20210728 Nawab Hussain Shah Bādasāha Orders That Lord Caitanya Should Be Undistubed to Do as He Likes and the Saṅkīrtana Not be Stopped

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 28th July 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:

Nawab Hussain Shah Bādasāha Orders That Lord Caitanya Should Be Undistubed to Do as He Likes and the Saṅkīrtana Not be Stopped

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

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.169

vinā dāne eta loka yāṅra pāche haya
sei ta’ gosāñā, ihā jāniha niścaya

Translation: The wonderstruck Nawab Hussain Shah Bādasāha said, “Such a person, who is followed by so many people without giving them charity, must be a prophet. I can surely understand this fact.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.170

kājī, yavana ihāra nā kariha hiṁsana
āpana-icchāya buluna, yāhāṅ uṅhāra mana

Translation: The Muslim king ordered the magistrate, “Do not disturb this Hindu prophet out of jealousy. Let Him do His own will wherever He likes.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Nawab Hussain Shah realized that Lord Caitanya was like a Hindu Prophet, that He was a great spiritual person and that He should not be disturbed

Purport: Even a Muslim king could understand Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s transcendental position as a prophet; therefore he ordered the local magistrate not to disturb Him but to let Him do whatever He liked.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.171

keśava-chatrīre rājā vārtā puchila
prabhura mahimā chatrī uḍāiyā dila

Translation: When the Muslim king asked his assistant, Keśava Chatrī, for news of the influence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Keśava Chatrī, although knowing everything about Caitanya Mahāprabhu, tried to avoid the conversation by not giving any importance to Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s activities.

Purport: Keśava Chatrī became a diplomat when questioned about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Although he knew everything about Him, he was afraid that the Muslim king might become His enemy. He gave no importance to the Lord’s activities so that the Muslim king would take Him to be an ordinary man and would not give Him any trouble.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, for the Muslim King it was a very important point, he said that He was not giving any charity. In other words, He was not giving any material incentive, but still people were following Him. So he could understand that He must be spiritual. When he asked his Hindu-Minister Keśava Chatrī, the Hindu Minister downplayed Lord Caitanya’s importance although he knew better. But He did not want to somehow attract the King's enmity. But Nawab Hussain Shah, he had a different vision

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.48

keśava khāṅnake prabhura viṣaye rājāra praśna—

keśava-khānere rājāḍākiyā āniyāji
jñāsaye rājā baḍa vismita haiyā

Translation: The King then summoned Keśava Khān and inquired from him in great wonder.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.49

“kahata keśava-khāṅna, ki mata tomāra
‘śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya’ ‘bali’ nāma bala yāṅra

Translation: Tell me, Keśava Khān, what is your opinion about the person named Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya?

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.50

ke-mata tāṅhāra kathā, ke-mata manuṣya
ke-mata gosāñi tiṅho, kahibā avaśya

Translation: Tell me, what does He preach, what kind of person is He, and what kind of sannyāsī is He?

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.51

catur-dike thāki' loka tāṅhāre dekhite
ki nimitte āise—kahibā bhāla-mate”

Translation: Also tell me clearly why people come from the four directions to see Him.”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.52

bādasāhera nikaṭa keśava chetrīra prabhura mahimā gopana—

śuniyā keśava khāṅna—parama sajjana
bhaya pāi' lukāiyā kahena kathana

Translation: When the most pious Keśava Khān heard these questions, he became worried and spoke in a way to suppress the truth.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.53

“ke bale `gosāñi'?—eka bhikṣuka sannyāsī
deśāntarī garība-vṛkṣera talavāsī”

Translation: Who says He is a Gosāñi or Prophet? He is just a mendicant sannyāsī. He is a poor fellow from another country who lives under trees.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 172

bhikhārī sannyāsī kare tīrtha paryaṭana
tāṅre dekhibāre āise dui cāri jana

Translation: Keśava Chatrī informed the Muslim king that Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a mendicant touring different places of pilgrimage and that, as such, only a few people came to see Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Keśava Chatrī tried to minimize the position of Lord Caitanya, thinking that the Nawab would become envious if he glorified Him too much.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 173

yavane tomāra ṭhāñi karaye lāgāni
tāṅra hiṁsāya lābha nāhi, haya āra hāni

Translation: Keśava Chatrī said, “Out of jealousy your Muslim servant plots against Him. I think that you should not be very interested in Him, for there is no profit in it. Rather, there is simply loss.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 174

rājāre prabodhi’ keśava brāhmaṇa pāṭhāñā
calibāra tare prabhure pāṭhāila kahiñā

Translation: After pacifying the King in this way, Keśava Chatrī sent a brāhmaṇa messenger to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, requesting Him to leave without delay.

Jayapatākā Swami: Keśava Chatrī was very fearful for the well-being of Lord Caitanya, so He want Him to leave.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.54

mahāprabhura aiśvaryollekha pūrvaka rājāra prabhuke ‘īśvara’ baliyā pratīti—

rājā bale,—“garība nā bala kabhu tāne
mahādoṣa haya ihāśunile śravaṇe

Translation: The King said, “Don't ever call Him poor, for it is a great offense to hear such a description.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.55

hindu yāṅre bale ‘kṛṣṇa’, `khodāya' yavane
se-i tiṅho, niścaya jāniha sarva-jane

Translation: Know for certain that He is the same personality whom the Hindus address as Kṛṣṇa and the Yavanas address as Khodā.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Nawab understood that Lord Caitanya was non-different from Kṛṣṇa or non-different from Allah.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.56

āpanāra rājye se āmāra ājñā rahe
tāṅra ājñāśire kari' sarva-deśe vahe

Translation: My order is carried out only in my kingdom, but His order is respectfully carried out in all places.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Muslim King understood that Lord Caitanya’s transcendental instructions were carried out everywhere. But his authority was limited to his kingdom.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.57

ei nija rājyei āmāre kata jane
manda karibāre lāgiyāche mane mane

Translation: Even some persons in my own kingdom have begun conspiring to harm me.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.58

tāṅhāre sakala deśe kāya-vākya-mane
īśvara nahile vinā-arthe bhaje kene?

Translation: But the people of all places respect Him with their body, mind, and speech. Why should they worship Him if He were not God?

Jayapatākā Swami: Sometimes it is said that the King is the representative of God, that he is given him some special insight. We see here that he had some special realization that Lord Caitanya was non-different from God.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.59-60

prabhura sahita bādasā-kartṛka ātmatulanāmūle prabhura parameśvara sthāpana—

chaya māsa āji āmi jīvikā nā dile
nānā yukti karibeka sevaka-sakale

āpanāra khāi' loka tāhāne sevite
cāhe, tāhā keha nāhi pāya bhāla-mate

Translation: If I do not provide salaries to my servants for six months, they will conspire against me in various ways. Yet these people maintain themselves and still desire to serve Him, even though they do not get a proper opportunity.

Purport by (Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura): When the Yavana king developed a doubt about Mahāprabhu, he summoned one of his servants named Keśava Khān and asked him about the Lord. In reply, Keśava said, “Mahāprabhu is a very poor foreigner.” Hussain Shah then said, “If I stop paying my servants for six months, they will not remain loyal to me. But in this case I can see that on the order of Mahāprabhu, His servants exhibit enthusiasm to serve Him without salary. They follow His orders while arranging their own food and shelter. My order is followed only in my kingdom, but even though He is a foreigner His order is being followed in my country.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the King understood that everything in the kingdom runs on him paying the people, if he didn’t pay the people, they would not serve him. But Lord Caitanya He did not pay anyone, but everyone is very enthusiastic and ready to serve Him. So the Nawab could understand that He must have some spiritual potency

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.61

ataeva tiṅho satya jāniha ‘īśvara’
 ‘garība’ kariyātāne nā bala uttara”

Translation: Therefore know for certain that He is the Supreme Lord. Do not call Him 'poor'.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Keśava Chatrīs response was not accepted by the King.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.62

śrī-mahāprabhura yatheccha vihāra o saṅkīrtanādite konao prakāra vādhā pradatta nā haya, tajjanya bādasāhera sarvatra ādeśa-pradāna—

rājā bale,—“ei muñi baliluṅ sabāre
keha yadi upadrava karaye tāṅhāre

Translation: The King then said, “I order that no one should disturb Him in any way.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows that Nawab Hussain Shah Bādshah is a very pious person and that by his order no one should disturb Lord Caitanya. But some of his Hindu ministers like Keśava Khan were worried that he might change his mind therefore they are requesting Lord Caitanya to leave .

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.63

yekhane tāhāna icchā, thākuna sekhāne
āpanāra śāstra-mata karuna vidhāne

Translation: Let Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya stay wherever He desires, and let Him preach the teachings of His scriptures in whatever way He wants.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.64

sarva-loka lai' sukhe karuna kīrtana
virale thākuna, kibā yena laya mana

Translation: Let Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya peacefully perform kīrtana with His followers and let Him stay in a solitary place or anywhere else He likes.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Nawab could understand that he is not in any political danger if Lord Caitanya chants and preaches His scriptures.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.65

kāji vā koṭāla kibā hau kona jana
kichu balilei tāra laimu jīvana

Translation: If anyone attempts to oppose Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, I will take his life, whether he is a Kazi or a constable. 

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Nawab is very convinced not to allow anyone to harm Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 4.66

ei ājñā kari' rājā gelā abhyantara
hena raṅga kare prabhu śrī-gaurasundara

Translation: After the King issued this order, he went inside his palace. Such are the pastimes of Lord Śrī Gaurasundara.

Jayapatākā Swami: It seems that the King is worried that if a Prophet has visited his capital or his kingdom that He should not be disturbed and that will bring some negative reaction to him. So, he passed the order that no one should disturb Lord Caitanya and let Him peacefully perform His religious duties.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Nawab Hussain Shah Bādasāha Orders That Lord Caitanya Should Be Undisturbed to Do as He Likes and the Saṅkīrtana Not be Stopped.

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