20210115 Lord Caitanya Delivers Vāsudeva the Leper (Part 1)

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on January 15th, 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!

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation, chapter entitled:

Lord Caitanya Delivers Vāsudeva the Leper

 

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.130

ei mata yāṅra ghare kare prabhu bhikṣā
sei aiche kahe, tāṅre karāya ei śikṣā

Translation: At whosever house Śrī Caitanya accepted His alms by taking prasādam, He would convert the dwellers to His saṅkīrtana movement and advise them just as He advised the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma.

Purport By Srila Prabhupada: The cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is explained here very nicely. One who surrenders to Him and is ready to follow Him with heart and soul does not need to change his location. Nor is it necessary for one to change his status. One may remain a householder, a medical practitioner, an engineer or whatever It doesn’t matter One only has to follow the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and instruct relatives and friends in the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One has to learn humility and meekness at home, following the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and in that way one’s life will be spiritually successful. One should not try to be an artificially advanced devotee, thinking I am a first-class devotee, so it is best not to accept any disciples.” Such thinking should be avoided. One has to become purified at home by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and preaching the principles enunciated by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Thus one can become a spiritual master and be freed from the contamination of material life. There are many sahajiyās who decry the activities of the six Gosvāmīs Śrīla Rūpa, Sanātana, Raghunātha dāsa, Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Jīva and Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmīs — who are the personal associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and who enlightened society by writing books on devotional service. Similarly, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and other great ācāryas like Madhvācārya, Rāmānujācārya and others accepted many thousands of disciples to induce them to render devotional service. However, there is a class of sahajiyās who think that these activities are opposed to the principles of devotional service Indeed, they consider such activities simply another phase of materialism. Thus opposing the principles of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they commit offenses at His lotus feet. They should better consider His instructions and, instead of seeking to be considered humble and meek should refrain from criticizing the followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu who engage in preaching. To protect His preachers, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has given much clear advice in these verses of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the importance is enunciated here by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda and engaging in the preaching movement. In the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Kṛṣṇa predicted that there will be a ten-thousand-year golden age period and that will come to pass when all the followers of Lord Caitanya also engage in the spreading of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So, one can do that while remaining in the home and thus become a spiritual master spreading the teachings of Kṛṣṇa as given in Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.131 -132

purīte pratyāvarttana nā karā paryanta prabhukartṛka sakalakei ācāryarūpe bhakti-pracāre ādeśa :— 
pathe yāite devālaye rahe yei grāme
yāṅra ghare bhikṣā kare, sei mahā-jane
kūrme yaiche rīti, taiche kaila sarva-ṭhāñi
nīlācale punaḥ yāvat nā āilā gosāñi

Translation: While on His tour, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would spend the night at a temple by the road. Whenever He accepted food from a person, He would give him the same advice He gave the brāhmaṇa named Kūrma He adopted this process until He returned to Jagannātha Purī from His South Indian tour.

Jayapatākā Swami: Although the author does not repeat what the Lord does He is saying that throughout His tour of South India, He gave every householder He took His food in and gave the same advice as Kūrma brāhmaṇa So, He asked everyone to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa to spread the teachings of Kṛṣṇa and ask to be a spiritual master We understand that this was the consistent program of Lord Caitanya throughout His tour of South India Although it is not being repeated, He did the same thing in every house He went.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.105

Translation: The merciful Lord was satisfied with his actions and ate at his auspicious house. He then departed.

Jayapatākā Swami: How many of you want the mercy of Lord Caitanya visiting your home and take prasāda? Missing So this was the mercy of Lord Caitanya, He was giving freely He was going to every house, taking prasāda, giving them advice to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and tell everyone the teachings of Kṛṣṇa and then He would go on.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.133

ataeva ihāṅ kahilāṅ kariyā vistāra
ei-mata jānibe prabhura sarvatra vyavahāra

Translation: Thus I have described the Lord’s behavior elaborately in the case of Kūrma In this way, you will know Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s dealings throughout South India.

Jayapatākā Swami: Although the case of the Kūrma brāhmaṇa was described in great detail He did the same dealings in every house But He did not repeat the same description again and again, but it should be understood that He did the same thing in every house.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.134

kūrmagṛhe sei rātrivāsa :— 
ei-mata sei rātri tāhāṅi rahilā
prātaḥ-kāle prabhu snāna kariyā calilā

Translation: Thus Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would remain at night in one place, and the next morning, after bathing, He would start again.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.135

prāte punarāya yātrā :— 
prabhura anuvraji’ kūrma bahu dūra āilā
prabhu tāṅre yatna kari’ ghare pāṭhāilā

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left, the brāhmaṇa Kūrma followed Him a great distance but eventually Lord Caitanya took care to send him back home.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.1

vāsudevāmṛta’-prabhura praṇāma :— 
dhanyaṁ taṁ naumi caitanyaṁ
vāsudevaṁ dayārdra-dhī
naṣṭa-kuṣṭhaṁ rūpa-puṣṭaṁ
bhakti-tuṣṭaṁ cakāra yaḥ

Translation: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, being very compassionate toward a brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva cured him of leprosy He transformed him into a beautiful man satisfied with devotional service. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the glorious Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.136

kuṣṭharogī vāsudeva-viprera prabhu darśanārtha kūrmagṛhe āgamana :— 
vāsudeva’-nāma eka dvija mahāśaya
sarvāṅge galita kuṣṭha, tāte kīḍā-maya

Translation: There was also a brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva, who was a great person but was suffering from leprosy. Indeed, his body was filled with living worms.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.14.15

Translation: Another brāhmaṇa of the name Vāsudeva saw Śrī Gaura Hari whose personality is transcendental to this world of cause and effect. Perceiving the brilliant qualities of His person, he recognized Him to be Kṛṣṇa Himself and began to dance.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.106

Translation: One brāhmaṇa named Vāsudeva heard that Mahāprabhu was going south from Jagannātha Purī and approached to him suddenly.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.137

aṅga haite yei kīḍā khasiyā paḍaya
uṭhāñā sei kīḍā rākhe sei ṭhāña

Translation: Although suffering from leprosy, the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva was enlightened. As soon as one worm fell from his body, he would pick it up and place it back again in the same location.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Vāsudeva brāhmaṇa was so self-realized that he understood that he is not the body and that it is his karma that somehow , he was eaten by the worms. When any worm fell from his body, he put them up and put them back and let them eat. So he was very detached and fixed in ātmā-jñana and spiritual realization

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.138

rātrite śunilā teṅho gosāñira āgamana
dekhibāre āilā prabhāte kūrmera bhavana

Translation: Then one-night Vāsudeva heard of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s arrival and in the morning, he came to see the Lord at the house of Kūrma.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 1.4

setubandha dekhibāre calilā ṭhākura 
kurmanāme vipra dekhe kurmanāme pura

Jayapataka Swami: So, Lord Caitanya after leaving Jagannātha Purī, to see the Setubandha, place of Lord Rāma crossing to Sri Lanka He went to Kūrma-kṣetra and saw the Kūrma brāhmaṇa, and He had this pastimes there where He told the Kūrma brāhmaṇa to stay in the household life, but to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 1.5

vāsudeva-nāme vipra āche sei grāme 
duijanā-saṅge dekhā haila eka-ṭhāme

Jayapataka Swami: In that village there were two brāhmaṇas one was called Kūrma and one was called Vāsudeva Lord Caitanya met both of these brāhmaṇas at Kūrma-sthāna.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.106

Translation: In great pain because of white leprosy on his limbs, the great soul came to Kūrma’s house.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.107

Translation: Coming there, Vāsudeva asked Kūrma about Mahāprabhu. Kūrma told him everything concerning the abode of mercy.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.109

Translation: “The Lord had stayed there and taken food. He gave mercy to me. If you go quickly you can see the Lord.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.139

prabhura kṛmatyāga-śravaṇe vāsudevera duḥkha o vilāpahetu prabhura tathāya āvirbhāva :— 
prabhura gamana kūrma-mukhete śuniñā
bhūmite paḍilā duḥkhe mūrcchita hañā

Translation: When the leper Vāsudeva came to Kūrma’s house to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was informed that the Lord had already left The leper then fell to the ground unconscious.

Jayapatākā Swami: Vāsudeva was so eager to see the Lord that when he heard that the Lord had already left, he felt unconscious filled with separation and sadness.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.110

Translation: Hearing this, Vāsudeva went outside in confusion and, fainting, fell on the ground. Understanding this, the Lord returned.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is the Supersoul of everyone and He understood Vāsudeva, the brāhmaṇa leper wanted to see Him and therefore the Lord appeared again and giving His darśana, and His audience to Vāsudeva.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.140

aneka prakāra vilāpa karite lāgilā
sei-kṣaṇe āsi’ prabhu tāṅre āliṅgilā

Translation: When Vāsudeva, the leper brāhmaṇa, was lamenting due to not being able to see Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord immediately returned to that spot and embraced him.

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari Bol! Who can imagine the unlimited mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu? Not only did He come back when the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva was lamenting that he could not see the Lord, the Lord came and embraced Him. Hari bol!

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.14.16

Translation: Although afflicted by leprosy, that vipra, was a transcendentally-situated soul and a mahā-bhāgavata-bhakta. Śrī Caitanya embraced him and thus transformed him into a healthy man with a golden luster.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya by embracing him cured him of his leprosy and he became healthy with golden luster. So, he got the special mercy of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.141

prabhura tāṅhāke āliṅganadāna, tatphale viprera kuṣṭharoga-mukti o saundarya-lābha :—
prabhu-sparśe duḥkha-saṅge kuṣṭha dūre gela
ānanda sahite aṅga sundara ha-ila

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu touched him, both the leprosy and his distress went to a distant place Indeed, Vāsudeva’s body became very beautiful, to his great happiness.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.111

Translation: Coming there, the Lord embraced the brāhmaṇa in his arms and released him from illusion along with his leprosy. Receiving a conscious, attractive body, he offered respects to the Lord in joy and lamentation.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, it is said that simultaneously, he was in joy and lamentation, and this is a mystery.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.142

prabhura dayā-darśane vāsudevera stava :— 
prabhura kṛpā dekhi’ tāṅra vismaya haila mana
śloka paḍi’ pāye dhari, karaye stavana

Translation: The brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva was astonished to behold the wonderful mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he began to recite a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, touching the Lord’s lotus feet.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.29: Doorkeeper: (enters) Bhaṭṭācārya, the brāhmaṇas you sent have returned from the Godāvarī River. They wait to see you.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.30: Bhaṭṭācārya:The king is eager to see them. Let them enter.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.31: Doorkeeper: As you order. (Bringing them, he again enters).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.32: Bhaṭṭācārya: Ah! Come in! Come in!

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.33: (The brāhmaṇas approach, offering blessings to the king, and bowing down before Sarvabhauma).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.34: King: Please sit down. Tell everything from the beginning.

(Everyone sits down).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.35: Bhaṭṭācārya: One of you tell us the news.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.36: One brāhmaṇa: He left here and went to Ālālānātha, where He saw the Deity and offered prayers. He walked very quickly, as an unrestricted wild elephant.

It was very difficult for us to follow behind Him He was like a strong wind sweeping south from Mount Meru in the north He chanted the Holy name as if He were a thundering cloud The travelers on the road all gazed at Him with wonder. In this way He quickly arrived at Kūrma-kṣetra.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.37: Sārvabhauma: He did not eat anything on the way?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.38: Brāhmaṇa: He did not.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.39: Bhaṭṭācārya: What did you do?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.40: Brāhmaṇa: We ate whenever we could and we followed behind Him. In this way He went to Kūrma-kṣetra bowed down before the Deity, offered prayers, and stayed at the home of an exalted brāhmaṇa named Kūrma Requested by this brāhmaṇa, He accepted a meal, and then He did something very wonderful.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.41: Bhaṭṭācārya: What was that?

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 1.6

prabhu-daraśane tārā haila nirmala
nirīkhaye gaurādeha premāya bihbala

Jayapatākā Swami: By the sight of Lord Caitanya they became purified and seeing the golden form of Lord Gaura they became overwhelmed with spiritual loving ecstasy.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 1.7

sumerusundara tanu-bāhu jānu-sama 
siṁhagrīva, kambukaṇṭha, sudīrgha-locana

Jayapatākā Swami: The body was beautiful golden color, like the Mount Sumeru with His auspicious arms leading up to His knees and His waist thin like a lion, His broad shoulders and His long eyes extending almost to His ears and His neck lined up like a conchshell.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 1.8

dekhite dekhite hiyā-ānanda bāḍhila 
ei kṛṣṇa gauracandra niścaya jānila

Jayapatākā Swami: By looking again and again at Lord Caitanya, the transcendental ecstasy in their heart increased. They were convinced that this Lord Gauracandra was actually Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 1.9

hā hā mahāprabhu! bali’paḍilā caraṇe 
sarvaloka kānde tāra premāra kāndane

Jayapatākā Swami: Expressing a deep emotion, Ha Gaurāṅga! Ha Gaurāṅga, they fell at the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya. All the people cried.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.42: Brāhmaṇa: In that place lived a brāhmaṇa named Vasudeva who was afflicted with leprosy All his limbs were covered with worms, blood and pus He suffered acutely. Whenever a worm fell from his body, he would pick it up and put it back. He was a great devotee his mind always absorbed in thinking of the Lord Still, he was humble and would never claim he was a great devotee. When Lord Chaitanya met him, He embraced him with His long arms as if he were a dear friend He had not seen for a long time. Then the brāhmaṇa quoted this verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.81.16) —

kvāhaṁ daridraḥ pāpīyān
kva kṛṣṇaḥ śrī-niketanaḥ
brahma-bandhur iti smāhaṁ
bāhubhyāṁ parirambhitaḥ

Translation: He said, “‘Who am I? A sinful, poor friend of a brāhmaṇa And who is Kṛṣṇa? The Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in six opulences. Nonetheless, He has embraced me with His two arms.’”

Purport: This verse was spoken by Sudāmā brāhmaṇa in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.81.16), in connection with his meeting Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So King Pratāparudra Mahārāja he was eager to hear all the pastimes of Lord Caitanya and thus he was hearing how Lord Caitanya had embraced the leper and how the leper was quoting from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and how he was cured of his leprosy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.144-145

bahu stuti kari’ kahe,—śuna, dayā-maya
jīve ei guṇa nāhi, tomāte ei haya 
more dekhi’ mora gandhe palāya pāmara
hena-more sparśa’ tumi,—svatantra īśvara

Translation: The brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva continued, “O my merciful Lord, such mercy is not possible for ordinary living entities Such mercy can be found only in You. Upon seeing me, even a sinful person goes away due to my bad bodily odor Yet You have touched me. Such is the independent behavior of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

Jayapatākā Swami: The leper Vāsudeva is so much appreciative of the transcendental quality of mercy, of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Why he was lamenting is described here!

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.112

Translation: Reciting this verse he said, "This is not mercy but punishment to me." The Lord said, “Do not feel miserable. Devoid of pride, a person will attain me.” He then disappeared.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.146

kintu āchilāṅ bhāla adhama hañā
ebe ahaṅkāra mora janmibe āsiyā

Translation: Being meek and humble, the brāhmaṇa Vāsudeva worried that he would become proud after being cured by the grace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Vāsudeva was worrying that being cured by the Lord he might become proud and that thus he will fall down from the spiritual platform. But Lord Caitanya advised him that by being in Kṛṣṇa consciousness he will be protected from his false pride.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.44: After reciting this verse, he became at once cured of leprosy and his body became splendidly handsome.

He then said: My Lord, how did I get a body like this? My body was overtaken by disease and now it is completely cured I am afraid that now my mind will become filled with pride. And I will be again attracted to the material world.”

The Lord then said: “O brāhmaṇa, never again will you forget the Lord and never again will your heart become involved in the external things of this world. Why should you be anxious?”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya not only cured the leprosy of Vāsudeva brāhmaṇa, but he also cured him from the material attractions of this world.