20210518 Vāsudeva Datta - A Greater Altruist

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 18th, 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: Vāsudeva Datta - A Greater Altruist
Under the Section: The Lord Accepts Prasādam at the House of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.19

prabhura parama priya—vāsudeva datta
tāṅhāra kṛpāya se jānena sarva tattva

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrī Vāsudeva Datta was most dear to Lord Caitanya. By the Lord Caitanya’s mercy, Vāsudeva Datta knew all conclusive truths.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.20

jagatera hitakārīvāsudeva datta
sarva-bhūte kṛpālu—caitanya-rase matta

Jayapatākā Swami: Vāsudeva Datta was the benefactor and well-wisher of the entire world. He was compassionate to all living entities, and he was intoxicated by the mellows of love of Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Purport: Vāsudeva Ṭhākura was the benefactor of everyone in this world, he was compassionate to all living entities, and he was intoxicated by the topmost of the five rasas described by Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. Because he was a mahā-bhāgavata, he did not find faults in others, he was always eager to benefit others, and he had unflinching love for Śrī Hari, Guru, and Vaiṣṇava. In the English language he would be called “a Greater Altruist.”

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.21

guṇa-grāhī adoṣa-daraśī sabā-prati
īśvare vaiṣṇave yathāyogya rati-mati

Jayapatākā Swami: Vasudeva Datta would see only the good qualities in everyone and did not find any faults in anyone. He had appropriate love and respect for the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Vaiṣṇavas, devotees of the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.158

prabhura vāsudevadattake praśaṁsā—

tabe vāsudeve prabhu kari’ āliṅgana
tāṅra guṇa kahe hañā sahasra-vadana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then embraced Vāsudeva Datta and began to speak of his glories as if He had a thousand mouths.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.22

vāsudeva datta dekhi’ śrī-gaurasundara
kole kari’ kāndite lāgilā bahutara

Jayapatākā Swami: When Śrī Gaurasundara saw Vāsudeva Datta, He embraced him and cried profusely.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 10.41

vāsudeva datta—prabhura bhṛtya mahāśaya
sahasra-mukhe yāṅra guṇa kahile nā haya

Translation: Vāsudeva Datta, the nineteenth branch of the Śrī Caitanya tree, was a great personality and a most confidential devotee of the Lord. One could not describe his qualities even with thousands of mouths.

Purport: Śrī Vasudeva Datta Ṭhākura, Vāsudeva Datta, the brother of Mukunda Datta, was born in the village Chanharā, near the Paṭiyā police station in the district of Caṭṭagrāma. This village is situated twenty miles from Mekhalā, the birthplace of Śrī Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi. It is stated in the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (140): “In Vraja there were two very nice singers named Madhukaṇṭha and Madhuvrata. They appeared in caitanya-līlā as Mukunda and Vāsudeva Datta, who were singers in the society of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.” He was the dear well-wisher of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita and Śrī Śivānanda Sena.

In the Caitanya-bhāgavata it is said, yāṅra sthāne kṛṣṇa haya āpane vikraya: Vāsudeva Datta was such a powerful devotee that Kṛṣṇa was purchased by him. Vāsudeva Datta stayed at Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita’s house, and in the Caitanya-bhāgavata it is described that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was so pleased with Vāsudeva Datta and so affectionate toward him that He used to say, “I am only Vāsudeva Datta’s man. My body is only meant to please Vāsudeva Datta, and he can sell Me anywhere.” Thrice He vowed that this was a fact and that no one should disbelieve these statements. “All My dear devotees,” He said, “I tell you the truth. My body is especially meant for Vāsudeva Datta.” Vāsudeva Datta initiated Śrī Yadunandana Ācārya, the spiritual master of Raghunātha dāsa, who later became Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. This will be found in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, sixth chapter, verse 161. Vāsudeva Datta spent money very liberally; therefore Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Śivānanda Sena to become his sarakhela, or secretary, in order to control his extravagant expenses. Vāsudeva Datta was so kind to the living entities that he wanted to take all their sinful reactions so that they might be delivered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This is described in the fifteenth chapter of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta’s Madhya-līlā, verses 159 through 180.

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes in his Anubhāṣya, “There is a railway station named Pūrvasthalī near the Navadvīpa railway station, and about one mile away, in a village known as Māmagāchi, which is the birthplace of Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, there is presently a temple of Madana-gopāla that was established by Vāsudeva Datta.” The Gauḍīya Maṭha devotees have now taken charge of this temple, and the sevā-pūjā is going on very nicely. Every year all the pilgrims on the Navadvīpa-parikramā visit Māmagāchi. Since Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura inaugurated the Navadvīpa-parikramā function, the temple has been very well managed.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 15.42

jagate yateka jīva, tāra pāpa lañā
naraka bhuñjite cāhe jīva chāḍāiyā

Translation: Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta Ṭhākura wanted to suffer for the sinful activities of all the people of the world so that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu might deliver them.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.159

prabhupade vāsudevera kātara-prāṇe nivedana:

nija-guṇa śuni’ datta mane lajjā pāñā
nivedana kare prabhura caraṇe dhariyā

Translation: When Caitanya Mahāprabhu glorified him, Vāsudeva Datta immediately became very much embarrassed and shy. He then submitted himself, touching the Lord’s lotus feet.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.23

vāsudeva datta dhari’ prabhura caraṇa
uccaiḥ-svare lāgilena karite krandana

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrī Vāsudeva Datta, he grabbed Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet and began to cry very loudly.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.24

vāsudeva kāndite ke āche hena jana
śuṣka kāṣṭha-pāṣāṇādi karaye krandana

Jayapatākā Swami: The crying of Vāsudeva was so intense that even persons with hearts as hard as dry wood or stone or other things they were moved also to cry.

Purport: Even persons whose hearts were as hard as inanimate objects were unable to maintain their composure when they saw Vāsudeva cry.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.160

jagat tārite prabhu tomāra avatāra
mora nivedana eka karaha aṅgīkāra

Translation: Vāsudeva Datta told Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “My dear Lord, You incarnate just to deliver all conditioned souls. I now have one petition, which I wish You would accept.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.161

karite samartha tumi hao, dayāmaya
tumi mana kara, tabe anāyāse haya

Translation: “My Lord, You are certainly able to do whatever You like, and You are indeed merciful. If You so desire, You can very easily do whatever You want.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.162

alaukika para-duḥkha-duḥkhī gauradāsa vāsudeva-datta-ṭhākura–

jīvera duḥkha dekhi’ mora hṛdaya bidare
sarva-jīvera pāpa prabhu deha’ mora śire

Translation: “My Lord, my heart breaks to see the sufferings of all the conditioned souls; therefore I request You to transfer the karma of their sinful lives upon my head.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.163

jīvera pāpa lañā muñi karoṅ naraka bhoga
sakala jīvera, prabhu, ghucāha bhava-roga

Translation: “My dear Lord, let me suffer perpetually in a hellish condition, accepting all the sinful reactions of all living entities. Please finish their diseased material life.”

Purport: Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives the following commentary on this verse. In the Western countries, Christians believe that Lord Jesus Christ, their spiritual master, appeared in order to eradicate all the sins of his disciples. To this end, Lord Jesus Christ appeared and disappeared. Here, however, we find Śrī Vāsudeva Datta Ṭhākura and Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura to be many millions of times more advanced than even Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ relieved only his followers from all sinful reactions, but Vāsudeva Datta is here prepared to accept the sins of everyone in the universe. So, the comparative position of Vāsudeva Datta is millions of times better than that of Lord Jesus Christ. A Vaiṣṇava is so liberal that he is prepared to risk everything to rescue the conditioned souls from material existence. Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta Ṭhākura is universal love itself, for he was willing to sacrifice everything and fully engage in the service of the Supreme Lord.

Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta knew very well that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was the original Personality of Godhead, Transcendence itself, above the material conception of illusion and māyā. Lord Jesus Christ certainly finished the sinful reactions of his followers by his mercy, but that does not mean he completely delivered them from the pangs of material existence. A person may be relieved from sins once, but it is a practice among Christians to confess sins and yet commit them again. By getting freed from sins and again engaging in them, one cannot attain freedom from the pangs of material existence. A diseased person may go to a physician for relief, but after he leaves the hospital he may again be infected due to his unclean habits. Thus material existence continues. Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta wanted to completely relieve the conditioned souls from material existence so that they would no longer have an opportunity to commit sinful acts. This is the significant difference between Śrīla Vāsudeva Datta and Lord Jesus Christ. It is a great offense to receive pardon for sins and then commit the same sins again. Such an offense is more dangerous than the sinful activity itself. Vāsudeva Datta was so liberal that he requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to transfer all offensive activity upon him so the conditioned souls would be purified and go back home, back to Godhead. This prayer was certainly without duplicity.

Vāsudeva Datta’s example is unique not only within this world but within the universe. It is beyond the conception of fruitive actors or the speculation of mundane philosophers. Due to being illusioned by the external energy and due to a poor fund of knowledge, people tend to envy one another. Because of this they are entangled in fruitive activity, and they try to escape this fruitive activity by mental speculation. Consequently, neither karmīs nor jñānīs are purified. In the words of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Ṭhākura, they are kukarmīs and kujñānīs — bad fruitive actors and bad speculators. The Māyāvādīs and karmīs should therefore turn their attention to the magnanimous Vāsudeva Datta, who wanted to suffer for others in a hellish condition. No one should consider Vāsudeva Datta a mundane philanthropist or welfare worker. Nor was he interested in merging into the Brahman effulgence or in gaining material honor or reputation. He was far, far above philanthropists, philosophers and fruitive actors. He was the most exalted personality to ever show mercy to the conditioned souls. This is not an exaggeration of his transcendental qualities. It is perfectly true. Actually, there cannot be any comparison to Vāsudeva Datta. As the perfect Vaiṣṇava, he was para-duḥkha-duḥkhī, very much aggrieved to see others suffer. The entire world is purified simply by the appearance of such a great devotee. Indeed, by his transcendental presence the whole world is glorified and all conditioned souls are also glorified. As Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura confirms, Vāsudeva Datta is the ideal devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu:

gaurāṅgera saṅgi-gaṇe,
nitya-siddha kari’ māne,
se yāya vrajendrasuta-pāśa

One who executes Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mission must be considered eternally liberated. He is a transcendental person and does not belong to this material world. Such a devotee, engaging in the deliverance of the total population, is as magnanimous as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself.

namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

Such a personality factually represents Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu because his heart is always filled with compassion for all conditioned souls.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sometimes devotees ask, how can they feel compassionate? By taking the dust from the lotus feet of Vāsudeva Datta we can achieve that compassion for other living entities. Someone was asking, what to do if someone wants to do bad to you. So we see that Vāsudeva Datta, he wants to give the mercy to all the conditioned souls.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.164

priyatama sevakera prārthanāya prabhu vicalita—

eta śuni’ mahāprabhura citta dravilā
aśru-kampa-svarabhaṅge kahite lāgilā

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard Vāsudeva Datta’s statement, His heart became very soft. Tears flowed from His eyes, and He began to tremble. In a faltering voice He spoke as follows.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.165

vāsudeva-datta-ṭhākura–sākṣāt prahalāda–

“tomāra vicitra nahe, tumi—sākṣāt prahlāda
tomāra upare kṛṣṇera sampūrṇa prasāda

Translation: Accepting Vāsudeva Datta as a great devotee, the Lord said, “Such a statement is not at all astonishing because you are the incarnation of Prahlāda Mahārāja. It appears that Lord Kṛṣṇa has bestowed complete mercy upon you. There is no doubt about it.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.166

kṛṣṇa o bhaktera parasparera vyavahāra–

kṛṣṇa sei satya kare, yei māge bhṛtya
bhṛtya-vāñchā-pūrti vinu nāhi anya kṛtya

Translation: “Whatever a pure devotee wants from his master, Lord Kṛṣṇa doubtlessly grants because He has no duty other than to fulfill the desire of His devotee.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.167

brahmāṇḍa-vāsī sakalerai uddhāra-viṣaye satya āśvāsa-dāna

brahmāṇḍa jīvera tumi vāñchile nistāra
vinā pāpa-bhoge habe sabāra uddhāra

Translation: “If you desire the deliverance of all living entities within the universe, then all of them can be delivered even without your undergoing the tribulations of sinful activity.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.168

svayaṃ bhagavān kṛṣṇera sarva-śaktimattā varṇana

asamartha nahe kṛṣṇa, dhare sarva bala
tomāke vā kene bhuñjāibe pāpa-phala?

Translation: “Kṛṣṇa is not incapable, for He has all potencies. Why would He induce you to suffer the sinful reactions of other living entities?

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.169

tumi yāṅra hita vāñcha’, se haila ‘vaiṣṇava’
vaiṣṇavera pāpa kṛṣṇa dūra kare saba

Translation: “Whosever welfare you desire immediately becomes a Vaiṣṇava, and Kṛṣṇa delivers all Vaiṣṇavas from the reactions of their past sinful activities.

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu here informed Vāsudeva Datta that since Kṛṣṇa is all-powerful, He can immediately deliver all conditioned souls from material existence. In essence, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “You desire the liberation of all kinds of living entities without discrimination. You are very anxious for their good fortune, and I say that simply by your prayer all living entities within the universe can be liberated. You do not even have to take up the burden of their sinful activities. Thus there is no need for you to suffer for their sinful lives. Whoever receives your compassion becomes a Vaiṣṇava immediately, and Kṛṣṇa delivers all Vaiṣṇavas from the reactions to their past sinful activities.” Kṛṣṇa also promises this in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.66):

sarva-dharmān parityajya 
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo 
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”

As soon as one fully surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, he becomes a Vaiṣṇava. In this verse from the Bhagavad-gītā Kṛṣṇa promises to relieve His devotee from all the reactions to sinful life. It is a fact that a fully surrendered Vaiṣṇava is completely out of the range of material infection. This is to say that he does not suffer the results of his previous pious or impious actions. Unless one is freed from sinful life, one cannot become a Vaiṣṇava. In other words, if one is a Vaiṣṇava, his sinful life is certainly ended. According to the Padma Purāṇa:

“There are different stages of dormant reactions to sinful activities to be observed in a sinful life. Sinful reactions may be just waiting to take effect [phalonmukha], reactions may be still further dormant [kūṭa], or the reactions may be in a seedlike state [bīja]. In any case, all types of sinful reactions are vanquished one after another if a person engages in the devotional service of Lord Viṣṇu.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is expressing to Vāsudeva Datta, that simply by his desire the Lord can deliver all the conditioned soul. So, following in the footsteps of Vāsudeva Datta we should engage all the people in devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa and then by being Vaiṣṇavas, they will be delivered.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.170

sarva-phala-pradātā govinda-vandanā brahma-saṁhitāya (554)

yas tv indra-gopam athavendram aho sva-karma-
bandhānurūpa-phala-bhājanam ātanoti
karmāṇi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhājāṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation: “‘Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the original Personality of Godhead, Govinda, who regulates the sufferings and enjoyments due to fruitive activity. He does this for everyone — from the heavenly King Indra down to the smallest insect [indra-gopa]. That very Personality of Godhead destroys the karmic reactions of one engaged in devotional service.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.54).

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.171

bhaktecchāya kṛṣṇa-kartṛka anāyāse brahmāṇḍa-mocana-sādhana –

tomāra icchā-mātre habe brahmāṇḍa-mocana
sarva mukta karite kṛṣṇera nāhi kichu śrama

Translation: “Because of your honest desire, all living entities within the universe will be delivered, for Kṛṣṇa does not have to do anything to deliver all the living entities of the universe.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by the pure desire of Vāsudeva Dutta, all the conditioned souls of this universe can be delivered.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.172

virajā vā kāraṇa-samudre bhāsamāna ananta-koṭī brahmāṇḍa:

eka uḍumbara vṛkṣe lāge koṭi-phale
koṭi ye brahmāṇḍa bhāse virajāra jale

Translation: “Just as there are millions of fruits on the uḍumbara tree, millions of universes float on the waters of the river Virajā.

Purport: Virajā is a river that divides the material world from the spiritual world. On one side of the river Virajā is the effulgence of Brahmaloka and innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets, and on the other side is this material world. It is to be understood that this side of the Virajā River is filled with material planets floating in the Causal Ocean. The name Virajā indicates a marginal position between the spiritual and material worlds, but the Virajā River is not under the control of the material energy. Consequently, it is devoid of the three guṇas.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Vāsudeva Datta and Mukunda Datta wanted to get the association of Puṇḍarīka premanidhi. So about less than half a kilometer from Puṇḍarīka premanidhi’s birth place, Vāsudeva Datta and Mukunda Datta established their residence. Mukunda Datta’s temple is still standing but there was nothing left in Vāsudeva Datta’s, so we took the mercy that we got the land of Vāsudeva Dutta’s temple and rebuilt a new temple for his glories. So, also the birthplace of the two brothers which is twenty or thirty kilometers away, therefore we were able to get that place. So like this there are many places in Bangaldesh where the associates of Lord Caitanya they appeared and we are trying to preserve these places, so that in future devotees can visit Bangladesh and see all the sacred places of the associates of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.173

brahmāṇḍa-uddhārera sahita ḍumura-phala-patanera upamā

tāra eka phala paḍi’ yadi naṣṭa haya
tathāpi vṛkṣa nāhi jāne nija-apacaya

Translation: “The uḍumbara tree is filled with millions of fruits, and if one falls down and is destroyed, the tree does not even consider the loss.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the uḍumbara is a fig, and within a fig there are many seeds and within one tree there are many figs. Lord Caitanya was giving the example that if one fruit falls down it doesn’t matter to the tree, similarly it is nothing for the Lord to deliver one universe.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.174

kṛṣṇera nikaṭa ekaṭī brahmāṇḍera uddhāra—nitānta tuccha o agrāhya vyāpāra —

taiche eka brahmāṇḍa yadi mukta haya
tabu alpa-hāni kṛṣṇera mane nāhi laya

Translation: “In the same way, if one universe is vacated due to the living entities’ having been liberated, that is a very little thing for Kṛṣṇa. He does not take it very seriously.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.175

paravyomera bahirdeśastha kāraṇa-sāgara varṇana

ananta aiśvarya kṛṣṇera vaikuṇṭhādi-dhāma
tāra gaḍa-khāi—kāraṇābdhi yāra nāma

Translation: “The entire spiritual world constitutes the unlimited opulence of Kṛṣṇa, and there are innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets there. The Causal Ocean is considered the surrounding waters of Vaikuṇṭhaloka.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.176

tāte bhāse māyā lañā ananta brahmāṇḍa
gaḍa-khāite bhāse yena rāi-pūrṇa bhāṇḍa

Translation: “Māyā and her unlimited material universes are situated in that Causal Ocean. Indeed, māyā appears to be floating like a pot filled with mustard seeds.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.177

tāra eka rāi-nāśe hāni nāhi māni
aiche eka aṇḍa-nāśe kṛṣṇera nāhi hāni

Translation: “Of the millions of mustard seeds floating in that pot, if one seed is lost, the loss is not at all significant. Similarly, if one universe is lost, it is not significant to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.178

māyāsaha anantakoṭi brahmāṇḍera dhvaṃseo kṛṣṇera kṣati nāi —

saba brahmāṇḍa saha yadi ’māyā’ra haya kṣaya
tathāpi nā māne kṛṣṇa kichu apacaya

Translation: “To say nothing of one universal mustard seed, even if all the universes and the material energy [māyā] are destroyed, Kṛṣṇa does not even consider the loss.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.179

koṭi-kāmadhenu-patira chāgī yaiche mare
ṣaḍ-aiśvarya-pati kṛṣṇera māyā kibā kare?

Translation: “If a person possessing millions of wish-fulfilling cows loses one she-goat, he does not consider the loss. Kṛṣṇa owns all six opulences in full. If the entire material energy is destroyed, what does He lose?”

Purport: By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupāda Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, in clarifying verses 171-179, states that the meaning of these stanzas is very simple but that the purport is a little difficult to understand. Generally, the conditioned souls forget Kṛṣṇa when they are enticed by the material, external energy. Consequently they are called kṛṣṇa-bahirmukha, bereft of their relationship with Kṛṣṇa. When such a living entity comes under the jurisdiction of the material energy, he is sent into one of the innumerable material universes created by the material energy to give a chance to conditioned souls to fulfill their desires in the material world. Being very eager to enjoy the fruits of their activities, conditioned souls become involved in the actions and reactions of material life. Consequently they enjoy and suffer the results of karma. However, if a conditioned soul becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, the karma of his pious and impious activities is completely destroyed. Simply by becoming a devotee, one is freed of all the reactions of karma. Similarly, simply by the desire of a devotee, a conditioned soul can attain liberation and transcend the results of karma. Since everyone can be liberated in this way, one may conclude that it is according to the sweet will of the devotee whether the material world exists or does not exist. Ultimately, however, it is not the sweet will of the devotee but the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who, if He so desires, can completely annihilate the material creation. There is no loss on His part. The owner of millions of cows does not consider the loss of one she-goat. Similarly, Lord Kṛṣṇa is the proprietor of both the material and spiritual universes. The material world constitutes only one-fourth of His creative energy. If, according to the desire of the devotee, the Lord completely destroys the creation, He is so opulent that He will not mind the loss.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows how the devotee by desiring that people take up devotional service, can deliver the whole universe. Lord Caitanya came to give the conditioned souls an opportunity to engage in devotional service. So His followers desire to see everyone taste the nectar of devotional service and thus be freed from the suffering of material life.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.180

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.14)—

jaya jaya jahy ajām ajita doṣa-gṛbhīta-guṇāṁ
tvam asi yad ātmanā samavaruddha-samasta-bhagaḥ
aga-jagad-okasām akhila-śakty-avabodhaka te
kvacid ajayātmanā ca carato ’nucaren nigamaḥ”

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, ‘O my Lord, O unconquerable one, O master of all potencies, please exhibit Your internal potency to conquer the nescience of all moving and inert living entities. Due to nescience, they accept all kinds of faulty things, thus provoking a fearful situation. O Lord, please show Your glories! You can do this very easily, for Your internal potency is beyond the external potency, and You are the reservoir of all opulence. You are also the demonstrator of the material potency. You are also always engaged in Your pastimes in the spiritual world, where You exhibit Your reserved, internal potency, and sometimes You exhibit the external potency by glancing over it. Thus You manifest Your pastimes. The Vedas confirm Your two potencies and accept both types of pastimes due to them.’”

Purport: This verse is taken from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.14). It is from the prayers of the śruti-gaṇa, the personified Vedas, who glorify the Lord.

The almighty Personality of Godhead has three potencies — internal, external and marginal. The conditioned souls, who are condemned due to their forgetfulness of the Lord, are put under the control of the external potency when she creates the material world. The three modes of material nature keep the living entity in a constant state of fear (bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ). The conditioned soul is always fearful due to being controlled by the external potency; therefore the conditioned soul should always pray to the almighty Lord to conquer the external potency (māyā) so that she will no longer manifest her powers, which bind all living entities, moving and inert. By praying in this way one will become eligible to remain constantly in the association of the Lord, thus fulfilling the mission of going back home, back to Godhead.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.181

sakala bhaktake prabhura vidāya-dāna —

ei mata sarva-bhaktera kahi’ saba guṇa
sabāre vidāya dila kari’ āliṅgana

Translation: In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu described the good qualities of His devotees one after the other. He then embraced them and bade them farewell.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.182

parasparera bhāvi-virahāśaṅkāya bhakta o bhagavānera viṣāda –

prabhura vicchede bhakta karena rodana
bhaktera vicchede prabhura viṣaṇṇa haila mana

Translation: Due to the impending separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees began to cry. The Lord was also morose due to separation from the devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows the intimate relationship between the devotees and the Lord. Lord Caitanya loves His devotees and Lord Caitanya’s devotees love Him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.183

gadādharake ṭoṭā-gopīnātha-sevā-pradāna

gadādhara-paṇḍita rahilā prabhura pāśe
yameśvare prabhu yāṅre karāilā āvāse

Translation: Gadādhara Paṇḍita remained with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he was given a place to live at Yameśvara.

Purport: Yameśvara is on the southwest side of the Jagannātha temple. Gadādhara Paṇḍita resided there, and there was a small garden and a sandy beach known as Yameśvara-ṭoṭā.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.184-185

chayajana bhaktasaha prabhura purīte avasthāna:—

purī-gosāñi, jagadānanda, svarūpa-dāmodara
dāmodara-paṇḍita, āra govinda, kāśīśvara

ei-saba-saṅge prabhu vaise nīlācale
jagannātha-daraśana nitya kare prātaḥ-kāle

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained at Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala, with Paramānanda Purī, Jagadānanda, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Govinda and Kāśīśvara. It was Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s daily practice to see Lord Jagannātha in the morning.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.25

vāsudeva dattera yateka guṇa-sīmā
vāsudeva datta vahi nāhika upamā

Jayapatākā Swami: Vāsudeva Datta had such qualities that were at the limit that Vāsudeva could only compared to himself.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.26

hena se prabhura prīti dattera viṣaya
prabhu bale,—“āmi vāsudevera niścaya”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya had such love for Vāsudeva Datta that He would say, “I certainly belong to Vāsudeva Datta.”

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.27

āpane śrī-gauracandra bale bāra bāra
“e śarīra vāsudeva dattera āmāra

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Śrī Gaurasundara would personally say again and again, “This body of Mine belongs to Vāsudeva Datta.

Purport: Śrī Gaurasundara considered that He had been purchased by Śrī Vāsudeva Ṭhākura; in other words, He considered Himself the property of Vāsudeva.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.28

datta āmā yathā vece, tathāya vikāi
satya satya ihāte anyathā kichu nāi

Jayapatākā Swami: “Vāsudeva Datta may sell Me wherever he likes. This is certainly a fact. No one should understand this statement in a different way.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.29

vāsudeva dattera vātāsa yāra gāya
lāgiyāche, tāṅre kṛṣṇa rakṣibe sadāya

Jayapatākā Swami: “If one is touched by air that has touched the body of Vāsudeva Datta, He will always be protected by Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.30

satya āmi kahi—śuna vaiṣṇava-maṇḍala!
e deha āmāra—vāsudevera kevala”

Jayapatākā Swami: “Listen, O dear assembled Vaiṣṇavas, I tell you the truth! This body of Mine belongs to Vāsudeva Datta alone.”

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.31

vāsudeva dattere prabhura kṛpāśuni’
ānande vaiṣṇava-gaṇa kare hari-dhvani

Jayapatākā Swami: When the devotees heard the Lord Caitanya’s merciful statements about Vāsudeva Datta, all the Vaiṣṇavas joyfully started to sing the holy names of Hari.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 5.32

bhakta bāḍāite gaurasundara se jāne
yena kare bhakta, tena karena āpane

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurasundara, He knows how to glorify the devotees and increase the glories of the devotees. As the devotees glorify the Lord, the Lord glorifies the devotees.

So, since Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṇa coming as His devotee, He likes to expand the glories of His devotees. So, the devotees would glorify Lord Caitanya and Lord Caitanya would glorify His devotees.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Vāsudeva Datta - A Greater Altruist
Under the Section: The Lord Accepts Prasādam at the House of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya