20210606 On the Day of Vijayā-daśamī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Departs for Vṛndāvana

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on June 6th 2021 in Śrīdhāma 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 the Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, the chapter entitled:

On The Day of Vijayā-daśamī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Departs for Vṛndāvana
Under the Section: The Lord’s Attempt to Go to Vṛndāvana

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.82

prativarṣe gauḍīya bhaktagaṇera āgamana o darśanādi:—

ei-mata pratyabda āise gauḍera bhakta-gaṇa
prabhu-saṅge rahi’ kare yātrā-daraśana

Translation: Every year the devotees of Bengal would come and stay with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to see the Ratha-yātrā festival.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, devotees from Bengal would come and have transcendental association of Lord Caitanya and remain with Him for the Ratha-yātrā festival and thus their transcendental bliss would know no limit.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.83

tanmadhye granthakārera viśeṣa viśeṣa ghaṭanā-varṇane pratijñā:—

tāra madhye ye ye varṣe āchaye viśeṣa
vistāriyā āge tāhā kahiba niḥśeṣa

Translation: Whatever happened during those years that is worth nothing shall be described later.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.84

bhaktasaṅge 4 vatsara nīlācala-līlā, 2 vatsara dakṣiṇa-yātāyāta:—

ei-mata mahāprabhura cāri vatsara gela
dakṣiṇa yāñā āsite dui vatsara lāgila

Translation: Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu passed four years. He spent the first two years on His tour in South India.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.85

vṛndāvane yāite prabhura dui vatsara yāvat icchā, kintu rāyera ceṣṭāya nirasta:—

āra dui vatsara cāhe vṛndāvana yāite
rāmānanda-haṭhe prabhu nā pāre calite

Translation: The other two years, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to go to Vṛndāvana, but He could not leave Jagannātha Purī because of Rāmānanda Rāya’s tricks.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya were using various tricks to keep Lord Caitanya in Nīlācala, being afraid to lose His association. Also it was the desire of King Pratāparudra to somehow or other keep Lord Caitanya in Jagannātha Purī. So, like this they were able to keep Him for some time. But eventually He decided to go.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.86

5ma vatsare gauḍīya-bhaktagaṇera ratha-darśanānte gauḍe pratyāvarttana:—

pañcama vatsare gauḍera bhakta-gaṇa āilā
ratha dekhi’ nā rahilā, gauḍere calilā

Translation: During the fifth year, the devotees from Bengal came to see the Ratha-yātrā festival. After seeing it, they did not stay but returned to Bengal.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.87

bhaṭṭa o rāya-samīpe prabhura gauḍadeśa haiyā vṛndāvana gamane sammati-prārthanā:—

tabe prabhu sārvabhauma-rāmānanda-sthāne
āliṅgana kari’ kahe madhura vacane

Translation: Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu placed a proposal before Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya. He embraced them and spoke sweet words.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.88

bahuta utkaṇṭhā mora yāite vṛndāvana
tomāra haṭhe dui vatsara nā kailuṅ gamana

Translation: Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “My desire to go to Vṛndāvana has very much increased. Because of your tricks, I have not been able to go there for the past two years.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya knew that they were playing tricks on Him. They we trying to tell Him, “Just wait! Just wait! Just wait!” like that, two years had passed. But now He has decided that He wants to go.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.89

avaśya caliba, duṅhe karaha sammati
tomā-duṅhā vinā mora nāhi anya gati

Translation: This time I must go. Will you please give Me permission? Save for you two, I have no other resort.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.90

gauḍadeśe prabhura pūjya-vastudvaya—1) śacīdevī o (2) gaṅgādevī:—

gauḍa-deśe haya mora ‘dui samāśraya’
‘jananī’ ‘jāhnavī’,—ei dui dayāmaya

Translation: In Bengal I have two shelters — My mother and the river Ganges. Both of them are very merciful.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.91

gauḍa-deśa diyā yāba tāṅ-sabā dekhiyā
 tumi duṅhe ājñā deha’ parasanna hañā

Translation: I shall go to Vṛndāvana through Bengal and see both My mother and the river Ganges. Now would you two be pleased to give Me permission?”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.92

bhaṭṭa o rāyera sammati, kintu varṣāhetu vijayā-daśamī paryanta apekṣārtha anurodha:—

śuniyā prabhura vāṇī mane vicāraya
prabhu-sane ati haṭha kabhu bhāla naya

Translation: When Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya heard these words, they began to consider that it was not at all good that they had played so many tricks on the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya had revealed that He understood that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Rāya had played so many tricks on Him, but now He was directly asking their permission.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.93

duṅhe kahe,—ebe varṣā, calite nāribā
vijayā-daśamī āile avaśya calibā

Translation: They both said, “Now that the rainy season is here, it will be difficult for You to travel. It is better to wait for Vijayā-daśamī before departing for Vṛndāvana.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.94

prabhura varṣā-yāpana o vijayā-daśamī-divase vṛndāvana-yātrā:—

ānande mahāprabhu varṣā kaila samādhāna
vijayā-daśamī-dine karila payāna

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to thus receive their permission. He waited until the rainy season passed, and when the day of Vijayā-daśamī arrived, He departed for Vṛndāvana.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Vijaya-dasami is the day when Lord Rāma had victory over Rāvaṇa and it is at the end of the rainy season. So, He waited till then and then He left for Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.95

saṅge jagannāthera prasādādi grahaṇa:—

jagannāthera prasāda prabhu yata pāñāchila
kaḍāra, candana, ḍora, saba saṅge laila

Translation: The Lord collected whatever remnants of food were left by Lord Jagannātha. He also took remnants of the Lord’s kaḍāra ointment, sandalwood and ropes with Him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.96

prabhāte yātrā, purīvāsi-bhaktagaṇera prabhuke anusaraṇa:—

jagannāthe ājñā māgi’ prabhāte calilā
uḍiyā-bhakta-gaṇa saṅge pāche cali’ āilā

Translation: After taking Lord Jagannātha’s permission early in the morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu departed, and all the devotees of Orissa began following Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, no one could bear the separation from Lord Caitanya so they followed Him in His journey.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.97

purīvāsi-bhaktagaṇake nivāraṇānte saṅgi-bhaktagaṇasaha bhavānīpure gamana:—

uḍiyā-bhakta-gaṇe prabhu yatne nivārilā
nija-gaṇa-saṅge prabhu ’bhavānīpura’ āilā

Translation: With great care Caitanya Mahāprabhu forbade the Orissan devotees to follow Him. Then, accompanied by His personal associates, He first went to Bhavānīpura.

Purport: One goes through Bhavānīpura before reaching a well-known place named Jānkādei-pura, or Jānakīdevī-pura.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.98

rāyera paścādāgamana, vāṇīnāthera prasāda-preraṇa:—

rāmānanda āilā pāche dolāya caḍiyā
vāṇīnātha bahu prasāda dila pāṭhāñā

Translation: After Lord Caitanya reached Bhavānīpura, Rāmānanda Rāya arrived on his palanquin, and Vāṇīnātha Rāya had a large quantity of prasādam sent to the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.99

tathāya rātri-yāpana, prāte bhuvaneśvare āgamana:—

prasāda bhojana kari’ tathāya rahilā
prātaḥ-kāle cali’ prabhu ’bhuvaneśvara’ āilā

Translation: After taking prasādam, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained there for the night. Early in the morning He began walking, and finally He reached Bhuvaneśvara.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya He was blessing the devotees in Bhuvaneśvara by His passing through Bhuvaneśvara on His way to Vṛndāvana via Bengal.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.100

tathā haite kaṭake āsiyā sākṣi-gopāla-darśana:—

‘kaṭake’ āsiyā kaila ‘gopāla’ daraśana
svapneśvara-vipra kaila prabhura nimantraṇa

Translation: After reaching the city of Kaṭaka, He saw the temple of Gopāla, and a brāhmaṇa there named Svapneśvara invited the Lord to eat.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.101

prabhura bhaktagaṇake rāyera nimantraṇa, upavane prabhura sthāna:—

rāmānanda-rāya saba-gaṇe nimantrila
bāhira udyāne āsi’ prabhu vāsā kaila

Translation: Rāmānanda Rāya invited all the others for their meals, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made His resting place in a garden outside the temple.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.102

vṛkṣatale prabhura viśrāmakāle pratāparudrake rāyera saṁbāda-dāna:—

bhikṣā kari’ bakula-tale karilā viśrāma
pratāparudra-ṭhāñi rāya karila payāna

Translation: While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was taking rest beneath a bakula tree, Rāmānanda Rāya immediately went to Mahārāja Pratāparudra.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.103

rājāra tatkṣaṇāt āgamana evaṁ prabhuke praṇāma o stuti:—

śuni’ ānandita rājā ati-śīghra āilā
prabhu dekhi’ daṇḍavat bhūmete paḍilā

Translation: The King was very happy to hear the news, and he hastily went there. Upon seeing the Lord, he fell flat to offer Him obeisances.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.104

punaḥ uṭhe, punaḥ paḍe praṇaya-vihvala
stuti kare, pulakāṅga, paḍe aśru-jala

Translation: Being overwhelmed with love, the King again and again got up and fell down. When he offered prayers, his whole body shivered, and tears fell from his eyes.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, King Pratāparudra was such a pure devotee that he was crying profusely and offering his obeisances again and again. So, in this way he could get the mercy of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.105

rājāra śuddha-bhakti-darśane prabhura āliṅgana:—

tāṅra bhakti dekhi’ prabhura tuṣṭa haila mana
uthi’ mahāprabhu tāṅre kailā āliṅgana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to see the devotion of the King, and He therefore stood up and embraced him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.106

punaḥ stuti kari’ rājā karaye praṇāma
prabhu-kṛpā-aśrute tāṅra deha haila snāna

Translation: When the Lord embraced the King, the King again and again offered prayers and obeisances. In this way, the Lord’s mercy brought tears from the King, and the Lord’s body was bathed with these tears.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.107

rāyera rājāke prabodha-dāna, prabhura a-māyāya tāṅhāke kṛpā:—

sustha kari, rāmānanda rājāre vasāilā
kāya-mano-vākye prabhu tāṅre kṛpā kailā

Translation: Finally Rāmānanda Rāya pacified the King and made him sit down. The Lord bestowed mercy upon him through His body, mind and words.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, King Pratāparudra was anxious to please the Lord so, finally he had this great benediction that He could see the Lord, and he got the Lord’s embrace. The Lord blessed him with body, mind and words.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.108

tadavadhi prabhura nāma—“pratāparudra-saṁtrātā’’:—

aiche tāṅhāre kṛpā kaila gaurarāya
“pratāparudra-santrātā” nāma haila yāya

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu showed such mercy to the King that from that day on the Lord became known as Pratāparudra-santrātā, the deliverer of Mahārāja Pratāparudra.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, normally Kings are materialist but by the mercy of Lord Caitanya, King Pratāparudra, he was delivered.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.109

parikaragaṇera prabhu-vandana, rājāra prabhu-samīpe vidāya-grahaṇa:—

rāja-pātra-gaṇa kaila prabhura vandana
rājāre vidāya dilā śacīra nandana

Translation: All the governmental officers also paid their respects to the Lord, and finally the King and his men were bade farewell by the son of mother Śacī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.110

nijarājye rājāra ghoṣaṇā-patra-pracāra:—

bāhire āsi’ rājā ājñā-patra lekhāila
nija-rājye yata ‘viṣayī’, tāhāre pāṭhāila

Translation: The King then went outside and had orders written down and sent to the government servants within his kingdom.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we heard how Lord Caitanya and His associates had faced many problems from the toll-collectors along the way. But with the King’s orders He could pass freely and the toll-collectors would not bother Him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.111

‘grāme-grāme’ nūtana āvāsa karibā
pāṅca-sāta navya-gṛhe sāmagrye bharibā

Translation: His orders read: “In every village you should construct new residences, and in five or seven new houses you should store all kinds of food.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.112

āpani prabhuke lañā tāhāṅ uttaribā
rātri-dibā vetra-haste sevāya rahibā

Translation: You should personally take the Lord to these newly constructed houses. Day and night you should engage in His service with a stick in your hands.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.113

dui mahāpātrake ādeśa:—

dui mahā-pātra,— ‘haricandana’, ‘mardarāja’
tāṅre ājñā dila rājā—‘kariha sarva kāya

Translation: The King ordered two respectable officers named Haricandana and Mardarāja to do whatever was necessary to carry out these orders.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in the monarchy system, the King was the absolute authority, so by his order, every place along the way would make these facilities available for Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.114-115

eka navya-naukā āni’ rākhaha nadī-tīre
yāhāṅ snāna kari’ prabhu yā’na nadī-pāre

rājāra gabhīra gauraprema:—

tāhāṅ stambha ropaṇa kara ‘mahā-tīrtha’ kari’
nitya snāna kariba tāhāṅ, tāhāṅ yena mari

Translation: The King also ordered them to maintain a new boat on the banks of the river, and wherever Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His bath or crossed to the other side of the river, they should establish a memorial column and make that place a great place of pilgrimage. “Indeed,” said the King, “I will take my bath there. And let me also die there.” Hari Bol!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.116

rāmānandake prabhu-samīpe yāite anurodha:—

caturdvāre karaha uttama navya vāsa
rāmānanda, yāha tumi mahāprabhu-pāśa

Translation: The King continued, “At Caturdvāra, please construct new residential quarters. Now, Rāmānanda, you can return to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.117

sandhyāya strī-gaṇera prabhura gamana-darśana:—

sandhyāte calibe prabhu,—nṛpati śunila
hastī-upara tāmbu-gṛhe strī-gaṇe caḍāila

Translation: When the King heard that the Lord was leaving that evening, he immediately made arrangements for some elephants with small tents on their backs to be brought there. Then all the ladies of the palace got on the elephants.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.118

sandhyāya prabhura kaṭaka haite yātrā:—

prabhura calibāra pathe rahe sāri hañā
sandhyāte calilā prabhu nija-gaṇa lañā

Translation: All these ladies went to the road the Lord was taking and remained there in a line. That evening, the Lord departed with His devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.119

mahā-nadīte snāna, rāṇīgaṇera praṇāma:—

‘citrotpalā-nadī’ āsi’ ghāṭe kaila snāna
mahiṣī-sakala dekhi’ karaye praṇāma

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to the bank of the river Citrotpalā to take His bath, all the queens and ladies of the palace offered their obeisances to Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, King Pratāparudra had facilitated the queens and other ladies of the palace to have the darśana of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and they all offered their obeisances to the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.120

prabhu-darśane sakalera bhāvāveśa:—

prabhura daraśane sabe haila premamaya
‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ kahe, netra aśru variṣaya

Translation: Upon seeing the Lord, they all felt themselves overwhelmed with love of Godhead, and, tears pouring from their eyes, they began to chant the holy name, “Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.121

adbhuta karuṇā-vigraha:—

emana kṛpālu nāhi śuni tribhuvane
kṛṣṇa-premā haya yāṅra dūra daraśane

Translation: There is no one as merciful as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu within all three worlds. Simply by seeing Him from a distance, one is overwhelmed with love of Godhead.

Jayapatākā Swami: The queens and ladies of the palace could not approach Lord Caitanya as a sannyāsī. But seeing Him from a distance, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, offering their praṇāmas, they were overwhelmed with love of Kṛṣṇa and crying in ecstasy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.122

nadī atikramaṇānte caturdvāre āsiyā pratyaha paḍichā-prerita jagannāthera prasāda-sevana:—

naukāte caḍiyā prabhu haila nadī pāra
jyotsnāvatī rātrye cali’ āilā caturdvāra

Translation: The Lord then got into a new boat and crossed the river. Walking in the full moonlight, He finally reached the town known as Caturdvāra.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya’s journey to Vṛndāvana via Bengal is described in detail and as He was going His appearance gave all the people love of Godhead and by the King’s arrangement, new boats, houses were arranged for the Lord.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, On the Day of Vijayā-daśamī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Departs for Vṛndāvana.

Under the Section: The Lord’s Attempt to Go to Vṛndāvana