20210520 Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and His Wife, Ṣāṭhīra Mātā, Prepare A Gorgeous Arrangement of Great Varieties of Food

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 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!

Continuation of the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, Today's chapter is entitled as:

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and His Wife, Ṣāṭhīra Mātā, Prepare A Gorgeous Arrangement of Great Varieties of Food
Under the Section: The Lord Accepts Prasādam at the House of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.207

vicitra naivedya varṇana—

battiśā-āṭhiyā kalāra āṅgaṭiyā pāte
tina-māna taṇḍulera ubhārila bhāte

Translation: First, three mānas of cooked rice — almost six pounds — was poured onto a big banana leaf.

Purport: This is the beginning of a description of the food prepared for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This description is given by Kavirāja Gosvāmī, who, it is assumed, was an expert cook who knew both how to prepare and how to serve food.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, cooking prasāda and serving it are two arts which the expert devotees would know. So somehow Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, he was expert at both and his wife Satira Mata was also expert at cooking. So, this description is very important, so that people can learn the procedure of preparing prasādam for the pleasure of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.208

pīta-sugandhi-ghṛte anna sikta kaila
cāri-dike pāte ghṛta vahiyā calila

Translation: Then the whole stack of rice was mixed with so much yellowish and fragrant clarified butter that it began to overflow the leaf.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.209

keyāpatra-kalākholā-ḍoṅgā sāri sari
cāri-dike dhariyāche nānā vyañjana bhari’

Translation: There were a number of pots made of the bark of banana trees and the leaves of the keyā plant. These pots were filled with various cooked vegetables and placed on all sides of the leaf.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.210

daśa-prakāra śāka, nimba-tikta-sukhta-jhola
maricera jhāla, chānā-baḍā, baḍi ghola

Translation: There were about ten kinds of spinach, a soup called sukta, which was made with bitter nimba leaves, a pungent preparation made with black pepper, a mild cake made of fried curd, and buttermilk mixed with small fried pieces of dhal.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the special sukhta or bitter preparation, we start the meal with bitter and gradually to the sweet. There were ten kinds of spinach, specialty of Lord Caitanya, ten green leafy vegetables.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.211

dugdha-tumbī, dugdha-kuṣmāṇḍa, vesara, lāphrā
mocā-ghaṇṭa, mocā-bhājā, vividha śākrā

Translation: There were preparations of dugdha-tumbī, dugdha-kuṣmāṇḍa, vesara, lāphrā, mocā-ghaṇṭa, mocā-bhājā and other vegetables.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these are transcendental terms of various vegetables made in East Indian style, lāphra is mixture of five vegetables; mocā-ghaṇṭa, is a special banana flower, so like that each of the preparations are special preparations made in Bengal or eastern style

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.212

vṛddha-kuṣmāṇḍa-baḍīra vyañjana apāra
phulabaḍī-phala-mūla vividha prakāra

Translation: There were unlimited quantities of vṛddha-kuṣmāṇḍa-baḍī, phula-baḍī, fruits and various roots.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, baḍīs are small like kind of pakora or some sort of cake and those are cooked in some special flavor.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.213

nava-nimbapatra-saha bhṛṣṭa-vārtākī
phula-baḍī paṭola-bhājā, kuṣmāṇḍa-māna-cākī

Translation: Other preparations included eggplant mixed with newly grown nimba leaves fried together, light baḍī, fried paṭola and fried rounds of squash and pumpkin.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.214

bhṛṣṭa-māṣa-mudga-sūpa amṛta nindaya
madhurāmla, baḍāmlādi amla pāṅca chaya

Translation: There was a soup made with fried urad dhal and mung dhal, defeating nectar. There were also sweet chutney and five or six kinds of sour preparations, beginning with baḍāmla.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.215

mudga-baḍā, māṣa-baḍā, kalā-baḍā miṣṭa
kṣīra-puli, nārikela-puli āra yata piṣṭa

Translation: There were baḍās made of mung-dhal, of urad-dhal and of sweet bananas, and there were sweet-rice cakes, coconut cakes and various other cakes.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.216

kāṅji-baḍā, dugdha-ciḍā, dugdha-laklakī
āra yata piṭhā kaila, kahite nā śaki

Translation: There were kāṅji-baḍā, dugdha-ciḍā, dugdha-laklakī and various cakes that I am unable to describe.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.217

ghṛta-sikta paramānna, mṛt-kuṇḍikā bhari’
cāṅpākalā-ghanadugdha-āmra tāhā dhari

Translation: Sweet rice mixed with ghee was poured into an earthen pot and mixed with cāṅpā-kalā, condensed milk and mango.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, cāṅpākalā is a very sweet type of banana, this banana is said to have the highest quantity of vitamin C, when it is ripe it is sweet, if it is not ripe it is a bit sour. We assume that they are giving cāṅpākalā when it is ripe with other things in the sweet rice.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.218

rasālā-mathita dadhi, sandeśa apāra
gauḍe utkale yata bhakṣyera prakāra

Translation: Other preparations included a very delicious churned curd and a variety of sandeśa sweetmeats. Indeed, all the various eatables available in Bengal and Orissa were prepared.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.219

āsana o naivedya-sajjā–

śraddhā kari’ bhaṭṭācārya saba karāila
śubhra-pīṭhopari sūkṣma vasana pātila

Translation: Thus, the Bhaṭṭācārya prepared a great variety of food and spread a fine cloth over a white wooden platform.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.220

dui pāśe sugandhi śītala jala-jhārī
anna-vyañjanopari dila tulasī-mañjarī

Translation: On two sides of the stack of food were pitchers filled with scented cold water. The flowers of the tulasī tree were placed atop the mound of rice.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, any offering to Kṛṣṇa is not complete unless it has a tulasī-mañjarī or flower. So this signifies that everything was offered to the Suprema Lord and given as prasāda.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.221

amṛta-guṭikā, piṭhā-pānā ānāila
jagannātha-prasāda saba pṛthak dharila

Translation: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya also included several types of food that had been offered to Lord Jagannātha. These included sweetballs known as amṛta-guṭikā, sweet rice and cakes. All these were kept separate.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the prasāda offered to Jagnnatha and then all the prasāda is offered to Bimalā-devī, therefore this māha-prasāda is kept separate.

Purport: Although the remnants of food left by Jagannātha were brought into the Bhaṭṭācārya’s house, they were kept separate from the preparations he had made at his home. It sometimes happens that prasādam is mixed with a larger quantity of food and then distributed, but in this case we find that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya kept the jagannātha-prasādam separate. He kept it aside particularly for the satisfaction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.222

madhyāhna-snānānte ekaka prabhura āgamana:—

hena-kāle mahāprabhu madhyāhna kariyā
ekale āila tāṅra hṛdaya jāniyā

Translation: When everything was ready, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came there alone after finishing His midday duties. He knew the heart of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.223

pāda-prakṣālana-pūrvaka bhaṭṭera prabhuke gṛhamadhye ānayana

bhaṭṭācārya kaila tabe pāda prakṣālana
gharera bhitare gelā karite bhojana

Translation: After Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya washed the Lord’s feet, the Lord entered the room to take His lunch.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, it is a custom for the Gṛhastha to bathe the lotus feet of Lord or sannyāsī, when they come to their house. So Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya bathed the Lord’s lotus feet and then the Lord went into the room to take prasāda.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.224

naivedya-darśane prabhura vismaya o bhoga-praśaṁsā—

annādi dekhiyā prabhu vismita hañā
bhaṭṭācārye kahe kichu bhaṅgi kariyā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a little astonished to see the gorgeous arrangement, and gesturing, He spoke to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.225

alaukika ei saba anna-vyañjana
dui prahara bhitare kaiche ha-ila randhana?

Translation: “This is most uncommon! How was this arrangement of rice and vegetables finished within six hours?”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.226

śata culāya śata jana pāka yadi kare
tabu śīghra eta dravya rāndhite nā pāre

Translation: “Even a hundred men cooking on a hundred stoves could not possibly finish all these preparations within so short a time.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.227

tulasī-mañjarī-darśane kṛṣṇera bhogānumāna:—

kṛṣṇera bhoga lāgāñācha,—anumāna kari
upare dekhiye yāte tulasī-mañjarī

Translation: “I hope the food has already been offered to Kṛṣṇa, since I see there are tulasī flowers on it.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.228

bhāgyavān tumi, saphala tomāra udyoga
rādhā-kṛṣṇe lāgāñācha etādṛśa bhoga

Translation: “You are most fortunate, and your endeavor is successful, for you have offered such wonderful food to Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.229

annera saurabhya, varṇa—ati manorama
rādhā-kṛṣṇa sākṣāt ihāṅ kariyāchena bhojana

Translation: “The color of the rice is so attractive and its aroma so good that it appears Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa have directly taken it.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.230

bhoga-praśaṁsānte prabhura sva-bhāgya-praśaṁsā

tomāra bahuta bhāgya kata praśaṁsiba
āmi—bhāgyavān, ihāra avaśeṣa pāba

Translation: “My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, your fortune is very great. How much shall I praise you? I also am very fortunate to be able to take the remnants of this food.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is saying that such an opulent offering was made to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, and it appears that Rādhā Kṛṣṇa have personally taken these offerings, and He felt very fortunate that He can take this prasāda, the remnants of what was offered to Radha and Krsna.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.231

kṛṣṇera pīṭhāsana tuliyā pṛthak pātre prasāda-prārthanā–

kṛṣṇera āsana-pīṭha rākhaha uṭhāñā
more prasāda deha’ bhinna pātrete kariyā

Translation: “Take away Kṛṣṇa’s sitting place and put it aside. Then give Me prasādam on a different plate.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.232

bhaṭṭera prabhu kṛpā-prabhāva varṇana

bhaṭṭācārya bale—prabhu nā karaha vismaya
yei khābe, tāṅhāra śaktye bhoga siddha haya

Translation: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “It is not so wonderful, my Lord. Everything has been made possible by the energy and mercy of Him who will eat the food.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.233

udyoga nā chila mora gṛhiṇīra randhane
yāṅra śaktye bhoga siddha, sei tāhā jāne

Translation: “My wife and I did not especially exert ourselves in the cooking. He by whose power the food has been prepared knows everything.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.234

prabhuke bhogera āsana aṅgīkāra karite anurodha, prabhura kṛṣṇāsane maryādā- buddhihetu tatsvīkāre asammatiḥ

eita āsane vasi’ karaha bhojana
prabhu kahe,—pūjya ei kṛṣṇera āsana

Translation: “Now please sit in this place and take Your lunch.” Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “This place is worshipable because it was used by Kṛṣṇa.”

Purport: According to etiquette, things used by Kṛṣṇa should not be used by anyone else. Similarly, things used by the spiritual master should also not be used by anyone else. That is etiquette. Whatever is used by Kṛṣṇa or the spiritual master is worshipable. In particular, their sitting or eating places should not be used by anyone else. A devotee must be very careful to observe this.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is taking the position of a devotee, teaching us how we should act as a devotee, not using Kṛṣṇa’ or the spiritual master’s plates or facilities. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu is coming to teach us by His example, but Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya knows what Lord Caitanya actual position is! So, we will see tomorrow what happens!