20200424 Mahāprabhu Writes “Rāmadāsa” on the Forehead of Murāri Gupta (Part 3)

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

So, we continue reading the glories of Murāri Gupta and he composed some verses on the glories of Lord Rāmacandra, and after that these verses are being explained by the Caitanya Maṅgala and other śāstras. These are called, the Śrī Rāmāṣṭakam.

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Chapter entitled as Mahāprabhu Writes “Rāmadāsa”
on the Forehead of Murāri Gupta – Continued…

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.322

“durvā-dala-śyāmala—kodaṇḍa-dīkṣā-guru
bhakta-gaṇa-prati vāñchātīta kalpa-taru

Translation: “His complexion is dark like durvā grass, and He is the supreme teacher of the art of archery. He is like a desire tree for fulfilling the desires of His devotees.

The phrase kodaṇḍa-dīkṣā-guru refers to a teacher of dhanur-vidyā, the art of archery.

Jayapatākā Swami: His complexion is dark green like the durvā grass and He is like the Supreme guru or teacher of the art of archery. He is the desire tree, for the desires of His devotees. So, Lord Rāma is described as the teacher of the dhanur-vidyā, that included the art of archery.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.323

hāsya-mukhe ratna-maya-rāja-siṁhāsane
vasiyā āchena śrī-jānakīdevī vāme

Translation: “He is smiling as He sits on the royal throne decorated with jewels with Śrī Jānakīdevī on His left.

Jayapatākā Swami: He is smiling while seated on the jeweled king’s siṁhāsana, on the jeweled royal throne. He is sitting with Jānakīdevī on His left. Jānakī is the name of Sītā.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.324

agre mahā-dhanur-dhara anuja lakṣmaṇa
kanakera prāya jyoti kanaka-bhūṣaṇa

Translation: “In front of Him is His younger brother, the great archer Lakṣmaṇa, whose complexion is as effulgent as gold and who is decorated with golden ornaments.

Jayapatākā Swami: In front of Him the great archer, His younger brother Lakṣmaṇa, He was effulgent as the color of gold and He was decorated with golden ornaments.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.325

āpane anuja hai' śrī-ananta-dhāma
jyeṣṭhera sevāya rata `śrī-lakṣmaṇa' nāma

Translation: “Appearing as the Lord's younger brother, Śrī Lakṣmaṇa, who is the origin of Lord Ananta, engages in the service of His elder brother.

Jayapatākā Swami: Appearing as the younger brother of Lord Rāma, the source of Anantadeva, Śrī Lakṣmaṇa, engages in the service of the Lord, His elder brother. So these verses explain the beauty of Sītā, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.326

sarva-mahā-guru hena śrī-raghunandana
janma janma bhajoṅ muñi tāṅhāra caraṇa

Translation: “Birth after birth I worship the lotus feet of Śrī Raghunandana, who is the supreme teacher of everyone.

Jayapatākā Swami: “Birth after birth, I worship the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra who is known as Śrī Raghunandana, He is the supreme teacher of everyone.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.327

bharata śatrughna dui cāmara ḍhulāya
sammukhe kapīndra-gaṇa puṇya-kīrti gāya

Translation: “His two brothers Bharata and Śatrughna fan Him with cāmaras, as the leaders of the monkeys sing His auspicious glories before Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: Bharata and Śatrughna, His two brothers, are fanning Him with cāmaras. Before Him, the leaders of the monkeys are singing His auspicious glories.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.328

ye prabhu karilā guha-caṇḍālere mita
janma janma gāṅa yena tāṅhāra carita

Translation: “May I birth after birth sing the glories of that Lord who made friends with the caṇḍāla Guha.

Jayapatākā Swami: May I sing His glories birth after birth, that Lord Rāmacandra, who made friends with the caṇḍāla, Guha.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.329

guru-ājñāśire dhari' chāḍi' nija-rājya
vana bhramilena karibāre sura-kārya

Translation: “He left His kingdom on the order of His guru. He then wandered in the forest to perform some pleasing work for the demigods.

Jayapatākā Swami: On the order of His guru, He left His kingdom and wandered in the forest, to perform some pleasing works for the devas, demigods.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.330

vāli māri' sugrīvere rājya bhāra diyā
mitra-pada dilā tāre karuṇā kariyā

Translation: “The Lord killed Vāli and entrusted the kingdom to Sugrīva. Out of compassion, He made friends with Sugrīva.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Lord killed Vāli, and established Sugrīva on the kingdom. He made friends with Sugrīva out of compassion.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.331

ye prabhu karilā ahalyāra vimocana
bhajoṅ hena tribhuvana gurura caraṇa

Translation: “I worship the lotus feet of the master of the three worlds, who delivered Ahalyā.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord who delivered Ahalyā, I worship the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the spiritual master of the three worlds.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.332

dustara-taraṅga-sindhu—īṣat līlāya
kapi-dvāre ye bāndhila lakṣmaṇa-sahāya

Translation: “With the help of Lakṣmaṇa and the monkeys, the Lord effortlessly created a bridge over the insurmountable ocean.

Jayapatākā Swami: Over the insurmountable waves of the ocean, the Lord created a pastime, with the help of Lakṣmaṇa and the monkeys, He effortlessly built a bridge.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.333

indrādira ajaya rāvaṇa-vaṁśa-gaṇe
ye prabhu mārila bhajoṅ tāṅhāra caraṇe

Translation: “I worship the lotus feet of that Lord who killed Rāvaṇa and his family members, whom even Indra could not defeat.

Jayapatākā Swami: I worship the lotus feet of Lord Rāma, who destroyed, who killed Rāvaṇa and his family members, who even Indra and the other devas could not defeat.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.334

yāhāra kṛpāya vibhīṣaṇa dharma-para
icchā nāhi tathāpi hailā laṅkeśvara

Translation: “By His mercy the religious-minded Vibhīṣaṇa became the King of Laṅkā, even though he did not want to.

Jayapatākā Swami: By His mercy, the religious Vibhīṣaṇa, although he did not desire it, he was made the king of Laṅkā.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.335

yavane o yāṅra kīrti śraddhā kari' śune
bhajoṅ hena rāghavendra prabhura caraṇe

Translation: “I worship the lotus feet of Rāghavendra, whose glories are faithfully heard by even the Yavanas.

Jayapatākā Swami: I worship the lotus feet of Lord Rāghavendra, whose glories are heard with faith, even by the Yavanas.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.336

duṣṭa kṣaya lāgi' nirantara dhanurdhara
putrera samāna prajā-pālane tatpara

Translation: “He always carried a bow and arrows to annihilate the miscreants, and He enthusiastically maintained His subjects as if they were His sons.

Jayapatākā Swami: He was always carrying His bow and arrows, to destroy the miscreants, and He would treat His subjects, as if they were His sons, very enthusiastically.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.337

yāṅhāra kṛpāya saba ayodhyā-nivā
sīsa-śarīre hailena śrī-vaikuṇṭha-vāsī

Translation: “By His mercy all the inhabitants of Ayodhyā went to Vaikuṇṭha in their same bodies.

Jayapatākā Swami: By His mercy all the residents of Ayodhyā, in their same bodies, they became the inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭha.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.338

yāṅra nāma-rase maheśvara digambara
ramā yāṅra pāda-padma seve nirantara

Translation: “Maheśvara forgets his clothes while absorbed in the mellows of His name, and Lakṣmī constantly engages in the service of His lotus feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: Maheśvara or Lord Śiva, absorbed in the ecstasy of chanting His holy names, forgot His clothes! Ha! Ha! And Lakṣmī devī constantly engages in the service of His lotus feet.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.339

`paraṁ brahma jagannātha' vede yāṅre gāya
bhajoṅ hena sarva-guru rāghavendra-pāya”

Translation: “I worship the lotus feet of Rāghavendra, the master of all, who the Vedas glorify as the Supreme Brahman and Lord of the universe.”

Jayapatākā Swami: I worship the lotus feet of Rāghavendra, who is the spiritual master of all. Who the Vedas glorify as the Supreme Brahman, and the Lord of the Universe, Lord Jagannātha.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.340

ei mata aṣṭa śloka āpanāra kṛta
paḍilā murāri rāma-mahimā-amṛta

Translation: In this way Murāri Gupta explained the eight verses that he had composed describing the nectarean glories of Rāma.

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way, Murāri Gupta, explained his own eight verses that he had composed, describing the nectarean glories of Lord Rāmacandra.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.7.18

itthaṁ niśamya raghu-nandana-rāja-siṁha-
ślokāṣṭakaṁ sa bhagavān caraṇaṁ murāreḥ
vaidyasya mūrdhni vinidhāya lilekha bhāle
tvaṁ rāma-dāsa iti bho bhava mat-prasādāt

Translation: “After hearing these eight verses composed by the physician Murāri describing Śrī Rāma, lion among kings and delight of the Raghu dynasty, the Supreme Lord Gaurahari placed His feet on the physician's head, wrote the words `Rāma Dāsa' on his forehead, and proclaimed, `O Murāri, by My mercy, be forever Śrī Rāma's servant.'”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.341

guptera mastakopari prabhura pādapadma-sthāpana, āśīrvāda evaṃ vara-pradāna —

śuni' tuṣṭa hai' tabe śrī-gaurasundara
pāda-padma dilā tāṅra mastaka-upara

Translation: After hearing his prayers, Śrī Gaurasundara was pleased and placed His lotus feet on Murāri's head.

Jayapatākā Swami: After hearing the prayers of Murāri Gupta, Śrī Gaurasundara was pleased, and He placed His lotus feet on Murāri Gupta’s head.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 4.9

eimate raghubīrāṣṭaka śloka śuni
murāri-mastake pada dilā ta āpani

Translation: After hearing these verses of the Raghuvīraṣṭaka, Lord Gaura placed His feet on hishead.

Jayapatākā Swami: After Lord Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu heard these verses of Raghuvīraṣṭaka, He placed His lotus feet on the head of Murāri Gupta.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.100

so’yaṁ papāṭha kavitāṁ svakṛtām anekāṁ
śrī-rāghavendra-guṇa-rūpa-vilāsa-gāthām
itthaṁ niśamya raghunandana-rāja-siṁha-
ślokāṣṭakaṁ padam adhāt tad amuṣya mūrdhni

Translation: Murāri Gupta then recited many verses he had composed describing the pastimes, form and qualities of Rāmacandra.  Hearing the eight verses describing Rāma, the lion among kings, the Lord placed His feet on Murāri’s head.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.101½

taṁ rāma-dāsa iti bho bhava mat-prasādād
bhāle lilekha caturakṣaram etad eva

Translation: “By my mercy, become the servant of Rāma.”  He wrote on his forehead four syllables, রা ম দা স.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.4.10

‘rāmadāsa’ bali nāma likhilā kapāle
mora parasāde tumi rāmadāsa’ haile

Translation: Writing the word ‘রামদাস’ on Murāri's forehead, Lord Gaura said: By My mercy you are Ramadāsa (Lord Rama's servant).

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu wrote the name Ramadāsa on the forehead of Murāri Gupta. By My mercy, you are Ramadāsa (Lord Rama’s servant).

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.342

“śuna gupta, ei tumi āmāra prasāde
janma janma rāma-dāsa hao nirvirodhe

Translation: “Listen, Gupta, by My mercy you will be the servant of Rāma without disturbance birth after birth.

Jayapatākā Swami: Listen, O Murāri Gupta, you have My benediction - birth after birth, you will be the servant of Lord Rāma, without disturbance.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.4.11

raghunātha vine tumi tileka nā jīya
muñi tora raghunātha - jāniha niścaya

Translation: Without Lord Rama you cannot live for even a single sesame seed's worth of time. I am your Lord Rama. Please know that for certain."

Jayapatākā Swami: You cannot live without Me for even a sesame seed’s worth of time, I am your Lord Rāma, know that for certain.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.4.12

ihā bali rāma-rūpa dekhāila tare
jānakī-sahita sāṅgopāṅga saba mele

Translation: Speaking these words, Lord Gaura manifested His form as Lord Ramacandra. He was accompanied by Sīta-devī, and by all His companions and associates.

Jayapatākā Swami: Speaking these words, Lord Gaurāṅga manifested the form of Lord Rāmacandra, His form as Rāmacandra. He was with Sītā devī, and by all His associates, and sāṅgopāṅga, companions or expansions.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.4.13

stava kare murāri paḍiyā padatale
jaya jaya raghuvīra śacīra koṅare

Translation: Murāri recited many prayers before the Lord's feet. He said: Glory, glory to Lord Rāmacandra, who has now become Śacī's son!"

Jayapatākā Swami: So, then Murāri Gupta, he recited many prayers before the Lord’s lotus feet. All glories, all glories to Lord Rāmacandra, who has now become the son of mother Śacī!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.4.14

bārabāra uṭhe paḍe loṭāñā dharaṇī
bahuvidha stava kare anunayavāṇī

Translation: Again and again Murāri recited prayers. Then he rolled on the ground. Then he again spoke many different kinds of prayers.

Jayapatākā Swami: So again, and again, he fell to the ground and then rose. Many different types of prayers he recited.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.4.15

murārike kṛpā kari balilā vacana-
āmāra bhakati vinu nā jāniha āna

Translation: Then Lord Gaura mercifully said to Murāri: You not know anything but devotion to Me.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurāṅga, He mercifully told the following words: You don’t know anything but My devotional service. Some people think that you perform devotional service, you have all your material problems solved, and you have all your material desires satisfied, because they say, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and be happy! But this material happiness, is not the real happiness. It sometimes goes and sometimes comes, sometimes goes, the real happiness we can see in Murāri Gupta. That he loved Lord Rāma, and he got so much happiness glorifying Lord Rāma! So, Lord Caitanya appeared before him in His divine form as Lord Rāmacandra, and said He gave him all kinds of mercy. He put His lotus feet on his head, and He gave him the benediction that he would always be the servant of Lord Rāma. Murāri Gupta was offering his prayers ecstatically and he sometimes ecstatically was falling to the ground. So, people, they want to enjoy material happiness but that is nothing compared to the happiness that Murāri Gupta was experiencing.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.4.16

yadi tora iṣṭa āmi hai raghunātha
tathāpiha rasa āsvādiha rādhānātha

Translation: Eventhough, your desired object is myself as রঘুনাথ, nonetheless you will taste the mellow of me as রাধানাথ.

Jayapatākā Swami: Even though your desired object is Myself as Raghunātha or Lord Rāmacandra, instead of that, you will taste the transcendental mellows of Me as the Lord of Rādhā, Rādhānātha.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.4.17

saṅkīrtanadharme rādhākṛṣṇa gāo yāiyā
karibe āmāte bhakti-śuna mana diyā

Translation: In the saṅkīrtana movement, chant the glories of Śri Śri Rādhā-Kṛṣna; Thus render devotional service to Me. Please hear these words with all your heart

Jayapatākā Swami: Practicing the saṅkīrtana movement, sing the glories of Rādhā and Kṛṣna, in this way worship Me with pure devotion. Listen, with all your heart!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.343

kṣaṇeko ye karibeka tomāra āśraya
seha rāma-padāmbuja pāibe niścaya”

Translation: “If a person takes shelter of you for even a moment, he will certainly attain the lotus feet of Rāma.”

Jayapatākā Swami: If a person even for a moment, takes shelter of Your lotus feet, he will certainly obtain the lotus feet of Lord Rāma!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.344

vara-śravaṇe bhaktagaṇera jayadhvani—

murāri guptere caitanyera vara śuni'
sabei karena mahā-jaya-jaya-dhvani

Translation: When everyone heard the benediction Lord Caitanya gave to Murāri Gupta, they all exclaimed, “Jaya! Jaya!”

Jayapatākā Swami: Hearing the benediction that Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave to Murāri Gupta, everyone began chanting loudly, “all glories, all glories! Jaya! Jaya! Jaya! Jaya! Jaya! Jaya!” Ha! Ha!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.345

ei mata kautuke āchena gaura-siṁha
catur-dike śobhe saba caraṇera bhṛṅga

Translation: In this way the lionlike Gaura enjoyed His pastimes surrounded by His servants, who were like bumblebees at the lotus feet of the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way, the Lord Gaura-siṁha, the lionlike Gaurāṅga, He was manifesting, enjoying His pastimes, and on all sides He was beautifully surrounded by His associates, who were like bumble bees taking nectar from His lotus feet.

Śrī Śrīmad Gaurāṅga-līlā-smaraṇa-maṅgala-stotram, 23

By Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura

srī-rāma-rūpa-dhṛg aho bhiṣajo murāreḥ
     śrūtvā stavaṁ raghupater mudam āpa yo vai
cakre kusaṅga-rahitaṁ kṛpayā mukundaṁ
     taṁ śuddha-bhakti-rasada-pravaraṁ smarāmi

Translation: Happy to hear physician Murārī Gupta's prayers glorifying Lord Rāma, He assumed the form of Lord Rāma. He also mercifully freed the devotee Mukunda from bad association. I meditate on Him, the philanthropist that gives the sweet nectar of pure devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: This last verse is by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, glorifying Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. How Lord Gaurāṅga assumed the form of Lord Rāma, He delivered His devotee Mukunda from bad association. So Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura is meditating on this great benedictor, who gives the benediction of pure, sweet, devotional service. Haribol!

So, you heard that even if we take the shelter of Murāri Gupta’s lotus feet, for a moment, you will get the lotus feet of Lord Rāma, you will get the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya! Haribol!

Thus ends the chapter, Mahāprabhu Writes “Rāmadāsa” on the Forehead of Murāri Gupta

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Submission: Prema Caitanya dāsa: Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja, Total of 100 Bhagavad-gītās were distributed at ISKCON Gulagor branch, Malaysia, this week. Please kindly bless us!

Blessings! This shows how we can also distribute books, even during this lockdown period. Now, I want to hear from the BBT Trustees how we can distribute books, the E-books that people can read from their laptops or mobile phones or Kindle. So, at this time people are sitting in their house, in many countries and they can read Bhagavad-gītā at this time. Okay, question.

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja, PAMRO. Thank you for the nectarean classes on Caitanya-līlā every evening. My question is, the Lord gave His mercy to the dārī sannyāsī by accepting prasāda in his home. But we see that He did not give His immediate mercy to king Pratāparudra. After many chances and by the help of the Lord’s associates. How to understand these transcendental activities of the Lord? - Your spiritual daughter, Śrī Rādhikā devī dāsī, Chennai, India.

Jayapatākā Swami:  You see, He wanted to teach that sannyāsīs should not associate with materialists like kings and politicians. You see, Pratāparudra during the Ratha-Yatra when Lord Caitanya was resting in the flower garden, he came dressed as an ordinary Vaiṣṇava, with tilaka and white dhotī and all that. And then he came in and taking everyone’s permission, he started to massage Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet, and recited verses. Lord Caitanya said, I don’t know who you are but you have given Me the nectar of the Bhāgavatam verses, which are the gopīs’ prayers to Kṛṣṇa, I think it is the Gopī-gītā. Anyway, then Lord Caitanya embraced him. So, in this way, somehow Lord Caitanya, He maintained the example of not associating with kings. But He also gave the mercy to Pratāparudra, since nobody recognized him, everyone was used to seeing him with a crown and things, but he came as a Vaiṣṇava, and Lord Caitanya embraced him. He gave this mercy - what greater mercy can you want? To be embraced by the Lord! So, he did get the mercy but Lord Caitanya wanted to maintain this example, not to associate with kings and materialists.

So, thank you very much. 8 o clock I have another class!