20210506 Comparing the Opulence of the Goddess of Fortune and the Gopīs of Vṛndāvana, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and Svarūpa Dāmodara Engage in Friendly Banter

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 6th,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! Dear Devotees! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book. Today's chapter is entitled as:

Comparing the Opulence of the Goddess of Fortune and the Gopīs of Vṛndāvana, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and Svarūpa Dāmodara Engage in Friendly Banter

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.203

śrī-rādhā-sevaka śrī-svarūpa o śrī-lakṣmī-nārāyaṇa-sevaka śrīvāsera saṁlāpa; śrīvāsera svīya īśvarīra aiśvarya-garva:—

śrīvāsa hāsiyā kahe,—śuna, dāmodara
āmāra lakṣmīra dekha sampatti vistara

Translation: At this time, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura smiled and told Svarūpa Dāmodara, “My dear sir, please hear! Just see how opulent my goddess of fortune is!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.204

vṛndāvanera sampad dekha,—puṣpa-kisalaya
giridhātu-śikhipiccha-guñjāphala-maya

Translation: “As far as Vṛndāvana’s opulence is concerned, it consists of a few flowers and twigs, some minerals from the hills, a few peacock feathers and the plant known as guñjā.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.205

kṛṣṇera vraja-gamana-hetu lakṣmīra krodhābhimāna:—

vṛndāvana dekhibāre gelā jagannātha
śuni’ lakṣmī-devīra mane haila āsoyātha

Translation: “When Jagannātha decided to see Vṛndāvana, He went there, and upon hearing this, the goddess of fortune experienced restlessness and jealousy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.206

eta sampatti chāḍi’ kene gelā vṛndāvana
tāṅre hāsya karite lakṣmī karilā sājana

Translation: “She wondered, ‘Why did Lord Jagannātha give up so much opulence and go to Vṛndāvana?’ To make Him a laughingstock, the goddess of fortune made arrangements for much decoration.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.207

“tomāra ṭhākura, dekha eta sampatti chāḍi’
patra-phala-phula-lobhe gelā puṣpa-bāḍī

Translation: “Then the maidservants of the goddess of fortune said to the servants of Lord Jagannātha, ‘Why did your Lord Jagannātha abandon the great opulence of the goddess of fortune and, for the sake of a few leaves, fruits and flowers, go see the flower garden of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī?

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.208

ei karma kare kāhāṅ vidagdha-śiromaṇi?
lakṣmīra agrete nija prabhure deha’ āni’”

Translation: “‘Your master is so expert at everything, but why does He do such things? Now bring your master before the goddess of fortune.’

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.209

lakṣmīra dāsī-gaṇakartṛka īśvarera doṣabhāgī sevakagaṇera bandhana o śāstipradāna —

eta bali’ mahā-lakṣmīra saba dāsī-gaṇe
kaṭi-vastre bāndhi’ āne prabhura nija-gaṇe

Translation: “In this way all the maidservants of the goddess of fortune arrested the servants of Jagannātha, bound them around the waist and brought them before the goddess of fortune.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura is comparing the opulence of Lakṣmī to the Vṛndāvana forest. So the aiśvarya is addressing the mādhurya, the opulence is addressing the sweetness of Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.210

lakṣmīra caraṇe āni’ karāya praṇati
dhana-daṇḍa laya, āra karāya minati

Translation: “When all the maidservants brought Lord Jagannātha’s servants before the lotus feet of the goddess of fortune, the Lord’s servants were fined and forced to submit.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.211

rathera upare kare daṇḍera tāḍana
cora-prāya kare jagannāthera sevaka-gaṇa

Translation: “All the maidservants began to beat the Ratha car with sticks, and they treated the servants of Lord Jagannātha almost like thieves.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.212

svīya prabhu jagannāthake pratyarpaṇārtha sevakagaṇera pratijñā:—

saba bhṛtya-gaṇa kahe,—yoḍa kari’ hāta
’kāli āni diba tomāra āge jagannātha’

Translation: “Finally all of Lord Jagannātha’s servants submitted to the goddess of fortune with folded hands, assuring her that they would bring Lord Jagannātha before her the very next day.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the servants of Lord Jagannātha assured the Goddess of Fortune that tomorrow they would bring Lord Jagannatha.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.213

tacchravaṇe lakṣmīra krodha-śānti:—

tabe śānta hañā lakṣmī yāya nija ghara
āmāra lakṣmīra sampad—vākya-agocara

Translation: “Being thus pacified, the goddess of fortune returned to her apartment. Just see! My goddess of fortune is opulent beyond all description.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura was the incarnation of Nārada Muni, so he was glorifying the opulence of Goddess of fortune.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.214

lakṣmīra aiśvarya varṇiyā śrīvāsera svarūpake parihāsa:—

dugdha āuṭi’ dadhi mathe tomāra gopī-gaṇe
āmāra ṭhākurāṇī vaise ratna-siṁhāsane

Translation: Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura continued to address Svarūpa Dāmodara: “Your gopīs are engaged in boiling milk and churning yogurt, but my mistress, the goddess of fortune, sits on a throne made of jewels and gems.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.215

śrīvāsa-vacana-śravaṇe prabhura rāgamārgīya bhaktagaṇera hāsya:—

nārada-prakṛti śrīvāsa kare parihāsa
śuni’ hāse mahāprabhura yata nija-dāsa

Translation: Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, who was enjoying the mood of Nārada Muni, thus made jokes. Hearing him, all the personal servants of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to smile.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.216

prabhu-karttṛka śrīvāsa o śrī-svarūpera bhajana-vaiśiṣṭya varṇana:—

prabhu kahe,—śrīvāsa, tomāte nārada-svabhāva
aiśvarya-bhāve tomāte, īśvara-prabhāva

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, “My dear Śrīvāsa, your nature is exactly like that of Nārada Muni. The Supreme Personality of Godhead’s opulence is having a direct influence upon you.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.217

iṅho dāmodara-svarūpa-śuddha-vrajavāsī
aiśvarya nā jāne iṅho śuddha-preme bhāsi’

Translation: “Svarūpa Dāmodara is a pure devotee of Vṛndāvana. He does not even know what opulence is, for he is simply absorbed in pure devotional service.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in Dvārakā the opulence is the major thing but in Vṛndāvana pure love of Kṛṣṇa is the major thing. So, Śrīvāsa was admiring the opulence of the Goddess of fortune, but Lord Caitanya was appreciating the pure devotion of the vrajavāsīs.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.218

svarūpa-karttṛka vrajera mādhurya-garimā-varṇana:—

svarūpa kahe,—śrīvāsa, śuna sāvadhāne
vṛndāvana-sampad tomāra nāhi paḍe mane?

Translation: Svarūpa Dāmodara then retorted, “My dear Śrīvāsa, please hear me with attention. You have forgotten the transcendental opulence of Vṛndāvana.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Svarūpa Dāmodara is now going to tell the opulence of Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.219

mahā-vaikuṇṭhera aiśvarya vṛndāvanaiśvaryera eka kaṇamātra:—

vṛndāvane sāhajika ye sampat-sindhu
dvārakā-vaikuṇṭha-sampat-tāra eka bindu

Translation: “The natural opulence of Vṛndāvana is just like an ocean. The opulence of Dvārakā and Vaikuṇṭha is not even to be compared to a drop.

Jayapatākā Swami: Wow!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.220

kṛṣṇera vṛndāvana-dhāma-varṇana:—

parama puruṣottama svayaṁ bhagavān
kṛṣṇa yāhāṅ dhanī tāhāṅ vṛndāvana-dhāma

Translation: “Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full of all opulences, and His complete opulences are exhibited only in Vṛndāvana-dhāma.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.221

cintāmaṇi-maya bhūmi ratnera bhavana
cintāmaṇi-gaṇa dāsī-caraṇa-bhūṣaṇa

Translation: “Vṛndāvana-dhāma is made of transcendental touchstone. Its entire surface is the source of all valuable jewels, and the cintāmaṇi stone is used to decorate the lotus feet of the maidservants of Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.222

kalpavṛkṣa-latāra-yāhāṅ sāhajika-vana
puṣpa-phala vinā keha nā māge anya dhana

Translation: “Vṛndāvana is a natural forest of desire trees and creepers, and the inhabitants do not want anything but the fruits and flowers of those desire trees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.223

ananta kāma-dhenu tāhāṅ phire vane vane
dugdha-mātra dena, keha nā māge anya dhane

Translation: “In Vṛndāvana there are cows that fulfill all desires [kāma-dhenus], and their number is unlimited. They graze from forest to forest and deliver only milk. The people want nothing else.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here Svarūpa Dāmodara is describing the opulence of the Vṛndāvana forest. Its like an ocean and the opulence of Dvārakā and Vaikuṇṭha are just like a drop, Kṛṣṇa never leaves Vṛndāvana, that’s shown here why.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.224

sahaja lokera kathā—yāhāṅ divya-gīta
sahaja gamana kare,—yaiche nṛtya-pratīta

Translation: “In Vṛndāvana, the natural speech of the people sounds like music, and their natural motion resembles a dance.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.225

sarvatra jala—yāhāṅ amṛta-samāna
cid-ānanda jyotiḥ svādya—yāhāṅ mūrtimān

Translation: “The water in Vṛndāvana is nectar, and the brahmajyoti effulgence, which is full of transcendental bliss, is directly perceived there in its form.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Svarūpa Dāmodara is describing the relative ununderstood opulence of Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.226

lakṣmī jini’ guṇa yāhāṅ lakṣmīra samāja
kṛṣṇa-vaṁśī kare yāhāṅ priya-sakhī-kāya

Translation: “The gopīs there are also goddesses of fortune, and they surpass the goddess of fortune who abides in Vaikuṇṭha. In Vṛndāvana, Lord Kṛṣṇa is always playing His transcendental flute, which is His dear companion.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in Vṛndāvana Lord Kṛṣṇa plays on His flute which attracts all the devotees, in fact attracts all living entities. So, this flute playing is especially prominent in Vraja dhāma.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.227

vṛndāvana-sthita vastura svarūpa o vicitra svabhāva varṇana:— [paragraph] Brahma-saṁhitāya (5.56)–

śriyaḥ kāntāḥ kāntaḥ parama-puruṣaḥ kalpa-taravo
drumā bhūmiś cintāmaṇi-gaṇa-mayī toyam amṛtam
kathā gānaṁ nāṭyaṁ gamanam api vaṁśī priya-sakhī
cid-ānandaṁ jyotiḥ param api tad āsvādyam api ca

Translation: “‘The damsels of Vṛndāvana, the gopīs, are super goddesses of fortune. The enjoyer in Vṛndāvana is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. The trees there are all wish-fulfilling trees, and the land is made of transcendental touchstone. The water is all nectar, the talking is singing, the walking is dancing, and the constant companion of Kṛṣṇa is His flute. The effulgence of transcendental bliss is experienced everywhere. Therefore Vṛndāvana-dhāma is the only relishable abode.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.56).

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.228

vṛndāvaneśvarya varṇana:—

Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.1.173) dhṛta bilvamaṅgala-vacana:—

cintāmaṇiś caraṇa-bhūṣaṇam aṅganānāṁ
śṛṅgāra-puṣpa-taravas taravaḥ surāṇām
vṛndāvane vraja-dhanaṁ nanu kāma-dhenu-
vṛndāni ceti sukha-sindhur aho vibhūtiḥ

Translation: “‘The anklets on the damsels of Vraja-bhūmi are made of cintāmaṇi stone. The trees are wish-fulfilling trees, and they produce flowers with which the gopīs decorate themselves. There are also wish-fulfilling cows [kāma-dhenus], which deliver unlimited quantities of milk. These cows constitute the wealth of Vṛndāvana. Thus, Vṛndāvana’s opulence is blissfully exhibited.’”

Purport: This verse, by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura, is quoted in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.1.173).

Jayapatākā Swami: When Kṛṣṇa was in Dvārakā, He was feeling great separation from Vṛndāvana. As expressed in the Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta and in fact the form of Jagannātha, Baladeva and Subhadrā is the form of feeling separation from Vṛndāvana So Śrīvāsa, he was appreciating the mood in Dvārakā but Svarūpa Dāmodara was appreciating the mood in Vṛndāvana. So this is a great comparison that Kṛṣṇa is satisfying all His devotees but those who like opulence He satisfies them in Vaikuṇṭha and Dvārakā, but for those who appreciate His loving sweetness, they like Vṛndāvana dhāma. So, according to ones taste they go to that place, but Svarūpa Dāmodara was saying how Vṛndāvana is more opulent and he gave the examples.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Comparing the Opulence of the Goddess of Fortune and the Gopīs of Vṛndāvana, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and Svarūpa Dāmodara Engage in Friendly Banter.