20200322 Mukunda Datta Is Forbidden to See Mahāprabhu

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
harihi oṁ tat sat

Chapter entitled as Mukunda Datta Is Forbidden to See Mahāprabhu

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 17.65

mukundera daṇḍānugraha—

mukunda-dattere kaila daṇḍa-parasāda
khaṇḍila tāhāra cittera saba avasāda

Translation: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu blessed Mukunda Datta with punishment and in that way vanquished all his mental depression.

Purport: Mukunda Datta was once forbidden to enter the association of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu because of his mixing with the Māyāvādī impersonalists. When Lord Caitanya manifested His mahā-prakāśa, He called all the devotees one after another and blessed them, while Mukunda Datta stood outside the door. The devotees informed the Lord that Mukunda Datta was waiting outside, but the Lord replied, “I shall not soon be pleased with Mukunda Datta, for though he explains devotional service among devotees, he then goes to Māyāvādīs to hear from them the Yoga-vāśiṣṭha-rāmāyaṇa, which is full of Māyāvāda philosophy. For this I am greatly displeased with him.” Hearing the Lord speak in that way, Mukunda Datta, standing outside, was exceedingly glad that the Lord would at some time be pleased with him, although He was not pleased at that moment. But when the Lord understood that Mukunda Datta was going to give up the association of the Māyāvādīs for good, He was pleased, and He at once called to see Mukunda. Thus, He delivered him from the association of the Māyāvādīs and gave him the association of pure devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: Because of mixing with the Māyāvādī impersonalists Mukunda Datta was forbidden entrance to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Actually, Lord Caitanya said that māyāvādī katha sune hoye sarvanāśa. If you associate with the Māyāvādī, it will destroy your bhakti. He had repeatedly told Mukunda Datta not to associate with these Māyāvādī. But Mukunda Datta did not take that very seriously, and therefore the Lord, He punished Mukunda Datta. He said that he could not see Lord Caitanya. So, He said that Mukunda Datta hears from the devotees, and then goes and hears from some Māyāvādī. As a result, I don’t want to see him anymore. So Mukunda Datta asked, when he could see Lord Caitanya? Then Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s secretary asked Him and He said, he cannot see Me for ten million births! When Mukunda Datta heard that he eventually he would see Lord Caitanya, he became very pleased and started chanting Haribol! Haribol! Mahāprabhu asked, why is he chanting Haribol? He thought he would never see You again. But hearing that he would after ten million births, he became very joyful! Ha! Ha! Then Lord Caitanya said, bring him in! Ha! Ha! But after that, he very carefully avoided the association of Māyāvādī. Lord Caitanya by giving this small punishment, actually blessed Mukunda Datta. We will hear the verses of the Caitanya Bhāgavat and other śāstras which explain the details.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.174

prabhura kīrtanīyā mukundera antaḥpaṭa-bāhire avasthāna

mukunda āchena antaḥpaṭera bāhire
sammukha haite śakti mukunda nā dhare

Translation: Mukunda was sitting behind a curtain. He had no power to come before the Lord.

The word antaḥpaṭa (antaḥ—“situated within” + paṭa—“curtain”) means “an interior curtain.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So Mukunda Datta was sitting behind the curtain. He had no power to go before Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.175

mukunda sabāra priya parama mahānta
bhālamate jāne sei sabāra vṛttānta

Translation: Mukunda was a great devotee and dear to everyone. He was well conversant with the background of everyone.

Jayapatākā Swami: Mukunda was dear to every Vaiṣṇava and he was considered a great devotee. He knew everyone’s nature and history.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.176

niravadhi kīrtana karaye, prabhu śune
kona jana nā bujhe,—tathāpi daṇḍa kene

Translation: The Lord would always listen whenever he would chant. No one could understand why he was being punished.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord would always listen to his kīrtana and devotees did not understand why he was being punished.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.177

ṭhākureha nāhi ḍāke, āsite nā pare
dekhiyā janmila duḥkha sabāra antare

Translation: The Lord did not call him, so he could not come. Everyone felt distress on seeing this.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord did not call him; therefore, he could not come. Everyone felt distressed on seeing this.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.178

śrīvāsa balena,—“śuna jagatera nātha
mukunda ki aparādha karila tomāta?

Translation: Śrīvāsa said, “O Lord of the universe, please listen. How has Mukunda offended You?

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīvāsa said, Oh, Lord of the Universe, please listen. What offence did Mukunda do?

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.179

mukunda tomāra priya, mo'sabāra prāṇa
kebā nāhi drave śuni' mukundera gāna?

Translation: “Mukunda is dear to You, and he is the life of us all. Whose heart does not melt on hearing Mukunda sing?

Jayapatākā Swami: Mukunda is very dear to You and he is the life and soul of all of us. Whose heart does not melt on hearing Mukunda sing?

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.180

bhakti-parāyaṇa sarva-dike sāvadhāna
aparādha nā dekhiyā kara apamāna

Translation: “He is attached to devotional service and is always careful. Yet without seeing any fault in him, You dishonor him.

Jayapatākā Swami: He is attached to devotional service and he is always very careful in different ways. But You dishonor him without saying the fault.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.181

yadi aparādha thāke, tāra śāsti kara
āpanāra dāse kene dūre parihara'?

Translation: “If he has actually committed an offense, then punish him. But why should You neglect Your servant?

Jayapatākā Swami: If he has done an aparādha, then punish him. Why do You neglect Your servant?

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.182

tumi nāḍākile nāre sammukha haite
dekhuka tomāre prabhu, bala bhāla mate”

Translation: “He cannot come before You unless You call him. Therefore, O Lord, please call him so that he can see You.”

Jayapatākā Swami: If You don’t call him, he cannot come before You. When will he come to see You Prabhu? Please give the word.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.183

prabhu bale,—“hena vākya kabhu nā balibāo
beṭāra lāgi' more kabhu nā sādhibā

Translation:The Lord replied, “Do not speak such words again. Don't ever speak to Me on that fellow's behalf.

Śrīvāsa requested the Lord to call Mukunda before Him. In reply to this, the Lord said in anger, “Don't ever request Me to bestow mercy on him.”

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord replied, “do not speak such words again. Don’t speak to Me on behalf of that fellow.” So Śrīvāsa had asked Lord Caitanya to call Mukunda and have mercy on him. But Lord Caitanya said in great anger, “never request Me to bestow mercy on him.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.184

`khaḍa laya, jāṭhi laya', pūrve ye śunilā
ai beṭā sei haya, keha nā cinilā

Translation: “You have heard before the saying, `Sometimes he takes a straw in his hands and sometimes he takes a stick.' This applies to this fellow, yet none of you have recognized him.

Jayapatākā Swami: You have heard the saying `khaḍa laya, jāṭhi laya', take a - what is jāṭhi – stick – take a straw, take a stick. This fellow is like that. You have not realized him as yet.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.185

kṣaṇe dante tṛṇa laya, kṣaṇe jāṭhi māre
o khaḍa-jāṭhiyā beṭā nā dekhibe more”

Translation: “Sometimes he takes a straw in his teeth, and sometimes he beats with a stick. Therefore, this straw-stick holder cannot see Me.”

“Sometimes Mukunda holds a straw between his teeth to express his humility, and sometimes he attacks Me. According to his consideration, his one hand is at My feet and his other hand is on My neck. Whenever it suits him, he becomes My subordinate, and at other times he blasphemes Me. Mukunda is a synthesizer. He identifies himself according to what suits him and thus invites his own inauspiciousness. Therefore, I do not feel like giving any benediction to him. Sometimes he discusses the book Yoga-vāśiṣṭha with Advaita and supports the Māyāvāda philosophy, and sometimes he gives up the Māyāvāda philosophy and expresses humility in the attempt to cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness. When I instruct others to always chant the names of Hari by becoming more humble than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree, ready to offer all respects to others, and not expecting respect for oneself, then, considering himself a servant of Advaita, Mukunda desires to become one with Brahman, gives up the quality of tolerance, and supports the philosophy of Yoga-vāśiṣṭha, which is a misinterpretation of Vedānta. Moreover, with a desire to sit among the Vaiṣṇavas, he pretends to be decorated with the humility of an exalted devotee and thus identifies himself as a `devotee.'”

Jayapatākā Swami: “Sometimes he takes a straw in his teeth, sometimes he hits you with a stick. This straw-stick holder fellow cannot see Me.” Now Lord Caitanya was accusing that “sometimes Mukunda, he is very humble, with a straw in his teeth, and sometimes he attacks Me with a stick.” So according to this, his one hand is on My foot, and the other hand is around My neck. So sometimes, he becomes My devotee, My subordinate, and sometimes he blasphemes Me! Mukunda Datta, he identifies himself according to what suits him. And thus, invites his own inauspiciousness. I do not feel like giving any benediction to him. Sometimes, he discusses the Yoga-vāśiṣṭha with the impersonalists or Māyāvādīs, and sometimes he humbly comes and practices devotional service. So sometimes, he follows the instructions, like devotees should be more tolerant than a tree, humble than a straw. But sometimes he listens to the Vāśiṣṭha-advaita or Yoga-vāśiṣṭha, and he considers himself a follower of monism. This is a distortion, misinterpretation of the Vedānta-sūtra. And when he decides to sit amongst the Vaiṣṇavas, he pretends to take the position of all humility of a Vaiṣṇava, and thus identifies himself as a devotee.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.186

mahā-vaktāśrīnivāsa bale āra bāra
“bujhite tomāra śakti kāra adhikāra?

Translation:The expert speaker Śrīvāsa spoke again to the Lord, “Who is qualified to understand Your prowess?

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura was a great speaker. He spoke again to the Lord. “Who is qualified to understand Your prowess?”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.187

āmarā ta mukundera doṣa nāhi dekhi
tomāra abhaya pāda-padma tāra sākṣī”

Translation: “We do not find any fault in Mukunda. Your lotus feet, which award fearlessness, are witness of this fact.”

Jayapatākā Swami: We don’t see any fault in Mukunda and You give the blessing of fearlessness. Your lotus feet give the blessing of fearlessness and that is proof of this fact.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.188

prabhu bale,—“o beṭā yakhana yathā yāya
sei mata kathā kahi' tathāi miśāya

Translation:The Lord said, “Wherever this fellow goes, he mingles with the persons there and speaks like one of them.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord said, “whenever that fellow goes in the middle of other persons, then he speaks like one of them.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.189

vāśiṣṭha paḍaye yabe advaitera saṅge
bhakti-yoge nāce gāya tṛṇa kari' dante

Translation: “When he studies Yoga-vāśiṣṭha in Advaita's association, he takes a straw in his teeth and sings and dances in a devotional mood.

Jayapatākā Swami: So when he reads the Vāśiṣṭha, he mixes with the Advaita bodies or the impersonalists. Sometimes he dances with the bhakti yogis and he takes a straw in his teeth in devotional service.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.190

anya sampradāye giyā yakhana sāmbhāya
nāhi māne bhakti, jāṭhi māraye sadāya

Translation: “When he mingles with another sampradāya, he constantly beats Me with a stick by not accepting devotional service.

“When Mukunda mingles with the Māyāvādīs, he denies the eternity of devotional service and attacks the devotees in a battle of argument.”

The word sāmbhāya means “enters.” The phrase anya sampradāya refers to the Māyāvāda-sampradāya.

Jayapatākā Swami: “When he mixes, mingles with another sampradāya, he doesn’t accept devotional service and He hits Me with a stick.” So, the impersonalists say that the Personality of Godhead is not eternal, He is just like the expansion of the satya-guṇa. So, by mixing with the impersonalists, with the Māyāvādīs, Mukunda is denying the eternity of the Personality of Godhead. And that way he is attacking devotees.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.191

`bhakti haite baḍa āche', ye ihā vākhāne
nirantara jāṭhi more māre sei jane

Translation: “Anyone who explains, `There is something superior to devotional service,' constantly beats Me with a stick.

“Those who consider that karma, jñāna, yoga, and Vedic study are equal to or greater than devotional service are beating Me.”

The word jāṭhi means “stick.” There is a community in Punjab known as jāṭha, who carry sticks in their hands. Later on, many of them entered the disciplic succession founded by Guru Nanak.

Jayapatākā Swami: “If someone says that something is greater than bhakti in their description, they are hitting Me with a stick, constantly, again and again.” So, Lord Gaurāṅga’s point is that if someone says that karma or jñāna-yoga or Vedic study are equal or better than bhakti, they are beating Him. ‘jāṭhi’ literally means stick and in Punjab there is a group known as jāṭhas and they carry sticks in their hands. Later, many of them entered the Guru Nanak sampradāya.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.192

bhakti-sthāne uhāra haila aparādha
eteke uhāra haila daraśana-vādha”

Translation: “He has committed an offense against devotional service. Therefore he cannot see Me.”

“Those who engage in karma, jñāna, yoga, and austerities are unable to understand the actual nature of devotional service and commit offenses at the feet of Bhaktidevī. The devotees of the Lord do not give their association to such offenders. Therefore, I also cannot tolerate seeing any karmis or Māyāvādīs.”

Jayapatākā Swami: He has committed an offence against devotional service. Therefore, he cannot come to see Me. Those who engage in karma, jñāna, yoga and austerities, they cannot understand the actual nature of devotional service. And they commit an offence to Bhakti devī. The devotees of the Lord do not give their association to such offenders, therefore I cannot tolerate seeing any karmis or Māyāvādīs.

Thus ends the Chapter -
Mukunda Datta Is Forbidden to See Mahāprabhu

* * *

So, any questions?

Question: In Bengali. Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja, PAMRO.

Jayapatākā Swami: His question was, if someone is not a born brāhmaṇa, they perform yagnas and things. And he said, that if that is so, then why do Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas do it? So, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda, he went to a meeting of the brāhmaṇas in Midnapore. He glorified how the brāhmaṇas had 12 qualities, and the brāhmaṇas were very satisfied with that interpretation. Then he described the Vaiṣṇavas, how they have 13 qualities – 12 of the brāhmaṇas and also the quality of pure bhakti. So therefore, he said that if someone is a pure Vaiṣṇava, they also have the same adhikāra, same right to perform these yagnas. So, he gave the upanayanam to the non brāhmaṇas, not born brāhmaṇas, who were practicing pure bhakti. And he said that they are called … brāhmaṇas. So that is why devotees or Vaiṣṇavas who are second initiated, they perform this service and all over the world, we have devotees who receive the second initiation, and they are performing the deity worship and the saṁskāras and the homas in the Vaiṣṇava communities.

Offering: Hare Kṛṣṇa dear Guru Mahārāja, PAMRO. Today our Bhagīrathī fasted and recited the entire Bhagavad-gītā. Saṅkalpa was that may the Supreme Personality of Godhead who protected Ambarīṣa Mahārāja with His Sudarśana Cakra, may kindly protect, if He so desires, our spiritual master, His Holiness Jayapatākā Svāmī Guru Mahārāja from corona virus. May this virus not affect our Gurudeva in any way. May the Lord keep this virus, miles away from our beloved Guru Mahārāja. Please kindly accept this humble offering, dear Guru Mahārāja. Your servant, Sujitendriya dāsa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Where is the letter? You see, Ambarīṣa was serving the Lord and Durvāsā Muni, he attacked Ambarīṣa. So Ambarīṣa was protected by the Sudarśana Cakra. I don’t exactly understand what the comparison is. I am trying to serve Śrīla Prabhupāda. And I am rendering devotional service. But, we shouldn’t, - you can say if it so please you, please protect. You are saying, may kindly protect. We don’t ask anything from the Lord, that is not pure bhakti. We don’t have any personal request, but if it pleases the Lord, then we can pray for the health of our spiritual master. We always add the submission, if it pleases You. I don’t see that in that – is it there? (Devotee said: Yes, Guru Mahārāja it says, if He so desires, kindly protect). Written very small, he added! Ha! Ha! In between!

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja, PAMRO. Mukunda seems to do some minor mistake which was taken by Lord Caitanya very seriously. So, we do so many gross and subtle mistakes both philosophically and consciously, so it seems we cannot get the mercy of Lord Caitanya easily. So how can we understand this? Rasapriyā Gopikā devī dāsī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Now, it is not a minor thing to mingle with the impersonalists on one hand and then mix with the devotees on the other. You shouldn’t take this as something very light. That is the point that has been made here. Lord Caitanya is using Mukunda Datta as an example. We should not mingle with the impersonalists – it is not a minor thing. Because impersonalism is against devotional service. They want to become one with God. They call the other sannyasis, Narayana and so on. So, they are beating Kṛṣṇa with a stick. They are saying I am equal to Kṛṣṇa! That is very offensive! How could you say this is a minor thing? So, the reason why Lord Caitanya is making an example of Mukunda Datta, because it is not minor, it is a very basic mistake. We should not mingle with the impersonalists. If we accept impersonalism, then we can all be equal with God, equal with Kṛṣṇa. Are we hitting Kṛṣṇa? Are we attacking Kṛṣṇa? Are you thinking you are equal to Kṛṣṇa? So, it is not a minor thing. It is a very basic and serious offence.

Submission: I am residing in Abhay Nagar in Māyāpur. Today evening in Māyāpur at 5 pm we all came out on the balconies, terrace, started doing harināma, loud playing of karatālas, mṛdaṅgas and devotees singing harināma, hari haraya namaḥ, etc. It was such a blissful experience of reliving Lord Caitanya’s saṅkīrtana movement in Māyāpur! Thank you gurudeva for encouraging us to do this harināma and caring for us. We feel so protected under your shelter. Haribol! Your servants, Gopījana Vallabha dāsa, Śyāmagopikā devī dāsī, Antaraṅga Tulasī devī dāsī.

Jayapatākā Swami: You see Narendra Modi, our Prime Minister, he requested we make some sound at 5 o clock to glorify the nurses and doctors who are risking their lives, caring for the patients who have corona virus. So, what better way of thanking them than chanting the harināma and in this way we feel that transcendental sound is actually the way to protect and to help the corona virus be eradicated. Śrīla Prabhupāda had mentioned in the late 1800s, there was a grand epidemic of plague in Kolkata and thousands of people were dying. Then one devotee, he requested all the gṛhasthas, house to house he went, and he asked them all to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa! By doing that the plague subsided. So, like that we know that in the Kali Santarana Upanisad it gives Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. It says, that these 16 words, iti sodaśaka nāmnāṁ, these 16 names, kali-kalmaṣa nāśanam, destroy all the evil effects of Kali-yuga. Of course, the main evil effect is that we forget that we are all subordinate, dependent on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But the other thing like the pandemic, they are also part of the kalmaṣa of Kali-yuga. So, if everybody chants Hare Kṛṣṇa, it would destroy this pandemic and other difficulties of Kali-yuga. So, we see that the real solution is people should chant the holy names, and that is what the sastras tell us. Unfortunately, they think that vaccines and other things will help, it may help in the long run but they say that they cannot come up with a vaccine before a year. They have to test it, see if it is effective, see if it has any side effects. In the meantime, in Italy alone, 600 or 800 people died in a day. In China, I don’t know how many people died – 3000 or something. So, for immediate effect, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa! That is the real solution! And then others things will come! Vaccine, treatments. In the meantime, chant! And also, this is not a human disease, it is an animal disease. Because we are eating animals. There is a jump from the animals to the humans. That is why we don’t have the immunity, because we are not immune to animal diseases. Animal diseases affect animals. But because some people eat snakes, bats and other creatures, so that disease has entered into the human beings, and therefore we are suffering. So, during this time, everybody should be vegetarian, at least this time. We should avoid eating all meat, fish, eggs. At least if we avoid eating meat, that would be a big step in the right direction. So, I am very grateful that the devotees heeded the Prime Minister’s call and they heeded by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa! Thank you very much! Haribol!

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja. (Jayapatākā Swami: HARE KṚṢṆA!) Please accept my respectful obeisances. How can we, Kali-yuga’s conditioned, fallen souls, feel the taste of Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. In your previous classes, we have heard Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by chanting the holy name, fell unconscious and regained consciousness, in deep love and devotion towards harināma. How can we also feel the same? —Your servant, Kackuly Rāṇī dāsī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said that it took him twenty years to achieve this perfection. If it took him twenty years, how long will it take us? We should not stop trying. By the mercy of Lord Caitanya, it can be awakened very quickly. Last question.

Question: In Bengali. Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja, Please accept my humble obeisances. I am your sheltered devotee. I am trying to do devotional service. First for a few months, I was feeling good doing japa, but now the taste is going down. Please give mercy to this servant to feel taste for chanting.—Ajay Mondal.

Jayapatākā Swami: By chanting the names of Lord Caitanya:

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Our devotion for the holy name, our happiness in chanting the holy name, comes very quickly. So, please worship the Pañca-tattva, chant the holy names of Pañca-tattva, pray to Lord Nityānanda and Lord Caitanya and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa! Haribol!

So, thank you all very much! Are there any more questions?

I will be giving a class to the UK devotees; this is at 8. Maybe same time in Europe will work out. I have to take my dinner before that. At 9 the deities are open till 9.30 for darśana. So, you can have darśana of the deities if you want from 9 to 9.30. And then They will take rest! They are staying up so you can take darśana if you want!

Thank you all! This afternoon I gave class to the Australian devotees. That will be a good time for the Chinese too. Now it is like Melbourne is 12.30 in the night. So, we gave class in the afternoon which was like 2.30 to 5 in Australia.  So, it will be similar time in China. We will tell China next time we give class to Australia.