20210109 Lord Caitanya Glorifies Devotees and Requests Their Permission for Travel

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on January 9th, 2021 in Śrī Dhāma 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!

Compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, today’s chapter entitled as:

Lord Caitanya Glorifies Devotees and Requests Their Permission For Travel

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.7

bhaktagaṇera nikaṭa kṛtajñatā-jñāpana o vidāya yājñā :— 
nija-gaṇa āni’ kahe vinaya kariyā
āliṅgana kari’ sabāya śrī-haste dhariyā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called all His devotees together and, holding them by the hand, humbly informed them,

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.8

tomā-sabā jāni āmi prāṇādhika kari’
prāṇa chāḍā yāya, tomā-sabā chāḍite nā pāri

Translation: “You are all more dear to Me than My life. I can give up My life, but to give you up is difficult for Me.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.9

tumi-saba bandhu mora bandhu-kṛtya kaile
ihāṅ āni’ more jagannātha dekhāile

Translation: “You are all My friends, and you have properly executed the duties of friends by bringing Me here to Jagannātha Purī and giving Me the chance to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is expressing His gratitude to all the devotees for befriending him and bringing Him to Jagannātha Purī. He was appreciating their service and their association.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.10

ebe sabā-sthāne muñi māgoṅ eka dāne
sabe meli’ ājñā deha, yāiba dakṣiṇe

Translation: “I now beg all of you for one bit of charity. Please give Me permission to leave for a tour of South India.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.11

agraja-viśvarūpera sandhānachale
dākṣiṇātya-uddhāra janya ekākī yāibāra icchā :—

viśvarūpa-uddeśe avaśya āmi yāba
ekākī yāiba, kāho saṅge nā la-iba

Translation: “I shall go to search out Viśvarūpa. Please forgive Me, but I want to go alone; I do not wish to take anyone with Me.

Jayapatākā Swami: Viśvarūpa was Lord Caitanya’s elder brother and He took sannyāsa when Lord Caitanya was still a small boy. So, Lord Caitanya wanted to find out Viśvarūpa where He was!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.12

setubandha haite āmi nā āsi yāvat
nīlācale tumi saba rahibe tāvat

Translation: “Until I return from Setubandha, all of you dear friends should remain at Jagannātha Purī.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.13

viśvarūpa-siddhi-prāpti jānena sakala
dakṣiṇa-deśa uddhārite karena ei chala

Translation: Knowing everything, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was aware that Viśvarūpa had already passed away. A pretense of ignorance was necessary, however, so that He could go to South India and liberate the people there.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya as the Supersoul and the Supreme Personality of Godhead knew that Viśvarūpa has already left the world, that He had passed away. Of course, others would not know this. And He had to have a reason to travel alone to South India, to liberate the people there.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.14

śuniyā sabāra mane haila mahā-duḥkha
niḥśabda ha-ilā, sabāra śukāila mukha

Translation: Upon hearing this message from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees became very unhappy and remained silent with sullen faces.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.15

saṅge anugamanajanya nitāira prārthanā :— 
nityānanda-prabhu kahe,—"aiche kaiche haya
ekākī yāibe tumi, ke ihā sahaya

Translation: Nityānanda Prabhu then said, “How is it possible for You to go alone? Who can tolerate this?”

Jayapatākā Swami: Since all of the devotees wanted the pleasure of Lord Caitanya, His going alone was something intolerable. Someone should be with Him to assist Him and make His journey easier. Lord Nityānanda expressed this.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.16

dui-eka saṅge caluka, nā paḍa haṭha-raṅge
yāre kaha sei dui caluk tomāra saṅge

Translation: “Let one or two of us go with You; otherwise You may fall into the clutches of thieves and rogues along the way. They may be whomever You like, but two persons should go with You.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.17

dakṣiṇera tīrtha-patha āmi saba jāni
āmi saṅge yāi, prabhu, ājñā deha tumi”

Translation: “Indeed, I know all the paths to the different places of pilgrimage in South India. Just order Me, and I shall go with You.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Nityānanda left at the age of twelve from Ekacakrā dhāma, went with a sannyāsī touring around, South India, He naturally knew all the pilgrimage places, so He is volunteering to go with Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.18

prabhukarttṛka nityānanda-jagadānanda-dāmodara prabhṛtira kṛtrima-nindācchale guṇagāna :— 
prabhu kahe, ”āmi—nartaka, tumi—sūtra-dhāra
tumi yaiche nācāo, taiche nartana āmāra

Translation: The Lord replied, “I am simply a dancer, and You are the wire-puller. However You pull the wires to make Me dance, I shall dance in that way.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is comparing Himself to a puppet, in that a puppeteer would pull string and the puppet would dance. So, like that whichever way Lord Nityānanda pulled the strings, Lord Caitanya said He would dance.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.19

sannyāsa kariyā āmi calilāṅ vṛndāvana
tumi āmā lañā āile advaita-bhavana

Translation: “After accepting the sannyāsa order, I decided to go to Vṛndāvana, but You took Me instead to the house of Advaita Prabhu.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.20

nīlācala āsite pathe bhāṅgilā mora daṇḍa
tomā-sabāra gāḍha-snehe āmāra kārya-bhaṅga

Translation: “While on the way to Jagannātha Purī, You broke My sannyāsa staff. I know that all of you have great affection for Me, but such things disturb My activities.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.21

jagadānanda cāhe āmā viṣaya bhuñjāite
yei kahe sei bhaye cāhiye karite

Translation: “Jagadānanda wants Me to enjoy bodily sense gratification, and out of fear I do whatever he tells Me.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.22

kabhu yadi iṅhāra vākya kariye anyathā
krodhe tina dina more nāhi kahe kathā

Translation: “If I sometimes do something against his desire, out of anger he will not talk to Me for three days.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is explaining all the problems that love of the different devotees is putting Him to.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.23

mukunda hayena duḥkhī dekhi’ sannyāsa-dharma
tinabāre śīte snāna, bhūmite śayana

Translation: “Being a sannyāsī, I have a duty to lie down on the ground and to take a bath three times a day, even during the winter. But Mukunda becomes very unhappy when he sees My severe austerities.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.24

antare duḥkhī mukunda, nāhi kahe mukhe
ihāra duḥkha dekhi’ mora dvi-guṇa haye duḥkhe

Translation: “Of course, Mukunda does not say anything, but I know that he is very unhappy within, and upon seeing him unhappy, I become twice as unhappy.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is revealing the different dealings with different devotees, and how it is affecting Him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.25

dāmodara-brahmacārīra nirapekṣatāya prabhura kaṭākṣa :— 
āmi ta’—sannyāsī, dāmodara—brahmacārī
sadā rahe āmāra upara śikṣā-daṇḍa dhari’

Translation: “Although I am in the renounced order of life and Dāmodara is a brahmacārī, he still keeps a stick in his hand just to educate Me.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we are seeing how Dāmodara although he is only a brahmacārī and Lord Caitanya is a sannyāsī, but actually Dāmodara is regulating and advising Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu what He should do and what He should not do. So Lord Caitanya compares this with Dāmodara carrying a stick to educate Him!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.26

iṅhāra āge āmi nā jāni vyavahāra
iṅhāre nā bhāya svatantra caritra āmāra

Translation: “According to Dāmodara, I am still a neophyte as far as social etiquette is concerned; therefore he does not like My independent nature.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here is an example how Dāmodara Pandita deals with Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.27

lokāpekṣā nāhi iṅhāra kṛṣṇa-kṛpā haite
āmi lokāpekṣā kabhu nā pāri chāḍite

Translation: “Dāmodara Paṇḍita and others are more advanced in receiving the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; therefore they are independent of public opinion. As such, they want Me to enjoy sense gratification, even though it be unethical. But since I am a poor sannyāsī, I cannot abandon the duties of the renounced order, and therefore I follow them strictly.”

Purport: A brahmacārī is supposed to assist a sannyāsī; therefore a brahmacārī should not try to instruct a sannyāsī. That is the etiquette. Consequently Dāmodara should not have advised Caitanya Mahāprabhu of His duty.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Dāmodara Paṇḍita is always advising Lord Caitanya what He should or should not do! And Lord Caitanya, He is speaking a bit sarcastically that Dāmodara Paṇḍita is more expert in loving Krsna, so he doesn’t follow any rules and regulations, but he always instructs Me.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.28

sakalake prabhura pratyāvartana-paryanta purīte thākite anarodha :— 
ataeva tumi saba raha nīlācale
dina kata āmi tīrtha bhramiba ekale”

Translation: “You should all therefore remain here in Nīlācala for some days while I tour the sacred places of pilgrimage alone.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, giving the above reasons, Lord Caitanya, He did not want to take any of His associates and He wanted to travel throughout South India, alone.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.29

svabhaktera doṣapradarśanachale guṇa-varṇana :— 
iṅhā-sabāra vaśa prabhu haye ye ye guṇe
doṣāropa-cchale kare guṇa āsvādane

Translation: Actually, the Lord was controlled by the good qualities of all His devotees. On the pretense of attributing faults, He tasted all these qualities.

Purport: All the accusations made by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu against His beloved devotees actually showed His great appreciation of their intense love for Him. Yet He mentioned these faults one after another as if He were offended by their intense affection. The personal associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sometimes behaved contrary to regulative principles out of intense love for the Lord, and because of their love Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself sometimes violated the regulative principles of a sannyāsī. In the eyes of the public, such violations are not good, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was so controlled by His devotees’ love that He was obliged to break some of the rules. Although accusing them, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was indirectly indicating that He was very satisfied with their behavior in pure love of Godhead. Therefore in verse 27 He mentions that His devotees and associates place more importance on love of Kṛṣṇa than on social etiquette. There are many instances of devotional service rendered by previous ācāryas who did not care about social behavior when intensely absorbed in love for Kṛṣṇa. Unfortunately, as long as we are within this material world, we must observe social customs to avoid criticism by the general populace. This is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya’s apparent criticism of His associates is described as indirect praise by Śrīla Prabhupāda. So actually, Lord Caitanya he was obliged to mend His dealings based on the loving affection of His devotees. So, He is pointing out different things, actually He is glorifying the love that His devotees have for him. In the spiritual world, the love of the devotees can take the primary role, but in this material world, it is important to adhere to certain social etiquettes. So Lord Caitanya is bringing up these points.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.30

prabhura anupama bhakta-vātsalya :— 
caitanyera bhakta-vātsalya—akathya-kathana
āpane vairāgya-duḥkha karena sahana

Translation: No one can properly describe Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s affection for His devotees. He always tolerated all kinds of personal unhappiness resulting from His acceptance of the renounced order of life.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, devotees in the Navadvīpa dhāma do not like to see Lord Caitanya as a sannyāsī, “Why should He perform austerities? What does He have to gain? We perform austerities to purify ourselves, He is already the purest of the pure, he is the Supreme Person, one without a second. So He doesn’t have anything to achieve, but for His pastimes, He followed this sannyāsī vow. But the devotees, they remember Lord Caitanya what He really is, and therefore there was this contradiction. How Lord Caitanya, He accepted this sannyāsa austerity but the devotees they never really appreciated that. Because they had the pure, loving relationship with Him.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lord Caitanya Glorifies Devotees and Requests Their Permission For Travel.