20210314 Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s Plan for Mahārāja Pratāparudra

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on March 14th, 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!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Today we will continue with the Compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, today’s chapter is entitled as:

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s Plan for Mahārāja Pratāparudra 
Under the section of the Beda Kīrtana of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.16.1

Translation: Then the king of Utkala, lord of many elephants, desired to have darśana of Mahāprabhu. He summoned Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya together with Rāmānanda Rāya.

Jayapatākā Swami: So,we heard how the King Gajapatī Mahārāja Pratāparudra was very determined to somehow see the Lord

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.16.2

Translation: In a loving mood, with respect and humility, he asked them by what means he could obtain darśana of Gaura Candra and His elder brother.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.16.3

Translation: Sārvabhauma said to him, “Mahārāja, for a king like yourself, it is difficult to have the Lord’s darśana. You should adopt some other means to see Him.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.113: Sarvabhauma: (Thinking within himself) This is the greatest love. What will I do now? Will I talk with Him again? Nothing will come of it. Although the king’s love is very great, it does not have the power to defeat the unshakeable resolve of Śrī Caitanya.

Ah! Now there is a solution.

(Openly speaking out loud) King, take heart. Take heart. There is a way the tree of your desire can bear fruit.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.51

bhaṭṭācāryyera sāntvanā dāna:— 
bhaṭṭācārya kahe—deva nā kara viṣāda
tomāre prabhura avaśya ha-ibe prasāda

Translation: Finally Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “My dear King, do not worry. Because of your firm determination, I am sure that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mercy will definitely be bestowed upon you.”

Purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda: Due to King Pratāparudra’s firm determination, the Bhaṭṭācārya predicted that the King would receive Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mercy without fail. As confirmed elsewhere in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 19.151), guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja: “By the mercy of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa, one gets the seed of devotional service.” The Bhaṭṭācārya was the spiritual master of King Pratāparudra, and he gave his blessings to the effect that the Lord would be merciful upon the King. The mercy of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa combine to grant success to a devotee engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is confirmed by the Vedas:

yasya deve parā bhaktir
yathā deve tathā gurau

“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” (Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.23)

Mahārāja Pratāparudra had firm faith in the Bhaṭṭācārya, who declared Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Having firm faith in the Bhaṭṭācārya as his spiritual master, King Pratāparudra immediately accepted Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as the Supreme Lord. Thus he began worshiping Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in his mind. This is the process of devotional service. According to Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.34):

“Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.”

This process is very simple. One need only be firmly convinced by the spiritual master that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one decides this, he can make further progress by thinking of Kṛṣṇa, chanting of Kṛṣṇa and glorifying Him. There is then no doubt that such a fully surrendered devotee will receive the blessings of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya explains this further.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.114: King: If you know a way say it.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.115: Sarvabhauma: Although the messenger that is Your love for Him will make the actual arrangements for Your meeting with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, still our plan will make your path favorable.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.52

teṅha—premādhīna, tomāra prema—gāḍhatara
avaśya karibena kṛpā tomāra upara

Translation: As soon as the Bhaṭṭācārya saw the King’s firm determination, he declared, “The Supreme Lord is approached only by pure love. Your love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very, very deep; therefore without a doubt He will be merciful upon you.”

Purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda: Such determination is the first qualification. As confirmed by Rūpa Gosvāmī (Upadeśāmṛta 3): utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt. One must first have firm determination, firm faith. When one engages in devotional service, he must maintain this firm determination. Then Kṛṣṇa will be pleased with his service. The spiritual master can show the path of devotional service. If the disciple follows the principles rigidly and undeviatingly, he will certainly receive the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. This is confirmed by the śāstras.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.53

prabhusaha rājāra sākṣātkārera upāya-niddhāraṇa:—
tathāpi kahiye āmi eka upāya
ei upāya kara’ prabhu dekhibe yāhāya

Translation: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya then suggested, “There is one means by which you can directly see Him.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.116: King: What is your plan? Tell it.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.16.4

Translation: “When those two Supreme Lords become intoxicated by the joy of saṅkīrtana, then, O great king, you may attempt to see Them.”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.117: Sārvabhauma: (to the king alone, so that anyone else does not hear) During the Ratha-yātrā festival of Lord Jagannātha there will be a great festival of dancing. To relieve the fatigue of dancing, Śrī Caitanya will enter a solitary garden. Remove your royal robes and opulent external garments. Dressed simply, and accompanied only by the messenger of your spiritual love, enter that garden. In that way you can approach the Lord and personally see Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya said He would not see a king, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya gave a plan that don’t go as a king, go as a Vaiṣṇava and in this way you can get the mercy.

Haribol!

 Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.54

ratha-yātrā-dine prabhu saba bhakta lañā
ratha-āge nṛtya karibena premāviṣṭa hañā

Translation: “On the day of the car festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will dance before the Deity in great ecstatic love.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.145

“ye-samaye prabhu nṛtya karena kīrtana
bāhya-jñāna daive nāhi thākaye takhane

Jayapatākā Swami: “When Lord Caitanya dances while doing kīrtana, by the arrangement of providence He loses external consciousness.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.146

rājā o parama bhakta—sei avasare
dekhibena prabhure, thākiyā agocare”

Jayapatākā Swami: “The Rāja also a great devotee, so he can use this opportunity to see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu without the Lord’s knowledge.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.55

premāveśe puṣpodyāne karibena praveśa
sei-kāle ekale tumi chāḍi’ rāja-veśa

Translation: “On that Ratha-yātrā festival day, after dancing before the Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will enter the Guṇḍicā garden. At that time, you should go there alone, without your royal dress.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.56

‘kṛṣṇa-rāsa-pañcādhyāya’ karite paṭhana
ekale yāi’ mahāprabhura dharibe caraṇa

Translation: “When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu enters the Guṇḍicā garden, you should also go there and read the five chapters of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam about Lord Kṛṣṇa’s dancing with the gopīs. In this way you can catch hold of the Lord’s lotus feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya gave this plan to King Pratāparudra that he could go in incognito as a normal devotee and thus he can serve the Lord and see the Lord. And this chanting of the Gopī-gīta is very dear to Lord Caitanya so in this way He will be happy with the King’s offering.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.57

bāhya-jñāna nāhi, se-kāle kṛṣṇa-nāma śuni,
āliṅgana karibena tomāya ‘vaiṣṇava’ ‘jāni’

Translation: “Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will be in a mood of ecstatic love, without external consciousness. At that time, as you recite those chapters from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, He will embrace you, knowing you to be a pure Vaiṣṇava.

Purport: A Vaiṣṇava is always ready to help another Vaiṣṇava progress toward realization of the Absolute Truth. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya could understand the King’s position as a pure Vaiṣṇava. The King was always thinking of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and the Bhaṭṭācārya wanted to help him approach the Lord. A Vaiṣṇava is always compassionate, especially when he sees a prospective devotee very determined (dṛḍha-vrata). Consequently, the Bhaṭṭācārya was ready to help the King.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way he gave a plan to the King to help him to achieve the shelter of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.147

ei yukti sabe kahilena rājā-sthāne
rājā bale,—”ye-te-mate dekhoṅ mātra tāne”

Jayapatākā Swami: After making this plan, and telling the King, the King, replied, “Somehow or other it’s my desire to see Lord Caitanya.”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.118: King: (relieved, he says to Sārvabhauma alone) So be it. No one but you will know this plan.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.119: Bhaṭṭācārya: So be it.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.16.5

Translation: The king eagerly replied with a brightly smiling face, “O brāhmaṇa, kindly bless this endeavor so it may soon take place.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.58

rāmānandakartṛka prabhura kaṭhina mana dravībhūta:—
rāmānanda rāya, āji tomāra prema-guṇa
prabhu-āge kahite prabhura phiri’ gela mana

Translation: “The Lord has already changed His mind due to Rāmānanda Rāya’s description of your pure love for Him.”

Purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda: At first the Lord did not want to see the King, but due to the Bhaṭṭācārya’s and Rāmānanda Rāya’s earnest endeavors, the Lord’s mind was changed. The Lord already declared that Kṛṣṇa would be merciful upon the King due to the King’s service to the devotees. This is the process by which one can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. First there must be the devotee’s mercy; then Kṛṣṇa’s mercy will descend. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo, yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi. Our first duty, therefore, is to satisfy the spiritual master, who can arrange for the Lord’s mercy. A common man must first begin to serve the spiritual master, or the devotee. Then, through the mercy of the devotee,the Lord will be satisfied. Unless one receives the dust of a devotee’s lotus feet on one’s head, there is no possibility of advancement. This is also confirmed by a statement of Prahlāda Mahārāja’s in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.32):

Unless one approaches a pure devotee, he cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mahārāja Pratāparudra worshiped both Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. Thus, he touched the lotus feet of pure devotees and was able thereby to approach Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this purport Śrīla Prabhupāda gives the secret, that by the mercy of devotee one gets the mercy of Kṛṣṇa so one should be very determined to serve the devotee and by his mercy one will get Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.59

prabhura kṛpālābhera āśāya rājāra dṛḍha-saṅkalpa:—
śuni’ gajapatira mane sukha upajila
prabhure milite ei mantraṇā dṛḍha kaila

Translation: Mahārāja Pratāparudra took the Bhaṭṭācārya’s advice and firmly decided to follow his instructions. Thus, he felt transcendental happiness.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by following the spiritual master’s advice, the king felt spiritual happiness.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.60

rājāra adhairya o dina-gaṇana:—
snāna-yātrā kabe habe puchila bhaṭṭere
bhaṭṭa kahe,—tina dina āchaye yātrāre

Translation: When the King asked the Bhaṭṭācārya when the bathing ceremony [Snāna-yātrā] of Lord Jagannātha would take place, the Bhaṭṭācārya replied that there were only three days left before the ceremony.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the king was very eager to see Lord Caitanya and he knew that after the bathing ceremony, fifteen days would be there for the Ratha-yātrā and then Lord Jagannātha would go by His Ratha to Guṇḍicā thus he will be counting everyday being greatly desirous of seeing the Lord’s lotus feet

Thus, ends the chapter entitled, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s Plan For Mahārāja Pratāparudra, Under the section of the Beda Kīrtana of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we see how Gajapatī Mahārāja Pratāparudra had such intense desire to see Lord Caitanya, if we have such intense desire to see Lord Caitanya and serve Lord Kṛṣṇa then the Lord will give His mercy very easily. So, we should have such a determination, and a strong desire to serve the Lord, and thus we can achieve the Lord’s mercy very easily. Now we are having the Śrī Māyāpur Kīrtana Mela, so very nice to see devotees chant and dance, to see the Pañcha Tattva, Śrī Rādhā Mādhava Aṣṭa sakhi, Śrī Rādhā Mādhava Māyāpur Candra and Śrī Prahlada Narasiṁhadeva. So, the devotees by chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa, before Kṛṣṇa they get special blessings  ... from Padma Purāṇa and Tulasī Upaniṣad, how putting the tulasī leaves, ground up with the sandalwood paste gives Kṛṣṇa more pleasure, and devotees by doing all these services, they get mercy to achieve the planet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Devotees were asking how can we achieve Kṛṣṇaloka? Simply by putting tulasī in the sandalwood paste and offering tulasī leaves to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, one get special mercy from Kṛṣṇa. So similarly if we have a strong desire to achieve the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, then it is possible. So, we should have that strong desire then we can achieve Kṛṣṇa in this life.