20210130 The Means to Achieve the Limit of The Goal of Life (Part 2)

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on January 30th, 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, Second Part of the chapter entitled :

The Means to Achieve the Limit of The Goal of Life (Part 2)

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.218

nijendriya-sukha-vāñchā nāhi gopikāra
kṛṣṇe sukha dite kare saṅgama-vihāra

Translation: “Among the gopīs, there is not a pinch of desire for sense gratification. Their only desire is to give pleasure to Kṛṣṇa, and this is why they mingle with Him and enjoy with Him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.219

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.31.19) —

yat te sujāta-caraṇāmburuhaṁ staneṣu
bhītāḥ śanaiḥ priya dadhīmahi karkaśeṣu
tenāṭavīm aṭasi tad vyathate na kiṁ svit
kūrpādibhir bhramati dhīr bhavad-āyuṣāṁ naḥ

Translation: “[All the gopīs said:] ‘Dear Kṛṣṇa, we carefully hold Your delicate lotus feet upon our hard breasts. When You walk in the forest, Your soft lotus feet are pricked by small bits of stone. We fear that this is paining You. Since You are our life and soul, our minds are very much disturbed when Your lotus feet are pained.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.31.19).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the gopīs are always thinking to give pleasure to Kṛṣṇa. They are not thinking how to enjoy themselves. By giving pleasure to Kṛṣṇa they naturally feel transcendental ecstasy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.220

rāgānugā-bhaktira paricaya:— 
sei gopī-bhāvāmṛte yāṅra lobha haya
veda-dharma-loka tyaji’ se kṛṣṇe bhajaya

Translation: “One who is attracted by that ecstatic love of the gopīs does not care about popular opinion or the regulative principles of Vedic life. Rather, he completely surrenders unto Kṛṣṇa and renders service unto Him.

Haribol!

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows how pure love of Kṛṣṇa, pure kṛṣṇa-prema is beyond all the aspects of the regulative Vedic principles.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.221

rāgānuga-mārge tāṅre bhaje yei jana
sei-jana pāya vraje vrajendra-nandana

Translation: “If one worships the Lord on the path of spontaneous love and goes to Vṛndāvana, he receives the shelter of Vrajendra-nandana, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

Purport: In all, there are sixty-four items listed for the rendering of service unto Kṛṣṇa, and these are the regulative principles enjoined in the śāstras and given by the spiritual master. One has to serve Kṛṣṇa according to these regulative principles, but if one develops spontaneous love for Kṛṣṇa as exhibited in the activities of those who live in Vrajabhūmi, one attains the platform of rāgānuga-bhakti. One who has developed this spontaneous love is eligible for elevation to the platform enjoyed by the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi. In Vrajabhūmi, there are no regulative principles set forth for Kṛṣṇa’s service. Rather, everything is carried out in spontaneous, natural love for Kṛṣṇa. There is no question of following the principles of the Vedic system. Such principles are followed within this material world, and as long as one is on the material platform, he has to execute them. However, spontaneous love of Kṛṣṇa is transcendental. It may seem that the regulative principles are being violated, but the devotee is on the transcendental platform. Such service is called guṇātīta, or nirguṇa, for it is not contaminated by the three modes of material nature.

Jayapatākā Swami: This spontaneous love of Kṛṣṇa is beyond the regulative principles, and beyond the three modes of material nature, beyond the varnāśrama-dharma, it is pure spontaneous love for Kṛṣṇa

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.222

vraja-lokera kona bhāva lañā yei bhaje
bhāva-yogya deha pāñā kṛṣṇa pāya vraje

Translation: “In his liberated stage the devotee is attracted by one of the five humors in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. As he continues to serve the Lord in that transcendental mood, he attains a spiritual body to serve Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.223

rāgamārge śrutigaṇera kṛṣṇa-prāpti:— 
tāhāte dṛṣṭānta — upaniṣad śruti-gaṇa
rāga-mārge bhaji’ pāila vrajendra-nandana

Translation: “Those saintly persons who represent the Upaniṣads are vivid examples of this. By worshiping the Lord on the path of spontaneous love, they attained the lotus feet of Vrajendra-nandana, the son of Nanda Mahārāja.

Purport By Srila Prabhupada: In the Goloka Vṛndāvana planet, Kṛṣṇa’s servants are headed by Raktaka and Patraka. Kṛṣṇa’s friends are headed by Śrīdāmā, Subala and others. There are also elderly gopīs and the cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, mother Yaśodā and others. All of these personalities are eternally engaged in the loving service of the Lord in accordance with their specific attachments for Kṛṣṇa. One who wants to return home to serve the Lord directly may be attracted to Kṛṣṇa as a servant, friend, father or mother. If a person continuously serves Kṛṣṇa during this life in a particular ecstasy, upon giving up the material body he attains a spiritual body suitable for serving Kṛṣṇa in terms of his particular attachment. One may serve as a servant, friend, father or mother. In the same way, one who wants to serve Kṛṣṇa in conjugal love can attain a body under the guidance of the gopīs. In this connection, the most vivid example is provided by those saintly personalities known as the śrutis, who represent the Upaniṣads. The śrutis understood that without serving Kṛṣṇa and following in the footsteps of the gopīs there would be no possibility of their entering the kingdom of God and serving Kṛṣṇa in the mood of conjugal love. Therefore they engaged in spontaneous loving service unto Kṛṣṇa and followed in the footsteps of the gopīs.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, depending on one’s preferred relationship they engage in that, and think of that devotee in a particular service, as a servant, as a friend, as a parent, or as a conjugal lover . One has to follow the footsteps of one of the existing devotees. If one wants to be in conjugal love, they have to follow the gopīs, and if one is in parental love, they have to follow Nanda or Yaśodā. In the material world one serves the spiritual master and then he introduces on to one of the associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and then in the spiritual world one follows that devotee and thus is engaged in Kṛṣṇa service.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.224

gopīra ānugatye śrutira kṛṣṇera madhura-sevā lābha:— 
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.23)—

Translation: “‘Great sages conquer the mind and senses by practicing the mystic yoga system and controlling the breath. Thus engaging in mystic yoga, they see the Supersoul within their hearts and ultimately enter into impersonal Brahman. But even the enemies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead attain that position simply by thinking of the Supreme Lord. However, the damsels of Vraja, the gopīs, being attracted by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, simply wanted to embrace Him and His arms,which are like serpents. Thus the gopīs ultimately tasted the nectar of the lotus feet of the Lord. Similarly, we Upaniṣads can also taste the nectar of His lotus feet by following in the footsteps of the gopīs.’”

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.23) spoken by the śrutis, the personified Vedas.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is the secret to get the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet by following in the footsteps of His devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.225

ślokasthita śabdera artha:— 
‘sama-dṛśaḥ’-śabde kahe ‘sei bhāve anugati’
‘samāḥ’-śabde kahe śrutira gopī-deha-prāpti

Translation: “The word ‘sama-dṛśaḥ,’ mentioned in the fourth line of the previous verse, means ‘following the mood of the gopīs.’ The word ‘samāḥ’ means ‘the śrutis’ attainment of bodies like those of the gopīs.’

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.226

‘aṅghri-padma-sudhā’ya kahe ‘kṛṣṇa-saṅgānanda’
vidhi-mārge nā pāiye vraje kṛṣṇa-candra

Translation: “The word ‘aṅghri-padma-sudhā’ means ‘associating intimately with Kṛṣṇa.’ One can attain such perfection only by spontaneous love of God. One cannot obtain Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana simply by serving the Lord according to regulative principles.

Jayapatākā Swami: The importance of spontaneous service over following regulative principles is depicted here.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.227

rāgātmikā bhaktira mahimā:— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21)— 
nāyaṁ sukhāpo bhagavān
dehināṁ gopikā-sutaḥ
jñānināṁ cātma-bhūtānāṁ
yathā bhakti-matām iha

Translation: “‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the son of mother Yaśodā, is accessible to those devotees engaged in spontaneous loving service, but He is not as easily accessible to mental speculators, to those striving for self-realization by severe austerities and penances, or to those who consider the body the same as the self.’

Purport: This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.9.21) is spoken by Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī. It appears within a passage in which he glorifies mother Yaśodā and other devotees of Kṛṣṇa by describing how they can subjugate Him with their love. 

Jayapatākā Swami: Developing love for Kṛṣṇa, naturally awakening it, is the real secret for attaining Goloka Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.228

nivṛttānartha-bhaktera rāgānugabhajana-praṇālī:— 
ataeva gopī-bhāva kari aṅgīkāra
rātri-dina cinte rādhā-kṛṣṇera vihāra

Translation: “Therefore one should accept the mood of the gopīs in their service. In such a transcendental mood, one should always think of the pastimes of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows how the pastimes Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are not material. Since they are transcendental, one should constantly think of these pastimes. So, taking the āśrama of sannyāsa is to follow in the footsteps of the gopīs, using one’s thoughts words and deeds in the service of Kṛṣṇa. But even if one is gṛhastha, and they are constantly thinking of Kṛṣṇa they can achieve the highest destination, like Rāmānanda Rāya was a gṛhastha he was a śūdra by caste, but since he knew the science of Kṛṣṇa, he was teaching Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.229

siddha-dehe cinti’ kare tāhāṅñi sevana
sakhī-bhāve pāya rādhā-kṛṣṇera caraṇa

Translation: “After thinking of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and Their pastimes for a long time and after getting completely free from material contamination, one is transferred to the spiritual world. There the devotee attains an opportunity to serve Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa as one of the gopīs.

Purport: “perfected spiritual body,” refers to a body beyond the material gross body composed of five elements and the subtle astral body composed of mind, intelligence and false ego. In other words, one attains a completely spiritual body fit to render service to the transcendental couple Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa: sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam.

When one is situated in his spiritual body, which is beyond this gross and subtle material body, he is fit to serve Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. That body is called siddha-deha. The living entity attains a particular type of gross body in accordance with his past activities and mental condition. In this life the mental condition changes in different ways, and the same living entity gets another body in the next life according to his desires. The mind, intelligence and false ego are always engaged in an attempt to dominate material nature. According to that subtle astral body, one attains a gross body to enjoy the objects of one’s desires. According to the activities of the present body, one prepares another subtle body. And according to the subtle body, one attains another gross body. This is the process of material existence. However, when one is spiritually situated and does not desire a gross or subtle body, he attains his original spiritual body. As confirmed by the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9): tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjuna.

One is elevated to the spiritual world by the spiritual body and is situated either in Goloka Vṛndāvana or in another Vaikuṇṭha planet. In the spiritual body there are no longer material desires, and one is fully satisfied by rendering service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. This is the platform of bhakti (hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate). When the spiritual body, mind and senses are completely purified, one can render service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His consort. In Vaikuṇṭha the consort is Lakṣmī, and in Goloka Vṛndāvana the consort is Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. In the spiritual body, free from material contamination, one can serve Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa and Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa. When one is thus spiritually situated, he no longer thinks of his own personal sense gratification. This spiritual body is called siddha-deha, the body by which one can render transcendental service unto Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. The process is that of engaging the transcendental senses in loving devotional service. This verse specifically mentions, sakhī-bhāve pāya rādhā-kṛṣṇera caraṇa: only transcendentally elevated persons in the mood of the gopīs can engage in the service of the lotus feet of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, if we are attached to material attachment, we are getting another material body. If we become absorbed in serving Kṛṣṇa lovingly then we get siddha-deha, transcendental body and we can serve Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in the spiritual world.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.230

gopīra ānugatya binā kṛṣṇaprāpti asambhava:— 
gopī-ānugatya vinā aiśvarya-jñāne
bhajileha nāhi pāya vrajendra-nandane

Translation: “Unless one follows in the footsteps of the gopīs, he cannot attain the service of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja. If one is overcome by knowledge of the Lord’s opulence, he cannot attain the Lord’s lotus feet, even though he is engaged in devotional service.

Purport By Srila Prabhupada: One can worship Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa by the process of vidhi-mārga, worshiping the Lord with regulative principles according to the instructions of the śāstra and the spiritual master. But the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, cannot be directly worshiped by this process. The dealings between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs are devoid of the opulences of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa. The process of vidhi-mārga, following the regulative principles, is utilized in the worship of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, whereas the process of spontaneous service — following in the footsteps of the gopīs, who are the denizens of Vṛndāvana — is transcendentally more advanced and is the process whereby Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are worshiped. One cannot attain this elevated position while worshiping the Lord in His opulence. Those attracted by the conjugal love between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa must follow in the footsteps of the gopīs. Only then is it possible to enter into the Lord’s service in Goloka Vṛndāvana and directly associate with Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in Māyāpur, there are the deity of Rādhā Mādhava and aṣṭa-sakhīs. The mood of the gopīs is needed to be able to worship Rādhā and Mādhava.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.231

gopīra ānugatya chāḍiyā lakṣmīra rāsa-vilāsa prāptira ayogyatā:— 
tāhāte dṛṣṭānta — lakṣmī karila bhajana
tathāpi nā pāila vraje vrajendra-nandana

Translation: “The unspoken example in this connection is the goddess of fortune, who worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa in order to attain His pastimes in Vṛndāvana. But due to her opulent life-style, she could not attain the service of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.

Jayapatākā Swami: When Lord Caitanya was staying in Śrīraṅgam the Paṇḍitas were telling Him to worship Lakṣmī Nārāyaṇa, they considered Lakṣmī Nārāyaṇa to be the original. Then Lord Caitanya asked them, “Why does Lakṣmī do penances to worship Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana? And why she was refused, if she and Nārāyaṇa are the highest? She should be able to go anywhere she wants, but she couldn’t go to Vṛndāvana.” Because she had the opulent mood, and Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are worshipped in spontaneous love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.232

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.47.60)— 
nāyaṁ śriyo ’ṅga u nitānta-rateḥ prasādaḥ
svar-yoṣitāṁ nalina-gandha-rucāṁ kuto ’nyāḥ
rāsotsave ’sya bhuja-daṇḍa-gṛhīta-kaṇṭha-
labdhāśiṣāṁ ya udagād vraja-sundarīṇām

Translation: “When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was dancing with the gopīs in the rāsa-līlā, the gopīs were embraced around the neck by the Lord’s arms. This transcendental favor was never bestowed upon the goddess of fortune or the other consorts in the spiritual world. Nor was such a thing ever imagined by the most beautiful girls in the heavenly planets, girls whose bodily luster and aroma resemble the beauty and fragrance of lotus flowers. And what to speak of worldly women, who may be very very beautiful according to material estimation?”

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.47.60).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows how the gopīs in Vṛndāvana get the special mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 8.233

prabhu o rāyera prema-krandana:— 
eta śuni’ prabhu tāṅre kaila āliṅgana
dui jane galāgali karena krandana

Translation: After hearing this, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Rāmānanda Rāya, and both of them, embracing shoulder to shoulder, began to cry.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was tasting the nectar of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He was very grateful to Rāmānanda Rāya for these topics about Lord Kṛṣṇa. So He embraced him and then both of them began to cry in spiritual loving ecstasy. Hari Bol! Hari Bol!

Thus ends the chapter entitled, The Means to Achieve the Limit of The Goal of Life.