20200922 Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu Makes the People of Rāḍha-deśa Fortunate

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 22nd September 2020 in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, India.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim / yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam / paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram / hariḥ oṁ tat sat /

Introduction: So, today’s topic is: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu Makes the People of Rāḍha-deśa Fortunate

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.1:

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.1 sannyāsera avyavahita parei bhramaṇakārī gaurera praṇāma— / nyāsaṁ vidhāyotpraṇayo ’tha gauro /

vṛndāvanaṁ gantu-manā bhramād yaḥ / rāḍhe bhraman śānti-purīm ayitvā / lalāsa bhaktair iha taṁ nato ’smi /

“After accepting the sannyāsa order of life,

Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, out of intense love for Kṛṣṇa,

wanted to go to Vṛndāvana, but apparently by mistake

He wandered in the Rāḍha-deśa.

Later He arrived at Śāntipura and enjoyed Himself there with His devotees.

I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.3 24 varṣa-śeṣe prabhura sannyāsa-grahaṇa— cabbiśa vatsara-śeṣa yei māgha-māsa tāra śukla-pakṣe prabhu karilā sannyāsa

Translation: At the end of His twenty-fourth year, in the month of Māgha,

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the sannyāsa order

during the waxing period of the moon.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.4 tridaṇḍibhikṣura gīta paḍiḍā rāḍhadeśe prabhura tinadina bhramaṇa :— /

sannyāsa kari’ premāveśe calilā vṛndāvana / rāḍha-deśe tina dina karilā bhramaṇa /

Translation: After accepting the sannyāsa order,

Caitanya Mahāprabhu, out of intense love for Kṛṣṇa, started for Vṛndāvana.

However, He mistakenly wandered about in a trance continuously

for three days in the tract of land known as Rāḍha-deśa.

Purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda: The word Rāḍha-deśa comes from the word rāṣṭra, or “state.”

From rāṣṭra the corrupted word rāḍha has come.

The part of Bengal on the western side of the Ganges is known as Rāḍha-deśa.

Another name is Pauṇḍra-deśa or Peṇḍo-deśa.

The word peṇḍo is a corrupted form of the word pauṇḍra.

It appears that the capital of Rāṣṭra-deśa was situated in that part of Bengal.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.5 ei śloka paḍi’ prabhu bhāvera āveśe / bhramite pavitra kaila saba rāḍha-deśe /

Translation: Passing through the tract of land known as Rāḍha-deśa,

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited the following verse in ecstasy.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 5.1: (Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya enters, followed by Lord Nityānanda).

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanyaḥ: / etāṁ samāsthāya parātma-niṣṭhām / adhyāsitāṁ pūrva-tamair maharṣibhiḥ /

ahaṁ tariṣyāmi duranta-pāraṁ / tamo mukundāṅghri-niṣevayaiva /

[Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.23.57]

Translation: Śrī Caitanya: “I will cross over the insurmountable ocean of nescience

by being firmly fixed in the service of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

This was approved by the previous ācrāyas,

who were fixed in firm devotion to the Lord, Paramātmā,

the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

(He stumbles)

Jayapatākā Swami: This verse was spoken by the Avantī brāhmaṇa; this was the tridaṇḍī sannyāsa mantra.

So, after taking sannyāsa He chanted this mantra.

So, Lord Caitanya also chanted this mantra.

To this day, all the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sannyāsīs chant this mantra.

This verse means that one can achieve perfection, crossing over the ocean of nescience

by performing devotional service to the lotus feet of Mukunda.

So, taking sannyāsa in the Vaiṣṇava tradition is not a simple change of dress.

It means that mind, words and body should be offered to Kṛṣṇa.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!

The Vaiṣṇava sannyāsīs take the tridaṇḍī.

That means mana, kāya, vākya, mind, body and words

are engaged in the service of the ātmā,

guided by the intelligence in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

The tridaṇḍī has four staffs, three

- mind, body, words,

and there is an ātmā-daṇḍa,

and then at the top of the tridaṇḍī there is a curved stick

which is the intelligence.

The meaning of sannyāsa is to engage the six urges of the senses

in the service of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 11.65: The next day, the Lord, holding His pot and daṇḍa,

wearing two pieces of red cloth,

flashing like a host of lightning bolts,

appeared like a golden mountain radiating golden light.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 11.66: Becoming fixed in ātmā and slightly fixed in Paramātmā,

as established by the previous sages,

I shall cross over the insurmountable ocean of nescience by

service to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 11.67: Seeing the Lord as he recited this verse repeatedly on the road,

while dancing passionately,

with tears flowing over his body,

the people, seemingly long dead,

revived their life airs.

Filled with joy, they fell on the earth offering respects.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying how generally the people are living dead.

They are living, simply to die.

But by seeing Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, otherwise dead people became enlivened and started to offer their prostrate obeisances to Caitanya Mahāprabhu,

and they gained their spiritual life.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.7: tridaṇḍibhikṣura kṛṣṇasevā-niṣṭhā-darśane sukha— / prabhu kahe—sādhu ei bhikṣura vacana / mukunda sevana-vrata kaila nirdhāraṇa /

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu approved the purport of this verse

on account of the determination of the mendicant devotee

to engage in the service of Lord Mukunda.

He gave His approval of this verse,

indicating that it was very good.

Jayapatākā Swami: Mukunda is one of the names of Kṛṣṇa.

Only Kṛṣṇa can give liberation.

Kṛṣṇa or His expansions.

Lord Śiva and different devas, they cannot give one freedom from birth and death.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.8 parātma-niṣṭhā-mātra veṣa-dhāraṇa / mukunda-sevāya haya saṁsāra-tāraṇa /

Translation: The real purpose of accepting sannyāsa is to dedicate oneself to the service of Mukunda.

By serving Mukunda, one can

actually be liberated from the bondage of material existence.

Purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda: In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

says that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the sannyāsa order

and recommended the determination of the Avantīpura bhikṣu

to engage in the service of Mukunda.

He accepted the brāhmaṇa’s version due to his determination to serve Mukunda.

The sannyāsī dress is actually an attraction for material formality.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not like such formality,

but He wanted the essence of it—service to Mukunda.

Such determination in any condition is parātma-niṣṭhā.

That is required.

The conclusion is that the sannyāsa order depends

not on the dress but the determination to serve Mukunda.

Jayapatākā Swami: Here His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is telling the essence of the sannyāsa acceptance.

Why Lord Caitanya accepted sannyāsa

and how it is appreciated by the Vaiṣṇavas.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.9 sei veṣa kaila, ebe vṛndāvana giyā / kṛṣṇa-niṣevaṇa kari nibhṛte vasiyā /

Translation: After accepting the sannyāsa order,

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu decided to go to Vṛndāvana

and engage Himself wholly

and solely in the service of Mukunda in a solitary place.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 5.2: Nityānanda: (speaking to Himself)

Ah! Wonderful! Indeed, His nectarean love is as before,

but the virāgya’s fire of affliction melts it

and then makes it condensed.

But, in course of time this love will be the cause of wounds in his heart due to suffering.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 5.3: What can I do alone? So be it.

Let Me think. (He looks again)

Ah! Wonderful! Lord is the ocean of happiness,

has appeared with internal (within mind)

agitation being decorated with the glistening jewels of perspiration,

becoming stunned, and other symptoms of ecstasy

and the waves of His dancing has produced the thunderous shouts of joy.

Aho! We don’t know what is going to happen to Him in the future?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 5.4: He walks as a cloud of keśara-flower

pollen carried by a strong wind.

Even if I run I cannot keep up with Him.

Having stopped the activities of the senses (the eyes etc…)

He wanders here and there without any purpose.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Nityanada is considering what to do.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 5.5: Path or no path, up or down

up or down and water

up or down and water or forest

do not become the subject for His eyes.

He walks like an intoxicated wild elephant

who does not see ahead, behind, or even His own self.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 5.6: Indeed, it becomes.

The ātmarāmas give up all sense-engagement

and so are the devotees who full of love

are only plunged into the handsomeness of the Lord's form.

But, if the Supreme Lord is merged in the form of His own happiness,

, then what is the difference between them?

Ah! I understand. Ānanda being under the control of the Lord,

The Lord is superior to ānanda,

whereas the individual living entity is dependent on

or under the control of ānanda.

(This is the difference between the two)

Jayapatākā Swami: So Kṛṣṇa is the controller of ānanda.

But the living entities are under the control of ānanda,

either material happiness or spiritual happiness.

So as a result,

we are always under control.

We have a minute independence, to decide whether to be under the control of the spiritual energy.

Now Nityānanda Prabhu is trying to consider what to do.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 5.7: What will I do now? (He pauses for a moment).

For three days He has not eaten.

He has not drunk water

or what to speak of other activities (like sleeping and sitting).

Dressed only in a kaupīna and with ‘the ecstasy of His own happiness’

as an only follower, the Lord only walks.

He does not even know if it is day or night.

Oh! What shall I do? O Gaurāṅga,

O ocean of mercy, please be kind to me

who am suffering and be pleased.

Jayapatākā Swami: Nityānanda Prabhu is praying to the Lord, what to do now?

So the whole responsibility is on Lord Nityānanda’s shoulders.

In this situation, Lord Caitanya’s total absorption in the ecstasy of Kṛṣṇa,

so what Lord Nityānanda can do?

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.10 prabhura premamattāvasthāya vṛndāvana-yātrā—

eta bali’ cale prabhu, premonmādera china / dik-vidik-jñāna nāhi, kibā rātri-dina /

Translation: As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was en-route to Vṛndāvana,

all the ecstatic symptoms became manifest,

and He did not know in which direction He was going,

nor did He know whether it was day or night.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.051 prabhura paścimābhimukhe gamana—

tabe gauracandra sannyāsīra cūḍāmaṇi / calilā paścima-mukhe kari' hari-dhvani /

Jayapatākā Swami: Then Gauracandra,

who was the crown jewel of the sannyāsīs,

He headed west,

while chanting the name of Hari.

Haribol!

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.052 nityānanda-gadādhara-mukunda-saṁhati / govinda paścāte, agre keśava bhāratī /

Jayapatākā Swami: Keśava Bhāratī Mahārāja walked in front

of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya.

Govinda walked behind the Lord.

Nityānanda, Gadādhara and Mukunda Datta

walked with the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.11 prabhura paścādgāmī nitāi, candraśekhara o mukunda—

nityānanda, ācāryaratna, mukunda, tina jana / prabhu-pāche-pāche tine karena gamana /

Translation: “When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went toward Vṛndāvana,

Nityānanda Prabhu, Candraśekhara and Prabhu Mukunda followed Him.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.12 prabhura darśanamātra lokera nistāra—

yei yei prabhu dekhe, sei sei loka / premāveśe ’hari’ bale, khaṇḍe duḥkha-śoka /

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed through Rāḍha-deśa,

all those who saw Him in ecstasy chanted “Hari! Hari!” along with Him.

As they chanted with the Lord,

all their unhappiness of material existence diminished.

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way Lord Caitanya was delivering all the people of Rāḍha-deśa.

When the people saw Lord Caitanya in His ecstasy of love for Kṛṣṇa,

they began chanting, “Haribol! Hari! Hari!”

And they became very blissful,

and all their material suffering was finished.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.053 anugāmī gaṇakoṭike prabhura kṛṣṇabhakti varadāna—

calilena mātra prabhu matta-siṁha-prāya / lakṣa koṭi loka kāndi' pāche pāche dhāya /

Jayapatākā Swami: As Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya

walked like a mad lion,

millions of people

were crying

and running behind Him.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.054 catur-dige loka kāndi’ vana bhāṅgi’ yāya / sabāre karena prabhu kṛpā amāyāya /

Jayapatākā Swami: People came from all directions,

shedding tears of love.

Following the Lord, they trampled the forest.

So, Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya sincerely bestowed His mercy on all of them.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.055 “sabe gṛhe yāha giyā laha kṛṣṇa-nāma / sabāra hauka kṛṣṇacandra dhana-prāṇa /

Jayapatākā Swami: “Everyone return to your home

and chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

May Lord Kṛṣṇacandra

become your wealth and life.”

Purport by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura: Many devotees began to follow Śrī Gaurasundara.

He told all of them,

“You should all return to your houses and worship Kṛṣṇa by chanting His holy names.

Then you will understand that Kṛṣṇacandra is your wealth and life.

The demigods are cheated from the mellows of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

May those mellows of Kṛṣṇa consciousness enter within mortal beings like you,

who have different characteristics than the demigods.”

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.056 brahmā-śiva-śukādi ye rasa vāñchā kare / hena rasa hauka tomā'-sabāra śarīre /

Translation: The transcendental mellows of pure love

which are desired by Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva,

 

may your bodies be filled with these transcendental mellows of love.

Purport by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura: In Kaivalya Upaniṣad (1.21) it is stated:

apāṇi-pādo ‘ham acintya-śaktiḥ paśyāmy acakṣuḥ sa śṛṇomy akarṇaḥ— /

“Although I have no hands or feet, I have inconceivable potencies.

I have no eyes, but I see everything.

I have no ears, but I hear everything.”

In His commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.16.11)

Śrī Madhvācārya has written as follows:

acintya-śaktitas tac ca yujyate parameśitum— /

“He is able to rule supreme by His inconceivable energy.”

In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.30) it is stated:

Translation: “My dear Lord, I therefore pray to be so fortunate

that in this life as Lord Brahmā or in another life,

wherever I take my birth, I may be counted as one of Your devotees.

I pray that wherever I may be, even among the animal species,

I can engage in devotional service to Your lotus feet.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Brahmā is understanding that

he may take any birth,

but he wants to be always be engaged in the Lord’s devotional service.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.057 vara śuni’ sarva loka kānde uccaiḥ-svare / paravaśa-prāya sabe āilana ghare /

Jayapatākā Swami: When they heard the benediction given by Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya,

all the people began to loudly cry.

When they returned to their homes,

they appeared as if they were controlled by someone else.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.058 prabhura rāḍhadeśe praveśa— rāḍhe āsi’ gauracanadra hailā praveśa / adyāpiha sei bhāgye dhanya rāḍha-deśa /

Jayapatākā Swami: Then Lord Gauracandra entered into Rāḍha-deśa.

Even today the Rāḍha-deśa is considered as

fortunate and glorified.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.059 naisargika-śobhādarśane— rāḍha-deśa bhūmi yata dekhite sundara / catur-dike aśvattha-maṇḍalī manohara /

Jayapatākā Swami: The land of Rāḍha-deśa appeared very beautiful.

In all directions there were banyan trees,

which were enchanting to the whole.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.060 svabhāva-sundara sthāna śobhe gābhī-gaṇe / dekhiyā āviṣṭa prabhu haya sei kṣaṇe /

Jayapatākā Swami: In the beautiful natural setting,

there the beauty of the cows

put the Lord, Kṛṣṇa Caitanya,

at that moment,

in absorption of ecstasy.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.061 ‘hari’ ‘hari’ bali’ prabhu ārambhilā nṛtya / catur-dike saṅkīrtana kare saba bhṛtya /

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya began to chant and dance.

He chanted, “Haribol! Hari! Hari!”

In all directions, His servitors were chanting congregationally, in saṅkīrtana.

We can see how Lord Caitanya, He would spontaneously be engaging in saṅkīrtana,

the chanting of the holy names of Kṛṣṇa and Hari.

So, all the people who saw,

they became inspired and they chanted with Him.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.062 huṅkāra garjana kare vaikuṇṭhera rāya / jagatera citta-vṛtti śuni' śodha pāya /

Jayapatākā Swami: The loud roaring and

shouting of the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha,

the holy names of Kṛṣṇa,

all of the hearts of the people in the world

became purified, on hearing this.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.063 ei-mata prabhu dhanya kari’ rāḍha-deśa / sarva-pathe calilena kari’ nṛtyāveśa /

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya made Rāḍha-deśa very auspicious and glorious,

by dancing in ecstasy, on all of the various paths.

Lord Gaurāṅga, He was absorbed in love of Kṛṣṇa,

chanting and dancing, crying in ecstasy.

All the people who saw Him became purified,

and He was giving His benediction to everyone.

Thus ends the chapter: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu Makes the People of Rāḍha-deśa Fortunate.