20210817 Loving Service of Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya Pleases Lord Caitanya

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on August 17th, 2021 in Sri Dhama Mayapur, 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:

Loving Service of Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya Pleases Lord Caitanya 
Under the Section: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.57

bhaṭṭera prabhu-sevā:— 
pathe yāite bhaṭṭācārya śāka-mūla-phala
yāhāṅ yei pāyena tāhāṅ layena sakala

Translation: Along the way, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya collected all kinds of spinach, roots and fruit whenever possible.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.58

pathe vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇagaṇerai prabhu-sevā:— 
ye-grāme rahena prabhu, tathāya brāhmaṇa
pāṅca-sāta jana āsi’ kare nimantraṇa

Translation: Whenever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited a village, a few brāhmaṇas—five or seven—would come and extend invitations to the Lord.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.59

keha anna āni’ deya bhaṭṭācārya-sthāne
keha dugdha, dadhi, keha ghṛta, khaṇḍa āne

Translation: Some people would bring grain and deliver it to Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya. Others would bring milk and yogurt, and still others would bring ghee and sugar.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.60

daikṣa -brāhmaṇagaṇera prabhu-sevā:— 
yāhāṅ vipra nāhi tāhāṅ ‘śūdra-mahājana’
āsi’ sabe bhaṭṭācārye kare nimantraṇa

Translation: In some villages there were no brāhmaṇas; nonetheless, devotees born in non-brāhmaṇa families came and extended invitations to Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya.

Purport: Actually a sannyāsī or a brāhmaṇa will not accept an invitation extended by a person born in a lower family. However, there are many devotees who are raised to the platform of brāhmaṇa by their initiation. These people are called śūdra-mahājana. This indicates that one who is born in a non-brāhmaṇa family has accepted the brāhmaṇa status by initiation. Such devotees extended invitations to Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya. A Māyāvādī sannyāsī will accept an invitation only from a brāhmaṇa family, but a Vaiṣṇava does not accept an invitation from a brāhmaṇa if he does not belong to the Vaiṣṇava sect. However, a Vaiṣṇava will accept an invitation from a brāhmaṇa or śūdra-mahājana if that person is an initiated Vaiṣṇava. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself accepted invitations from śūdra-mahājanas, and this confirms the fact that anyone initiated by a Vaiṣṇava mantra can be accepted as a brāhmaṇa. One can accept an invitation from such a person.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this establishes the position of a Vaiṣṇava. His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupada Ṭhākura said the brāhmaṇa had twelve qualities but a Vaiṣṇava had thirteen, twelve of a brāhmaṇa and one more, pure bhakti. So, he gave the upanayanam to the Vaiṣṇava born in the non-brāhmaṇa family. This was followed by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who also gave second initiation to the ladies, lady Vaiṣṇavīs, although he didn’t give them the thread. As this is not the custom to give the threads to the ladies.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.61

vanapathe āhārādira vyavasthā:— 
bhaṭṭācārya pāka kare vanya-vyañjana
vanya-vyañjane prabhura ānandita mana

Translation: Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya used to cook all kinds of vegetables gathered from the forest, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to accept these preparations.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appreciated forest vegetables, especially the śāk and naturally the vegetables that grew wild in the forest. So Lord Caitanya appreciated this type of vegetables. Starting tomorrow is the second month of cāturmāsa, so we can take śāk but dahī is prohibited for one month.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.62–63

dui-cāri dinera anna rākhena saṁhati
yāhāṅ śūnya vana, lokera nāhika vasati

Translation: Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya used to keep a stock of food grain that would last from two to four days. Where there were no people, he would cook the grain and prepare vegetables, spinach, roots and fruits collected from the forest.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this showed how Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, he took care of the Lord and since they were going by the jungle path, sometimes there would be no village.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.64

parama santoṣa prabhura vanya-bhojane
mahā-sukha pāna, ye dina rahena nirjane

Translation: The Lord was always very happy to eat these forest vegetables, and He was even happier when He had an opportunity to stay in a solitary place.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya being the creator of the spiritual and material world, He enjoyed sometimes staying in a solitary place in a jungle.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.65

bhaṭṭera prabhusevā o tatsaṅgī prabhura bāhaka:—
bhaṭṭācārya sevā kare, snehe yaiche ‘dāsa’
tāṅra vipra vahe jala-pātra-bahirvāsa

Translation: Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya was so affectionate to the Lord that he was rendering service just like a menial servant. His assistant brāhmaṇa carried the waterpot and garments.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya was serving the Lord in all respects as a menial servant, he had served the Lord with great affection.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.66

jharaṇāya prabhura trisandhyā-snāna o indhanāgnite śīta-nirāvaṇa:— 
nirjharete uṣṇodake snāna tina-bāra
dui-sandhyā agni-tāpa kāṣṭhera apāra

Translation: The Lord used to bathe three times a day in the warm water of the waterfalls. He also used to heat Himself morning and evening with a fire made with the limitless wood.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this explains the daily activities of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.67

bhaṭṭake prabhura pūrva vṛndāvana-yātrā-vivaraṇa varṇana:— 
nirantara premāvese nirjane gamana
sukha anubhavi’ prabhu kahena vacana

Translation: While traveling in this secluded forest and feeling very happy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made the following statement.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.68

śuna, bhaṭṭācārya,—“āmi gelāṅa bahu-deśa
vana-pathe duḥkhera kāhāṅ nāhi pāi leśa

Translation: ”My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, I have traveled very far through the forest, and I have not even slightly received any trouble.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.69

kṛṣṇa—kṛpālu, āmāya bahuta kṛpā kailā
vana-pathe āni’ āmāya baḍa sukha dilā

Translation: “Kṛṣṇa is very merciful, especially to Me. He has shown His mercy by bringing Me on this path through the forest. Thus He has given Me great pleasure.”

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.70

pūrve vṛndāvana yāite karilāṅa vicāra
mātā, gaṅgā, bhakta-gaṇe dekhiba eka-bāra

Translation: “Before this, I decided to go to Vṛndāvana and on the way see My mother, the river Ganges and other devotees once again.”

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.71

bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge avaśya kariba milana
bhakta-gaṇe saṅge lañā yāba ‘vṛndāvana’

Translation: “I thought that once again I would see and meet all the devotees and take them with Me to Vṛndāvana.”

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.72

eta bhāvi’ gauḍa-deśe kariluṅ gamana
mātā, gaṅgā bhakte dekhi’ sukhī haila mana

Translation: “Thus I went to Bengal, and I was very happy to see My mother, the river Ganges and the devotees.”

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.73

bhakta-gaṇe lañā tabe calilāṅa raṅge
lakṣa-koṭi loka tāhāṅ haila āmā-saṅge

Translation: “However, when I started for Vṛndāvana, many thousands and millions of people gathered and began to go with Me.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.74

sanātana-mukhe kṛṣṇa āmā śikhāilā
tāhā vighna kari’ vana-pathe lañā āilā

Translation: “In this way I was going to Vṛndāvana with a big crowd, but through the mouth of Sanātana, Kṛṣṇa taught Me a lesson. Thus by making some impediment, He has brought Me to Vṛndāvana on the path through the forest.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.75

kṛṣṇa-kṛpā-mahimokti:— 
kṛpāra samudra, dīna-hīne dayāmaya
kṛṣṇa-kṛpā vinā kona ‘sukha’ nāhi haya”

Translation: “Kṛṣṇa is an ocean of mercy. He is especially merciful to the poor and fallen. Without His mercy, there is no possibility of happiness.”

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.76

bhaṭṭera sevāya prabhura kṛtajñatā-jñāpana:— 
bhaṭṭācārye āliṅgiyā tāṅhāre kahili
‘tomāra prasāde āmi eta sukha pāila’

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya and told him, “It is only by your kindness that I am now so happy.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya explained why He was going on this jungle path and He was enjoying the journey so much due to Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya’s service attitude. So, Lord Caitanya embraced Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.77

bhaṭṭera dainyokti o stava:— 
teṅho kahena,—”tumi ‘kṛṣṇa’, tumi ‘dayāmaya’
adhama jīva muñi, more ha-ilā sadaya

Translation: Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya replied, “My dear Lord, You are Kṛṣṇa Himself, and therefore You are merciful. I am a fallen living entity, but You have bestowed a great favor upon me.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.78

muñi chāra, more tumi saṅge lañā āilā
kṛpā kari’ mora hāte ’prabhu’ bhikṣā kailā

Translation: “Sir, I am most fallen, yet You have brought me with You. Showing great mercy, You have accepted food prepared by me.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.79

adhama-kākere kailā garuḍa-samāna
‘svatantra īśvara’ tumi—svayaṁ bhagavān”

Translation: “You have made me Your carrier Garuḍa, although I am no better than a condemned crow. Thus You are the independent Personality of Godhead, the original Lord.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya is humbling himself before Lord Caitanya. He is appreciating the great mercy given by Lord Caitanya to allow him to serve. Everyone of us should be very eager to serve the Lord and His representative the guru, so in this way by the service we can taste unlimited spiritual nectar.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.80

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (1.1.1) bhāvārtha-dīpikāya:— 
mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ
paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande
paramānanda-mādhavam

Translation: “‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]—transcendental bliss, knowledge and eternity. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him, who turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains. Such is the mercy of the Lord.’”

Purport: This is a quotation from the Bhāvārtha-dīpikā commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.1.1).

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.81

sevādvārā bhaṭṭera prabhu-toṣaṇa:— 
ei-mata balabhadra karena stavana
prema-sevā kari’ tuṣṭa kaila prabhura mana

Translation: In this way Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya offered his prayers to the Lord. By rendering service unto Him in ecstatic love, he pacified the Lord’s mind.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya had not only served the Lord but also had offered Him suitable prayers and he didn’t show any false ego or false pride and in this way the Lord was very satisfied with his selfless service.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Loving Service of Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya Pleases Lord Caitanya. 
Under the Section: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana