20201220 Conversation Between Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Gopīnātha Ācārya (Part 3)

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 20th December 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 the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, today's chapter is entitled as:

Conversation Between Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Gopīnātha Ācārya Part 3

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.109

adhokṣajasevaka brāhmaṇai yukta, akṣaja-jñānī māyādāsa ayukta

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.2.24)

yuktaṁ ca santi sarvatra
bhāṣante brāhmaṇā yathā
māyāṁ madīyām udgṛhya
vadatāṁ kiṁ nu durghaṭam

Translation: “‘In almost all cases, whatever learned brāhmaṇas speak becomes accepted; nothing is impossible for one who takes shelter of My illusory energy and speaks under her influence.’”

Purport: In this verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.22.4), the Supreme Personality of Godhead explains that His illusory energy can perform the impossible; such is the power of the illusory energy. In many cases philosophical speculators have covered the real truth and have boldly set forth false theories. In ancient times philosophers like Kapila, Gautama, Jaimini, Kaṇāda and similar brāhmaṇas propounded useless philosophical theories, and in modern days so-called scientists are setting forth many false theories about the creation, backed up by seemingly logical arguments. This is all due to the influence of the Supreme Lord’s illusory energy. The illusory energy, therefore, sometimes appears correct because it is emanating from the Supreme Correct. To avoid the very bewildering illusory influence, one must accept the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as they are. Only then can one escape the influence of the illusory energy. 

Jayapatākā Swami: So, such is illusory potency that she can make false things appear real and one by logic and theory one can substantiate those things. But actually, they are not true so we need to have the knowledge coming down from the Absolute truth, the descending knowledge to actually understand the truth.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.162: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya: (laughing) I know you are a Vaiṣṇava. 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.163: Gopīnātha Ācārya: (humbly) If the Lord is merciful to you, then you will also become a Vaiṣṇava. 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.164: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya: Enough with these elaborations? You go to the home of maternal aunt after the darśana of Jagannātha and make the staying arrangements for Your Lord (Caitanya) with His associates. And invite him to take prasāda in my name. 

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.110

gopīnāthera upadeśe bhaṭṭācāryera anavadhāna:—

tabe bhaṭṭācārya kahe, yāha gosāñira sthāne
āmāra nāme gaṇa-sahita kara nimantraṇe

Translation: After hearing this from Gopīnātha Ācārya, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “First go to the place where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is staying and invite Him here with His associates. Ask Him on my account.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.111

prasāda āni’ tāṅre karāha āge bhikṣā
paścāt āsi’ āmāre karāiha śikṣā

Translation: “Take Jagannātha-prasādam and first give it to Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates. After that, come back here and teach me well.”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.165: Gopīnātha Ācārya: As you order.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.166: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya: I will also go to perform my mid-day duties. (Accompanied by his disciples, he exits). 

Jayapatākā Swami: So Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya , he listens to Gopīnātha Ācārya, but he does not take it very seriously at this time but he had the blessings of Gopīnātha Ācārya, May be in the future, he will be able to become the devotee of the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.112

gopīnāthera nānābhāve bhaṭṭācāryera upakāra-ceṣṭā:—

ācārya — bhaginī-pati, śyālaka — bhaṭṭācārya
nindā-stuti-hāsye śikṣā karā’na ācārya

Translation: Gopīnātha Ācārya was the brother-in-law of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya; therefore, their relationship was very sweet and intimate. Under the circumstances, Gopīnātha Ācārya taught him by sometimes blaspheming him, sometimes praising him and sometimes laughing at him. This had been going on for some time.

Jayapatākā Swami: In other words Gopīnātha Ācārya had a special relationship with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya as his brother in law, therefore he would discuss with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya in a way others could not.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.113

bhaṭṭācāryera māyāvāda-vākye mukundera roṣai tatprati kṛpā:—

ācāryera siddhānte mukundera haila santoṣa
bhaṭṭācāryera vākya mane haila duḥkha-roṣa

Translation: Śrīla Mukunda Datta felt very satisfied to hear the conclusive statements of Gopīnātha Ācārya, but he became very unhappy and angry to hear the statements put forward by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.167: Gopīnātha Ācārya: Mukunda, come. Come. (He comes). O Mukunda, Bhaṭṭācārya's words of thunderbolt still cuts my heart even now. If the supremely merciful Lord delivers him, then my heart will calm down.

Jayapatākā Swami: So the devotees they feel such mercy for the bewildered souls, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya is great scholar but his knowledge had been stolen by māyā, but devotees like Gopīnātha Ācārya are wishing best for Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, this is the secret for a preacher, who will actually be blessing mentally for the person whom they are preaching. 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.168: Mukunda: What is not possible for the Lord?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.169: Gopīnātha Ācārya: Come. The Lord has gone to see Śrī Jagannātha. Let us follow Him. (They both exit).

Jayapatākā Swami: This pastime between Gopīnātha Ācārya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and his disciples sets a stage for a pastime that follows. Now we can understand how Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya although great scholar is bewildered in the Māyāvāda philosophy and how Gopīnātha Ācārya, his brother- in-law, he is trying by all means to help him understand the actual position of Śrī Caitanaya Mahāprabhu but he is not able to so this where the discussion ends at. 

We will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, with the next chapter entitled: 

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya Questions Lord Caitanya's Need for Accepting Sannyāsa

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 3.9

nibhṛte sārvabhaumera sahita prabhura dainyamaya ālāpacchale sārvabhaumake kṛpā—/

daive eka-dina sārvabhaumera sahite
vasilena prabhu tāne laiyā nibhṛte

Jayapatākā Swami: By the will of providence, one day Lord Caitanya sat down with Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya in a solitary place.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 11.10: Once upon a time, Sārvabhauma, the best of the brāhmaṇas, contemplated in his mind about Mahāprabhu’s influence and power, but since the merciful Lord was acting as a human, he could not know.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 11.11: Becoming deaf because of the waves from the ocean of Mahāprabhu’s learning, even Bṛhaspati became senseless.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 11.12: It is not surprising that Bṛhaspati, who had great pride and deep intelligence, did not know the lotus feet of the Lord. He did not even know a particle of his great learning.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we can see that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was an incarnation of Bṛhaspati. Bṛhaspati the guru of devas or demigods in heaven he has great depth of knowledge but his knowledge is insignificant in comparison to Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya has covered himself with His illusory energy. He is just acting like a human being. Bṛhaspati, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was not able to understand Lord’s real position.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.12.7: Once while Śrī Caitanya-deva was residing in that place, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, who was a soul fully covered by illusion, came to the place where Mahāprabhu was staying. Considering an Him an ordinary man, he then spoke a few words surrounded by his own people.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.218

vidyā-vimohita-citta śrī-sārvabhauma
prabhura parokṣe kichu kahila vibhrama

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrī Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, he was bewildered by his great learning by his pride in great scholarship and so being deluded, he spoke something to examine Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.219

brāhmaṇa-sajjana yata sampūrṇa sabhāya
tāra madhye kahe–dvija ye chila hiyāya

Jayapatākā Swami: In the assembly full of saintly brāhmaṇas, in midst of that assembly, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, spoke what was in his heart.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.12.8: Although Sārvabhauma was very deluded, Gaura Janārdana is very merciful. Surely, He performs each and every one of His actions solely by His sweet desire to benefit the people of the world.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya knows the actual position of everyone. By His mercy, He acts in such a way to deliver fallen souls

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.177

iṣṭagoṣṭhī kare vidyā jānivāra tare
tattva jijñāsite kichu lāgila prabhure

Jayapatākā Swami: He asked Lord Caitanya, something of the truth and thus engaged in iṣṭagoṣṭhī or comments of devotees to get some knowledge.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.178

tora janmasthāna kothā kahibe āmāre
prabhu kahe ye kahile sei satya haye

Jayapatākā Swami: “Tell me where is Your birthplace? Please tell me.” The Lord Caitanya said, “What you said is true.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.179

bhaṭṭācārya kahe–tumi ki kaha kathana
eka kahi, āra kaha,–kisera kāraṇa

Jayapatākā Swami: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya asked: “Why do You speak in this way? I ask a question, and You reply by speaking of something else. Why do You do that?"

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.180

prabhu maunī hai rahe samudra-gambhīra
punarvāra prabhure jijñāse vipra dhīra–

Jayapatākā Swami: To this Lord Caitanya became silent. He remained deep like an ocean. Again, the learned brāhmaṇa, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya asked questions of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.181

tora mātā pitā ke vā kaha nā āmāre
prabhu kahe–satya ei tumi ye kahile

Jayapatākā Swami: “Your mother and father, who are Your mother and father? Please tell me.” Lord Caitanya replied, “What you had said is true!”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.182

bhaṭṭācārya punarbāra tathāpi jijñāse
kahibe tomāra kathā haila sannyāse

Jayapatākā Swami: Again, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya asked a question. He asked: “Tell me, where did You accept sannyāsa?"

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.183

prabhu kahe ei satya jānibe niścaya
śuni’ sārvabhauma mane baḍai vismaya

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya replied, “certainly You will know the truth. That is certain.” Hearing this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya became silent and very surprised at heart.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.184

bujhite nārila kichu prabhura nirṇaya
koṭi-sarasvatī-kānta akhilera jaya

Jayapatākā Swami: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya could not understand anything about Lord Caitanya’s behavior, who is dear to millions of Sarasvatīs, and who is victorious over all the Brahmās.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.16.185

kibā vā īśvara–kibā bātula svabhāva
mane kuṇṭhā–krodha mātra haila tāra lābha

Jayapatākā Swami: “Is this person the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Or is He having a nature of a crazy man?” His intelligence stunned, and as a result He became angry.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.12.9: Sārvabhauma said, “This man is born of a great family, and He is an excellent scholar. But since He is in the flower of youth, how can He successfully execute the practices of sannyāsa? For this we should again give Him a second birth and teach Him the knowledge of Vedānta concerning the ātmā."

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.12.10: Hearing this, Śrī Hari said with a smile, “Yes, let Me again receive the sacred thread, and I shall offer heaps of fragrant flowers and garlands to this vipra.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.12.11: So, saying, He left that spot. Some persons told Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya about Murāri Caitanya's response to his words, but Sārvabhauma out of fear said nothing more but felt shy due to respect for the Lord.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 3.10

prabhu bale,—“śuna sārvabhauma mahāśaya!
tomāre kahi ye āmi āpana-hṛdaya

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya said, “Listen, respected Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya! Let Me reveal My heart to you.”

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 3.11

jagannātha dekhite ye āilāma āmi
uddeśya āmāra mūla-ethā ācha tumi

Jayapatākā Swami: “Although I came to see Lord Jagannātha to this place, My main purpose to come here was to meet you.”

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 3.12

jagannātha āmāre ki kahibena kathā?
tumi se āmāra bandha chiṇḍibe sarvathā

Jayapatākā Swami: “Will Lord Jagannātha speak to Me? It is you who will completely cut to pieces My material bondage.”

Purport (by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura): Another reading of bandha chiṇḍibe (“will destroy bondage”) is bandhu āchaha (“you are My friend”). 

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 3.013

tomāte se vaise śrī-kṛṣṇera pūrṇa śakti
tumi se dibāre pāra' kṛṣṇa-prema-bhakti

Jayapatākā Swami: “You have the full potency of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, so you are able to award one loving devotional service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Purport (by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:) See Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.18.12). Realizing that Sārvabhauma's desire for the four objectives of life was simply deceitful, Śrī Gaurasundara also deceitfully told him that He had come to Nīlācala to take instruction from Sārvabhauma and that Sārvabhauma had the power to bestow on one loving devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. 

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way Lord Caitanya is getting Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to teach Him and as a result He will deliver Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.