20211014 Sanatāna Gosvāmī Attempts to Displease Nawab Hussain Shah

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 14th October 2021 in Śrīdhāma 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 continuing with the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter entitled today is:

Nawab Hussain Shah arest Santāna Gosvāmī

Under the section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.18

ekadina haṭhāt vādaśāhera āgamana:—

āra dina gauḍeśvara, saṅge eka-jana
ācambite gosāñi-sabhāte kaila āgamana

Translation: While Sanātana Gosvāmī was studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the assembly of learned brāhmaṇas, one day the Nawab of Bengal and another person suddenly appeared.

Purport: The full name of the Nawab of Bengal (Hussain Shah) was Ālāuddīna Saiyada Husena Sāha Seripha Makkā, and he ruled Bengal for twenty-three years, from 1420 to 1443 Śakābda Era (A.D. 1498 to 1521). Sanātana Gosvāmī was studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with the scholars in the year 1424 (A.D. 1502).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sanātana Gosvāmī want to make Hussain Shah angry at him. So, he was studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with 20 or 30 scholars and suddenly the Hussain Shah came to see what was his sickness.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.19

sakalera sasambhrame vādaśāhake abhyarthanā:—

pātsāha dekhiyā sabe sambhrame uṭhilā
sambhrame āsana diyā rājāre vasāilā

Translation: As soon as all the brāhmaṇas and Sanātana Gosvāmī saw the Nawab appear, they all stood up and respectfully gave him a sitting place to honor him.

Purport: Although Nawab Hussain Shah was a mleccha-yavana, he was nonetheless the governor of the country, and the learned scholars and Sanātana Gosvāmī offered him all the respect due a king or a governor. When a person occupies an exalted executive post, one should consider that he has acquired the grace of the Lord.

In the Bhagavad-gītā (10.41) Lord Kṛṣṇa says:

“Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.”

Whenever we see something exalted, we must consider it part of the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A powerful man (vibhūtimat sattvam) is one who has obtained the grace of the Lord or has derived some power from Him.

In the Bhagavad-gītā (7.10) Kṛṣṇa says,

The learned brāhmaṇa scholars showed respect to Nawab Hussain Shah because he represented a fraction of Kṛṣṇa’s power.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, although they were studying Śrīmad-bhāgavatam and the Nawab was a yavana, they stood up an offered him a seat because of his exalted position, they accepted that was by the grace of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.20

vādaśāhera ukti, sanātanera abhisandhi-jijñāsā:—

rājā kahe,—tomāra sthāne vaidya pāṭhāiluṅ
vaidya kahe,—vyādhi nāhi, sustha ye dekhiluṅ

Translation: The Nawab said, “I sent my physician to you, and he has reported that you are not diseased. As far as he could see, you are completely healthy.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Nawab being concerned had sent his personal physician but his personal physician could see nothing wrong with Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.21

āmāra ye kichu kārya, saba tomā lañā
kārya chāḍi’ rahilā tumi gharete vasiyā

Translation: “I am depending on you to carry out so many of my activities, but you have given up your governmental duties to sit here at home.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Nawab, he is performing many things through his prime minister Sanātana who has been absent, staying in his house.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.22

mora yata kārya-kāma, saba kailā nāśa
ki tomāra hṛdaye āche, kaha mora pāśa

Translation: “You have spoiled all my activities. What is your intention? Please tell me frankly.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Nawab is asking Sanātana Gosvāmī to explain Himself.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.23

sanātanera rājakārye anicchā-jñāpana:—

sanātana kahe,—nahe āmā haite kāma
āra eka-jana diyā kara samādhāna

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, “You can no longer expect any service from me. Please arrange for someone else to tend to the management.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sanātana Gosvāmī expressed his desire to be released, that he no longer wanted to serve the government.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.24

vādaśāhera krodhokti:—

tabe kruddha hañā rājā kahe āra-bāra
tomāra ‘baḍa bhāi’ kare dasyu-vyavahāra

Jayapatākā Swami: Becoming angry with Sanātana Gosvāmī, the Nawab said, “Your elder brother is acting just like a plunderer.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.25

jīva-bahu māri’ kaila cāklā saba nāśa
ethā tumi kailā mora sarva kārya nāśa

Jayapatākā Swami: “By killing many living entities, your elder brother has destroyed all Bengal. Now here you are destroying all my plans.”

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.26

sanātanera kāryacyutirūpa śāsti-prārthanā:—

sanātana kahe,—tumi svatantra gauḍeśvara
ye yei doṣa kare, deha’ tāra phala

Translation:  Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “You are the supreme ruler of Bengal and are completely independent. Whenever someone commits a fault, you punish him accordingly.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sanātana Gosvāmī expresses that the Nawab is the ndependent ruler of Bengal, that he can do whatever he likes.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.27

vādaśāhera ājñāya sanātanera vandhana:—

eta śuni’ gauḍeśvara uṭhi’ ghare gelā
palāiba bali’ sanātanere bāndhilā

Translation:  Hearing this, the Nawab of Bengal stood up and returned to his home. He ordered the arrest of Sanātana Gosvāmī so that he would not be able to leave.

Jayapatākā Swami:  So, the Nawab was depending on Sanātana to assist him, by managing the affairs of the government and he would attack and do whatever he wanted. But Sanātana was not favorable for doing such work anymore, but the Nawab, he wanted him to do that, and He believed it in him, that if he agreed he would do it. But being afraid that he will flee, he had him arrested.

Purport: It is said that the relationship between the Nawab of Bengal and Sanātana Gosvāmī was very intimate. The Nawab used to consider Sanātana Gosvāmī his younger brother, and when Sanātana Gosvāmī showed a very strong intention to resign, the Nawab, feeling familial affection, essentially said, “I am your elder brother, but I do not look after the state management. My only business is attacking other states with my soldiers and fighting everywhere as a plunderer. Because I am a meat-eater [yavana], I am used to hunting all kinds of living beings. In this way I am destroying all kinds of living entities in Bengal. While engaged in this destructive business, I am hoping that you will tend to the administration of the state. Since I, your elder brother, am engaged in such a destructive business, you, being my younger brother, should look after the state management. If you do not, how will things continue?” This talk was based on a family relationship, and Sanātana Gosvāmī also replied in an intimate and joking way. Essentially, he told the Nawab, “My dear brother, you are the independent ruler of Bengal. You can act in whatever way you like, and if someone commits a fault, you can punish him accordingly.” In other words, Sanātana Gosvāmī was saying that since the Nawab was accustomed to acting like a plunderer, he should go ahead and take action. Since Sanātana was not showing much enthusiasm for performing his duty, the Nawab should dismiss him from his service. The Nawab could understand the intention of Sanātana Gosvāmī’s statement. He therefore left in an angry mood and ordered Sanātana Gosvāmī’s arrest.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.28

vādaśāhera uḍiṣyāya abhiyāna; sanātanake saṅge āhvāna:—

hena-kāle gela rājā uḍiyā mārite
sanātane kahe,—tumi cala mora sāthe

Translation: At this time the Nawab was going to attack the province of Orissa, and he told Sanātana Gosvāmī, “Come along with me.”

Purport: Hussain Shah attacked the neighboring province of Orissa in 1424 Śakābda Era (A.D. 1502). At that time, he conquered the feudal princes there.

Jayapatākā Swami:  In those days the Kings and soldiers would fight the other Kings and soldiers and whoever conquered, would become the new ruler so he was attacking the people to the south. At that time Orissa was up to the Rūpa-Nārāyaṇa river. So, he apparently conquered the northern Orissan feudal princes.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.29

viṣṇuvirodhakārye sanātanera asahayoga:—

teṅho kahe,—yābe tumi devatāya duḥkha dite
mora śakti nāhi, tomāra saṅge yāite

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, “You are going to Orissa to give pain to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For this reason I am powerless to go with you.”

Jayapatākā Swami: The Nawab trying to conquer the deities in Orissa and Sanātana was not ready to help him.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.30

vādaśāhera yātrā, prabhurao purī haite vṛndāvana-yātrā:—

tabe tāṅre bāndhi’ rākhi’ karilā gamana
ethā nīlācala haite prabhu calilā vṛndāvana

Translation: The Nawab again arrested Sanātana Gosvāmī and kept him in prison. At this time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed for Vṛndāvana from Jagannātha Purī.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Nawab, he left for his military exercise attack on the Northern provinces of Orissa and he arrested Sanātana Gosvāmī. Still the place where Sanātana Gosvāmī was kept a prisoner is there and one can see the prison house, it is quite big. Since Sanātana Gosvāmī was a VIP prisoner. 

This gives the background how Sanātana Gosvāmī met Lord Caitanya in Prayāga and how Sanātana Gosvāmī was arrested and held at Rāmakeli.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Nawab Hussain Shah arrest Sanatāna Gosvāmī 
Under the section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī