20210607 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Asks Gadādhara Paṇḍita to Return to Nīlācala

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 7th June 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 Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, Todays chapter is entitled:

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Asks Gadādhara Paṇḍita to Return to Nīlācala

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

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.123

rātrye tathā rahi’ prāte snāna-kṛtya kaila
hena-kāle jagannāthera mahā-prasāda āila

Translation: The Lord spent the night there and, in the morning, took His bath. At that time, remnants of Lord Jagannātha’s food arrived

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.124

rājāra ājñāya paḍichā pāṭhāya dine-dine
bahuta prasāda pāṭhāya diyā bahu-jane

Translation: Following the King’s orders, the superintendent of the temple sent large quantities of prasādam every day, and it was carried by many persons.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, King Pratāparudra was very careful in providing all facilities for Lord Caitanya and that included sending Him Jagannātha prasāda everyday.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.125

svagaṇa-sahite prabhu prasāda aṅgīkari’
uṭhiyā calilā prabhu bali’ ‘hari’ ‘hari’

Translation: After accepting the prasāda, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up and started to go, chanting the holy names, “Hari! Hari!” Hari Bol!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.126

saṅge rāyapramukha tinajana rāja-karmmacārī:—

rāmānanda, mardarāja, śrī-haricandana
saṅge sevā kari’ cale ei tina jana

Translation: Rāmānanda Rāya, Mardarāja and Śrī Haricandana always went with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and rendered various services.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.127-129

prabhura vṛndāvana-yātrāra pradhāna saṅgigaṇa:–

prabhu-saṅge purī-gosāñi, svarūpa-dāmodara
jagadānanda, mukunda, govinda, kāśīśvara

haridāsa-ṭhākura, āra paṇḍita-vakreśvara
gopīnāthācārya, āra paṇḍita-dāmodara

rāmāi, nandāi, āra bahu bhakta-gaṇa
pradhāna kahiluṅ, sabāra ke kare gaṇana

Translation: Paramānanda Purī Gosvāmī, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Jagadānanda, Mukunda, Govinda, Kāśīśvara, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, Gopīnātha Ācārya, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Rāmāi, Nandāi and many other devotees accompanied the Lord. I have mentioned only the chief devotees. No one can describe the total number.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in other words many devotees were coming with the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.130

tilārdva prabhubiccheda-kātara gadādharera atulanīya gauraprema:—

gadādhara-paṇḍita yabe saṅgete calilā
‘kṣetra-sannyāsa nā chāḍiha’—prabhu niṣedhilā

Translation: When Gadādhara Paṇḍita started to go with the Lord, he was forbidden to come and was asked not to give up the vow of kṣetra-sannyāsa.

Purport: When one takes kṣetra-sannyāsa, he leaves his household life and goes to a place of pilgrimage devoted to Lord Viṣṇu. Such places include Puruṣottama (Jagannātha Purī), Navadvīpa-dhāma and Mathurā-dhāma. The kṣetra-sannyāsī lives in these places alone or with his family. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura considers kṣetra-sannyāsa to be the preferable vānaprastha situation in this Age of Kali. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya lived in this way, and he has been called a kṣetra-sannyāsī — that is, a sannyāsī living in Jagannātha Purī.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, one may be a gṛhastha or vānapratha but if he takes a vow to live only in the holy dhāma, then he is considered a kṣetra-sannyāsa, if someone has taken a vow to live only in that holy dhāma. Of course one may also be an actual sannyāsī. But taking a vow of kṣetra-sannyāsa means that one should not leave the perimeter of the kṣetra or the holy dhāma.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.131

prabhura saṅgalobhe dhāmavāsarūpa kṣetra-sannyāsa-tyāgeo paṇḍita avicalita:—

paṇḍita kahe,—”yāhāṅ tumi, sei nīlācala
kṣetra-sannyāsa mora yāuka rasātala”

Translation: When he was requested to return to Jagannātha Purī, Gadādhara Paṇḍita told the Lord, “Wherever You are staying is Jagannātha Purī. Let my so-called kṣetra-sannyāsa go to hell.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Gadādhara was showing the mood of the gopīs of Vṛndāvana, that they would do anything to serve Kṛṣṇa, like that Gadādhara would do anything to serve Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.132

prabhu-saṅga-lobhe sevā-parityāga o sevā-pratijñā- laṅghaneo paṇḍita avicalita:—

prabhu kahe,—“iṅhā kara gopīnātha sevana”
paṇḍita kahe,—“koṭi-sevā tvat-pāda-darśana”

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Gadādhara Paṇḍita to remain at Jagannātha Purī and engage in Gopīnātha’s service, Gadādhara Paṇḍita replied, “One renders service to Gopīnātha a million times simply by seeing Your lotus feet.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.133

nija bhāvi kalaṅkāśaṅkā dekhāiyā prabhura purī haitei paṇḍitake tatpaścādanusaraṇe nivāraṇa:—

prabhu kahe,—“sevā chāḍibe, āmāya lāge doṣa
iṅhā rahi’ sevā kara,—āmāra santoṣa”

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “If you abandon His service, it will be My fault. It is better that you remain here and render service. That will be My satisfaction.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.134

gadādharera abhimāna:—

paṇḍita kahe,—“saba doṣa āmāra upara
tomā-saṅge nā yāiba, yāiba ekeśvara

Translation: The Paṇḍita replied, “Do not worry. All the faults will be on my head. I shall not accompany You but shall go alone.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.135

āi’ke dekhite yāiba, nā yāiba tomā lāgi’
‘pratijñā’-‘sevā’-tyāga-doṣa, tāra āmi bhāgī”

Translation: I shall go to see Śacīmātā, but I shall not go for Your sake. I shall be responsible for the abandoning of my vow and service to Gopīnātha.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.136

purī haite kaṭake āsiyā prabhura paṇḍitake nikaṭe āhvāna:—

eta bali’ paṇḍita-gosāñi pṛthak calilā
kaṭaka āsi’ prabhu tāṅre saṅge ānāilā

Translation: Thus Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosvāmī traveled alone, but when they all arrived at Kaṭaka, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called him, and he went into the Lord’s company.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.137

gadādharera kebalā-gauraprīti aiśvaryamugdhera bodhātīta:—

paṇḍitera gaurāṅga-prema bujhana nā yāya
‘pratijñā’, ‘śrī-kṛṣṇa-sevā’ chāḍila tṛṇa-prāya

Translation: No one can understand the loving intimacy between Gadādhara Paṇḍita and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Gadādhara Paṇḍita gave up his vow and service to Gopīnātha just as one gives up a piece of straw.

Purport: Just to get Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s association, Gadādhara Paṇḍita gave up his life’s vow to engage in Gopīnātha’s service. This kind of loving affection can be understood only by very confidential devotees. Ordinarily, no one can understand its purport.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Gadādhara Paṇḍita had such pure love for Lord Caitanya. He took his vow very seriously, but his affection for Lord Caitanya, he was persuaded so he was willing to forsake all his vows just for serving Lord Caitanya, to be able to associate with the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.138

prabhura antare santoṣa haileo bāhire kṛtrima-kopokti:—

tāṅhāra caritre prabhu antare santoṣa
tāṅhāra hāte dhari’ kahe kari’ praṇaya-roṣa

Translation: Gadādhara Paṇḍita’s behavior was very pleasing to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s heart. Nevertheless, the Lord took his hand and spoke to him, displaying the anger of love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.139

e paryyanta paṇḍitera uddeśya-siddhi, ataḥpara paṇḍitake purīte giyā gopīnātha-sevanārtha śapatha-pradāna:—

‘pratijñā’, ‘sevā’ chāḍibe,—e tomāra ‘uddeśa’
se siddha ha-ila—chāḍi’ āilā dūra deśa

Translation: You have abandoned Gopīnātha’s service and broken your vow to live in Purī. All that is now complete because you have come so far.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.140

bhaktera kṛṣṇa-sukhadāna o kṛṣṇera bhakta-sukhadāna:—

āmāra saṅge rahite cāha,—vāñcha nija-sukha
tomāra dui dharma yāya,—āmāra haya ‘duḥkha’

Translation: Your wanting to go with Me is simply a desire for sense gratification. In this way, you are breaking two religious principles, and because of this I am very unhappy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.141

mora sukha cāha yadi, nīlācale cala
āmāra śapatha, yadi āra kichu bala

Translation: If you want My happiness, please return to Nīlācala. You will simply condemn Me if you say any more about this matter.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.142

prabhura naukārohaṇa, paṇḍitera mūrcchā:—

eta bali’ mahāprabhu naukāte caḍilā
mūrcchita hañā paṇḍita tathāi paḍilā

Translation: Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got into a boat, and Gadādhara Paṇḍita immediately fell down unconscious.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this place where Lord Caitanya got into a boat and where Paṇḍita Gadādhara fell unconscious is still remembered by the devotees of Lord Caitanya. Gadādhara Paṇḍita has to follow the orders of Lord Caitanya, but actually his separation was unbearable. Lord Caitanya’s separation was unbearable for Gadādhara Paṇḍita. So in separation and ecstasy, he fell unconscious, and then Caitanya, He did not turn back, He did not look back. So, it is a very deep, loving relationship, not possible to be understood by everyone.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.143

paṇḍitake laiyā yāite sārvabhaumake prabhura ādeśa:—

paṇḍite lañā yāite sārvabhaume ājñā dilā
bhaṭṭācārya kahe,—“uṭha, aiche prabhura līlā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to take Gadādhara Paṇḍita with him. The Bhaṭṭācārya told Gadādhara Paṇḍita, “Get up! Such are the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.144

paṇḍitake bhaṭṭera prabodha dāna:—

tumi jāna, kṛṣṇa nija-pratijñā chāḍilā
bhakta kṛpā-vaśe bhīṣmera pratijñā rākhilā

Translation: You should know that Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself violated His own promise just to keep the promise of Grandfather Bhīṣma.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.145

bhakta-pratijñā rakṣaṇārtha bhagavānera svapratijñā-bhaṅga:—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (1/9/37)—

sva-nigamam apahāya mat-pratijñām
ṛtam adhikartum avapluto ratha-sthaḥ
dhṛta-ratha-caraṇo ’bhyayāc calad-gur
harir iva hantum ibhaṁ gatottarīyaḥ

Translation: ‘Intending to make my promise true, Lord Kṛṣṇa broke His own promise not to take up a weapon at Kurukṣetra. With His outer garment falling off, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa jumped from His chariot, picked up a wheel and came running at me to kill me. Indeed, He rushed at me like a lion going to kill an elephant, and He caused the whole earth to tremble.’

Purport: Lord Kṛṣṇa promised not to fight in the Battle of Kurukṣetra or even take up a weapon. But when Bhīṣma wanted to keep his own promise to break the promise of the Lord, the Lord immediately got down from the chariot, and to make Bhīṣma’s promise true He picked up a chariot wheel and rushed forward to kill him. This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.9.37).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in one sense Kṛṣṇa broke His promise because He fought to defend Arjuna and to allow Bhīṣma to have his promise to be fulfilled. But, we may argue that a broken chariot wheel may not be a weapon but certainly in the hands of Kṛṣṇa it was sufficient to kill Bhīṣma. But Bhīṣma having achieved his vow, he surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. All these līlās or pastimes of the Lord are most relishable for the devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.146

prabhukarttṛka paṇḍitera pratijñā rakṣā:—

ei-mata prabhu tomāra viccheda sahiyā
tomāra pratijñā rakṣā kaila yatna kariyā

Translation: Similarly, tolerating separation from you, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has protected your vow with great endeavor.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, just as Kṛṣṇa protected the vow of Bhīṣma, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya is saying that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has protected the vow of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.147

paṇḍitake laiyā bhaṭṭera purīte āgamana:—

ei-mata kahi’ tāṅre prabodha karilā
dui-jane śokākula nīlācale āilā

Translation: In this way Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya revived Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Then both of them, very much grief-stricken, returned to Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.148

kṛṣṇārthe bhaktera anāyāse svadharma-tyāga, kṛṣṇera tāhāte ṛṇa:—

prabhu lāgi’ dharma-karma chāḍe bhakta-gaṇa
bhakta-dharma-hāni prabhura nā haya sahana

Translation: All the devotees would abandon all kinds of duties for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s sake, yet the Lord did not like the devotees’ giving up their promised duties.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, just as in Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa said in the 18th Chapter, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja/ ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ The devotees are prepared to give up all dharmas to serve Kṛṣṇa but Lord Caitanya like that the devotees maintain their dharmas.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.149

bhagavad-virahe bhaktera kātaratāi svābhāvikī, kintu bhaktavirahe bhagavānera kātaratāi ‘prema-vibartta’; tatśravaṇe jīvera caitanya lābha:—

‘premera vivarta’ ihā śune yei jana
acire miliye tāṅre caitanya-caraṇa

Translation: All these are the misgivings of loving affairs. Whoever listens to these incidents gets the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lotus feet very soon.

Jayapatākā Swami: Haribol! So, by hearing these pastimes of the Lord, between His loving devotees and Lord Caitanya, this verse says, very quickly one gets the shelter of the Lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, very soon. So, these are not things that we can understand or question, but they are loving relationships between Lord Caitanya’s devotees and Lord Caitanya.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Asks Gadādhara Paṇḍita to Return to Nīlācala

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