20200414 Advaita Ācārya Cites the Destruction of Sudakṣiṇa and Others As Evidence of His Statements (Part 1)

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

I would like to wish everyone Poila Vaiśākha, first day of Vaiśākha, New Year in Bengal, Assam, in Tamil Nadu and other states of India. Also, the month of Vaiśākha is a very sacred month and some places it is said that it is the holiest month of the year. Some places it says that Kārtīka is the holiest month. This month we have Narasiṁha-caturdaśī, Akṣaya Tritīyā, Candana-Yātrā. So somehow, we have to arrange that devotees can make candana paste for the deities in their house. Of course the Prime Minister has ordered that there will be a lockdown extension till May 3rd.  Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal had announced earlier that according to her, the lockdown would be extended to April 30th. Now the Prime Minister has overruled it. So tomorrow the rules of the lockdown will be mentioned. Some places which are considered as hotspots will have increased restrictions. Those places which are not the hotspots may have slight relaxation. We don’t know what that is yet, we will inform what happens.

So now we talk about the next chapter in the Caitanya Book. I want to wish you all a very auspicious Vaiśākha month and an auspicious New Bengali year, Ha! Ha! At 8 o’ clock I will be addressing the Bengali community in Bengali.  I don’t know if it will be translated into English.

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Chapter entitled as Advaita Ācārya Cites the Destruction of Sudakṣiṇa and Others as Evidence of His Statements

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.176

gauravimukha itara devapūjakera tattadevatā kartṛka vināśa-prāpti, dṛṣṭānta-svarūpa sudakṣiṇa-upākhyāna varṇana—

tomāre laṅghiyā yadi koṭi-deva bhaje
sei deva tāhāre saṁhāre kona vyāje

Translation: “If one transgresses You and worships millions of demigods, those demigods will kill him on some pretext.

The Supreme Lord's acceptance of the mood of a devotee with a desire to preach the beauty of His own devotional service, which has never been preached before, is the ideal example of mercy. If the worship offered to millions of demigods disregards prema-bhakti and rejects the service of Śrī Gaurahari, who is resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, such worship can never counteract the offense committed by transgressing Viśvambhara. Even if so-called learned people who are averse to Śrī Gaura become totally overwhelmed with the worship of various sanctified demigods, those very objects of worship certainly destroy their misguided worshipers on some pretext or other.

Jayapatākā Swami: If someone transgresses You, but worships millions of demigods, those demigods on some pretext or other, on some pretext, would kill that person. The Lord came down as a devotee, Gaurasundara, Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu and preached the beauty and wonderfulness of His devotional service, which has never been done before by the Lord. It is a special example of mercy. You see Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṇa Himself. If someone neglects Lord Caitanya, transgresses His devotion, even if he worships millions of demigods, such worship can never counteract the offense committed by transgressing Viśvambhara. So, if someone is envious of Lord Caitanya, and somehow disregards Him, offends Him, even worshipping demigods will not save him. On some pretext or other, the demigods will kill him, or destroy him.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.177

muñi nāhi baloṅ ei vedera vākhāna
sudakṣiṇa-maraṇa tāhāra paramāṇa

Translation: “These are not simply My words, they are the words of the Vedas. The killing of Sudakṣiṇa is evidence of this.

The Purāṇas composed by Śrī Vedavyāsa are expansions of the original Vedic histories. The Purāṇas are written in Sanskrit. They are simple presentations of histories. Since respect has diminished for the Vedas, which were written in the ancient language of the gods, and since they are not easily found because of being ravaged in the course of time, it is simply foolishness to consider the Purāṇas as separate from the Vedas. The histories that explain the Vedas have been compiled in the Purāṇas. In those Purāṇas (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Tenth Canto, Chapter 66) the narration of Sudakṣiṇa's destruction should be accepted as evidence for Advaita's statements.

Jayapatākā Swami: These are not My words; they are the words of the Vedas. The killing of Sudakṣiṇa is evidence of this. In the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, 10th canto, chapter 66, the narration of Sudakṣiṇa’s destruction should be accepted as evidence of Advaita’s statements.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.178

sudakṣiṇera śivārādhanā—

sudakṣiṇa nāma-kāśī-rājera nandana
mahā-samādhiye śiva kaila ārādhana

Translation: “Sudakṣiṇa was the son of the King of Kāśī. He worshiped Lord Śiva with full attention.

The phrase mahā-samādhiye means “with full absorption.”

Jayapatākā Swami: The son of the king of Kāśī, whose name was Sudakṣiṇa, he worshipped Lord Śiva, with full attention.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.179

śivera sudakṣiṇake vara-dāna, abhicāra-yajñānuṣṭhānera upadeśa o vaiṣṇava-vidveṣa niṣedha—

parama santoṣe śiva bale,—“māga vara
pāibe abhīṣṭa, abhicāra-yajña kara

Translation: “In great satisfaction, Śiva told him, `Ask for a benediction. You will achieve your goal by performing the abhicāra-yajña.

Abhicāra-yajña refers to violent activities described in the Atharva Veda like killing and torturing. Topics of violent activities like killing, bewildering, paralyzing, inducing envy, hypnotizing, and torturing are also found in the tantras. That is why prescriptions for worshiping goddesses and performing fire sacrifices are also found therein.

Jayapatākā Swami: Being fully satisfied Lord Śiva said, ask for benediction, you will achieve your goal, by performing the abhicāra sacrifice. Ābhicāra-yajña or sacrifice is one of the tantras mentioned in the Atharva Veda and includes killing and torturing. The violent activities like killing, bewildering, paralyzing, inducing envy, hypnotizing, torturing, are also found in the tantras. So, these prescriptions are given for worshipping goddesses and performing fire sacrifices.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.180

viṣṇu-bhakta-prati yadi kara apamāna
tabe sei yajñe tora laiba parāṇa”

Translation: “`But if you insult a devotee of Viṣṇu, I will kill you in the course of your sacrifice.'

Jayapatākā Swami: But if you insult or offend a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu, then in the course of your sacrifice, I will kill you.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.181

śivājñāẏa sudakṣiṇera abhicāra-yajña—

śiva kahilena vyāje, se ihā nā bujhe
śivājñāya abhicāra-yajña giyā bhaje

Translation: “Without understanding the true intention of Śiva's words, Sudakṣiṇa performed the abhicāra-yajña on the order of Śiva.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Sudakṣiṇa could not understand that what Lord Śiva was saying, He was saying in deceit. On the order of Lord Śiva, he performed the abhicāra sacrifice.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.182

abhicāra-yajñe triśira-mūrtira āvirbhāva o tāhāke dvārakā-dāhane sudakṣiṇera ādeśa—

yajña haite uṭhe eka mahā-bhayaṅkara
tina kara, caraṇa, triśira-rūpa dhara

Translation: “A formidable demon with three hands, three legs, and three heads appeared from the sacrificial fire.

Jayapatākā Swami: From that sacrificial fire, one great fearful demon appeared. He had three hands, three legs, three heads.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.183

tālajaṅgha paramāṇa bale,—`vara māga'
rājā bale,—`dvārakā poḍāo mahābhāga'

Translation: “That demon with legs as long as palm trees said, `Ask for a benediction.' The King replied, `O fortunate one, burn Dvārakā to ashes.'

Jayapatākā Swami: The demon with legs as long as palm trees, asked for a benediction. The king said, ‘please, oh fortunate one, burn Dvārakā to ashes.’

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.184

śaiva-mūrtira saduḥkhe dvārakā-gamana, sudarśanera tāhāke ākramaṇa evaṃ śaiva-mūrtira sudarśana-stava—

śuniyā duḥkhita haila mahā-śaiva-mūrti
bujhilena ihāra icchāra nāhi pūrti

Translation: “On hearing this order, that great demon, who was the creation of Śiva, became distressed. He realized that the King's desire could not be fulfilled.

Jayapatākā Swami: That great demon who was the creation of Lord Śiva, was sad, distressed, to hear the order of the king. He understood that the king’s desire could not be fulfilled.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.185

anurodhe gelā mātra dvārakāra pāśe
dvārakā-rakṣaka cakra khedāḍiyā āse

Translation: “The demon was obliged to go to Dvārakā, yet as soon as he arrived there, he was chased by Sudarśana, the protector of Dvārakā.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since he was asked, the demon went to the site of Dvārakā. As soon as he arrived in Dvārakā, the Sudarśana cakra which was protecting Dvārakā chased him.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.186

palāile nā eḍāi sudarśana-sthāne
mahāśaiva paḍi' bale cakrera caraṇe

Translation: “Thinking that he would not be spared by Sudarśana if he tried to run away, the great creation of Śiva fell at Sudarśana's feet and spoke as follows.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, thinking that, he ran away, but could not escape the Sudarśana cakra. He will not be spared by Sudarśana cakra. The great Śiva demon, fell at the lotus feet of Sudarśana cakra, and spoke as follows.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.187

“yāre palāite nāhi pārila durvāsā
nārila rākhite aja-bhava-digvāsā

Translation: “`Durvāsā was unable to escape from you, and Brahmā and Śiva were unable to protect him.

Jayapatākā Swami: Durvāsā Muni was unable to escape from You. And he was not protected by Lord Brahmā, Śiva or Viṣṇu.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.188

hena mahā-vaiṣṇava-tejera sthāne muñi
kothā palāiba prabhu ye karis tui

Translation: “`Therefore, Prabhu, how can I escape from you, who are endowed with the prowess of a great Vaiṣṇava?

Jayapatākā Swami: “Therefore, oh Master, how can I escape from You, who are endowed with the prowess of a great Vaiṣṇava?”

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.189

jaya jaya prabhu mora sudarśana nāma
dvitīya śaṅkara-teja jaya kṛṣṇa-dhāma

Translation: “All glories to my master, who is named Sudarśana! You are as powerful as Lord Śiva. All glories to the abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa!

Jayapatākā Swami: “All glories to my Master, who is named as Sudarśana! All glories to the abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa! All glories to Sudarśana, which is the second, form of the second effulgence of Lord Śiva!”

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.190

jaya mahācakra, jaya vaiṣṇava-pradhāna
jaya duṣṭa-bhayaṅkara, jaya śiṣṭa-trāṇa”

Translation: “`Al glories to Sudarśana cakra, the best of the Vaiṣṇavas! All glories to the destroyer of the miscreants and the protector of the pious!'

Jayapatākā Swami: “All glories to the great Sudarśana cakra! All glories to the best of the Vaiṣṇavas! All glories to the destroyer of the miscreants! All glories to the protector of the pious!”

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.191

sudarśanājñāẏa śaivamūrtira sudakṣiṇake dāhana—

stuti śuni' santoṣe balila sudarśana
poḍā giyā yathā āche rājāra nandana

Translation: “Sudarśana heard his prayer with satisfaction and then instructed him to go burn the King's son.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Śiva demon was able to satisfy Sudarśana with his prayers. Then he instructed him to go and burn the king’s son.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.192

punaḥ sei mahā-bhayaṅkara bāhuḍiyā
calilā kāśīra rāja-putra poḍāiyā

Translation: “That terrifying creature then returned to Kāśī and burned the prince to ashes.

Jayapatākā Swami: Then that great demon, that terrifying creature, returned to Kāśī and burnt the prince to ashes.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.193

śrīcaitanyadāsagaṇera vidveṣī advaita-bhaktera advaita-kartṛka vināśa-prāpti—

tomāre laṅghiyā prabhu śiva-pūjā kaila
ataeva tāra yajñe tāhāre mārila

Translation: “He transgressed You, O Lord, and worshiped Śiva. Therefore he was killed in the course of his sacrifice.

Jayapatākā Swami: “He transgressed You prabhu, oh Lord, and he worshipped Lord Śiva. Therefore, he was killed in the course of his sacrifice.”

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.194

teñi se baliluṅ prabhu tomāre laṅghi
yāmora sevā kare tāre māri poḍāiyā

Translation: “That is why I declare that I will burn to ashes anyone who transgresses You and serves Me.

One who becomes anxious to envy the servants of Śrī Caitanya and who tries to introduce himself as “a servant” by assuming a relationship with Advaita is burned to ashes by Advaita like Sudakṣiṇa. Advaita Prabhu and Mahādeva never accept worship from worshipers who are envious of Lord Viṣṇu and the Vaiṣṇavas. Even today proud people try to malign devotional service by proudly organizing rival assemblies, rival kīrtanas, and rival preaching, but Lord Viṣṇu and the Vaiṣṇavas, who are the objects of kīrtana, perpetually destroy their propensity for serving Vaiṣṇavas by engaging them in their own selfish interests. By their own behavior, such people destroy themselves by becoming servants of lust and anger, therefore pure devotional service takes leave of them forever.

Jayapatākā Swami: “That is why I declare that I will burn him to ashes, anyone who transgresses You and then serves Me.” If someone is envious of Lord Caitanya or His servants, commits offences to them, but claims that he is a servant of Advaita, is burnt to ashes like Sudakṣiṇa was burnt. Advaita or Mahādeva, never accept worship from those who are envious to Kṛṣṇa and His devotees.

If some demon tries to malign devotional service, by organizing rival assemblies, rival kīrtanas, rival preaching, then Lord Kṛṣṇa makes sure they are destroyed by their offence to Lord Viṣṇu and His devotees. Such persons by their own behaviour, self-destroy themselves by following the path of lust and anger and they leave devotional service. Or pure devotional service takes leave of them forever.

CB Madhya-khaṇḍa 19.195

tumi mora prāṇa-nātha, tumi mora dhana
tumi mora pitā-mātā, tumi bandhu-jana

Translation: “You are the Lord of My life, and You are My wealth. You are My father and mother, and You are My dear friend.

Many people wrongly consider Śrī Gaurasundara in the position of an ordinary mother, ordinary father, ordinary friend, or similar ordinary relationship, but Advaita Prabhu considered Gaurasundara completely transcendental to all worldly designations and established Him as the transcendental father, mother, wealth, and beloved. Material relationships are based on the platform of unpalatable material enjoyment; there is no tinge of service attitude in them. The prākṛta-sahajiyās' mood as lover, the prosperous prākṛta-sahajiyās' wealth, and the prākṛta-sahajiyās' relationships as friend, father, mother, and son are all situated in the atmosphere of material enjoyment. To become free from material enjoyment they take shelter of voidism in the atmosphere of renunciation and thus become impersonalists. But those who realize that all objects of this material world are related to Lord Viṣṇu can eternally remain aloof from the spirit of enjoyment and sensual knowledge. In Vaiṣṇava philosophy there is no spirit of material enjoyment and there is no concept that visible objects are “enjoyable;” rather than the attitude of enjoyment, the attitude of service is prominent.

Jayapatākā Swami: “You are the Lord of My life, You are My wealth, My treasure! You are My mother and father! You are My dear friend!” Advaita Gosvāmī when He is addressing Lord Caitanya as His mother, father, friend, He is doing so in a transcendental sense. He doesn’t consider the Lord to have any worldly designations. So, Advaita was considering Him to be His transcendental mother, father, wealth and friend. Material relationships are based on material enjoyment. There is no sense of service attitude or love in them. So, the prākṛta-sahajiyās’ relationship with the Lord is based on material enjoyment. They don’t relate with the Lord on transcendence. Some people, to avoid this material enjoyment, become voidists or personalists, and do artificial renunciation. In Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the attitude of devotional service is prominent, and there is no consciousness of enjoying the objects, rather to serve the Lord.

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We will end here. And, any questions?

Question: Now that we are locked in all over the world, personal association of devotees is being missed a lot which is rare on its own accord. How do we get enthused without personal association? Missing your association as well. Yogesvara Govinda dāsa, Melbourne.

Jayapatākā Swami: Are you watching from Melbourne? Must be late at night! So someone was commenting that by this lockdown, you can appreciate how the association of devotees is so important. Because we are deprived, so then naturally we appreciate the devotees’ association more. Of course you have to associate using the internet, what’s app, telegram, zoom, Facebook, etc. Instagram. It is not exactly the same, but better than nothing! Ha! It helps us to appreciate how wonderful association of Vaiṣṇavas is! That is one reason I try to have our association, with different devotees on Zoom. Last night we visited devotees in Russia. And night before, devotees in North America. Before that, devotees in South America, Latin America. Sometime ago I visited the devotees in Australia. But if you want we can try to visit again. I don’t know if you are in lockdown in Australia. They told me in America, Monday to Fri they work from home. So they cannot attend, I have to give a class on Saturday or Sunday. What is the situation in Australia? Here in the morning would be late afternoon there. So every other day I have some TOVP meetings, and 8 o clock at night will be very late in Australia. So, we have to meet around 11 or 12. So please send your text.

It is Abhirāma Ṭhākura’s disappearance day. Abhirāma Ṭhākura is actually Sridham from kṛṣṇa-līlā. He was changed into Abhirāma Ṭhākura by Lord Nityānanda. When he would bow down to Nityānanda’s children, they would die, it was said they were not qualified to be His children. Until Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and Gaṅgā Mātā came as son and daughter of Nityānanda, and they survived. But if he would bow down to a śalagrama-śilā, and if it was not a real śalagrama, it would burst to dust. So he was so powerful. His praṇāma was so intense so when he went to meet Raghunandana Ṭhākura, Raghunandana was a small boy, but he had heard that the Laḍḍū Gopāla deity was eating out of his hand. So Abhirāma wanted to meet him, but his parents were afraid, if Abhirāma offered obeisances to Raghunandana, maybe he will die! Ha! So they told him he is not here! So Raghunandana, when he heard that Abhirāma had come, then he went to meet Abhirāma Ṭhākura in one orchard. So there he offered his obeisances to Abhirāma. Abhirāma picked him up and embraced him. Ha! And they both were dancing in ecstasy! Ha! Ha! And Raghunandana’s ankle bell flew off! They were dancing so intensely that the ankle bell fell like two kilometers away, that pond is still there where the ankle bell fell. So Abhirāma Ṭhākura was a great devotee. And here he is showing a picture of the deities, Abhirāma used to bathe the Gopinath deity publicly. And very beautiful deities. Abhirāma-pura deities.

So I have to leave now, so that by 8 I come back, to give the Bengali darśana. Haribol!

Rādhāramaṇa Sevaka dāsa: Thank you very much Jalaṅgī Mātājī, Hlādinī Mātājī, Yamunālīlāvatī, Nārāyaṇī Rādhā!

Jayapatākā Swami: He took the words out of my mouth!

Announcements for Food for Life and Devotee Care donations were made.