20141029 Lord Caitanya's Childhood Pastimes

 

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book work 29th October 2014 in New Delhi, India

By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Guru Mahārāja

Under the section: Lord Caitanya’s Childhood Pastimes

* * *

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Chapter 14, Text 49 – 71.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.49

gaṅgā-snāna kari’ pūjā karite lāgilā
kanyāgaṇa-madhye prabhu āsiyā basilā

Translation: When the girls engaged in worshiping the different demigods after bathing in the Ganges, the young Lord would come there and sit down among them.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.50

kanyāre kahe, — āmā pūja, āmi diba vara
gaṅgā-durgā — dāsī mora, maheśa — kiṅkara

Translation: Addressing the girls, the Lord would say, “Worship Me, and I shall give you good husbands or good benedictions. The Ganges and goddess Durgā are My maidservants. What to speak of other demigods, even Lord Śiva is My servant.”

Purport: There is a misconception about the Hindu religion among people who profess other religions, such as Christians and Muslims, who say that in the Hindu religion there are many Gods. Actually that is not a fact. God is one, but there are many other powerful living entities who are in charge of different departments of administration. They are called demigods. All the demigods are servants who carry out the orders of the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu disclosed this fact in His childhood. Out of ignorance, sometimes people worship the demigods to receive some particular boon, but actually, one who becomes a devotee and worshiper of the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not need to go to the demigods for any benediction because he obtains everything by the grace of the Supreme Lord. The Bhagavad-gītā (7.20 and 28) therefore condemns such demigod worship:

kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ
prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ
taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya
prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā

“Only persons whose intelligence is lost and who are mad with lusty desires worship the demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.”

yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ
janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā
bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ

“But persons who are freed from all sinful activities and the duality of delusion engage themselves in the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead with determination.” Only the less intelligent worship the demigods for their various purposes. The most intelligent worship only the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

Sometimes we, the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, are accused of not approving of the worship of demigods. But how can we approve of this when it is condemned by Lord Caitanya and Lord Kṛṣṇa? How can we allow people to become foolish and hṛta-jñāna, bereft of intelligence? Our propaganda is simply meant to enable intelligent people to understand the distinction between matter and spirit and understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the whole spiritual identity. That is our mission. How could we mislead people into worshiping so-called gods in material bodies within this material world? Our position of not allowing worship of the many hundreds of demigods was confirmed by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu even in His childhood. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has sung in this connection:

anya devāśraya nāi tomāre kahinu bhāi
ei bhakti parama-kāraṇa

“To become a staunch, pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead without deviation [ananya-bhāk], one should not divert his attention to the worship of the demigods. Such control is a symptom of pure devotional service.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.51

āpani candana pari’ parena phula-mālā
naivedya kāḍiyā khā’na — sandeśa, cāla, kalā

Translation: Without the permission of the girls, the Lord would take the sandalwood pulp and smear it on His own body, put the flower garlands on His neck, and snatch and eat all the offerings of sweetmeats, rice and bananas.

Purport: According to the system of worship, when something is offered to deities outside one’s home, it is generally not cooked food but raw rice, bananas and sweetmeats. Out of His causeless mercy, the Lord would snatch the offerings from the girls and eat them, admonishing the girls not to worship the demigods but to worship Him. This worship of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is recommended in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ

“One should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead who appears in this Age of Kali with His associates as the Pañca-tattva: The Lord Himself and His associates Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrī Advaita Prabhu, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. In this age an intelligent person worships the Pañca-tattva by the method of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and, if possible, distributing prasādam.” Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is introducing this bona fide method of worship in the Western world. Its members are going from village to village and town to town with Deities of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, teaching people how to worship the Lord by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, offering prasādam and distributing prasādam to people in general.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.52

krodhe kanyāgaṇa kahe — śuna, he nimāñi
grāma-sambandhe hao tumi āmā sabāra bhāi

Translation: All the girls became very angry at the Lord for this behavior. “Dear Nimāi,” they told Him, “You are just like our brother in our village relationship.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.53

āmā sabākāra pakṣe ihā karite nā yuyāya
nā laha devatā sajja, nā kara anyāya

Translation: “Therefore it does not behoove You to act like this. Don’t take our paraphernalia for worship of the demigods. Don’t create a disturbance in this way.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.54

prabhu kahe, — “tomā sabāke dila ei vara
tomā sabāra bhartā habe parama sundara

Translation: The Lord replied, “My dear sisters, I give you the benediction that your husbands will be very handsome.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.55

paṇḍita, vidagdha, yuvā, dhana-dhānyavān
sāta sāta putra habe — cirāyu, matimān”

Translation: “They will be learned, clever and young and possess abundant wealth and rice. Not only that, but you will each have seven sons, who will all live long lives and be very intelligent.”

Purport: Generally it is the ambition of a young girl to have a very handsome husband who is learned, clever, young and rich. According to the Vedic culture, one is rich if he possesses a large stock of food grain and a very large number of animals. Dhānyena dhanavān gavayā dhanavān: one is rich if he possesses food grain, cows and bulls. A girl also desires to have many children, especially sons (putra) who are very intelligent and long-lived. Now because society has deteriorated there is propaganda to have one or two children and kill the rest by contraceptive methods. But the natural ambition of a girl is to possess not only more than one child but at least half a dozen.

In exchange for the paraphernalia of worship He usurped for Himself, Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to bless the girls to fulfill all their ambitions and desires. One can easily become happy and obtain the material benefits of a good husband, wealth, food grain and a number of nice children by worshiping Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted sannyāsa at an early age, it is not necessary for His devotees to follow Him by also taking sannyāsa. One can stay a householder, but one must be a devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then one will be happy, with all the material opulences of a good home, good children, good mate, good wealth and everything he desires. Therefore the śāstras advise, yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ (Bhāg. 11.5.32). Every householder, therefore, who is actually intelligent should introduce the saṅkīrtana movement home to home and live peacefully in this life and go back to Godhead in the next.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.56

vara śuni’ kanyā-gaṇera antare santoṣa
bāhire bhartsana kare kari’ mithyā roṣa

Translation: Hearing this benediction from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the girls were inwardly very happy, but externally, as is natural for girls, they rebuked the Lord under the pretense of anger.

Purport: This double-dealing is natural for girls. When they are satisfied within, they externally show dissatisfaction. Such feminine dealings are very palatable to boys who try to make friendships with them.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.57

kona kanyā palāila naivedya la-iyā
tāre ḍāki’ kahe prabhu sakrodha ha-iyā

Translation: When some of the girls fled, the Lord called them in anger and advised them as follows:

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.58

yadi naivedya nā deha ha-iyā kṛpaṇī
buḍā bhartā habe, āra cāri cāri satinī

Translation: “If you are miserly and do not give Me the offerings, every one of you will have an old husband with at least four co-wives.”

Purport: In India in those days and even until fifty years ago, polygamy was freely allowed. Any man, especially of the higher castes—the brāhmaṇas, the vaiśyas and particularly the kṣatriyas—could marry more than one wife. In the Mahābhārata, or the old history of India, we see that kṣatriya kings especially used to marry many wives. According to Vedic civilization there was no restriction against this, and even a man more than fifty years old could marry. But to be married to a man who had many wives was not a very pleasing situation because the husband’s love would be divided among his many wives. To punish the girls unwilling to offer Him the naivedya, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu apparently wanted to curse them to be married to men who had at least four wives.

The social structure allowing a man to marry more than one wife can be supported in this way. Generally in every society the female population is greater in number than the male population. Therefore if it is a principle in the society that all girls should be married, unless polygamy is allowed it will not be possible. If all the girls are not married there is a good chance of adultery, and a society in which adultery is allowed cannot be very peaceful or pure. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness society we have restricted illicit sex. The practical difficulty is to find a husband for each and every girl. We are therefore in favor of polygamy, provided, of course, that the husband is able to maintain more than one wife.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.59

ihā śuni’ tā-sabāra mane ha-ila bhaya
kona kichu jāne, kibā devāviṣṭa haya

Translation: Hearing this supposed curse by Lord Caitanya, the girls, considering that He might know something uncommon or be empowered by demigods, were afraid that His curse might be effective.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.60

āniyā naivedya tārā sammukhe dharila
khāiyā naivedya tāre iṣṭa-vara dila

Translation: The girls then brought the offerings before the Lord, who ate them all and blessed the girls to their satisfaction.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.61

ei mata cāpalya saba lokere dekhāya
duḥkha kāro mane nahe, sabe sukha pāya

Translation: When this cunning behavior of the Lord with the girls became known to the people in general, it did not create misunderstandings among them. Rather, they enjoyed happiness in these dealings.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: So that is...

Jayapatākā Swami: This was for the Viṣṇupriyā or Lakṣmīpriyā.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Lakṣmīpriyā, actually in Caitanya-caritāmṛta the section immediately after, this talks about Vallabācārya’s daughter Lakṣmī who was submissive to the Lord. So, this is still in the same age because after this, the Lord will marry Lakṣmīpriyā.

Jayapatākā Swami: Where is this in?

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: This is supplementary to Caitanya-bhāgavata description.

Jayapatākā Swami: When He is talking to the girls

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: When He is talking to the girls. Yes, these girls did not, it appears that at least these girls were not complaining to mother Śacī. Or yeah, I don’t know. Yeah!

Jayapatākā Swami: It doesn’t say!

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: It doesn’t say that they went and complained to Mother Śacī. In Caitanya-bhāgavata, yes! Should I continue reading Caitanya-bhāgavata now? Should I switch over to Caitanya-bhāgavata? You can just speak on this. I will read the translations over again.

Jayapatākā Swami: Yeah.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: [Reading the translations again to Guru Mahārāja from Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.49 to 61.]

Jayapatākā Swami: How did it start?

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: These were some of the pastimes.
[Reading translation of Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi 14.48]

Translation: Sometimes the Lord would go with other children to bathe in the Ganges, and the neighboring girls would also come there to worship various demigods.

Purport: According to the Vedic system, when small girls ten or twelve years old would go to the bank of the Ganges to take their bath, they would especially worship Lord Śiva with prayers to get good husbands in the future. They especially wanted to get a husband like Lord Śiva because Lord Śiva is very peaceful and at the same time most powerful. Formerly, therefore, small girls in Hindu families would worship Lord Śiva, especially in the month of Vaiśākha (April-May). To take a bath in the Ganges is a great pleasure for everyone, not only for adults but for children also.

[17:37 inaudible]

Jayapatākā Swami: Shall I put This is after Lord Caitanya’s, His naughtiness with the other boys and sometimes to the…

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Jagannātha Miśra and Śacīmātā…

Jayapatākā Swami: and then, how he deal that, there we put this?

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: This can come before that. Just before they go and complain. We will put it just before the complains. because Caitanya-bhāgavata says that the Lord played mischief with other children and then it says that the brāhmaṇas went to complain to Jagannātha Miśra and there are more details. So just before the complaints, we will put this there.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: The brāhmaṇa’s section and then the girls’

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Yes!

Jayapatākā Swami: The girls sometimes are with shyness,

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Yes!

Jayapatākā Swami: or childish and Lord reciprocates them. [Not clear 19:00]

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Yes! But Caitanya-caritāmṛta is supplementing Caitanya-bhāgavata it doesn’t repeat Caitanya-bhāgavata. It fills in the gaps. So, this pastime is not noted by Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, so that must be the reason why Śrīla Kṛṣṇadas kavirāja Gosvāmī is putting it here.

Jayapatākā Swami: It’s like that. Its commentator doesn’t want to offend another, so they put only the parts which are not mentioned by other or else somewhere.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: In Caitanya-caritāmṛta he says that Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has already elaborately described the Lords pastimes, so I will only summarize what Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has already written and they are some pastimes that he have not mentioned that I will elaborate like Keśava Kāśmīrī, that pastime, the glorification of Gaṅgā in detail and Lord’s analysis that comes only in Caitanya-caritāmṛta in Caitanya-bhāgavata it simply says that the digvijayī glorified Gaṅgā that’s all. but in Caitanya-caritāmṛta that detail comes. So, between Caitanya-caritāmṛta and Caitanya-bhāgavata, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī said, Caitanya-caritāmṛta is a companion volume to Caitanya-bhāgavata.

Jayapatākā Swami: It was customary for young girls, especially 10-12 years old. After bathing in the Ganges, they would worship some devas, especially Lord Śiva to get a good husband because Lord Śiva was very peaceful and at the same time, He was very powerful. So, they want a husband like Lord Śiva. So they have arranged their pūjās, their worship for the Lord, each one put their flowers and some fruits. It was customary outside the house to offer uncooked things [outside the house]. Lord Caitanya would sit down in the midst of the girls and He would sit on the flower seat. He would wear the flower garland, He would wipe the sandal wood pulp on His body and then He would eat the offerings. The girls said that, “You are just like our brother in our village relationship and You are taking the offerings of the devas, it’s not right.” But Lord Caitanya said, “Durga and Gaṅgā are my maid servants and Lord Śiva is my servant. So, it's nothing wrong if I take the offerings. Everyone gives their offerings to me. I bless them to have handsome husbands, seven boys - all bright, all intelligent.” So, the girls were inwardly very happy because every girl likes a handsome husband and many children. The children now are reduced by using contraceptive methods but actually ladies like many nice children. So, because there is this natural desire, so Lord Caitanya was saying how He would satisfy their material desires. Although Lord Caitanya took sannyāsa, it's not that His followers has to follow Him. They can be gṛhasthas and they can have Kṛṣṇa conscious children but they should be Kṛṣṇa Conscious themselves. They should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and follow Lord Caitanya and He would satisfy their material desires and spiritually they will achieve all success. Inwardly the girls were very happy to hear the blessings but externally they showed anger. This is not uncommon for the feminine dealings to feel one thing but express another. This gives happiness to those who enjoy dealings with the feminine. Some grab the offerings and running and Lord Caitanya threatened them, “And if you take these offerings and don't give to me, I will curse you to marry an old husband with at least four co-wives”. And so previously His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda commented in His Caitanya-caritāmṛta commentary that even up to 50 years ago it was quite common to have polygamy in the Vedic society. Since naturally there will be more ladies than men and every lady has to be married then the only way to achieve that is through polygamy. So, the higher castes, the brāhmaṇa, kṣatriyas, and the vaiśyas especially the kṣatriyas would take many wives. And in Mahābhārata one can see how the princes and kings would have many wives. But to be a co-wife of an elderly husband means you have to share your husband’s affection with all other wives. So, this was not considered as a very good situation. Out of fear, otherwise the girls came back with their offerings because they thought maybe Lord Caitanya knows something and we don't want such a curse. So, they gave their offerings to Him. In the Bhagavad-gītā, it is said that there is only one Supreme Lord. There are many (demigods,) persons who are in charge of universal management, and they follow the instructions of the Supreme Lord. They are known as the devas or demigods as angels by other faiths. Śrīla Prabhupāda thought, how we disseminate this knowledge all over the world. But there is one Lord and He has many assistants. But some people think that the Vedic literatures are promoting many Gods but this is not the fact. Rather this is condemned in Bhagavad-gītā and by Lord Caitanya even in His childhood.

Jayapatākā Swami: Verse Quotes.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Bhagavad-gītā quotes!

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: In Sanskrit?

Jayapatākā Swami: Ha! for the... see how Kṛṣṇa would deal, at least the translation.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Because Śrīla Prabhupāda does not quote complete Sanskrit ślokas. In “Teachings of Lord Caitanya” he has put full ślokas.

Jayapatākā Swami: put this one – two

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Okay.

Jayapatākā Swami: When the people heard about these childhood activities of the Lord, no one felt angry with this. Rather they smiled and felt happy to hear such activities.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Now we will go back to Caitanya-bhāgavata?

Jayapatākā Swami: No, we can have a little break…. And have [not clear - 37:45] pūjā. [Laughter]

[37:47- 38:16] laughter and conversations

Jayapatākā Swami: A special pūjā to be held by young girls to Lord Caitanya.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Oh! We can introduce that in Māyāpur.

Jayapatākā Swami: Ha?

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Yes! We should introduce that, all the unmarried girls.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Yeah!

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: It will make the girls at least think before they date.

Jayapatākā Swami: Ha!

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: It will be very good to revive this. Very nice.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Anyhow during the summer, this Vaiśākha month they will come to the Ganges.

Jayapatākā Swami: Ha!

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Everyone, most of the Māyāpur-vāsīs come to Ganges because of hot summer season.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: That Gaura-Nitāi Deity, Śrīla Prabhupāda bhajana-kuṭīra, small Deities, if They are available, we can bring Them and we can have…

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: One-month pūjā. Festival.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Yeah, why not? Every day evening. We will allow them to do the kīrtana. Let them do the bhajana, let them do the kīrtana. Now? Prepuberty, girls before twelve.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Yes! Before twelve

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: They can be much younger. Lakṣmī-pūjā was for much younger.

Jayapatākā Swami: Now the government does not allow marriage before eighteen.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: They can do... until they get.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: No, they can do, they can get engaged and they can marry after they are eighteen. Any why, it doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, pūjā should be, pūjā is a very good idea. Pūjā is a very good idea.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Like Pānihāṭi festival everyday Guru Mahārāja, [Laughter] annakūṭa.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Families can bring

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Bhogas

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Bananas

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Bananas, fruits, flowers, garlands.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: What is this annakūṭa rice?

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: That flat rice Guru Mahārāja?

Jayapatākā Swami: Adhivāsa, its kha-i

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Yeah kha-i! Adhivāsa

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: It’s just like for adhivāsa. That we can introduce. That we saw much.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: We also can consider that.

Jayapatākā Swami: kha-i!

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Kha-i! It’s cooked Guru Mahārāja? Subji cooked.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Pūjā! Very very nice. They can make flower garlands for Lord Caitanya.

Jayapatākā Swami: Anything is left… or still

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: I am keeping it. Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa, chapter 6, text 87 onwards.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata 6.87

kautuke kahite āisena miśra-sthāne
śuni’ miśra tarje garje sadambha-vacane

Translation: People came to complain to Jagannātha Miśra for amusement, but he became upset and angrily replied.

Commentary: The word sadambha means “with pride” or “egoistically.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.88

“niravadhi e vyabhāra karaye sabāre
bhāla-mate gaṅgā-snāna nā deya karibāre

Translation: “This boy behaves like this every day. He doesn’t allow anyone to peacefully take bath in the Ganges.”

Commentary: The word vyabhāra is a corruption of the word vyavahāra, which means “behavior.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.89

ei jhāṅṭa yāṅa tā’ra śāsti karibāre”
sabe rākhileha keha rākhite nā pāre

Translation: “I’m going to punish Him right now!” Although they all tried to pacify Jagannātha Miśra, they were unable.

Commentary: The second half of this verse means “to protect;” in other words, “no one can stop me even if they try.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.90

krodha kari’ yakhana calilā miśra-vara
jānilā gaurāṅga sarva-bhūtera īśvara

Translation: Gaurāṅga, the Lord of all living entities, could understand that Jagannātha Miśra was searching for Him in an angry mood.

Commentary: The word sarva-bhūtera īśvara refers to the Super soul of all living entities.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.91

gaṅgā-jale keli kare śrī-gaurasundara
sarva-bālakera madhye ati manohara

Translation: Śrī Gaurasundara was most enchanting as He continued sporting in the water of the Ganges with the other boys.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.92

kumārikā sabe bole,—“śuna viśvambhara!
miśra āilena ei, palāha satvara”

Translation: All the girls said, “Listen, Viśvambhara! Your father is coming, You better get out of here.”

Commentary: The word kumārikā, or kumārī, refers to an unmarried girl.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.93

śiśu-gaṇa-saṅge prabhu yāya dharibāre
palāila brāhmaṇa-kumārī saba ḍare

Translation: As Jagannātha Miśra came on his way to find the Lord amongst His friends, the brāhmaṇa girls ran away in fear.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.94

sabāre śikhāya miśra-stāne kahibāra
“snāne nāhi āisena tomāra kumāra

Translation: Meanwhile, Nimāi instructed His friends to tell His father, “Your son has not come for bath today.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.95

sei pathe gelā ghara paḍiyā śuniyā
āmarāo āchi ei tāhāra lāgiyā

Translation: “He went straight home after school. We are also waiting for Him.”

Commentary: The words sei pathe refers to the same path He came on.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.96

śikhāiyā āra pathe prabhu gelā ghara
gaṅgā-ghāṭe āsiyā mililā miśra-vara

Translation: After instructing His friends, the Lord went home by another path just as Jagannātha Miśra arrived at the bathing ghāṭa.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.97

āsiyā gaṅgāra ghāṭe cāri-dike cāhe
śiśu-gaṇa-madhye putre dekhite nā pāye

Translation: Jagannātha Miśra looked all over but could not see his son amongst the boys.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.98

miśra jijñāsena,—“viśvambhara kati gelā?”
śiśu-gaṇa bole,—“āji snāne nā āilā

Translation: He then inquired, “Where did Viśvambhara go?” The boys replied, “He didn’t come for bath today.”

Commentary: The word kati is a corruption of the word kutra or “where?”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.99

sei pathe gelā ghara paḍiyā śuniyā
sabhe āchi ei tā’ra apekṣā kariyā

Translation: “He went straight home after school. We are all waiting for Him.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.100

cāri-dike cāhe miśra hāte bāḍi laiyā
tarja-garja kare baḍa lāg nā pāiyā

Translation: Searching all over with a stick in his hand, Jagannātha Miśra grumbled in anger on being unable to find his son.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.101

kautuke yāhārā nivedana kailā giyā
sei saba vipra punaḥ bolaye āsiyā

Translation: The brāhmaṇas who had earlier complained to Jagannātha Miśra in jest came and spoke to him again.

Commentary: The word kautuke means “sarcastically” or “jokingly.” The phrase nivedana kailā means “to complain.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.102

“bhaya pāi’ viśvambhara palāilā ghare
ghare cala tumi, kichu bola pāche tā’re

Translation: “Viśvambhara left for home out of fear. You please go home and speak to Him there.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.103

āra-bāra āsi’ yadi cañcalatā kare
āmarāi dhari’ diba tomāra gocare

Translation: “If He comes back here again and creates mischief, then we will catch Him and hand Him over to you.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.104

kautuke se kathā kahilāṅa tomā’ sthāne
tomā’ bai bhāgyavān nāhi tribhuvane

Translation: “Whatever we said to you was simply in jest. Actually, there is no one more fortunate than you in the three worlds.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.105

se hena nandana yā’ra gṛha-mājhe thāke
ki karite pāre tā’re kṣudhā-tṛṣā-śoke?

Translation: “How can one be affected by hunger, thirst, or lamentation if he has such a son at home?”

Commentary: The word tā’re means “thirst.”

Caitanya-Bhagawat Ādi 6.106

tumi se sevilā satya prabhura caraṇa
tā’ra mahābhāgya,—yā’ra e-hena nandana

Translation: “You are certainly most fortunate to have the Supreme Lord as your son and serve His lotus feet.”

Commentary: The brāhmaṇas spoke these statements about the good fortune of Jagannātha Miśra, who is the eternal servant of the Lord as His father.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.107

koṭi aparādha yadi viśvambhara kare
tabu tā’re thuibāṅa hṛdaya-upare”

Translation: “Even if Viśvambhara commits millions of offenses, we will still keep Him in our hearts.”

Commentary: The word thuibāṅa means “we will keep” or “we will place.” This word is currently used in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh.

Jayapatākā Swami: thuibāṅa

Deva Gaurāṅga Dāsa: thuibāṅa

Jayapatākā Swami: How does this start?

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: How is this start? Śloka?

Jayapatākā Swami: Not the Śloka. Commentary.

Deva Gaurāṅga Dāsa: [Bengali – 49.48]

Jayapatākā Swami: thuibāṅa

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: thuibāṅa

Deva Gaurāṅga Dāsa: thuibāṅa

Jayapatākā Swami: thuibāṅa

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.108

janme-janme kṛṣṇa-bhakta ei-saba jana
e saba uttama-buddhi ihāra kāraṇa

Translation: Because these brāhmaṇas had all been devotees of Kṛṣṇa for many lifetimes, they had fine intelligence.

Commentary: The word uttama-buddhi refers to the attitude of loving service to the Supreme Lord.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.109

ataeva prabhu nija-sevaka sahite
nānā krīḍā kare, keha nā pāre bujhite

Translation: In this way the Lord enjoyed various pastimes with His eternal servants which ordinary people cannot understand.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.110

miśra bole,—“seha putra tomā’ sabākāra
yadi aparādha laha,—śapatha āmāra”

Translation: Jagannātha Miśra said, “He is your son as well. You must not be offended by His actions.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.111

tā’sabāra saṅge miśra kari’ kolākuli
gṛhe āilena miśra hai’ kutūhalī

Translation: After embracing all the brāhmaṇas, Jagannātha Miśra happily returned home.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.112

āra-pathe ghare gelā prabhu-viśvambhara
hāthete mohana puṅthi, yena śaśadhara

Translation: Meanwhile, Lord Viśvambhara returned home by another path. He resembled the bright moon as He carried attractive books in His hand.

Commentary: The word mohana means “beautiful,” and the words yena śaśadhara means “as soothing bright white as the moon.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.113

likhana-kālira bindu śobhe gaura aṅge
campake lāgila yena cāri-dike bhṛṅge

Translation: Drops of ink beautified the Lord’s golden limbs and resembled bumble bees surrounding a campaka flower.

Commentary: The bodily complexion of Nimāi resembled the campaka flower, and the bees were black colored. When Nimāi wrote, dots of ink marked His various limbs. This sight appeared like black bees encircling a campaka flower.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.114

“jananī!” baliyā prabhu lāgilā ḍākite
“taila deha’ more, yāi sināna karite”

Translation: The Lord called out, “Mother! Give Me some oil. Let Me go take bath.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.115

putrera vacana śuni’ śacī haraṣita
kichui nā dekhe aṅge snānera carita

Translation: Hearing her son’s request, mother Śacī became joyful. She could not see any sign that He had taken bath.

Commentary: The words snānera carita mean “symptoms of having taken bath.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.116

taila diyā śacīdevī mane-mane gaṇe’
“bālikārā ki balila, kibā dvija-gaṇe

Translation: After giving Him the oil, Śacīdevī thought, “What did those girls and brāhmaṇas complain about?

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.117

likhana-kālira bindu āche saba aṅge
sei vastra paridhāna, sei puṅthi saṅge”

Translation: “He has drops of ink on His body, and He is wearing the same clothes and carrying the same books.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.118

kṣaṇeke āilā jagannātha miśra-vara
miśre dekhi’ kolete uṭhilā viśvambhara

Translation: Soon after, Jagannātha Miśra arrived there and Viśvambhara climbed on his lap.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.119

sei āliṅgane miśra bāhya nāhi jāne
ānande pūrṇita hailā putra-daraśane

Translation: Śrī Miśra was filled with ecstasy on seeing his son, and he lost external consciousness by His embrace.

Commentary: The words bāhya nāhi jāne mean “without external consciousness.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.120

miśra dekhe sarva-aṅga dhūlāya vyāpita
snāna-cihna nā dekhiyā hailā vismita

Translation: Śrī Miśra was astonished to see that Nimāi was covered with dust and devoid of any sign that He had taken bath.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.121

miśra bole,—“viśvambhara, ki buddhi tomāra?
lokere nā deha’ kene snāna karibāra?

Translation: He said, “Viśvambhara, what kind of mentality do You have? Why don’t You let people take bath?”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.122

viṣṇu-pūjā-sajja kene kara apahāra?
’viṣṇu’ kariyāo bhaya nāhika tomāra?”

Translation: “Why do You steal the ingredients meant for worshiping Lord Viṣṇu? Don’t You have any reverence for Lord Viṣṇu?”

Commentary: The word kariyāo means “even after direct realization.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.123

prabhu bole,—“āji āmi nāhi yāi snāne
āmāra saṁhati-gaṇa gela āguyāne

Translation: The Lord replied, “Today I have not yet gone for bath. My friends have gone ahead of Me.”

Commentary: The word saṁhati-gaṇa refers to the Lord’s companions, the word āguyāne is a corruption of the word agravān, which means “went ahead.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.124

sakala lokere tārā kare avyabhāra
nā geleo sabe doṣa kahena āmāra

Translation: “They have misbehaved with those brāhmaṇas and girls, who are blaming Me even though I wasn’t there.”

Commentary: The word avyabhāra means “wrong deeds” or “misbehavior.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.125

nā geleo yadi doṣa kahena āmāra
satya tabe kariba sabāre avyabhāra”

Translation: “Since they blame Me when I wasn’t even there, now I will actually do some mischief to them.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.126

eta bali’ hāsi’ prabhu yā’na gaṅgā-snāne
punaḥ sei mililena śiśu-gaṇa-sane

Translation: Saying this, the Lord smiled as He left to take bath in the Ganges, where He met again with His friends.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.127

viśvambhara dekhi’ sabe āliṅgana kari’
hāsaye sakala śiśu śuniñā cāturī

Translation: When Viśvambhara arrived there, the boys embraced Him and laughed after hearing what happened.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.128

sabei praśaṁse,—“bhāla nimāi catura
bhāla eḍāilā āji māraṇa pracura!”

Translation: They all praised Him, saying, “Nimāi, You are very clever. You have escaped a good beating today.”

Commentary: The word māraṇa means “to beat.”

Jayapatākā Swami: How many more verses?

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: We have 9 more verses. We are in 129, up to 138.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.129

jala-keli kare prabhu saba-śiśu-sane
hethā śacī-jagannātha mane-mane gaṇe’

Translation: As the Lord engaged in water sports with the boys, at home Jagannātha Miśra and Śacī were contemplating.

Commentary: The word gaṇe means “to think.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.130

“ye ye kahilena kathā, seha mithyā nahe
tabe kene snāna-cihna kichu nāhi dehe?

Translation: “Whatever they complained cannot be false. But then why were there no symptoms on His body of His having taken bath?”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.131

sei-mata aṅge dhūlā, sei-mata veśa!
sei puṅthi, sei vastra, sei-mata keśa!

Translation: “His body was covered with dust, He had the same dress and same books, His hair was dry—everything as though He had not taken bath!”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.132

e bujhi manuṣya nahe śri-viśvambhara!
māyā-rūpe kṛṣṇa vā janmilā mora ghara!

Translation: “It seems that Śrī Viśvambhara is not an ordinary human being! Perhaps Lord Kṛṣṇa has appeared by His internal potency as a human being in our house!”

Commentary: In this verse the word māyā-rūpe refers to the Supreme Lord Gaura-Kṛṣṇa’s eternal humanlike form, manifested by His internal potency yogamāyā. In the Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (Pūrva 413, 414) it is stated: “In many places the word māyā refers to the Lord’s internal potency. The internal potency of the Lord is eternal and is known as māyā.” In the Catur-veda-śikhā-śruti, Madhvācārya has stated: ato māyāmayaṁ viṣṇuṁ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ: “The body accepted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called māyāmaya.”

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: 133.

Discussions [1.00.41 -1.00.50]

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: [1.00.51 – Reciting some verse in Sanskrit till 1.00.58]

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.133

kon mahāpuruṣa vā,—kichui nā jāni”
hena-mate cintite āilā dvija-maṇi

Translation: “Otherwise, He may be some other great personality. We don’t know.” While they were contemplating in this way, the Lord, who is the jewel amongst the brāhmaṇas, arrived there.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.134

putra-daraśanānande ghucila vicāra
snehe pūrṇa hailā doṅhe, kichu nāhi āra

Translation: In the ecstasy of seeing their son, the couple forgot all their ideas and became so filled with affection that nothing else was important.

Commentary: The word vicāra means “to think,” “to ascertain the truth,” “to consider,” or “to discuss.” The words kichu nāhi āra mean “as if nothing had happened before” or “as if there were no connection at all to that incident.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.135

yei dui-prahara prabhu yāya paḍibāre
sei dui yuga hai’ thāke se doṅhāre

Translation: The two praharas, six hours, that the Lord spent at school studying seemed like two yugas for the couple.

Commentary: Due to separation from Nimāi, the duration of six hours appeared like two yugas for Jagannātha Miśra and Śacīdevī.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.136

koṭi-rūpe koṭi-mukhe vede yadi kaya
tabu e-doṅhāra bhāgyera nāhi samuccaya

Translation: If the Vedas chanted the glories of this couple with millions of mouths, in millions of ways, still they could not reach the limit of their good fortune.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.137

śacī-jagannātha-pāye rahu namaskāra
ananta-brahmāṇḍa-nātha putra rūpe yāṅra

Translation: Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the feet of Śacīdevī and Jagannātha Miśra, whose son is the Lord of innumerable universes.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 6.138

ei-mata krīḍā kare vaikuṇṭhera rāya
bujhite nā pāre keha tāṅhāna māyāya

Translation: In this way the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha enjoys His pastimes, which by the influence of His external energy no one can understand.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Okay, I will read the translation once again.

Jayapatākā Swami: Bengali

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Ha! He should read the Bengali, that’s all!

Jayapatākā Swami: The whole thing is very too long.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: I will break it.

Jayapatākā Swami: How far did I read so far?

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: From text 88 to 138 that is about 51 verses you have to deal with now. They had complained and they had gone.

Jayapatākā Swami: Adult girls complain.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: You have talked Guru Mahārāja, till girls complain and Śacīmātā pacifying them.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: And they went, Jagannātha Miśra sent away the brāhmaṇas and Śacīmātā sent away the girls.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, I talked about the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Yes

Jayapatākā Swami: Where did I stop? The part of Jagannātha Miśra holding stick?

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: No, you didn’t speak that. That is later. That is today’s part.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: I will just read out this translation.

[Repeats translations of Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi-līlā 6.88 -90]

Jayapatākā Swami: Read that in Bengai.

Deva Gaurāṅga Dāsa: [1:06: 12 - Bengali sloka 6.88 -90]

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all the brāhmaṇas who came to complain against Viśvambhara, they have done so in the mood of jest or in humor because the more they talk about Lord Caitanya, they felt more blissful. But Jagannātha Miśra, he took it very seriously. That Nimāi doesn’t let them bathe peacefully and spends six hours there. I don’t care, you can’t stop me, now I am going to punish Him and make sure that He acts properly. So Jagannātha Miśra had a stick in his hand and he was going on to the Ganges. Quickly the girls, they went to the Ganges. Meanwhile, Nimāi was swimming and enjoying with His friends in the Ganges. The girls reached and said “Your father is coming, You better go from here quick. Because if he catches You here he will punish You.” So Nimāi told the boys, “you ask Jagannātha Miśra, when am I coming to the Ganges? I went to the home by some other path and there are still waiting for Me.” So meanwhile the brāhmaṇa men met Jagannātha Miśra on the way. They told him that “anyways whatever He does, you are so fortunate to have such a child in your house. Even if He does something, it is not worth taking notice of. You are very fortunate to have Nimāi as your child. Whatever we are saying is just in jest. And you shouldn't punish Him or anything.” Then Jagannātha Miśra told them, He is also your child. So, you should also see to His proper behavior. And they said, “Yes! Next time if He misbehaves, we will catch Him and bring Him to you. But now please don't be so angry.” But Jagannātha Miśra anyway, he went to the Ganges. He looked around where is his son but everywhere he couldn’t see Him, and then He asked the boys, “where is Nimāi?” They said “we want to ask you. We are waiting for Him here. He has not come yet for bathing. When are you going to release Him from your house so that He can come and bathe? So, He was studying very hard?” So Jagannātha Miśra, he returned to the house and Lord Nimāi came by another path, He had no signs of bathing. His hair and body were covered with dust, some places have some ink spots. And there were no signs of having bathed. Normally if you bath, your fingers will have wrinkles but He had no sign of bathing. Rather He was very dry and carrying the books from His morning studies. So, Jagannātha Miśra and Śacī mātā were wondering, “what is the truth about our son? Certainly, the brāhmaṇas, only tell the truth. Maybe Kṛṣṇa in His yogamāyā form has come in our house, maybe some transcendental personality.” Meanwhile Lord Caitanya appeared, and they forgot everything. They became overwhelmed with affection. And Jagannātha Miśra, he took Nimāi on his lap and Śacī mātā, she took Nimāi on her lap. And she looked, He didn't surely have any signs of taking bath in Ganges. He said, “oh! hard day at school, so hard! (hot?) I will go to the Ganges and take a bath and come home and take prasādam.” Jagannātha Miśra said, “Why You don’t let the people bathe in peace? And You are taking the offerings of Lord Viṣṇu? You don't respect Lord Viṣṇu?” Nimāi said, “I didn't even go to Ganges. If they are complaining about me if I don't go, then this time I will really show them.” So then He went to the Ganges. Actually, the six hours when He will be away at the school, Jagannātha Miśra and Śacīmātā they were in so much separation of the Lord. They could hardly tolerate that six hours of separation. When they saw Nimāi they forgot everything. And they were so happy to see the Lord. Meanwhile Lord Caitanya arrived at the Ganges and He told His play friends what had happened and they clapped their hands and they said, “You are very smart.” So, like this they were enjoying childhood pastimes.

Jayapatākā Swami: How is it going now?

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: When we edit, we will put it back into seat belts.

Jayapatākā Swami: It’s too long.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: I think as a policy we have to take 15 verses as a block otherwise just it’s too long.

Jayapatākā Swami: May be if we daily see, I will see the pastime then after that I will sit down and seriously hear that several times.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: During breakfast time, Guru Mahārāja will hear and daily when we start he will hear again and may be in the night Guru Mahārāja?

Jayapatākā Swami: Night also.

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Night also.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa & Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: First is night, then breakfast second time and the third time is during the…

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Today we are done.

Śyāma Rasika Dāsa: Details? We have seen details?

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura has said that these brāhmaṇas had been, the complaining brāhmaṇas have been devotees of Kṛṣṇa for many lifetimes

Deva Gaurāṅga Dāsa: [1:21:45 – Bengali]

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa:

Commentary: Even if Viśvambhara commits millions of offences, we will still keep Him in our hearts. The ink spots and Lord Caitnaya’s golden body are compared to bumble bees around golden Campaka flower.

Jayapatākā Swami: The ink spots around Lord Caitanya’s body are the like the bumble bees around the Campaka flowers. The brāhmaṇas who complaint against Lord Caitanya, they were in many, many births the devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, they were able to participate in these pastimes. They said that even if Lord Caitanya commits millions of offences, we always keep Him in our heart.

 

Vidvān Gaurāṅga Dāsa: Okay!