed pastimes in Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.1

Translation: With complexion of molten gold, his two broad arms like radiant elephant trunks, Mahāprabhu shone as he was about to go to Mathurā.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.2

Translation: To go to the Yamunā, he decided to go to the bank of the Gaṅgā, since he was born there and had great affection for it.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.3

Translation: As he was about to go from the south to Mathurā, Rāmānanda stopped him.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.4

Translation: At the end of cāturmāsya, Rāmānanda in great sorrow spoke the Lord, who was preparing to go.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.5

Translation: “The Lord will go on the Vijaya-dāsamī. At that victorious time, I will die.”

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.6

Translation: Govinda, Jaganānanda, Dāmodara Paṇḍita and Paramānanda Purī went with him.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.7

Translation: The Lord ordered them to take various types of mahā-prasādam to distribute to the devotees on coming to the bank of the Gaṅgā.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.8

Translation: In joy, on the order of the Lord, they gathered great amounts of mahā-prasādam and rope and sandalwood remnants.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, gives some of the details, somethings which are already mentioned by the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. He came Rūpa-nārāyaṇa river and was escorted by the boats arranged by the Mohammaden Governor which had many soldiers to keep away pirates. By his arrangement the Lord reached the Ganges. Since He was born by the side of Ganges, He had a great relationship with the Ganges. He was very happy to visit the Ganges site.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.9

Translation: The Lord by his desire entrusted Paramānanda Purī with some of Jagannātha cloth remnants for his mother.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.10

Translation: “Pratāparudra gave me this rare, excellent cloth of Jagannātha.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.11

Translation: “To whom shall I give this cloth? You should say. Right now, my mind is confused.”

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.12

Translation: When he said this, Paramānanda Purī said to Mahāprabhu, “It should be given to your mother. That is my good opinion.”

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.13

Translation: In the morning, the Lord, whose glance could dispel illusion, enchanting with joyful rasa, giving joy to the heart, spoke.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.14

Translation: “Singing and singing, I will go to see Jagannātha. Dāmodara, singing, should stay with me for certain.”

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.15

Translation: At the end of night the Lord walked on the path joyful with kīrtana to see the first darśana of Jagannātha.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.16

Translation: By chance, Dāmodara could not go with him. Waiting for him, the Lord stood at the siṁha-dvāra for some time.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.17

Translation: Dāmodara achieved success in his birth by experiencing great feelings in Mahāprabhu’s absence. This person attained glory on earth for such feelings for Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, serving the Lord in separation is considered more effective. So, Lord Caitanya taught this system of serving the Lord in vipralambha, in separation and Dāmodara achieved this.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.18

Translation: Dāmodara came and met him a little later. The Lord, overcome with emotion, on seeing him, became angry.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.19

Translation: The ocean of affection hit Dāmodara on his back with a song book, and out of affection kicked him with his foot.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is a great mercy to receive from Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.20

Translation: Then the ocean of mercy entered the temple and saw Jagannātha. Offering respects and prayers he decided to leave.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.21

Translation: Being very enthusiastic, some devotees performed kīrtana. Some enthusiastic devotees danced.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.22

Translation: All the devotees headed by Kāśī-miśṛa came later. The ocean of mercy then left with the devotees, who followed after him.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.23

Translation: With trembling mind, Gaurāṅga departed at the end of night, with devotees singing a sweet song.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.24

Translation: Govinda, Jagadānanda, Dāmodara Paṇḍita and Paramānada Purī did kīrtana as they went away.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.25

Translation: He who possessed the glorious pastimes of Vraja and gave up the pastimes in Purī, with agitated mind and great thirst to go to Vraja, was an inspiration to all people with his desire. He was greedy for pastimes. The devotees did many actions like the various movements of bees, which were filled with rashness, in order to catch the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the devotees of Lord Caitanya were very eager to maintain contact with the Lord, and just like bees going after the honey, devotees were engaging in pure bhakti for Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.26

Translation: Rāmānanda Rāya mounted a palanquin and the devotees gathered and followed him.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.27

Translation: Hearing the Lord’s words, men and women from all around gathered, saying with longing, “Chant the name of the Lord.”

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.28

Translation: After the sun rose, the Lord, more brilliant than a million suns, performed morning duties along with the devotees.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.29

Translation: The protector of the protectors who offered respects, Mahāprabhu, when he prepared to leave, could not be stopped, for his face would give bliss to the devotees who served his feet on his auspicious return.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya had been desiring to leave for Vṛndāvana. But, by using various tricks, Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya kept delaying the Lord. But then He finally decided that no matter what, I will leave and then it was decided that at the end of the rainy season, on the Vijaya-dāsamī day He would leave for Vrndavana.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.30

Translation: Seeing the marks of beating on Dāmodara’s back in the dawn, Paramānanda covered his back with a cloth.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.31

Translation: At some distance, Mahāprabhu, desiring to quarrel with Rāmānanda in affection, stopped moving.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.32

Translation: Giving up the debate, the Lord continued moving. Enlightened by Mahāprabhu’s various polite words, Rāmānanda could not be fully satisfied for a moment.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.33

Translation: Attractive-eyed Rāmānanda became full of sorrow by the wanderings of the Lord, which were not without attractive beauty. Clearly having spiritual vision, he was not confused by the illusions created by the great errors of impersonal jñānīs.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Rāmānanda Rāya, he was feeling great sorrow because he could see that soon he would be separated from the Lord.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.34

Translation: Who can describe the unseen sorrow of the great ocean Rāmānanda for Mahāprabhu, the object of his prema?

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.35

Translation: Great quantities of mahā-prasādam of four varieties sent by Vāṇīnātha suddenly arrived.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.36

Translation: Seeing the attractive, excellent mahā-prasādam which had suddenly come from Purī, Gauracandra, the supreme Lord, was happy.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.37

Translation: Oh! A certain devotee with politeness considered a small amount of prasādam to be a great amount. There were plenty of varieties of food for the mouth without scarcity. No one said, “There is not enough.”

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.38

Translation: After eating the mahā-prasādam, the ocean of mercy rested for a short time and then in joy departed with the devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the details of Lord Caitanya’s trip through Orissa and then to Navadvīpa has been described and every action of the Lord is a unique pastimes and His glance, His dance, His singing, everything is of immense transcendental rasa for the devotees.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.38

Translation: After eating the mahā-prasādam, the ocean of mercy rested for a short time and then in joy departed with the devotees.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.39

Translation: Coming to one place, the Lord stopped there. All people very eagerly came to see him. That was astonishing.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.40

Translation: Whenever the Lord stopped, people were attracted by his calmness and friendly fragrance, as much as they were attracted by the wind.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya’s transcendental qualities were attractive to all people thus thousands of devotees came to see the Lord. they were completely attracted by the appearance and activities of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.41

Translation: The wind, desiring the playful, wandering female bees, flirting with those female bees by moving the lotuses, blew here and there in a happy mood.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.42

Translation: Going with the intelligent devotees who were distributing prema. Gaurāṅga immersed himself in a great pond of sweet bliss.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.43

Translation: Seeing an excellent tree, he ran freely and, jumping, held the tree. Supported by it, he appeared beautiful.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.44

Translation: His eyes filled with trees, he embraced the trees. Whom did Mahāprabhu not deliver by some method?

Jayapatākā Swami: So, even the trees were embraced by Lord Caitanya, they will be delivered and in this way Lord Caitanya somehow or other would deliver everyone, people, trees, bees, you name it. He would deliver everyone, by some or other means

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.45

Translation: In the forest, the cries of peacocks mixed with those of the partridge, similar to cries of crows. That sound of the peacock had the attractiveness of the monsoon season. Like loud recitation of verses of praise, it surpassed bliss-giving liquor.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the sound of peacock was very beautiful and it reminds one of Vṛndāvana but Lord Caitanya in this way, He was greeted by the peacock calls.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.46

Translation: In joy, the Lord embraced the Vṛndāvana trees (seeing them as such) so strongly that it seemed they would be crushed.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, every tree Lord Caitanya was seeing as a Vṛndāvana tree, therefore He embraced them feeling great love for Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.47

Translation: In fear the devotees headed by Paramānanda held him with their strong arms, as they thought he would fall into the thorny bushes.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya was acting in ecstasy, He was not aware of the different thorns and obstacles. So the other devotees were trying to hold Him and protect Him from ecstatically walk into some thorny bushes.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.49

Translation: The unlimited, pure earth, filled with water,

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.48

Translation: He said, “Look! Kṛṣṇa is performing pastimes everywhere, at each tree. I see the whole world being made of Kṛṣṇa.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this ecstatic mood Lord Caitanya was seeing every tree as having Kṛṣṇa. He was seeing Kṛṣṇa everywhere.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.49

Translation: The unlimited, pure earth, filled with water, without mud constantly shone. At that time, the Lord travelled at an astonishing pace.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.50

Translation: By the travelling of the Lord, the pleasant autumn season, smiling with blossoming kāśa flowers, became especially beautiful.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, at the end of the rainy season starts the autumn and that was the time Lord Caitanya was travelling.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.51

Translation: Arriving at Bhuvaneśvara, the Lord saw the deity of Śiva and, after taking mahā-prasādam, took rest.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, it is described in His journey to Purī from Bengal, he stopped at Bhuvaneśvara. There was a Liṅgarāja temple in Bhuvaneśvara, the Bindu-sarovara lake, Ananta-vāsudeva temple like that there were various temples. Lord Caitanya had described all those in His journey to Purī, now also He visited these temples.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.52

Translation: The next day, at the end of night, Mahāprabhu departed with the devotees and putting Hari-dāsa in front, entered the town.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.53

Translation: The lakes of autumn were the essence of beauty. With the rains, they became exceedingly fresh with water. There were many cranes at that time, and all creatures, without or without body (the directions), got strength. The tree and creepers blossomed. With a portion of the cool season, the time was ideal and the directions were pleased.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.54

Translation: Rāmānanda Rāya, with permission, had a house built previously and brought the Lord inside quickly.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.55

Translation: Seeing the house pure and anointed, the ocean of mercy with great pleasure stayed there with Paramānanda Purī.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the houses were prepared for Lord Caitanya and His devotees to stay in.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.56

Translation: From Purī, piles of mahā-prasādam, with excellent rice, drinks and sweets soon arrived in a constant flow.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.57

Translation: The devatās like Brahmā and Śiva take his order on their heads and offer prayers.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṇa Himself in disguise as a devotee, but actually His power is unlimited. Even Śiva and Brahmā are taking His order.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.58

Translation: Seeing the mahā-prasādam, the Lord was very pleased and ate with prema. He spent the night speaking with Rāmānanda and the devotees.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.59

Translation: Absorbed in various topics of discussion with Rāmānanda, the Lord, beautiful as the moon, passed the night.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.60

Translation: Mahāprabhu and Paramānanda went in front and intelligent Rāmānanda followed behind.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.61

Translation: The ocean of mercy, going on the path, chanted the Lord’s names with his sweet, shining lips.

Translation: Travelling in this way, he saw a pleasant place to stay on the bank of a river. Singing sweetly, beautiful with his sweet lips, he spoke.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.63

Translation: Go ahead to Kaṭaka. I will go and see the deity of Gopīnātha later.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 19.64

Translation: When he said this, the devotees headed by Paramānanda departed and Gaurāṅga stayed there to take rest with one devotee.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this detail of Lord Caitanya’s travelling and the Caitanya-caritāmṛta detail, somehow it need to be combined. Lord Caitanya, He went from Jagannātha Purī to Bhuvanesvara,to Kaṭaka and then to Remuṇā and to the Ganges.