20210326 Lord Caitanya’s Dealings with Bengal Devotees (Part 2)

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on March 26th, 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!

Today we are continuing with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, chapter entitled:

Lord Caitanya’s Dealings with Bengal Devotees Part 2 

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.84: After that, the devotees headed by Advaita saw Jagannātha, endowed with lotus eyes.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.85: Seeing Jagannātha with his mighty chest, his huge arms and his blossoming eyes, they were overjoyed.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.86: Then Gauracandra, shining like a million moons, overflowing with happiness, tears flowing from his eyes, arrived.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.87: He made the earth tremble with his footsteps. He had the gait of an intoxicated elephant. He had the enthusiasm of a mad lion. His gleaming arms extended to his knees.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.88: He was a moving mountain of gold, a mine of nectar, gushing with waterfalls of tears.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.89: He was like a million moons rising simultaneously, emitting constantly long streams of nectar.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.90: He shone with a red kaupīna and outer cloth. His effulgent thighs conquered two banana trunks.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.91: With rays of sweet light emanating from his beautiful toe nails, the ocean of rasa illuminated the fortunate earth.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.92: All directions were bathed in the intense light of his moon-like face. His conch-like neck was the personification of an ocean of happiness.

Jayapatāka Swami: His neck is described as conch like neck, when the neck has three lines on it like conchshell, then it is considered very auspicious sign.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.93: He had the neck of a lion, and a broad, beguiling chest. He had a thin waist tied with a waist cloth.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.94: Reciting Brahmā’s prayer starting with naumīḍya te ‘bhra-vapuse, Mahāprabhu offered respects to Advaita.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.95: Overjoyed, Advaita, his hairs standing on end, offered him respects. They praised each other and offered respects continually.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.96: Continuously they shed tears which formed pearl garlands. They spent a long happy time offering respects and praises.

Jayapatāka Swami: We see Advaita offered respects Lord Caitanya, because He knew Lord Caitanya is His source. Lord Caitanya in the mood of a devotee was offering respects to Advaita, who was a godbrother of His guru. So it is like two oceans of rasa were extending their loving sentiments.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.134

prabhura advaita-stuti:—
advaitere kahena prabhu madhura vacane
āji āmi pūrṇa ha-ilāṅa tomāra āgamane

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu addressed Advaita Ācārya Prabhu, saying sweetly, “My dear Sir, today I have become perfect because of Your arrival.”

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.180: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Today there has been a great festival for Me, and tomorrow and the day after will be the Guṇḍicā festival of Lord Jagannātha, the moon of Nīlācala. Although these two are equal due to generating happiness to the heart, still it is today's festival of seeing Advaita Ācārya that fills My heart with bliss.

(He decorates Advaita and each of the other devotees with flower garlands and sandalwood-paste prasāda of Lord Jagannātha, and He also, with His own hand, gives them prasāda-food).

Jayapatāka Swami: So, we see how Lord Caitanya is personally caring for His devotees. Naturally the devotees received the prasāda from the Lord with great gratitude and the desire to serve Lord Caitanya increases more and more.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.181: Sārvabhauma: I should not go near, because, by seeing me a different kind of rasa will happen. Two days have almost passed since Mahārāja Pratāparudra appointed me to arrange for the Ratha-yātrā festival. Therefore, now I will go there. Ācārya, you please stay here itself.

(He exits).

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.182: Gopīnātha Ācārya: (approaching) Glories! Glories to Lord Mahāprabhu!

Jayapatāka Swami: Glories! Hari Bol!

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.183: Śrī Caitanya: Is this Gopīnātha Ācārya? Come. Offer obeisance to Advaita.

(Gopīnātha does that).

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.184: Advaita: (embracing him). I know you. You are the Viśārada's son-in-law.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.185: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: He is by nature most respectable. Ācārya, You along with Vāṇīnātha please make arrangements to accommodate all the devotees.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.186: Gopīnātha Ācārya: As the Lord orders.

(He exits).

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.135-136

advaitakarttṛka īśvarera bhakta-vātsalya-svabhāva varṇana:—
advaita kahe,—īśvarera ei svabhāva haya
yadyapi āpane pūrṇa, sarvaiśvarya-maya
tathāpi bhakta-saṅge haya sukhollāsa
bhakta-saṅge kare nitya vividha vilāsa

Translation: Advaita Ācārya Prabhu replied, “This is a natural characteristic of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He is personally complete and full in all opulences, He takes transcendental pleasure in the association of His devotees, with whom He has a variety of eternal pastimes.”

Jayapatāka Swami: So, this is how Lord Caitanya although complete in Himself, he enjoys exchanging with His different devotees and in this way, He is bhakta-vatsala, the caretaker of the devotees. In this way we are experiencing the loving exchanges between Lord Caitanya and His devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.137

prabhura bālya-saṅgī mukunda apekṣā vāsudeva datte adhikatara prīti:—
vāsudeva dekhi’ prabhu ānandita hañā
tāṅre kichu kahe tāṅra aṅge hasta diyā

Translation: As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Vāsudeva Datta, the older brother of Mukunda Datta, He immediately became very happy and, placing His hand on his body, began to speak.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.138

yadyapi mukunda—āmā-saṅge śiśu haite
tāṅhā haite adhika sukha tomāre dekhite

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Although Mukunda is My friend from childhood, I nonetheless take greater pleasure in seeing you than in seeing him.”

Purport: Vāsudeva Datta was the older brother of Mukunda Datta, who was the childhood friend of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. It is naturally a great pleasure to see a friend, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Vāsudeva Datta that although it was His pleasure to see His friend, His pleasure was increased by seeing the older brother.

Jayapatāka Swami: The loving relationship between Lord Caitanya and different Vaiṣṇavas is indescribable. He has a unique relationship with each devotee, so although He had a friendly relationship with Mukunda Datta. He said by seeing Vāsudeva Datta, He feels more happiness.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.187: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Vāsudeva, although Mukunda was My friend before I met you and even though I see you now, still you appear to be dear to Me much before.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.139 

amānī o mānada vāsudeva-dattera kaniṣṭha mukundake prabhupriya-jñāne nijāpekṣā śreṣṭha-buddhi:—
vāsu kahe,—mukunda ādau pāila tomāra saṅga
tomāra caraṇa pāila sei punar-janma

Translation: Vāsudeva replied, “Mukunda got Your association in the beginning. As such, he has taken shelter at Your lotus feet. That is his transcendental rebirth.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.140

choṭa hañā mukunda ebe haila āmāra jyeṣṭha
tomāra kṛpā-pātra tāte sarva-guṇe śreṣṭha

Translation: Thus, Vāsudeva Datta admitted his inferiority to Mukunda, his younger brother. “Although Mukunda is my junior,” he said, “he first received Your favor. Consequently, he became transcendentally senior to me. Besides that, You very much favored Mukunda. Thus, he is superior in all good qualities.”

Jayapatāka Swami: So, the devotee is naturally humble, they like to put themselves in an inferior position. Vasudeva Datta is praising the good fortune of his younger brother. I remember how one lady, she took initiation after her child, Śrīla Prabhupāda told her that, “Your child is now your elder godbrother, because he took initiation before you”. So, in the transcendental relationship there is different a calculation.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.188: Vāsudeva: (humbly) Lord, Who am I, a wretch, but Mukunda has received Your mercy long before I did. Although he is younger by birth, he is older than me in the matter of receiving Your mercy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.141

vāsudevake svarūpera nikaṭa haite ‘brahma-saṁhitā’ ‘karṇāmṛta’ nakala karibāra ādeśa:—
punaḥ prabhu kahe—āmi tomāra nimitte
dui pustaka āniyāchi ’dakṣiṇa’ ha-ite

Translation: The Lord said, “For your sake only, I have brought two books from South India.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.142

svarūpera ṭhāṅi āche, laha tā likhiyā
vāsudeva ānandita pustaka pāñā

Translation: “The books are being kept with Svarūpa Dāmodara, and you can get them copied.” Hearing this, Vāsudeva became very glad.

Jayapatāka Swami: So, the two rare books, Brahma-saṁhitā and Śrī- Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta which Lord Caitanya copied and brought from South India. He is now telling Vasudeva Datta to copy these and have them for the Bengali devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.143

vāsudevādi sakala gauḍīyerai nakala-rakṣaṇaphale ai granthadvayera sarvatra pracāra:—
pratyeka vaiṣṇava sabe likhiyā la-ila
krame krame dui grantha sarvatra vyāpila

Translation: Indeed, each and every Vaiṣṇava copied the two books. By and by, the two books [the Brahma-saṁhitā and Śrī Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta] were broadcast all over India.

Jayapatāka Swami: Hari Bol!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.144

śrīvāsādira praśaṁsā:—
śrīvāsādye kahe prabhu kari’ mahā-prīta
tomāra cāri-bhāira āmi ha-inu vikrīta

Translation: The Lord addressed Śrīvāsa and his brothers with great love and affection, saying, “I am so obliged that I am purchased by you four brothers.”

Jayapatāka Swami: So, the Lord is described as ajita or unconquerable. But here He tells Śrīvāsa and his brothers that by their pure devotion and love they have purchased Him by their love. So, the Lord is unconquerable, but He also allows Himself to be conquered by His devotees' love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.145

śrīvāsera dainya:—
śrīvāsa kahena,—kene kaha viparīta
kṛpā-mūlye cāri bhāi ha-i tomāra krīta

Translation: Śrīvāsa then replied to the Lord, “Why are You speaking in a contradictory way? Rather, we four brothers have been purchased by Your mercy.”

Jayapatāka Swami: So, Śrīvāsa explains that, rather than he purchasing the Lord, the Lord by giving them mercy has purchased them.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.146

prabhura dāmodarera prati gaurabaprīti, śaṅkarera prati śuddhaprema:—
śaṅkare dekhiyā prabhu kahe dāmodare
sagaurava-prīti āmāra tomāra upare

Translation: After seeing Śaṅkara, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Dāmodara, “My affection for you is on the platform of awe and reverence.

Purport: Here the Lord is addressing Dāmodara Paṇḍita, who is different from Svarūpa Dāmodara. Dāmodara Paṇḍita is the elder brother of Śaṅkara. Thus, the Lord informed Dāmodara that His affection toward him was on the platform of awe and reverence. However, the Lord’s affection toward his younger brother, Śaṅkara, was on the platform of pure love.

Jayapatāka Swami: So, this is a very amazing declaration. Lord Caitanya is telling Dāmodara Paṇḍita that He fears him with great reverence. Dāmodara would sometime criticize the Lord in a concerned way, but most people would not dare to criticize the Lord. On the other hand, with Dāmodara’s younger brother Śaṅkara, He had a relationship of loving exchange.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.147

śuddha kevala-prema śaṅkara-upare
ataeva tomāra saṅge rākhaha śaṅkare

Translation: “Therefore keep your younger brother Śaṅkara with you because he is connected to Me by pure unalloyed love.”

Jayapatāka Swami: Lord Caitanya is saying that, his younger brother Śaṅkara is connected with Him by pure love, while Dāmodara Paṇḍita is connected with awe and reverence, which is inferior to pure love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.148

amānī o mānada dāmodara-paṇḍitera kaniṣṭha śaṅkarake prabhupriya-jñāne nijāpekṣā śreṣṭha-buddhi:—
dāmodara kahe,—śaṅkara choṭa āmā haite
ebe āmāra baḍa bhāi tomāra kṛpāte

Translation: Dāmodara Paṇḍita replied, “Śaṅkara is my younger brother, but from today he becomes my elder brother because of Your special mercy upon him.”

Jayapatāka Swami: So, there is the material relationship of younger and older brothers, but by the mercy of the Lord, one is considered superior. So Dāmodara Paṇḍita accepted his younger brother Śaṅkara Pandita as his elder because he received the Lord’s special mercy.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.193: Śrī Caitanya: Svarūpa, although this Śaṅkara is Dāmodara's younger brother, still for Me...

(Glancing at Dāmodara, He stops in mid-sentence).

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.194: Dāmodara: Lord, this is my great good fortune. Complete your sentence here.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.195: Śrī Caitanya: Svarūpa! Dāmodara's love is mixed with feelings of awe and reverence, but Sankara's love is not mixed with anything, but is pure. It is loving devotion. Therefore, let him stay in your company. Govinda, you should also help him.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.196: Both of Them: As the Lord orders.

Jayapatāka Swami: So, then the Lord embraces Śaṅkara Paṇḍita and Dāmodara Paṇḍita.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lord Caitanya’s Dealings with Bengal Devotees Part 2.