20200508 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Asks for Honey in The Mood of Balarāma

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

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Asks for Honey in The Mood of Balarāma

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.115

prabhura baladevāveśe yamunākarṣaṇa-līlā –

eka dina prabhu viṣṇu-maṇḍape vasiyā
‘madhu āna’, ‘madhu āna’ balena ḍākiyā

Translation: One day the Lord sat down in the corridor of a Viṣṇu temple and began calling very loudly, “Bring some honey! Bring some honey!”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 26.61

ei mata prati vaiṣṇavera ghare ghare
prati-dina nityānanda-saṁhati vihare

Translation: Accompanied by Nityānanda, the Lord daily enjoyed pastimes like this in the houses of all the Vaiṣṇavas.

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way the Lord was enjoying pastimes in each of the devotee Vaiṣṇavas houses, or you can say, from house to house. And with Nityānanda’s association, He was enjoying these pastimes every day.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 26.62-063

mahāprabhu nija-avatārādira bhāva-prakāśa o dīrghakāla-sthāyī balarāma-bhāva—

niravadhi prema-rase śarīra vihvala
“bhāva-dharma' yata, tāhā prakāśe sakala

matsya, kūrma, narasiṁha, varāha, vāmana
raghu-siṁha, bauddha, kalki, śrī-nandanandana

Translation: The body of the Lord was always agitated in the mellows of ecstatic love as He manifested the sentiments of Matsya, Kūrma, Narasiṁha, Varāha, Vāmana, Rāmacandra, Buddha, Kalki, and Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord’s transcendental body was always filled with the ecstasy of different loving emotions. Assuming the mode of His different manifestations. For instance, the incarnations like Matsya, Kūrma, Narasiṁha, Varāha, Vāmana deva, Raghusiṁha or Lord Rāma, Buddha, Kalki and Śrī Nandanandana Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 26.64

ei mata yata avatāra se-sakala
saba rūpa haya prabhu kari' bhāva-chala

Translation: In this way the Lord assumed the forms and manifested the sentiments of His various incarnations on some pretext or other.

In the Gīta-govinda it is stated:

vedān uddharate jaganti vahate bhū-golam udbibhrate
daityaṁ dārayate baliṁ chalayate kṣatra-kṣayaṁ kurvate
paulastyaṁ jayate halaṁ kalayate kāruṇyam ātanvate
mlecchān mūrchayate daśakṛti-kṛte kṛṣṇāya tubhyaṁ namaḥ

“O Lord Kṛṣṇa, I offer my obeisances unto You, who appear in the forms of these ten incarnations. In the form of Matsya You rescue the Vedas, and as Kūrma You bear the Mandara Mountain on Your back. As Varāha You lift the earth with Your tusk, and in the form of Narasiṁha You tear open the chest of the daitya Hiraṇyakaśipu. In the form of Vāmana You trick the daitya king Bali by asking him for only three steps of land, and then You take away the whole universe from him by expanding Your steps. As Paraśurāma You slay all of the wicked kṣatriyas, and as Rāmacandra You conquer the rākṣasa king Rāvaṇa. In the form of Balarāma You carry a plow with which You subdue the wicked and draw toward You the River Yamunā. As Lord Buddha You show compassion toward all the living beings suffering in this world, and at the end of the Kali-yuga You appear as Kalki to bewilder the mlecchas [degraded low-class men].”

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way the Lord accepted the form and the mood of His different avatārs, or incarnations of Godhead, for one reason or another.

In the Gīta-govinda it is stated: “O Lord Kṛṣṇa, I offer my obeisances unto You, who appear in the forms of these ten incarnations. In the form of Matsya You rescue the Vedas, and as Kūrma You bear the Mandara Mountain on Your back. As Varāha You lift the earth with Your tusk, and in the form of Narasiṁha You tear open the chest of the daitya Hiraṇyakaśipu. In the form of Vāmana You trick the daitya king Bali by asking him for only three steps of land, and then You take away the whole universe from him by expanding Your steps. As Paraśurāma You slay all of the wicked kṣatriyas, and as Rāmacandra You conquer the rākṣasa king Rāvaṇa. In the form of Balarāma You carry a plow with which You subdue the wicked and draw toward You the River Yamunā. As Lord Buddha You show compassion toward all the living beings suffering in this world, and at the end of the Kali-yuga You appear as Kalki to bewilder the mlecchas [degraded low-class men].”

So, the Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, since He is Kṛṣṇa, He is the source of all the incarnations. So, He would assume the form and mood of His different incarnations, at different times, for different reasons. So, in this way, nothing is amazing for Him, that He may take these different sentiments and He many manifest different forms at some times.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 26.65

ei sakala bhāva hai' lukāya takhane
sabe nā ghucila rāma-bhāva cira-dine

Translation: The Lord manifested these sentiments and then withdrew them, but His sentiment as Balarāma remained for many days.

After displaying the ten varieties of sentiments of the incarnations Mahāprabhu concealed them. Of these, He often displayed the sentiment of Haladhara.

Jayapatākā Swami: He manifested these different sentiments of His incarnations and then withdrew them. But His sentiment as Balarāma stayed for many days.

After displaying the ten varieties of sentiments of the incarnations Mahāprabhu concealed them. Of these, He often displayed the sentiment of Haladhara.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.17

anyedyuḥ padminīṁ mudrāṁ kareṇārko’pasārayan
udayādreḥ samuttasthau vilāsī śayanād iva

Translation: On another day, like a playful person arising from sleep, the sun arrived at the horizon, opening the closed lotuses with its rays.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.18

tato gaurāṅga-candro’pi
brāhmaṇān sajjanān bahūn
pāṭhayan pūrṇa-pīyūṣa-
raśmivat sa vyarocata

Translation: Gauracandra also, having many qualified brāhmaṇas recite, shone like the full moon.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.1

jaya jaya gaurāṅgacānda
nadīyā-udaya kalikāle ॥mūrcchā॥
nā hāre āmāra prabhura kathā śuna।
e tina bhuvana ālo kaila yāra guṇa॥
nā hāre gaurāṅgacāndera kathā śuna।
ki āre haya ॥dhru॥
āra kathā kahi––śuna baḍa aparūpa।
nadīyānagare niti nūtana kautuka

Translation: Now I will tell another story. Please hear this very wonderful play that is eternally-new in Nadīyā.

Jayapatākā Swami: All glories, all glories to Lord Gauracandra, who has appeared in Nadia, during the Kali-yuga. Listen to this pastime of my Lord. Lord Caitanya, whose glories are spread throughout the three worlds, listen to the glorious pastimes of Lord Gaurāṅga-cānd! Hear what they are. So I will say one other pastime, listen, this is most wonderful. In the Nadīyā-nagara, there is always some new pastimes which is going on eternally.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.2

nijaghare baise prabhu ānandita mana
caudike beḍhiyā base saba nijajana

Translation: With a happy heart Lord Gaura sat in His own home. Surrounding Him on four sides were His associates.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurāṅga in a very happy mood, was sitting in His own house and in all directions, His personal associates were seated surrounding Him.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.14.1

atha prabhāte vimale dyu-nāthe
smaran muni-brāhmaṇa-sajjanān bahūn
sa pāṭhayan daivata-gauracandro
babhūva nīlāmbara-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ

Translation: One day, as the lord of light (Sun) arose in the pure dawn, Lord Gaura Candra first remembered the mantra awarded to Him by Śrī Īśvara Purī, and then He recited from the scriptures before many sages, brāhmaṇas and saintly persons. At that time, He became absorbed in the mood of Nīlāmbara (Lord Balarāma)

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 8.19

kṣaṇād vaihvalya-sambhinnaḥ
skhalat-sarva-tanuḥ prabhuḥ
madhūni dehi dehīti
babhāṣe madhurānanaḥ

Translation: For a moment, he became full of disturbance and stumbled about with his whole body. With a sweet face he said, “Give me honey! Give me honey!”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya, Lord Gaurāṅga had come in a mood of Balarāma. Balarāma would take honey from the trees, a special beverage made of honey called Vāruṇī. He would take that and He would become, almost appearing, intoxicated! And somehow Lord Gaurāṅga, He came in that mood of Balarāma, and He started to tell His devotees, bring Me honey! Bring Me honey! And He was smiling and had a very sweet face!

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.14.2-3

sa hāsayan dehi madhūni sāmpratas
tv atīva taṁ megha-samaṁ svanaṁ punaḥ
śuśrāva tasmin samaye halāyudhaṁ
nīlāmbaraṁ śveta-mahīdharaṁ prabhum

saunanda-pāṇiṁ vara-padma-locanaṁ
dṛṣṭvādbhutaṁ hṛṣṭa-manāḥ praharṣayan
lokān nanartākhila-loka-pālakaḥ
svayaṁ haris tair munibhiḥ suveśa-dhṛk

Translation: He made all the people laugh and in a voice reverberating like a thundercloud, He said again and again, "Now, give me honey." At that time he saw the beautiful form of Lord Balarāma in this way: Halāyudha (the Plow-Warrior), Nīlāmbara (the Wearer of Blue Garments), Śveta-mahīdhara (the Mountain of Silver), Prabhu (the Master), Saunanda-pāṇi (the Wielder of the club named Sunanda), Vara-padma-locana (Beautiful Lotus-Eyes)." As Mahāprabhu beheld, he became joyful in his heart seeing the wonderful vision of Śrī Baladeva, He also engladdened the peoples' hearts. Then the protector of all people, the original Personali1ty of Godhead, Śrī Hari, clad in the most charming of attire, danced amidst the sages.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurāṅga perceived the transcendental form of Balarāma, and He came in that mood, and He started to dance and act like Balarāma. And like that He made all the devotees happy and He charmed everyone!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.3

ācambite eka dhvani uṭhila gagane
madhu deha bali’ ḍāke e megha niḥsvane

Translation: Suddenly a sound came from the sky. "Give Me honey.", declared a voice like a thundering raincloud.

Jayapatākā Swami: Suddenly one voice came from the sky, “Give Me honey”, it said. With a deep voice like a thundering raincloud.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.4

seikṣaṇe dhare prabhu halāyudha-rūpa
nīlavasana śvetaparvatasvarūpa

Translation: At that moment Lord Gaura manifested the form of Lord Balarāma. His form was like a white mountain-peak. His garments were blue.

Jayapatākā Swami: At that moment, Lord Gaurāṅga took the form of Lord Balarāma, who carried a plow. He was wearing blue garments and He was white complexioned like the white caps on a mountain peak. Mountain has snow on the peak, a very high mountain has snow and it is white like that Lord Balarama is white colored. So, Lord Gaurāṅga took the form of Lord Balarāma.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.14.4

viprair upeto hari-nāma-gāyanair
hṛṣṭo’gamad vaidya-murāri-veśmani
tatrāvadad dehi sudhāṁ madhūtkaṭāṁ
prācī-divā-nātha ivātilohitaḥ

Translation: Enlivened with joy, Gaura entered the house of the physician Murāri, accompanied by the vipras who chanted the names of Hari. He appeared reddish like the bright sky-lord (sun) rising in the east. Then He again said, "Give Me very strong and ambrosial honey wine!"

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 26.66

prabhura rāmabhāve madya yācñā evaṁ nityānandera gaṅgābāri-pradāna—

mahā-matta hailā prabhu haladhara-bhāve
`mada āna' `mada āna' ḍāke uccarave

Translation: The Lord would become intoxicated in the mood of Haladhara and loudly call out, “Bring wine! Bring wine!”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurāṅga took the mood of Balarama who carried a plow, and He was acting as an intoxicated person and He called out, Bring Me wine! Bring Me wine! He loudly called out! Lord Balarama would take this Vāruṇī beverage made of honey, and so Lord Gaurāṅga was imitating that, was manifesting that pastime.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.5

sundara caraṇa āra padmalocane
āścarya dekhiyā sabe hṛṣṭa hailā mane

Translation: His feet were graceful. His eyes were like lotus flowers. Gazing at His wonderful form, everyone was delighted at heart.

Jayapatākā Swami: His lotus feet were very beautiful and graceful. His eyes were like lotus flowers. Seeing this wonderful form, everyone was amazed and delighted at heart! Their consciousness became very delighted.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.6

sarvajana-premadātā prema vilasaya
āpana āveśa dhari’ nāce mahāśaya

Translation: The Supreme Lord who gives to everyone the gift of ecstatic spiritual love, then Himself enjoyed many pastimes of ecstatic love. Being possessed with His Own Ecstasy, the glorious Lord danced.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Supreme Personality of Godhead who distributes His own ecstatic love, to all the people, was enjoying the ecstatic love, assuming His own transcendental mood. Experiencing His own ecstasy, the glorious Lord danced.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.7

harināma gāya saba-nija-jana-sane
seimane gela advaita-murārīra sthāne

Translation: Accompanied by His personal associates, Lord Gaura sang the holy names of Lord Hari. In this way He went to the home of Advaita and Murāri.

Jayapatākā Swami: In the accompaniment of His personal associates He chanted the holy name of Lord Hari. In that transcendental mood, He went to the house of Advaita Prabhu and Murāri Gupta Prabhu.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.8

tathā giyā kahe prabhu gadagadabhāṣa
madhu deha deha bali’ aṭṭa-aṭṭa hāsa

Translation: Stuttering, "Give, give Me honey-wine", Lord Gaura loudly, loudly laughed.

Jayapatākā Swami: With a voice choked up, He went to those places and Lord Gaurāṅga said, “Give Me honey! Give Me honey! He said. And Lord Gaurāṅga loudly laughed. LOUDLY, LOUDLY, LAUGHED! Aṭṭa-aṭṭa hāsa! Loudly, loudly, laughed!

Thus ends the Chapter -
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asks for Honey in the mood of Balarāma

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So, we see how the Lord, that day He was in the mood of Balarama. He went to Advaita Prabhu’s house, Murari Gupta’s house and said, Give Me honey! Give Me honey! loudly laughing ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! So, He was in the mood of Balarāma, and He was laughing in this mood. So, He is giving happiness to all His devotees, by taking the mood of Balarāma and remembering Balarāma’s pastimes. It is mentioned in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, 10th canto, that Balarāma was taking the Vāruṇī beverage, and then He asked the Yamunā to come, but she hesitated, she thought He was intoxicated. Then He threatened I will divide you into hundreds of streams, and started to make branches of the Yamunā with His plow. And then she immediately came out and offered her obeisances unto Him. And begged for forgiveness. So, this pastime Lord Gaurāṅga is remembering, and He said, give Me honey! And He is laughing, remembering the pastime of Lord Balarama. So, we cannot judge Lord Caitanya by ordinary considerations. He experiences His own loving ecstasy, and in this way, He enjoys transcendental pastimes. Hare Kṛṣṇa! Any questions?

Question: In Bengali. Dear Guru Mahārāja! Please accept my respectful obeisances: I am a regular listener of your classes and hear the classes with attention. But not able to keep them in memory. What should I do to keep these in memory? –Your servant, Manohara Madana Mohana dāsa.

Jayapatākā Swami: He is saying that he hears the pastimes, but he cannot keep them in his mind. Is that the question? That is why Śrīla Prabhupāda said we should drink cow milk! So that you can keep things in your mind. Ha! If you take buffalo milk, you will lose that! Ha! I don’t know what milk you take! Also, if you hear something and immediately, you repeat it to your children or wife of someone, if you don’t use it, you lose it. But if you use it, you should remember it. I don’t know why, following the brahmacarya, they have a great memory and so in various ways one can get increased memory. There are some ayurvedic medicine, one is called Brāhmī-śāka, which is available in Bengal, it is very bitter but it helps the memory. Like that try these different systems.  One more question, then I will go.

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa my dear spiritual father, Please accept my respectful obeisances. My query is, which service is better? Previously when I was involved in deity related services like making flower garlands or jewellery making, I used to feel a strong connection with the Lord. Then my leader asked me to go and do preaching activities. Now when I am trying to preach, I am not feeling the same attachment for the Lord. Thus, I am confused. Which sevā is better? To do deity seva in the temple, or to go out and do preaching activities? Gurudeva, kindly help me. Thank you. – Your spiritual daughter, Śītala Saraṇyā devī dāsī.

Jayapatākā Swami: I don’t know why when you preach, you don’t feel connected to Kṛṣṇa? Actually, the only way to preach is by being a transparent medium of the Lord. So, you should feel a very strong connection, if you are preaching the right way. Generally, by preaching, you get rid of all the offences very quickly. So, preaching may be a hundred times more powerful. It is nice to meditate on the Lord by making flower garlands or making jewellery, but if you are making devotees, the Lord appreciates that most! He says in the 18th chapter of Bhagavad-gītā, that His dearest devotee is that who is preaching His glories! So, I don’t know why you don’t feel connected to Kṛṣṇa which speaking about Kṛṣṇa, but maybe you can do both the services, until you should also feel connected to Kṛṣṇa, when you are carrying His message. I feel connected to Kṛṣṇa while giving these classes! Ha! Ha! Haribol!

Alright, I will take my dinner and then 8 o clock, Zoom today, Russia, meeting with 100 Bhakti-vṛkṣa leaders!

Vrajeśvara Gaura dāsa: Guru Mahārāja made a special announcement that all sponsors’ names mentioned in the class for sponsorships will be given to His Grace Paṅkajāṅghrī prabhu for a special pūjā.

Virtual table contact number for books is: +91 9434760402. The virtual table is manned by His Holiness Bhakti Vijaya Bhāgavata Svāmī, earlier known as Veṇudhārī prabhu, who took sannyāsa on Guru Mahārāja’s Vyāsa-pūjā. (What’s app message can be sent.)

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