20201114 Phalaśruti- The Result of Hearing About Śrī Mādhavendra Purī’s Devotional Service

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 14th November 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: Today we are continuing with Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, today’s chapter entitled is:

Phalaśruti- The Result of Hearing About Śrī Mādhavendra Purī’s Devotional Service. 

Haribol!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.197

padyāvalīte catuḥśatāṅkadhṛta śrī-mādhavendrapurīpāda vākya—
ayi dīna-dayārdra nātha he
mathurā-nātha kadāvalokyase
hṛdayaṁ tvad-aloka-kātaraṁ
dayita bhrāmyati kiṁ karomy aham

Translation: “O My Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathurā! When shall I see You again? Because of My not seeing You, My agitated heart has become unsteady. O most beloved, what shall I do now?” 

Purport: The uncontaminated devotees who strictly depend on the Vedānta philosophy are divided into four sampradāyas, or transcendental parties. Out of the four sampradāyas, the Śrī Madhvācārya-sampradāya was accepted by Mādhavendra Purī. Thus he took sannyāsa according to paramparā, the disciplic succession. Beginning from Madhvācārya down to the spiritual master of Mādhavendra Purī, the ācārya named Lakṣmīpati, there was no realization of devotional service in conjugal love. Śrī Mādhavendra Purī introduced the conception of conjugal love for the first time in the Madhvācārya-sampradāya, and this conclusion of the Madhvācārya-sampradāya was revealed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu when He toured southern India and met the Tattvavādīs, who supposedly belonged to the Madhvācārya-sampradāya. When Śrī Kṛṣṇa left Vṛndāvana and accepted the kingdom of Mathurā, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, out of ecstatic feelings of separation, expressed how Kṛṣṇa can be loved in separation. Thus devotional service in separation is central to this verse. 

Worship in separation is considered by the Gauḍīya-Madhva-sampradāya to be the topmost level of devotional service. According to this conception, the devotee thinks of himself as very poor and neglected by the Lord. Thus he addresses the Lord as dīna-dayārdra nātha, as did Mādhavendra Purī. Such an ecstatic feeling is the highest form of devotional service. Because Kṛṣṇa had gone to Mathurā, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was very much affected, and She expressed Herself thus: “My dear Lord, because of Your separation My mind has become overly agitated. Now tell Me, what can I do? I am very poor and You are very merciful, so kindly have compassion upon Me and let Me know when I shall see You.” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was always expressing the ecstatic emotions of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī that She exhibited when She saw Uddhava at Vṛndāvana. Similar feelings, experienced by Mādhavendra Purī, are expressed in this verse. Therefore, Vaiṣṇavas in the Gauḍīya-Madhva-sampradāya say that the ecstatic feelings experienced by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu during His appearance came from Śrī Mādhavendra Purī through Īśvara Purī. All the devotees in the line of the Gauḍīya-Madhva-sampradāya accept these principles of devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: So this principle of serving Lord in separation is paramount in devotional service. This was taught by Śrīla Prabhupāda. Serving in separation is higher than serving in the direct contact so since it is very easy to serve in separation because by situation we are separated from the Lord. in this way if we have intense desire to be with the Lord that will naturally take over or drive over other materialistic desires from our mind or reduce them to a large extent.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.198

prabhura mūrcchā o vipralambha-bhāvonmāda :—
ei śloka paḍite prabhu ha-ilā mūrcchite
premete vivaśa hañā paḍila bhūmite

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recited this verse, He immediately fell to the ground unconscious. He was overwhelmed and had no control over Himself.

Jayapatākā Swami: This verse expresses the intense loving separation of Rādhārāṇī for Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.199

āste-vyaste kole kari’ nila nityānanda
krandana kariyā tabe uṭhe gauracandra

Translation: When Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell to the ground in ecstatic love, Lord Nityānanda quickly took Him on His lap. Crying, Caitanya Mahāprabhu then got up again.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Lord Nityānanda, He was caring for Lord Caitanya and Lord Caitanya fell unconscious to the ground Lord Nityānanda took His head on His lap and He was also crying in ecstasy then Lord Caitanya awoke, He regained His consciousness.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.200

premonmāda haila, uṭhi’ iti-uti dhāya
huṅkāra karaye, hāse, kānde, nāce, gāya

Translation: Exhibiting ecstatic emotions, the Lord began to run here and there, making resounding noises. Sometimes He laughed, and sometimes He cried, and sometimes He danced and sang.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Lord Caitanya was manifesting these unparalleled transcendental ecstatic symptoms of love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.201

‘ayi dīna, ‘ayi dīna’ bale bāra-bāra
kaṇṭhe nā niḥsare vāṇī, netre aśru-dhāra

Translation: Caitanya Mahāprabhu could not recite the whole verse. He simply said, “Ayi dīna! Ayi dīna!” repeatedly. Thus He could not speak, and profuse tears were in His eyes.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was in very confidential mood of separation from Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.202

kampa, sveda, pulakāśru, stambha, vaivarṇya
nirveda, viṣāda, jāḍya, garva, harṣa, dainya

Translation: Trembling, perspiration, jubilant tears, shock, fading of the bodily luster, disappointment, moroseness, loss of memory, pride, joy and humility were all visible in Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s body.

Purport: In the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, jāḍya is explained as loss of memory brought about by severe shock due to separation from the beloved. In that state of mind, one loses all concern for loss and gain, hearing and seeing, as well as all other considerations. This marks the preliminary appearance of illusion.

Jayapatākā Swami: There are eight levels of prema and Rādhārāṇī experiences the highest level so Lord Caitanya was also experiencing that and Mādhavendra Purī also. These three experience the epitome of separation of loving sentiments for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.203

ei śloke ughāḍilā premera kapāṭa
gopīnātha-sevaka dekhe prabhura prema-nāṭa

Translation: This verse uncovered the door of ecstatic love, and when it was exhibited, all the servants of Gopīnātha saw Caitanya Mahāprabhu dance in ecstasy. 

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was telling about the pastimes of Mādhavendra Purī, in Remuṇā, when he came to this verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam he became so ecstatic he started to manifest all the symptoms of ecstatic love which are mentioned above and these pūjārīs of servants of Lord Gopīnātha when they saw Lord Caitanya ecstatic dancing they could realize His pure love for Lord Gopīnātha.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.204

prabhura vāhyadaśā o gopīnāthera bhogārati :—
lokera saṅghaṭṭa dekhi’ prabhura bāhya haila
ṭhākurera bhoga sari’ ārati bājila

Translation: When many people crowded around Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He regained His external senses. In the meantime, the offering to the Deity had been finished, and there was a resounding ārati performance.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.205

pūjārīra prabhu-nikaṭa 12ṭī pātre kṣīra-ānayana :—
ṭhākure śayana karāñā pūjārī haila bāhira
prabhura āge āni’ dila prasāda bāra kṣīra

Translation: When the Deities were laid down to rest, the priest came out of the temple and offered all twelve pots of sweet rice to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.206

kṣīra-darśane prabhura ānanda evaṃ pāṁcaṭī grahaṇa o sātaṭī pratyarpaṇa:
kṣīra dekhi’ mahāprabhura ānanda bāḍila
bhakta-gaṇe khāoyāite pañca kṣīra laila

Translation: When all the pots of sweet rice, remnants left by Gopīnātha, were placed before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He became very pleased. In order to feed the devotees, He accepted five of them.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.207

sāta kṣīra pūjārīke bāhuḍiyā dila
pañca-kṣīra pañca-jane vāṅṭiyā khāila

Translation: The seven remaining pots were pushed forward and delivered to the priest. Then the five pots of sweet rice the Lord had accepted were distributed among the five devotees, and they ate the prasāda. 

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.208

gopīnātha-rūpe yadi kariyāchena bhojana
bhakti dekhāite kaila prasāda bhakṣaṇa

Translation: Being identical with the Gopīnātha Deity, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had already tasted and eaten the pots of sweet rice. Yet just to manifest devotional service, He again ate the pots of sweet rice as a devotee.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya is Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, he will naturally realize the offering to Lord Gopīnātha but just to show His devotional character He also accepted some of the prasāda as a devotee.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.209

prāte tathā haite purī-pathe yātrā :—
nāma-saṅkīrtane sei rātri goṅāilā
maṅgala-ārati dekhi’ prabhāte calilā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed that night at the temple engaged in congregational chanting. In the morning, after seeing the maṅgala-ārati performance, He departed.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was always engaged in the saṅkīrtana the congregational chanting of the holy name He stayed up to the maṅgala-ārati and proceeded unto His journey.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.210

gopāla-gopīnātha-purī-gosāñira guṇa
bhakta-saṅge śrī-mukhe prabhu kailā āsvādana

Translation: In this way, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally tasted with His own mouth the transcendental qualities of Gopālajī, Gopīnātha and Śrī Mādhavendra Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.211

ei ākhyāne prabhura o tadīya bhaktera apūrva prīti o guṇa-māhātmya —
ei ta’ ākhyāne kahilā doṅhāra mahimā
prabhura bhakta-vātsalya, āra bhakta-prema-sīmā

Translation: Thus I have described both the transcendental glories of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s affection for His devotees and the highest limit of ecstatic love of God.

Jayapatākā Swami: This pastimes of Mādhavendra Purī, Gopālajī and Gopīnātha are very confidential and Lord Caitanya revealed this to His devotees and there is something that non-devotees are not able to enter into. That’s why it is called as confidential because to really appreciate they have to be a devotee.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.212

śraddhā-yukta hañā ihā śune yei jana
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇe sei pāya prema-dhana

Translation: One who hears this narration with faith and devotion attains the treasure of love of Godhead at the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So by hearing how Mādhavendra Purī served Lord Gopīnātha and how He manifested pure love for Kṛṣṇa hearing this pastime with faith and belief, this verse says one can achieve their natural awakening of Love for Kṛṣṇa, to the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. So this is a great blessings for all the devotees who have heard this pastimes.

Thus ends the chapter entitled: phalasruti - The Result of Hearing About Śrī Mādhavendra Purī’s Devotional Service.