20201017 Lord Caitanya Bids Farewell (Part 1)

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 17th October 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 we will continue with the Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book compilation. Today’s chapter is entitled:

Lord Caitanya Bids Farewell

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.47

eteka vacana yabe bhaktagaṇa baila
antara-karuṇa prabhu hāsite lāgila

Jayapatākā Swami: When the assembled devotees had spoken these words, the kind-hearted Lord Caitanya smiled and said:

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.48

śunaha sakala bhakta vacana pracura
konakāle to-sabhāre nahiba niṣṭhura

Jayapatākā Swami: Listen, O My dear devotees, My definite words! Never, at any time, will I be cruel to all of you.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.196

prabhu kahe,“kara tumi dainya-samvaraṇa
tomāra dainyete mora vyākula haya mana

Translation: The Lord replied to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, “Please check your humility. Just the sight of your humility very much agitates My mind.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.197

harivimukha smārtasamājake dhikkāra diyā brāhmaṇa-guru vaiṣṇavācārya ṭhākura haridāsake purīte laite pratijñā :—

tomā lāgi’ jagannāthe kariba nivedana
tomā-lañā yāba āmi śrī-puruṣottama

Translation: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu assured Haridāsa Ṭhākura that He would place a petition before Lord Jagannātha and that He would certainly take him there to Jagannātha Purī.

Jayapatākā Swami: So the words of the devotees touched the heart of the kind-hearted Lord Caitanya, and He assured them that He would never be cruel to them. He told Haridāsa that certainly He would take him to Jagannātha Purī, and He would petition Lord Jagannātha. Actually, Śrīla Prabhupāda revealed that Lord Caitanya was moving Lord Jagannātha. Every day when He would go to the ocean for bathing, He would stop at the āśrama of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. In that way, Lord Jagannātha Himself was coming to visit Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.4.29-31: Seeing this, Gaurāṅga's heart was agitated, and with tears in His eyes said, "Just as you have fallen at My feet, so I shall fall at the lotus feet of Jagannātha Svāmī. Then I will speak to Him in such a way that surely You shall receive His mercy." So saying, Śacī-nandana warmly embraced Haridāsa again and again and released him with love. Then the best of the twice-born, the great Advaita Ācārya, addressed the Supreme Lord, who had accepted the role of the spiritual master of all sentient beings:

Jayapatākā Swami: So Lord Caitanya, in this avatāra, has taken the position as the spiritual master of all sentient beings.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.198

prabhuke ārao dinakataka thākibāra janya advaitera prārthanā :— tabe ta’ ācārya kahe vinaya kariñā dina dui-cāri raha kṛpā ta’ kariñā

Translation: After that, Advaita Ācārya respectfully requested Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to show Him mercy by remaining another two or four days.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.199

prabhura advaita-vāñchā-pūraṇa o sakalera ānanda :—

ācāryera vākya prabhu nā kare laṅghana
rahilā advaita-gṛhe, nā kaila gamana

Translation: Caitanya Mahāprabhu never violated the request of Advaita Ācārya; therefore, He remained at His home and did not leave immediately for Jagannātha Purī.

Jayapatākā Swami: So the humble request of Advaita Ācārya was considered by Lord Caitanya, and He stayed for some more days in the house of Advaita Ācārya. This shows that Kṛṣṇa is never defeated, but He accepts to be defeated by the love of His devotees.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.4.32: “He Nātha! I have heard that Your Lordship is now leaving. How can it be that love for You has not awakened in Me? O Lord, please show Your mercy upon Me!” Gaura Keśava replied:

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.4.33-34: "You have such love for Me; how can I possible leave?" So saying, He warmly embraced Advaita. As the Lord was departing in company with Śrī Gadādhara and the other vipras, who were His devout followers endowed with firm affection for Him, the exalted brāhmaṇa named Gopīnāthācārya addressed Śrī Hari lovingly:

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.4.35-36: "O Lord, fulfiller of desires, I have a desire to see Your transcendental body." Hearing these words, Gaurāṅga took off His outer garment and revealed His slender body, which possessed a glittering effulgence like molten gold. It appeared as if the clouds had parted, revealing Mount Meru shining in the moonlight.

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa had taken the color of Rādhārāṇī, and in the mood Rādhārāṇī He appeared as Lord Gaurāṅga. In this way, Lord Caitanya, He had a golden complexion and His transcendental form attracted everybody in the three worlds.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.4.37: Having seen Gaura, heard from Gaura, and offered obeisances to Gaura, that noble brāhmaṇa departed, and then the all-opulent Lord also departed with great jubilation for Puruṣottama Kṣetra.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.200

ānandita haila ācārya, śacī, bhakta, saba
prati-dina kare ācārya mahā-mahotsava

Translation: Lord Caitanya’s decision was received very happily by Advaita Ācārya, Mother Śacī and all the devotees. Advaita Ācārya celebrated every day with a great festival.

Jayapatākā Swami: It seems like the previous verse belongs little later. The Lord agreed to stay a few days more and so Advaita Ācārya was having a great festival every day. This created great happiness for mother Śacī and all the other devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.201

divase iṣṭagoṣṭhī, niśāya saṅkīrtana :—

dine kṛṣṇa-kathā-rasa bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge
rātre mahā-mahotsava saṅkīrtana-raṅge

Translation: During the day the devotees discussed subject matters concerning Kṛṣṇa, and at night there was a great festival of congregational chanting at the house of Advaita Ācārya.

Jayapatākā Swami: All day long they were discussing Kṛṣṇa’s glories amongst the devotees and then at night, they all would do saṅkīrtana together.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.202

sagaṇa prabhura svapācita annabhojane āira ānanda :—

ānandita hañā śacī karena randhana
sukhe bhojana kare prabhu lañā bhakta-gaṇa

Translation: Mother Śacī cooked with great pleasure, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, along with the devotees, accepted the prasādam with great pleasure.

Jayapatākā Swami: So we see mother Śacī was cooking and giving the prasāda to the Lord and Lord Gaura and the devotees, accepted with great pleasure. There are six ways of exchanging love. Giving prasāda and accepting prasāda is two of the ways.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.203

prabhura sevāya advaitera sabai dhanya :—

ācāryera śraddhā-bhakti-gṛha-sampada-dhane
sakala saphala haila prabhura ārādhane

Translation: In this way all the opulences of Advaita Ācārya —His faith, devotion, home, riches and everything else —were successfully utilized in the worship of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Purport: Advaita Ācārya set an ideal example for all householder devotees in His reception of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees and in His execution of a daily festival at His home. If one has the proper means and wealth, he should occasionally invite the devotees of Lord Caitanya who are engaged in preaching all over the world and hold a festival at home simply by distributing prasādam and talking about Kṛṣṇa during the day and holding congregational chanting for at least three hours in the evening. This procedure must be adopted in all centers of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Thus they will daily perform saṅkīrtana-yajña. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32) the daily performance of saṅkīrtana-yajña is recommended for this age (yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ). One should worship Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His four associates, the Pañca-tattva, by distributing prasādam and holding congregational chanting. Indeed, that yajña, or sacrifice, is most recommended in this Age of Kali. In this age, other yajñas are not possible to perform, but this yajña can be performed everywhere and anywhere without difficulty.

Jayapatākā Swami: So this is a prescription by Śrīla Prabhupāda, for the gṛhastha devotees, householder devotees. Especially if they are blessed with sufficient wealth, they could use it to feed devotees, hold saṅkīrtana, celebrations. In this way they are using their occupational efforts in the service of Kṛṣṇa. Lord Caitanya said that whether one is a householder or a vairāgi, he should always chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. So this process is given by Śrīla Prabhupāda for the gṛhasthas.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.204

śacīmātāra sukha :—

śacīra ānanda bāḍe dekhi’ putra-mukha
bhojana karāñā pūrṇa kaila nija-sukha

Translation: As Mother Śacī constantly saw the face of her son and fed Him, her own happiness increased and was indeed complete.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.205

advaitagṛhe dinakataka aprākṛta ānanda :—

ei-mata advaita-gṛhe bhakta-gaṇa mile
vañcilā kataka-dina mahā-kutūhale

Translation: In this way, at Advaita Ācārya’s house all the devotees met and passed some days together in a greatly festive mood.

Jayapatākā Swami: So by the presence of Lord Caitanya, it was a festival for Advaita and all others. Mother Śacī’s happiness increased manifold. This is the real secret of transcendental happiness, which is to have the Lord in our house, have daily festival of discussing about Kṛṣṇa in the day and chanting in the night. There is a verse which Kṛṣṇa says, He doesn’t reside in Vaikuṇṭha, in all the places He does not reside, but He resides in the place where the devotees have gathered together, discussing His qualities and glories. So, we can have the presence of the Lord in this way.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 3.206

bhaktagaṇake vidāya-dāna :—

āra dina prabhu kahe saba bhakta-gaṇe
nija-nija-gṛhe sabe karaha gamane

Translation: The next day, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested all the devotees to return to their respective homes.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.4.24: Then in the pure light of dawn, in a gentle mellow tone, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya instructed Śrīvāsa and the other exalted brāhmaṇas, “Go now to your respective āśramas.”

Translation: Now I shall depart to take darśana of Śrī Puruṣottama Jagannātha, who is the original Lord of all the devatās. There I shall behold the face of Śrī Hari in the company of Sārvabhauma, the chief of the twice-born men.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.49

nīlācale vāsa āmi kariba sarvathā
sarvadā āsibe yābe–dekhā pābe tathā

Jayapatākā Swami: I will always reside in Nīlacala, Jagannātha Purī. You will come and go, and thus you will be able to see Me there.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.4.26: “Now with your hearts free from envy incessantly perform Hari-kīrtana. Also attentively observe Ekādaśī and stay awake throughout the night absorbed hearing Śrī Nāma and discussing Hari-kathā.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.50

āchila-adhika premā bāḍhila apāra
harināma saṅkīrtane bhāsiba saṁsāra

Jayapatākā Swami: The ocean of pure spiritual love will increase unlimitedly. The whole world will float in the ecstasy of harināma-saṅkīrtana.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.51

kāhāra hṛdaye nā rākhiba duḥkha-śoka
saṅkīrtana-samudre ḍubāba sarvaloka

Jayapatākā Swami: I will not keep in anyone’s heart sorrow or suffering. I will plunge everyone in the ocean of saṅkīrtana, the congregational chanting of the Holy Name.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.52

kibā viṣṇupriyā kibā mora mātā śacī
ye bhajaye kṛṣṇa–tāra kole āmi āchi

Jayapatākā Swami: Whether it be Viṣṇu-priyā devī, or whether it is My mother, Śacī devi, whosever it may be, whoever, anyone who worships Lord Kṛṣṇa, I am always situated on their lap.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.53

e bola śuniñā sabhe paḍiyā caraṇe
satya kara prabhu yei kahilā vacane

Jayapatākā Swami: Hearing these words, everyone fell at Lord Gaurāṅga’s lotus feet, and offered their prostrate obeisances. Dear Lord Caitanya, “please make these words You have spoken true.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.54

satya satya satya prabhu bole bārabāra
nīlācala-vāsa satya haiba āmāra

Jayapatākā Swami: Satya, satya, satya! Truth, truth, truth! Lord Caitanya said again and again! Nīlācala (Jagannātha Purī) will be My residence, this will become true.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.55

śacīdevī dāṁḍāite nāre sthira haiyā
dāṁḍāilā du-janāra hāthe ta’ dhariyā

Jayapatākā Swami: Mother Śacī-devī could not stand steadily. She stood by holding the hands of two people.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.56

nidāruṇa haiyā kothākāre yābe tumi
tomā nā dekhile bāpa mari’ yā’ba āmi

Jayapatākā Swami: Mother Śacī said, being merciless, where will You go? My dear son, being not able to see You, I will die.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.57

sabhe tora vadana dekhiba katabāra
āmi abhāginī mukha nā dekhiba āra

Jayapatākā Swami: Everyone will see Your lotus face, so many times. Only I am the unfortunate, I will never see Your face again.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.58

sabhāra prabodha bāchā karile āpane
āmāra prabodha bāpa haiba kemane

Jayapatākā Swami: My dear child, You have consoled everyone. Dear son, how will You console me?

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.59

āmāra dvitīya keho nāhi saṁsāre
viṣṇupriyā śelamātra bukera bhitare

Jayapatākā Swami: In this world, I have no second person (son). Viṣnupriyā devī, now has an iron spear of grief is pushed into her heart.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.60

hāsiyā kahena prabhu sakaruṇa-hiyā–
michā-śoke mara pūrva-jñāna pāśariyā

Jayapatākā Swami: Smiling, merciful-hearted Lord Gaura said, “Forgetting the spiritual truth you already know, you make yourself die with false grief.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.61

cali’ yāha–śoka kichu nā kariha cite
nirmatsara hai raha sabhāra sahite

Jayapatākā Swami: Please return home. Do not keep any grief in your heart. Without envy, stay amongst the devotees.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.62

daṇḍavata kari’ prabhu māyera caraṇe
prabodha karila prabhu kathāra vidhāne

Jayapatākā Swami: Offering His prostrate obeisances like a stick, Lord Caitanya offered obeisances at His mother’s lotus feet. Lord Caitanya consoled her with kind words.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 15.63

māye prabodhiyā prabhu bole haribola
satvare calilā–uṭhe kāndanera rola

Jayapatākā Swami After consoling His mother, Lord Caitanya chanted, “Haribol! Haribol!” Then He quickly departed. A tumult of weeping at once arose.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.4.27: In the presence of Advaitācārya, Gaura Hari warmly embraced all of them with His beautiful arms and sent them forth. Then, His eyes brimming with tears of prema, the Lord also departed.