20210420 Lord Kṛṣṇa Pacifies and Assures Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī that He will Return to Vṛndāvana

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on April 20th, 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 are continuing with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book the chapter entitled is:

Lord Kṛṣṇa Pacifies and Assures Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī that He will Return to Vṛndāvana

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.148

kṛṣṇera lajjā, vyākulatā evaṁ śrī-rādhāke sāntvanā:—

[punayartha rāgaḥ—]

śuniyā rādhikā-vāṇī,vraja-prema mane āni,
bhāve vyākulita deha-mana
vraja-lokera prema śuni’, āpanāke ’ṛṇī’ māni’,
kare kṛṣṇa tāṅre āśvāsana

Translation: After hearing Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s statements, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s love for the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana was evoked, and His body and mind became very much perturbed. After hearing of their love for Him, He immediately thought Himself to be always indebted to the residents of Vṛndāvana. Then Kṛṣṇa began to pacify Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī as follows.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.149

kṛṣṇera sahetuka pratyuttara:—

prāṇa-priye, śuna, mora e-satya-vacana/ tomā-sabāra smaraṇe,jhuroṅ muñi rātri-dine,/ mora duḥkha nā jāne kona jana

Translation: “My dearest Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, please hear Me. I am speaking the truth. I cry day and night simply upon remembering all you inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. No one knows how unhappy this makes Me.”

Purport: It is said: vṛndāvanaṁ parityajya padam ekaṁ na gacchati. In one sense, Kṛṣṇa, the original Personality of Godhead (īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ), does not even take one step away from Vṛndāvana. However, in order to take care of various duties, Kṛṣṇa had to leave Vṛndāvana. He had to go to Mathurā to kill Kaṁsa, and then He was taken by His father to Dvārakā, where He was busy with state affairs and disturbances created by demons. Kṛṣṇa was away from Vṛndāvana, and He was not at all happy, as He plainly disclosed to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. She is the dearmost life and soul of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and He expressed His mind to Her as follows.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.150

kṛṣṇakarttṛka vrajavāsigaṇera viśeṣataḥ gopī o śrī-rādhikāra stuti:
vraja-vāsī yata jana,mātā, pitā, sakhā-gaṇa,
sabe haya mora prāṇa-sama
tāṅra madhye gopī-gaṇa,sākṣāt mora jīvana,
tumi mora jīvanera jīvana

Translation: Śrī Kṛṣṇa continued: “All the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana-dhāma — My mother, father, cowherd boyfriends and everything else — are like My life and soul. And among all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, the gopīs are My very life and soul. And among the gopīs, You, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, are the chief. Therefore You are the very life of My life.

Purport: Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the center of all Vṛndāvana’s activities. In Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa is the instrument of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī; therefore all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana still chant “Jaya Rādhe!” From Kṛṣṇa’s own statement given herein, it appears that Rādhārāṇī is the Queen of Vṛndāvana and that Kṛṣṇa is simply Her decoration. Kṛṣṇa is known as Madana-mohana, the enchanter of Cupid, but Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the enchanter of Kṛṣṇa. Consequently, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is called Madana-mohana-mohinī, the enchanter of the enchanter of Cupid.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.151

vrajavāsi-gaṇasaha viccheda—kṛṣṇerai duradṛṣṭa phala:—
tomā-sabāra prema-rase, āmāke karila vaśe,
āmi tomāra adhīna kevala
tomā-sabā chāḍāñā,āmā dūra-deśe lañā,
rākhiyāche durdaiva prabala

Translation: “My dear Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, I am always subservient to the loving affairs of all of you. I am under your control only. My separation from you and residence in distant places have occurred due to My strong misfortune.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.152

parasparera viccheda mṛtyujanaka haileo parasparera prītyarthei kānta o kāntāra jīvanadhāraṇecchā:—priyā priya-saṅga-hīnā,priya priyā-saṅga vinā,
nāhi jīye,—e satya pramāṇa
mora daśā śone yabe, tāṅra ei daśā habe,
ei bhaye duṅhe rākhe prāṇa

Translation: “When a woman is separated from the man she loves or a man is separated from his beloved woman, neither of them can live. It is a fact that they live only for each other, for if one dies and the other hears of it, he or she will die also.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.153

viraha-sattveo praṇayapātrera maṅgala vā prītivāñchāi yathārtha premera paricaya:—
sei satī premavatī,premavān sei pati,
viyoge ye vāñche priya-hite
nā gaṇe āpana-duḥkha, vāñche priyajana-sukha,
sei dui mile acirāte

Translation: “Such a loving, chaste wife and loving husband desire all welfare for each other in separation and do not care for personal happiness. Desiring only each other’s well-being, such a pair certainly meet again without delay.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.154

śrī-rādhāke prabodha-dāna-chalanā:—
rākhite tomāra jīvana, sevi āmi nārāyaṇa,
tāṅra śaktye āsi niti-niti 
tomā-sane krīḍā kari’, niti yāi yadu-purī,
tāhā tumi mānaha mora sphūrti

Translation: “You are My most dear, and I know that in My absence You cannot live for a moment. Just to keep You living, I worship Lord Nārāyaṇa. By His merciful potency, I come to Vṛndāvana every day to enjoy pastimes with You. I then return to Dvārakā-dhāma. Thus You can always feel My presence there in Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.155

śrī-rādhā-premei kṛṣṇa-prākaṭya:—
mora bhāgya mo-viṣaye, tomāra ye prema haye,
sei prema—parama prabala
lukāñā āmā āne,saṅga karāya tomā-sane,
prakaṭeha ānibe satvara

Translation: “Our love affair is more powerful because of My good fortune in receiving Nārāyaṇa’s grace. This allows Me to come there unseen by others. I hope that very soon I will be visible to everyone.

Purport: Kṛṣṇa has two kinds of presence — prakaṭa and aprakaṭa, manifest and unmanifest. These are identical for the sincere devotee. Even if Kṛṣṇa is not physically present, the devotee’s constant absorption in the affairs of Kṛṣṇa makes Him always present. This is confirmed in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.38):

Due to his intense love, the pure devotee always sees Lord Kṛṣṇa present within his heart. All glories to Govinda, the primeval Personality of Godhead! When Kṛṣṇa is not manifest before the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, they are always absorbed in thoughts of Him. Therefore even though at that time Kṛṣṇa was living in Dvārakā, He was simultaneously present before all the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. This was His aprakaṭa presence. Devotees who are always absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa will soon see Kṛṣṇa face to face without a doubt. In other words, devotees who are always engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and are fully absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa certainly return home, back to Godhead. They then see Kṛṣṇa directly, face to face, talk with Him and enjoy His company. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9): Because during his lifetime a pure devotee is always speaking of Kṛṣṇa and engaging in His service, as soon as he gives up his body he immediately returns to Goloka Vṛndāvana, where Kṛṣṇa is personally present. He then meets Kṛṣṇa directly. This is successful human life. This is the meaning of prakaṭeha ānibe satvara: The pure devotee will soon see the personal manifestation of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is teaching us how like the residents of Vṛndāvana, we should feel separation from the Lord, how they talk about Kṛṣṇa, think about Kṛṣṇa, serve Kṛṣṇa, and thus be with Kṛṣṇa both in this life and next.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.156

śrī-rādhāke svīya vraja-gamana-viṣaye āśvāsa-dāna:—
yādavera vipakṣa, yata duṣṭa kaṁsa-pakṣa,
tāhā āmi kailuṅ saba kṣaya
āche dui-cāri jana, tāhā māri’ vṛndāvana,
āilāma āmi, jāniha niścaya

Translation: “I have already killed all the mischievous demons who are enemies of the Yadu dynasty, and I have also killed Kaṁsa and his allies. But there are two or four demons still living. I want to kill them, and after doing so I shall very soon return to Vṛndāvana. Please know this for certain.

Purport: Just as Kṛṣṇa does not take a step away from Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa’s devotee also does not like to leave Vṛndāvana. However, when he has to tend to Kṛṣṇa’s business, he leaves Vṛndāvana. After finishing his mission, a pure devotee returns home, back to Vṛndāvana, back to Godhead. Kṛṣṇa assured Rādhārāṇī that after killing the demons outside Vṛndāvana, He would return.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda, his residence was Vṛndāvana, he left Vṛndāvana for the work of Lord Kṛṣṇa, to spread the saṅkīrtana movement of Caitanya Mahāprabhu but then He returned to Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.157

sei śatru-gaṇa haite, vraja-jana rākhite,
rahi rājye udāsīna hañā
yebā strī-putra-dhane, kari rājya āvaraṇe,
yadu-gaṇera santoṣa lāgiyā

Translation: “I wish to protect the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana from the attacks of My enemies. That is why I remain in My kingdom; otherwise I am indifferent to My royal position. Whatever wives, sons and wealth I maintain in the kingdom are only for the satisfaction of the Yadus.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.158

‘vraje āsiba’ baliyā śrī-rādhāsamīpe kṛṣṇera pratijñā:—
tomāra ye prema-guṇa, kare āmā ākarṣaṇa,
ānibe āmā dina daśa biśe
punaḥ āsi’ vṛndāvane, vraja-vadhū tomā-sane,
vilasiba rajanī-divase

Translation: “Your loving qualities always attract Me to Vṛndāvana. Indeed, they will bring Me back within ten or twenty days, and when I return I shall enjoy both day and night with You and all the damsels of Vrajabhūmi.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.159

kṛṣṇokta śloka-śravaṇe śrī-rādhāra pratyaya:—
eta tāṅre kahi kṛṣṇa,vraje yāite satṛṣṇa,
eka śloka paḍi’ śunāila
sei śloka śuni’ rādhā, khāṇḍila sakala bādhā,
kṛṣṇa-prāptye pratīti ha-ila

Translation: While speaking to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa became very anxious to return to Vṛndāvana. He made Her listen to a verse which banished all Her difficulties and which assured Her that She would again attain Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.160

gopīgaṇera kṛṣṇapremai tāṅhādera kṛṣṇaprāptira kāraṇa:—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.82.44)—

mayi bhaktir hi bhūtānām
amṛtatvāya kalpate
diṣṭyā yad āsīn mat-sneho
bhavatīnāṁ mad-āpanaḥ

Translation: Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “Devotional service unto Me is the only way to attain Me. My dear gopīs, whatever love and affection you have attained for Me by good fortune is the only reason for My returning to you.”

Purport: This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.82.44).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Kṛṣṇa has instructed Rādhārāṇī and all gopīs that their pure devotion for Him attracts Him to come back to them.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.161

svarūpasaha prabhura āsvādana:—
ei saba artha prabhu svarūpera sane
rātri-dine ghare vasi’ kare āsvādane

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would sit in His room with Svarūpa Dāmodara and taste the topics of these verses day and night.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was drowning into the topics of the loving affairs between Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and this was the absorbed in His thoughts.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.162

jagannāthake dekhiyā rādhā-bhāvānvita prabhura ślokapaṭhana:—
nṛtya-kāle sei bhāve āviṣṭa hañā
śloka paḍi’ nāce jagannātha-mukha cāñā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced completely absorbed in ecstatic emotion. While looking at the face of Lord Jagannātha, He danced and recited these verses.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.163

granthakārera śrī-dāmodara-svarūpake stuti:—
svarūpa-gosāñira bhāgya nā yāya varṇana
prabhute āviṣṭa yāṅra kāya, vākya, mana

Translation: No one can describe the good fortune of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, for he is always absorbed in the service of the Lord with his body, mind and words.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.164

kṛṣṇasevā-rata prabhu o svarūpera indriyagaṇa abhinna:—
svarūpera indriye prabhura nijendriya-gaṇa
āviṣṭa hañā kare gāna-āsvādana

Translation: The senses of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were identical with the senses of Svarūpa. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to become fully absorbed in tasting the singing of Svarūpa Dāmodara.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī was able to satisfy Lord Caitanya by singing these pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.165

kāntera audāsīnye malina vadanā māninī śrī-rādhāra bhāve āviṣṭa prabhu:—
bhāvera āveśe kabhu bhūmite vasiyā
tarjanīte bhūme likhe adhomukha hañā

Translation: In emotional ecstasy, Caitanya Mahāprabhu would sometimes sit on the ground and, looking down, would write on the ground with His finger.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.166

prabhura aṅgulira kṣata-bhaye śrī-svarūpera satarkatā:—
aṅgulite kṣata habe jāni’ dāmodara
bhaye nija-kare nivāraye prabhu-kara

Translation: Fearing that the Lord would injure His finger by writing in this way, Svarūpa Dāmodara checked Him with his own hand.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Svarūpa Dāmodara would always care for the welfare of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.167

svarūpera kīrtane prabhuhṛdaye rādhā- bhāva-vaicitryera mūrti-parigraha:—
prabhura bhāvānurūpa svarūpera gāna
yabe yei rasa tāhā kare mūrtimān

Translation: Svarūpa Dāmodara used to sing exactly according to the ecstatic emotion of the Lord. Whenever a particular mellow was being tasted by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara would personify it by singing.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by Svarūpa Dāmodara singing, he would increase the taste of ecstatic emotions felt by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He would take those emotions and sing the appropriate śloka or songs and thus Lord Caitanya’s ecstatic love would be enhanced. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lord Kṛṣṇa Pacifies and Assures Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī that He will Return to Vṛndāvana.

Lord Caitanya is teaching us how we can experience love of Kṛṣṇa by separation, so separation from the Lord is non-different from being with the Lord. Everything connected with the Lord Kṛṣṇa is Absolute, so remembering Him is also Absolute and in this Lord Caitanya is teaching all of us by His example how to be in contact with Lord Kṛṣṇa at all times.