20201224 Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya Resoves to Teach Vedānta Sūtra to Lord Caitanya

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 24th 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, todays chapter is entitled as:

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya Resoves to Teach Vedānta Sūtra to Lord Caitanya

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.114

prabhuke nimantraṇa:—
gosāñira sthāne ācārya kaila āgamana
bhaṭṭācāryera nāme tāṅre kaila nimantraṇa

Translation: According to the instructions of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Gopīnātha Ācārya went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and invited Him on the Bhaṭṭācārya’s behalf.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.115

mukunda o gopīnāthera bhaṭṭācārya-viruddhe abhiyoga :—

mukunda-sahita kahe bhaṭṭācāryera kathā
bhaṭṭācāryera nindā kare, mane pāñā vyathā

Translation: The Bhaṭṭācārya’s statements were discussed before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Gopīnātha Ācārya and Mukunda Datta disapproved of the Bhaṭṭācārya’s statements because they caused mental pain.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.116

prabhukarttṛka bhaṭṭācāryake sammāna dāna :—
śuni mahāprabhu kahe aiche mat kaha
āmā prati bhaṭṭācāryera haya anugraha

Translation: Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Do not speak like that. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has shown great affection and mercy toward Me.

Jayapatākā Swami: Caitanya Mahāprabhu would see even slight good quality in anyone so He appreciated the service that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has offered. Even though the devotees thought that some of his statements were coastic. Lord Caitanya told them not to speak like that, he appreciates the affection and mercy that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya had shown Him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.117

āmāra sannyāsa-dharma cāhena rākhite
vātsalye karuṇā karena, ki doṣa ihāte

Translation: “Out of paternal affection for Me, he wants to protect Me and see that I follow the regulative principles of a sannyāsī. What fault is there in this?”

Jayapatākā Swami: So Lord Caitanya, he was appreciating the sentiments of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.16: “I will have him, who is with a very peaceful heart, constantly hear the Vedānta and put him on the path of liberation with a sense of renunciation and fixation on knowledge of Brahman.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.222

punarapi saṁskāra karu āpanāra
vedānta śikhiẏā karu āśrama-ācāra

Jayapatākā Swami: Again, He should perform His own saṁskāra, this process. He would teach Vedānta and perform the duties of His āśrama.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.223

sannyāsīra dharma nahe kīrtana-nartana
vedāntu āmāra ṭhāṁi karuka śravaṇa

Jayapatākā Swami: “To sing and dance is not a duty of a sannyāsī’s. Instead, You should hear my explanation of Vedānta.”

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.17: Understanding what was in Sārvabhauma’s mind, the Lord, with a sweet face like a blossoming lotus, spreading radiant mercy over the three worlds, laughed internally with a restless heart.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.18: With effulgence greater than the strong, hot sun, with face attractive as the moon, the Lord with great pleasure went to Sārvabhauma’s house with the devotees dedicated to his feet.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.224

ācambite mucaki hāsiyā gaurā paṅhu
abirala-dhāre yena barikhaye mahu

Jayapatākā Swami: Suddenly Lord Gaura appeared in that assembly smiling. Lord Caitanya was like an unending monsoon of sweetness.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.225

jāniñā sakala paṅhu calilā tathāya
sārvabhauma basi’ yathā vedānta paḍhāya

Jayapatākā Swami: Knowing of all that had happened, Lord Caitanya approached where, Sārvabhauma was seated and reading from Vedānta-sūtra. In other words, Lord Caitanya knew what Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was thinking and He has His own plan. He went there to listen to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya speak on the Vedānta-sūtra.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.226

nija janasane seikhāne upanīta
dekhi’ bhaṭṭācārya uṭhe camakita-cita

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya along with His associates appeared there. Seeing Him Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, respectfully stood, his heart filled with wonder or his heart was astonished.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.118

sārvabhaumasaha prabhura jagannātha darśanānte tadgṛhe gamana :—
āra dina mahāprabhu bhaṭṭācārya-sane
ānande karilā jagannātha daraśane

Translation: The next morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya together visited the temple of Lord Jagannātha. Both of them were in a very pleasant mood.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.119

bhaṭṭācārya-saṅge tāṅra mandire āilā
prabhure āsana diyā āpane vasilā

Translation: When they entered the temple, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya offered Caitanya Mahāprabhu a seat, while he himself sat down on the floor out of due respect for a sannyāsī.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.19: Seeing the Lord with his students, Sārvabhauma rose and offered repeated respects. He gave Him a seat and when He was seated, he also sat.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.227

basite āsana dila sagauraba vāṇī
ṭhākura māgaye vidhi ki kariba āmi

Jayapatākā Swami: Speaking respectful words, He offered Lord Caitanya an āsana to sit. Lord Caitanya begged: “What is proper think for me to do?”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.228

tumi sārvabhauma bhaṭṭācārya saba jāna
antara puchiye tore–kaha ta vidhāna

Jayapatākā Swami: “You, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, know everything. I ask you from the heart: Please teach Me what is right for Me.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.229

sannyāsa-āśrama dharma nā bujhiye āmi
sannyāsa karila–vidhi vicāraha tumi

Jayapatākā Swami: “Unaware of the sannyāsa-āśrama’s duties, I have somehow accepted sannyāsa. Therefore, you please teach me after considering me what are the rules of sannyāsa.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.230

tumi sarvatattva-bettā vedānta vākhāna
ki vidhāna āche kichu paḍhāha ekhana

Jayapatākā Swami: “You know all the truths. You can explain the Vedānta. Please tell Me now, how should I act? Please teach these rules to Me?”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.231

taruṇa vayase nahe sannyāsera dharma
ki vidhāna āche punaḥ upavīta-karma

Jayapatākā Swami: “A young man should not accept sannyāsa. Is there any procedure, that again I can accept the sacred thread and duties?”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.232

e bola śuni sārvabhauma bhaṭṭācārya
hṛdaya saṅkoca kichu guṇaye āścarya

Jayapatākā Swami: Hearing these words, somehow Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, felt hesitation in his heart. He was somewhat surprised.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.233

ekhani kahila kathā nijaśiṣya-sane
e kathā sakala nyāsī jānila kemane

Jayapatākā Swami: Immediately he spoke to His disciples, saying the following words, “How does this sannyāsī knows everything that I said?”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.234

mane anumāna kari’ lajjāya pīḍita
kichu nā kahila–hiyāya rahila vismita

Jayapatākā Swami: Thinking in this way, he was afflicted due to shame. He did not say anything. His heart was filled with wonder.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.235

tāra para dine prabhu sārvabhauma ghare
nijajana saṅge gelā tāre dekhibāre

Jayapatākā Swami: On the next day Lord Caitanya, accompanied by His associates, again came to the house Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to see him.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.236

vedānta paḍhāya sārvabhauma ghare basi’
vedānta-siddhānta prabhu puche hāsi hāsi

Jayapatākā Swami: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was sitting at home and teaching Vedānta. Lord Caitanya was smiling profusely and asked him about the conclusion of Vedānta.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.20: The brāhmaṇa then spoke to the Lord politely. “Your students should study Vedānta at this place. You are well qualified. Please listen, because by this, the contamination in the mind will quickly disappear.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya He was thinking that Lord Caitanya and His students should hear Vedānta from him, thus their mind will become peaceful and their life will become success, But Lord Caitanya had replied,

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.21: “I have studied and made my students study many times with diligence.” The best of brāhmaṇas, in madness, attempted to teach the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.120

prabhuke sārvabhaumera vedāntādhyāpana o upadeśa :—
vedānta paḍāite tabe ārambha karilā
sneha-bhakti kari’ kichu prabhure kahilā

Translation: He then began to instruct Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu on Vedānta philosophy, and out of affection and devotion, he spoke to the Lord as follows. 

Purport by Srila Prabhupada: The Vedānta, or Brahma-sūtra, written by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, is a book studied by all advanced spiritual students, especially by the sannyāsīs of all religious communities (sampradāyas). The sannyāsīs must read the Vedānta-sūtra to establish their final conclusions concerning Vedic knowledge. Here, of course, the Vedānta mentioned is the commentary of Śaṅkarācārya, known as Śārīraka-bhāṣya. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya intended to convert Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who was a Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī, into a Māyāvādī sannyāsī. He therefore made this arrangement to instruct Him in the Vedānta-sūtra according to the Śārīraka commentary of Śaṅkarācārya. All the sannyāsīs of the Śaṅkara-sampradāya enjoy seriously studying the Vedānta-sūtra with the Śārīraka-bhāṣya commentary. It is said, vedānta-vākyeṣu sadā ramantaḥ: “One should always enjoy the studies of the Vedānta-sūtra.” 

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the path of Māyāvādī sannyāsa the path of Vaiṣṇava sannyāsa is completely different because the Māyāvādī sannyāsī want to merge into the Brahma-jyoti, the Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī never accept merging. They prefer themselves to be engaged themselves in devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa. So, there is big difference between the two. One is following the jñana-yoga and one is following bhakti-yoga.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.121

vedānta-śravaṇa,—ei sannyāsīra dharma
nirantara kara tumi vedānta śravaṇa

Translation: The Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Hearing Vedānta philosophy is a sannyāsī’s main business. Therefore, without hesitation You should study Vedānta philosophy, hearing it without cessation from a superior person.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.122

prabhura dainya :—
prabhu kahe,—’more tumi kara anugraha
sei se kartavya, tumi yei more kaha’

Translation: Lord Caitanya replied, “You are very merciful to Me, and therefore I think it is My duty to obey your order.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.123

sārvabhaumamukhe prabhura sātadina vedānta śravaṇa o māyāvāda bhāṣya-śravaṇe anādarahetu maunavṛtti:—
sāta dina paryanta aiche karena śravaṇe
bhāla-manda nāhi kahe, vasi’ mātra śune

Translation: Thus, for seven days continually, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu listened to the Vedānta philosophy expounded by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. However, Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not say anything and did not indicate whether it was right or wrong. He simply sat there and listened to the Bhaṭṭācārya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.124

aṣṭamadine sārvabhaumera tatkāraṇa-jijñāsā :—
aṣṭama-divase tāṅre puche sārvabhauma
sāta dina kara tumi vedānta śravaṇa

Translation: On the eighth day, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said to Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “You have been listening to Vedānta philosophy from me continually for seven days.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.125

bhāla-manda nāhi kaha, raha mauna dhari’
bujha, ki nā bujha,—ihā bujhite nā pāri

Translation: “You have simply been listening, fixed in Your silence. Since You do not say whether You think it is right or wrong, I cannot know whether You are actually understanding Vedānta philosophy or not.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.126

prabhura dainyamukhe māyāvāda-bhāṣyake upekṣā :— 
prabhu kahe—”mūrkha āmi, nāhi adhyayana
tomāra ājñāte mātra kariye śravaṇa

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “I am a fool, and consequently I do not study the Vedānta-sūtra. I am just trying to hear it from you because you have ordered Me.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.127

sannyāsīra dharma lāgi’ śravaṇa mātra kari
tumi yei artha kara, bujhite nā pāri”

Translation: “Only for the sake of executing the duties of the renounced order of sannyāsa do I listen. Unfortunately, I cannot in the least understand the meaning you are presenting.”

Purport by Srila Prabhupada: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu presented Himself as if He were a sannyāsī in name only or, in other words, a number-one fool. Māyāvādī sannyāsīs in India are very much accustomed to declaring themselves jagad-gurus, teachers of the world, although they have no information of the outside world and are limited in their experience to a small town or village, or perhaps to the country of India. Nor do such sannyāsīs have sufficient education. Unfortunately, at the present moment there are many foolish sannyāsīs, both in India and elsewhere, who simply read and study Vedic literature without understanding the purport. 

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu was having His discussion with the Chand Kazi, the Muslim magistrate of Navadvīpa, He recited a verse from the Vedic literature to the effect that the order of sannyāsa is prohibited in this Age of Kali. Only those who are very serious and who follow the regulative principles and study Vedic literature should accept sannyāsa. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu approved of a sannyāsī’s reading the Vedānta-sūtra, or Brahma-sūtra, but He did not approve the Śārīraka commentary of Śaṅkarācārya. Indeed, He said elsewhere, māyāvādi-bhāṣya śunile haya sarva-nāśa: [Cc. Madhya-līlā 6.169]

“If one hears the Śārīraka-bhāṣya of Śaṅkarācārya, he is doomed.” Thus, a sannyāsī, a transcendentalist, must read the Vedānta-sūtra regularly, but he should not read the Śārīraka-bhāṣya. This is the conclusion of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The real commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Artho ’yaṁ brahma-sūtrānām: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the original commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra, written by the author himself, Śrīla Vyāsadeva.

Jayapatākā Swami: We can see that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabahu having His special mercy on Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. Listening to him for seven days without saying anything so the Lord has some plan.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.128

bhaṭṭācāryera prabhuke ajña-jñāne mauna tyāga kariyā paripraśna karite ādeśa :—
bhaṭṭācārya kahe,—nā bujhi’, hena jñāna yāra
bujhibāra lāgi’ seha puche punarbāra

Translation: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, “I accept that You do not understand, yet even one who does not understand inquires about the subject matter.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.129

tumi śuni’ śuni’ raha mauna mātra dhari’
hṛdaye ki āche tomāra, bujhite nā pāri

Translation: “You are hearing again and again, yet You keep silent. I cannot understand what is actually within Your mind.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Actually, Lord Caitanya understands the Vedānta-sūtra but He cannot understand the commentary of Śaṅkarācārya, the commentary of Śaṅkarācārya was made to bring back the Buddhist to the Vedas and it is the impersonal philosophy, whereas the pastimes of Lord Caitanya, where He is feeling great love and separation for the Personality of Godhead whereas the teachings of Śaṅkarācārya teaches the impersonalist truth. The Bhāgavatam describes that the Lord is realized as impersonal Brahman, Localized Paramātma and Supreme Personality of Godhead. So He has to bring up Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya from his understanding of the Absolute truth from impersonal to personal

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya Resolves to Teache Vedānta Sūtra to Lord Caitanya.