20200427 Haridāsa Ṭhākura Praises Mahāprabhu and Cites the Instances of Glories of Remembering the Lord (Part 2)

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

We will continue reading the glories of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. At present Haridāsa Ṭhākura is offering his. And yesterday was Akṣaya Tṛtīyā and the first day of the Candana-yātrā. Today is the second day of the Candana-yātrā, the deities are covered with sandalwood paste. Especially the Viṣṇu mūrtis. Lord Mādhava, Nṛsiṁhadeva, Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda and Advaita, Jagannātha and Baladeva. Today is also the second day of the Boat Festival from 5 to 6 pm, deities are going on a boat in the temple. And so, this morning we had a class in Gujarat. This evening we are meeting with the devotees in Europe. Now is our daily class on Caitanya-līlā. 6.08 now or 6.03 is sunset. For 5 minutes the devotees here blow the conchshell and things. After they finish, then I started the class. We are a little late. We were discussing about the distribution of prasādam. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

* * *

Chapter entitled as Haridāsa Ṭhākura Praises Mahāprabhu
and Cites the Instances of Glories of Remembering the Lord – Continued…

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.63

ei bala nāhi mora—smaraṇa-vihīna
smaraṇa karile mātra rākha tumi dīna

Translation: “But I do not have this strength–for I do not remember You. You protect even a fallen soul if he simply remembers You.

“If a fallen soul remembers You, You give him shelter. But I am unable to remember You.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Haridāsa Ṭhākura says I do not have the strength, I do not remember the Lord, I do not remember You, he was talking to Lord Caitanya. But even if a very fallen soul, if he simply remembers You, You will protect him.  In other words, he says, if a fallen soul simply remembers You, You give him shelter, but I am unable to remember You.  We know that that is not actually true and Haridāsa remembers the Lord constantly, but he is presenting himself very humbly.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.64

sabhā-madhye draupadī karite vivasana
ānila pāpiṣṭha duryodhana-duḥśāsana

Translation: “Once the sinful brothers Duryodhana and Duḥśāsana brought Draupadī to disrobe her in the royal assembly.

Jayapatākā Swami: “In the royal court, they brought Draupadī, to disrobe her. The two sinful brothers, Duryodhana and Duḥśāsana brought Draupadī into the royal assembly to disrobe her.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.65

saṅkaṭe paḍiyā kṛṣṇa tomā saṅarilā
smaraṇa-prabhāve tumi vastre praveśilā

Translation: Finding herself in that dangerous condition, she remembered You. By the influence of her remembrance, You entered into her cloth.

See Mahābhārata (Sabhā 68.41-48).

Jayapatākā Swami: “Draupadī being brought into that dangerous situation, by the force of her remembering You, You entered into her cloth.”

See Mahābhārata (Sabhā 68.41-48).

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.66

smaraṇa-prabhāve vastra haila Ananta
tathāpiha nā jānila se saba duranta

Translation: “As a result of her remembrance the cloth became unlimited, yet those miscreants did not understand why.

Jayapatākā Swami: “By the influence of her remembering You, the cloth became unlimited. Nevertheless, the miscreants could not understand why.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.67

kona-kāle pārvatīre ḍākinīra gaṇe
veḍiyā khāite kaila tomāra smaraṇe

Translation: “One time, when Pārvatī was surrounded by witches, she remembered You as they were about to devour her.

Jayapatākā Swami: “One time, Pārvatī devī was surrounded by witches. At which time they wanted to eat her. At that time, she remembered You.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.68

smaraṇa-prabhāve tumi āvirbhūta hañā
karilā sabāra śāsti vaiṣṇavī tāriyā

Translation: “By the influence of her remembrance, You appeared to chastise those witches and deliver that great Vaiṣṇavī.

Jayapatākā Swami: “By the great influence of remembering You, You appeared at that place. And there You delivered that great Vaiṣṇavī and chastised those witches.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.69

hena tomā-smaraṇa-vihīna-muñi papa
more tora caraṇe śaraṇa deha, bāpa

Translation: “Such is your remembrance. But I am so sinful that I cannot remember You. Oh father! please give me shelter at Your lotus feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: “Oh dear Father, such is the influence of Your remembrance. But I am so sinful that I cannot remember You. Please give me shelter at Your lotus feet.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.70

viṣa, sarpa, agni, jale, pāthare bāndhi
yāphelila prahlāde duṣṭa hiraṇya dhariyā

Translation: The sinful Hiraṇyakaśipu tortured Prahlāda by giving him poison, throwing him to the snakes, throwing him into the fire, and throwing him bound to a rock into the water.

Jayapatākā Swami: “The cruel, wicked Hiraṇyakaśipu tried to kill Prahlāda by giving him poison, throwing him in a snake pit, throwing him into the fire, throwing him into water tying him to a rock.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.71

prahlāda karila tora caraṇa-smaraṇa
smaraṇa-prabhāve sarva duḥkha-vimocana

Translation: “Prahlāda simply remembered Your lotus feet and was delivered from all those calamities by the influence of that remembrance

Jayapatākā Swami: “Prahlāda remembered Your lotus feet in all these difficulties. By the influence of remembering You, he was saved from all these calamities.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.72

kā'ro vā bhāṅgila danta, kā'ro tejo-nāśa
smaraṇa-prabhāve tumi hailā prakāśa

Translation: Some lost their teeth and some lost their prowess when You manifested by the influence of his remembrance.

In the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (7.5.43-44) it is stated: “Hiraṇyakaśipu could not kill his son by throwing him beneath the feet of big elephants, throwing him among huge, fearful snakes, employing destructive spells, hurling him from the top of a hill, conjuring up illusory tricks, administering poison, starving him, exposing him to severe cold, winds, fire and water, or throwing heavy stones to crush him. When Hiraṇyakaśipu found that he could not in any way harm Prahlāda, who was completely sinless, he was in great anxiety about what to do next.” In this regard, one should also see the Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part One, Chapters Eighteen to Twenty.

Jayapatākā Swami: Some lost their teeth, some’s teeth were broken, some lost their power, by the influence of Your remembrance, You manifested Yourself.

In the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (7.5.43-44) it is stated: “Hiraṇyakaśipu could not kill his son by throwing him beneath the feet of big elephants, throwing him among huge, fearful snakes, employing destructive spells, hurling him from the top of a hill, conjuring up illusory tricks, administering poison, starving him, exposing him to severe cold, winds, fire and water, or throwing heavy stones to crush him. When Hiraṇyakaśipu found that he could not in any way harm Prahlāda, who was completely sinless, he was in great anxiety about what to do next.” In this regard, one should also see the Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part One, Chapters Eighteen to Twenty.

It means that Prahlāda Mahārāja, he remembered Kṛṣṇa, he always chanted His holy name, and thus he was not possible to be harmed, even though all these inconceivable methods were employed to harm him. Like throwing him from mountains, etc. all these are insurmountable difficulties. But he did survive all, by remembering the Lord.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.73

pāṇḍu-putra saṅarila durvāsāra bhaye
araṇye pratyakṣa hailā haiyā sadaye

Translation: “In fear of Durvāsā, the sons of Pāṇḍu remembered You. You appeared before them in the forest out of compassion.

Jayapatākā Swami: The sons of Pandu, the Pāṇḍavas, being afraid of the curse of Durvāsā Muni, they remembered You, and You appeared before them in the forest, out of Your compassion.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.74

`cintā nāhi yudhiṣṭhira, hera dekha āmi
āmi diba muni-bhikṣā, vasi' thāka tumi'

Translation: You then said, `Do not worry, Yudhiṣṭhira, for I am here. I will give alms to the sages. You sit and watch.'

Jayapatākā Swami: Then You said to Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, “do not worry, Yudhiṣṭhira, just see how I do. How I give Durvāsā Muni alms. Sit here and watch.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.75

avaśeṣa eka śāka āchila hāṅḍite
santoṣe khāilā nija sevaka rākhite

Translation: In order to protect Your servants, You happily ate the last piece of spinach from the pot.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in the pot, the Lord ate the last piece of spinach, to protect His devotees. He was being satisfied. You saved Your devotees.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.76

snāne saba ṛṣira udara mahā-phule
sei mata saba ṛṣi palāilāḍare

Translation: As a result, the sages' stomachs became filled as they took bath, so they immediately ran away out of fear.

Jayapatākā Swami: As the ṛṣis were taking their bath, their stomachs became very full, expanded. So, the ṛṣis fled away out of fear.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.77

smaraṇa-prabhāve pāṇḍu-putrera mocana
e saba kautuka tora smaraṇa-kāraṇa

Translation: The sons of Pāṇḍu were thereby delivered by the influence of remembering You. All these wonderful incidents were the result of remembering You.

See Mahābhārata, Vana-parva, Chapter 262.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Pāṇḍavas, they were delivered by the influence of remembering You. All these wonderful pastimes show the influence, the result of remembering You.

See Mahābhārata, Vana-parva, Chapter 262.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.78

akhaṇḍa smaraṇa—dharma, iṅhā sabākāra
teñi citra nahe, ihā sabāra uddhāra

Translation: “The characteristic of these personalities was to constantly remember You. Therefore, it is not at all wonderful that they were delivered.

Devotional service alone is the eternal supreme occupational duty. It is applicable to and beneficial for everyone. Nondevotional activities such as karma, jñāna, yoga, austerity, and vows are known as inferior religious principles because they are temporary. Sectarianism and narrow-mindedness are the two trademarks of these inferior religious systems. The Supreme Lord is the only object of worship; therefore, He delivers everyone by manifesting His various pastimes. This is His unique quality.

Jayapatākā Swami: They were remembering You constantly, all these people. Nothing wonderful about this, that they were all delivered. Devotional service offered to the Supreme Lord is the natural occupational duty of every living entity. It is applicable and beneficial to everyone. Non devotional activities such as fruitive work, speculative knowledge, yoga, austerities and vows, are known as inferior religious principles, because they are temporary. The Supreme Lord is the only object of worship. He delivers everyone by manifesting His various pastimes. This is His unique quality!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.79

ajāmila smaraṇera mahimā apāra
sarva-dharma-hīna tāhā bai nāhi āra

Translation: “The glories of Ajāmila's remembrance are unlimited, even though he did not engage in any religious duties.

Jayapatākā Swami: The glories of Ajāmila remembering You are unlimited, even though he did not engage in any religious duties. And all he did was remember You, by calling on his son who was named after You.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.80

dūta-bhaye putra-snehe dekhi' putra-mukha
saṅarila putra-nāme nārāyaṇa-rūpa

Translation: In fear of the Yamadūtas, he affectionately looked at the face of his son and remembered the form of Nārāyaṇa while calling out the name of his son.

Jayapatākā Swami: He was afraid of the Yamadūtas, and out of affection for his son, he looked at his son’s face. But he remembered, when he called his son’s name Nārāyaṇa, he remembered the original form of the Lord.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.81

sei saṅaraṇe saba khaṇḍila āpada
teñi citra nahe bhakta-smaraṇa-sampad

Translation: By that remembrance, all of his sinful reactions were vanquished. This is not surprising. Therefore, remembrance of You is the wealth of Your devotees.

“Because Ajāmila gave up conceptions of Your illusory world, made Your actual form appear on the path of his remembrance, and disappointed the ajña-rūḍhi of sound vibration, his service attitude for the Supreme Lord was awakened. Ajāmila was uniquely devoid of all religiosity. In fear of being captured by the Yamadūtas, he uttered the name `Nārāyaṇa' while looking at the face of his son. Seeing his son's inability and the prowess of the Yamadūtas at that time, the topics and glories of the Supreme Lord appeared on the path of Ajāmila's remembrance. Although he uttered the name `Nārāyaṇa' for the purpose of calling his son, he was delivered from the attack of the Yamadūtas due to the remembrance of the Supreme Lord that is invested in the name `Nārāyaṇa.' A devotee who is expert in worshiping the Supreme Lord is qualified to possess the wealth of remembering the Lord. Therefore, there is no cause for astonishment in this.”

Jayapatākā Swami: “By remembering You, all his sinful reactions were destroyed. It is not surprising; it is the wealth of the devotees to remember You.” So Ajāmila, when he chanted the name of his son, Nārāyaṇa, he remembered the original form of the Lord, and his natural service attitude to the Supreme Lord was awakened. Ajāmila was otherwise devoid of all religiosity. So being afraid of the Yamadūtas, he called the name of Nārāyaṇa, while looking at the face of his son. So, he was seeing how his son was unable to help him. He was seeing the great power of the Yamadūtas. At that time, he remembered the topic, the power of the Supreme Lord. Even though he called Nārāyaṇa for the purpose of calling his son, he was delivered from the attack of the Yamadūtas, due to remembrance of the Supreme Lord, that is invested in the name Nārāyaṇa. So, remembering the Lord is a great benediction and wealth. And the devotee who is expert in serving the Supreme Lord, he possesses the wealth of remembering the Lord. There is no cause for astonishment in this! So, in other words, we are all encouraged to engage in the devotional service for Kṛṣṇa. By remembering Kṛṣṇa, we can be saved from all the calamities. At the present time of the corona virus pandemic, the best solution is that everyone should start to chant the holy name, and remember the Supreme Lord. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.82

haridāsera dainyamukhe nija gaurabhaktira ayogyatā-sutrāna—

hena tora caraṇa-smaraṇa-hīna muñi
tathāpiha prabhu more nā chāḍibi tuñi

Translation: “Such are the glories of remembering your lotus feet, but I am without the remembrance of Your lotus feet yet nevertheless, O Lord, do not forsake me.

“Ajāmila was far away from You, yet he remembered You—I have no such qualification. But even though I remained bereft of Your remembrance after coming in direct contact with You, You did not abandon me. This is the proof of Your causeless mercy.”

Jayapatākā Swami: I am without remembrance of Your lotus feet which are so glorified. So, even then Lord, please do not forsake me! So Haridāsa Ṭhākura was giving the example of Ajāmila, that although he was far away from the Lord, somehow or another, he remembered the Lord and he was delivered. Haridāsa Ṭhākura was saying that I don’t have any such qualification. But, even though I am bereft of remembering You, after coming in direct contact with You, still I am bereft of this remembrance. Please do not abandon me. This is the proof of Your causeless mercy.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 10.83

tomā dekhibāre mora kon adhikāra?
eka bai prabhu kichu nā cāhiba āra”

Translation: “What qualification do I have to see You? O Lord, I will ask You for only one thing, not more.”

Jayapatākā Swami: “What qualification do I have to see You? Oh Lord, I will ask one thing only. Not more”

So, Haridāsa Ṭhākura would chant 300 thousand names a day. He was constantly remembering the Lord and he presented himself, I am smaraṇa-hīna, free of remembrance! I have no remembrance. So, it is like breaking the heart, to hear such humility from such an exalted devotee! So, what is our position? Haridāsa Ṭhākura described himself as free of remembrance and he is giving all these examples of Draupadī, Prahlāda, even Ajāmila, Pāṇḍavas, all remembering the Lord. But he is saying that I have no qualification! So, what is our position? Ha! Ha! So, these prayers are to educate us. To see, how humble we should be. But Haridāsa Ṭhākura was the most elevated soul, constantly remembering the Lord, and he is presenting himself as being devoid of remembrance! So, taking this inspiration, we should be very humble, in our service to Kṛṣṇa. How much we remember Kṛṣṇa. So, we want to hear what Haridāsa Ṭhākura requested the Lord for benediction!! Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Thus ends the Chapter -
Haridāsa Ṭhākura Praises Mahāprabhu and Cites
the Instances of Glories of Remembering the Lord

* * *

End of chapter: Haridāsa Ṭhākura Praises Mahāprabhu and Cites the Instances of Glories of Remembering the Lord.

What is he asking? Shuuuuu! It is not fair! Do you want to see what he asked for? Tune in tomorrow!

Did we see any realizations from Russia? Nārāyaṇī Rādhā has it. She is keeping it to herself. Send it! Jalaṅgī dd gave us the audio message. (HG Mahavaraha prabhu said to Nārāyaṇī Rādhā dd to record it in English and they will play it to Guru Mahārāja.) Jānakī Rāmacandra what do we do with the audio message? Transcribe it or? Jalaṅgī dd has been asked to give the text format to upload on to Facebook. She can put some audio link? Otherwise, people in Archives can transcribe. She may not have the time to transcribe herself.

So today we have the Hindi Facebook page, in addition to our Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Spanish pages. Thank you. Alright! I will retire.