20190111 The Lord Encourages Śrīvāsa and Makes Him Fearless by Revealing His True Identity (Part 1)

His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja reads from the Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book on January 11th, 2019 in Chennai, 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!

Introduction: So today we are compiling from different books on Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes. We are now in the Madhya-līlā, Lord Caitanya has just started the saṅkīrtana movement. He went to Gayā to perform the final rites for His deceased father, and He met Īśvara Purī Mahārāja, the favorite disciple of Madhavendra Purī, and He got initiated, so as part of the Brahma-Mādhava-Gauḍīya sampradāya. After this He started to manifest love for Kṛṣṇa. Now He has returned to Navadvīpa, He left as Nimāi Paṇḍita the most erudite scholar and came back as Gaurahari, Gaurasundara and He was completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa’s thoughts. So, He was chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa kīrtana in His house, and woke up the atheists’ sweet sleep, and they were saying so many offensive things, and they started to tell false news.

They said the king was sending his soldiers to arrest the Vaiṣṇava, because they were loudly chanting the holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa. So, this is very loud, the force is coming, the rumors are spreading, the false news that the Vaiṣṇavas will soon be arrested. We have to demonstrate civil disobedience against this injustice booooo, don’t believe all the Vaiṣṇavas. Down with the atheists.

So today I had physical therapy, I had voice therapy, all the words which you said, you had difficulty understanding, the voice therapist had me repeat those words until I got it correct. So please, if there are any words which you find difficult to understand, please send them in and we will have a training on them. In this way you could help my voice therapy. This afternoon I went cycling and Cāruhāṣinī, she showed us a new path on the other side of the pool and I went 606 cycles. And that was counted by our sisters, Gīteśvarī and Kairava Candrikā. So, the devotees sitting outside, if they find any difficulty in understanding any words please submit to the two sisters. Now we will start.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.239

ei-mata kathā haila nagare nagare
‘rāja-naukā āise vaiṣṇava dharibāre’

Jayapatākā Swami: So, from town to town, this news spread, namely,the king’s boat will come and arrest the vaiṣṇavas.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.240

rājadaurātmya-sambhābanā śrabaṇa kariẏāo pṛpanna bhakta-samājera nirbhaẏatba—

vaiṣṇava-samāje sabe e kathāśunilā
‘govinda’ smaṅari’ sabe bhaya nivārilā

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when the vaiṣṇava community heard this news, they all remembered Govinda! Govinda! In this way they subdued their fears by remembering Govinda! So one’s fear can be subdued simply by remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda.

In Tirupati, the Bālājī deity is also known as Govinda. So, on the side of the mountain, someone had written some names of God. So, the TTD, Tirupati Tirumalā Devasthānam officer came and asked us who did this? So, we didn’t know. Our Deity is known as Rādhā Govinda. So, the officer said, how will you feel if the name of your deity was written on the mountain,if Govinda was written on the mountain? Of course, our devotees will feel very happy, because our deity is Govinda! But the officer did not know that. So all the Vaiṣṇavas when they heard this news, they started to remember Govinda and they became fearless.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.241

“ye karibe kṛṣṇacandra, se-i ’satya’ haya
se prabhu thākite kon adhamere bhaya?”

Jayapatākā Swami: Whatever is done by Lord Kṛṣṇacandra, that must take place. That is true. Why should one fear, the wicked fallen persons when the Lord is there? The Lord Kṛṣṇacandra is personally present as your protector and there is no reason for anyone to fear the threats of material reason. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto 10, 2nd chapter 33 – “The devas headed by Lord Brahmā prayed to Lord Kṛṣṇa for protection”. This verse is translated by Prabhupāda:

“Oh Mādhava, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord of the goddess of fortune, if devotees completely in love with You sometimes fall from the path of devotion, they do not fall like non-devotees, for You still protect them. Thus they fearlessly traverse the heads of their opponents and continue to progress in devotional service.”

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.242

tac śrabaṇe viśbāsaprabaṇa saralamati śrīvāsera āśaṅkā —

śrīvāsa-paṇḍita—baḍa parama udāra
yei kathāśune, se-i pratyaya tāṅhāra

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita was most liberal and simple person. He believed whatever he heard or whatever someone told him, he would believe that. He particularly had the fear in the jurisdiction of this king, who was opposed to the Hindu religion, and anything was possible.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.243

yavanera rājya dekhi’ mane haila bhaya
jānilena gauracandra bhaktera hṛdaya

Jayapatākā Swami: So considering that the Yavanas were ruling the kingdom, he became fearful and anxious. Gauracandra knew the heart of His devotees.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.244

bhaktaduḥkha-bhaẏa-mocanārtha bhagavānera ātmaprakaṭanecchā—

prabhu avatīrṇa,—nāhi jāne bhakta-gaṇa
jānāite ārambhilā śrī-śacīnandana

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord had descended, but the devotees did not know this, Śrī Śacīnandana, He gradually revealed His identity, Śacīnandana gradually started to reveal Himself.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.245

viśbambharera apūrba-beśa bhūṣaṇa-barṇana, bhramaṇa-sukhe prabhura gaṅgātīre āgamana—

nirbhaye veḍāya mahāprabhu viśvambhara
tribhuvane advitīya madana-sundara

Jayapatākā Swami: Mahāprabhu Viśvambhara, fearlessly went around about Navadvīpa. He was one without a second, more beautiful than cupid and He was incomparable throughout the three worlds.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.246

sarvāṅge lepiyāchena sugandhi candana
aruṇa-adhara śobhe kamala-nayana

Jayapatākā Swami: Fragrant sandalwood pulp was applied all over His body. His lotus eyes and His reddish lips were enchanting!

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.247

cāṅcara-cikura śobhe pūrṇacandra-mukha
skandhe upavīta śobhe manohara rūpa

Jayapatākā Swami: His curly hair, decorated His face, which resembled a full moon. Over His shoulder, a brāhmaṇa thread was beautified and His form was most attractive and beautiful!

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.248

divya-vastra paridhāna, adhare tāmbūla
kautuke gelena prabhu bhāgīrathī-kūla

Jayapatākā Swami: Thus He was dressed in fine cloth, His lips were adorned with betel nuts. He went to the Bhāgīrathī side in great humor.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.249

yateka sukṛti haya dekhite hariṣa
yateka pāṣaṇḍī, saba haya vimariṣa

Jayapatākā Swami: Those who are pious persons on seeing the Lord, they became joyful and all the atheists became morose.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.250

akutobhaya prabhura nirbhīkatā darśane pāṣaṇḍigaṇera bismaẏa o pralāpa —

“eta bhaya śuniyā o bhaya nāhi pāya
rājāra kumāra yena nagare veḍāya”

Jayapatākā Swami: In spite of hearing the fearful rumors, He is not at all frightened. He wandered about the town like a prince!

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.251

āra-jana bale,—“bhāi! bujhilāṅa, thāka’
yata dekha ei saba—palābāra pāka”

Jayapatākā Swami: Another said, oh brother! I know it all! Whatever you see is all a cover for His escape! The atheistic people were so nasty! They spread false news, and then they gave their prediction on the basis of that. Today, there is a big discussion going on worldwide, about false news on the social media. So, one of the themes is that false news kills. So, this false news was meant to totally demoralize the Vaiṣṇavas, but Lord Caitanya, He was going throughout the town without any worries. So, someone was saying, why He is not worried? Another envious person said, no it is all a plan, all devised, conspiracy, plan, devise, He is going to run away, make His escape! So, all covered up! This is the way false news works.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.252

gaṅgā-puline go-cāraṇa-darśana-mātra prabhura ‘pūrba’braja-līlā-smṛtira uddīpana —

nirbhaye cāhena cāri-dike viśvambhara
gaṅgāra sundara srota pulina sundara

Jayapatākā Swami: Fearlessly, Viśvambhara looked around, He saw the beautiful flowing Ganges and the charming trees on its banks.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.253

gābhī eka yūtha dekhe pulinete care
hambārava kari’ āise jala khāibāre

Jayapatākā Swami: Seeing a herd of cows, grazing in the forest, on the side of the river, making their mooing sound and they were approaching the river to drink water.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.254

ūrdhva puccha kari’ keha catur-dike dhāya
keha yujhe, keha śuye, keha jala khāya

Jayapatākā Swami: Some of the cows raised their tails and ran about. Some fought each other, some laid down and some drank water.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.255

dekhiyā garjaye prabhu kare huhuṅkāra
“muñi sei, muñi sei” bale bāre bāra

Jayapatākā Swami: On seeing this, the Lord repeatedly thundered with a loud voice, He called out, ‘I am Him! I am He!’ He said again and again. What this means that He said, that I am the son of Nanda, the king of the cowherd men.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.256

drutavege nṛsiṃhā aṛcanarata śrīvāsera ruddhadvāra gṛhe gamana o padāghāta—

ei-mata dhāñā gelāśrīvāsera ghare
“ki kariḥ śrīvāsiyā?” balaye huṅkāre

Jayapatākā Swami: In that mood, the Lord rushed to the house of Śrīvāsa. He loudly exclaimed, ‘’What are you doing Śrīvāsa? What are you doing? He loudly, loudly, cried out!

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.257

nṛsiṁha pūjaye śrīnivāsa yei ghare
punaḥ punaḥ lāthi māre tāhāra duyāre

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord again and again, He kicked the door of the room, where Śrīvāsa was worshipping Lord Narasiṁhadeva.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.258

“kāhāre pūjis, karis kāra dhyāna?
yāṅhāre pūjis tāṅre dekh vidyamāna”

Jayapatākā Swami: Who are you worshipping? Who are you meditating on? Look, He whom you are worshipping is standing before you!

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.259

arcana-dhyāna-bhaṅge sanmukhe bīrāsane huṅkāra-rata caturbhuja gauraharike śrīvāsera darśana o vismaye stambha—

jvalanta-anala dekhe śrīvāsa-paṇḍita
haila samādhi-bhaṅga, cāhe cari-bhita

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita saw a blazing fire, his meditation was broken. He was looking around and before him, Lord Gaurasundara appeared with four hands, calling out loudly.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.260

dekhe vīrāsane vasi’ āche viśvambhara
catur-bhuja—śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma-dhara

Jayapatākā Swami: So Śrīvāsa saw the Lord Viśvambhara sitting in vīrāsana-yoga posture with four arms, holding a conch, disc, club and lotus.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.261

garjite āchaye yena matta-siṁha-sāra
vāma-kakṣe tāli diyā karaye huṅkāra

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord roared like a maddened lion, hitting His left shoulder with the palm of His hand, the Lord made a great sound.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.262

dekhiyā haila kampa śrīvāsa-śarīre
stabdha hailāśrīnivāsa, kichui nā sphure

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīvāsa on seeing the Lord, his body began to tremble. He, Śrīnivāsa, became stunned. No word was manifesting from his mouth.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.263

śrīvāsake prabhura utsāha o abhaẏa-dāna-mukhe sa-tattva-vaṛṇana o stabapāṭhārtha-ājñā—

ḍākiyā balaye prabhu—
“āre śrīnivāsa! eta-dina nā jānis āmāra prakāśa?

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord called and said, ‘Oh Śrīnivāsa, for so many days you didn’t know about My direct manifestation’!

Caitanya-bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.264

tora ucca saṅkīrtana, nāḍāra huṅkāre
chāḍiyā vaikuṇṭha, āinu sarva parivāre

Jayapatākā Swami: Hearing Your loud kīrtana, chanting the holy names, and Advaita Ācārya’s roaring, I have left Vaikuṇṭha and come here with all My associates!

So we will end here.