20210730 Dabira Khāsa and Sākara Mallika Meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Offer Their Prayers Part 1

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 30h 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:

Dabira Khāsa and Sākara Mallika Meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Offer Their Prayers Part 1

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

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 175

śrī-rūpake prabhura viṣaye bādasāhera jijñāsā:—

dabira khāsere rājā puchila nibhṛte
gosāñira mahimā teṅho lāgila kahite

In private, the King inquired from Dabira Khāsa [Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī], who began to speak about the glories of the Lord.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 176

śrī-rūpera prabhu-māhātmya-kīrtana:—

ye tomāre rājya dila, ye tomāra gosāñā
tomāra deśe tomāra bhāgye janmilā āsiñā

Translation: Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī said, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who gave you this kingdom and whom you accept as a prophet, has taken birth in your country due to your good fortune.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Rūpa Gosvāmī was known as Dabira Khāsa, he was the finance minister of Hussain Shah, so he had the possibility to regularly meet the king. So, he gave this nice presentation how the King was so fortunate that Lord Caitanya had appeared in his kingdom.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 177

tomāra maṅgala vāñche, kārya-siddhi haya
ihāra āśīrvāde tomāra sarvatra-i jaya

Translation: This prophet always desires your good fortune. By His grace, all your business is successful. By His blessings, you will attain victory everywhere.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this things were much appreciated by the King, so Dabira Khāsa by presenting Lord Caitanya in this way, he inspired the King to give Him protection

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 178

bādasāhake praśaṁsā:—

more kena pucha, tumi pucha āpana-mana
tumi narādhipa hao viṣṇu-aṁśa sama

Translation: Why are you questioning me? Better that you question your own mind. Because you are the King of the people, you are the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore you can understand this better than I.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the King is also known as nara-deva, that he is a human representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as the Supreme Personality of Godhead protects all the people, so the King protects his subjects.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 179

tomāra citte caitanyere kaiche haya jñāna
tomāra citte yei laya, sei ta’ pramāṇa

Translation: Thus, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī informed the King about his mind as a way of knowing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He assured the King that whatever occurred in his mind could be considered evidence.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 180

prabhuke īśvara baliyā bādasāhera jñāna:—

rājā kahe, śuna, mora mane yei laya
sākṣāt īśvara ihaṅ nāhika saṁśaya

Translation: The King replied, “I consider Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There is no doubt about it.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Nawab Hussain Shah had this realization after hearing the characteristics about Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 181

eta kahi’ rājā gelā nija abhyantare
tabe dabira khāsa āilā āpanāra ghare

Translation: After having this conversation with Rūpa Gosvāmī, the King entered his private house. Rūpa Gosvāmī, then known as Dabira Khāsa, also returned to his residence.

Purport: A monarch is certainly a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, sarva-loka-maheśvaram: the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the proprietor of all planetary systems. In each and every planet there must be some king, governmental head or executive. Such a person is supposed to be the representative of Lord Viṣṇu. On behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he must see to the interests of all the people. Therefore Lord Viṣṇu, as Paramātmā, gives the king all intelligence to execute governmental affairs. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī therefore asked the King what was in his mind concerning Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and indicated that whatever the King thought about Him was correct.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 182

śrī-rūpa-sanātanera parāmarśa:—

ghare āsi’ dui bhāi yukati kariñā
prabhu dekhibāre cale veśa lukāñā

Translation: After returning to his residence, Dabira Khāsa and his brother decided after much consideration to go see the Lord incognito.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 183

ubhayera prabhu-darśane gamana o nitāi-haridāsa-saha sarvāgre milana:—

ardha-rātre dui bhāi āilā prabhu-sthāne
prathame mililā nityānanda-haridāsa sane

Translation: Thus in the dead of night the two brothers, Dabira Khāsa and Sākara Mallika, went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu incognito. First they met Nityānanda Prabhu and Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way they went to see Lord Caitanya and get His blessings.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 184

tāṅrā dui-jana jānāilā prabhura gocare
rūpa, sākara-mallika āilā tomā’ dekhibāre

Translation: Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and Haridāsa Ṭhākura told Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that two personalities — Śrī Rūpa and Sanātana — had come to see Him.

Purport: Sākara Mallika was the name of Sanātana Gosvāmī, and Dabira Khāsa was the name of Rūpa Gosvāmī. They were recognized by these names in the service of the Muslim king; therefore these are Muslim names. As officials, the brothers adopted all kinds of Muslim customs. Since Sanātana was the Prime Minister and Rūpa Gosvāmī was the finance minister, therefore they went in disguise, so that they would not be seen. They went to see Lord Caitanya to gain His audience.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 3.18.1

Then surrounded by the bhaktas, Śrī Kṛṣṇa went to the town of Rāmakeli. When Sanātana heard of this, he came to see the feet of Mahāprabhu.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 3.18.2

Seeing the Lord, his heart became much engladdened. Sanātana and his younger brother, Rūpa, fell to the earth before Mahāprabhu, holding grass in their teeth, and they addressed Lord Gaura Keśava:

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 185

ubhayera dainya-jñāpana:—

dui guccha tṛṇa duṅhe daśane dhariñā
gale vastra bāndhi’ paḍe daṇḍavat hañā

Translation: In great humility, both brothers took bunches of straw between their teeth and, each binding a cloth around his neck, fell down like rods before the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: Although they were highly paid ministers, before Lord Caitanya they humbled themselves by putting a straw between their teeth and they offered their prostrate obeisances before Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 186

dainya rodana kare, ānande vihvala
prabhu kahe, — uṭha, uṭha, ha-ila maṅgala

Translation: Upon seeing Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the two brothers were overwhelmed with joy, and out of humility they began to cry. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked them to get up and assured them of all good fortune

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by meeting Lord Caitanya Sanātana and Rūpa felt joy in their hearts, they were overflowing with humility and devotion, they were crying and Lord Caitanya was blessing them and reassuring them.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 187

śrī-rūpa-sanātanera dainya o stava:—

uṭhi’ dui bhāi tabe dante tṛṇa dhari
dainya kari’ stuti kare karayoḍa kari

Translation: The two brothers got up, and again taking straw between their teeth, they humbly offered their prayers with folded hands.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 188

jaya jaya śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya dayā-maya
patita-pāvana jaya, jaya mahāśaya

Translation: All glories to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the most merciful savior of the fallen souls! All glories to the Supreme Personality!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 189

nīca-jāti, nīca-saṅgī, kari nīca kāja
tomāra agrete prabhu kahite vāsi lāja

Translation: Sir, we belong to the lowest class of men, and our associates and employment are also of the lowest type. Therefore we cannot introduce ourselves to You. We feel very much ashamed, standing here before You.

Purport: Although the two brothers, Rūpa and Sanātana (at that time Dabira Khāsa and Sākara Mallika), presented themselves as being born in a low family, they nonetheless belonged to a most respectable brāhmaṇa family that was originally from Karṇāṭa. Thus they actually belonged to the brāhmaṇa caste. Unfortunately, because of being associated with the Muslim governmental service, their customs and behavior resembled those of the Muslims. Therefore they presented themselves as nīca-jāti. The word jāti means birth. According to śāstra, there are three kinds of birth. The first birth is from the womb of the mother, the second birth is the acceptance of the reformatory method, and the third birth is acceptance by the spiritual master (initiation). One becomes abominable by adopting an abominable profession or by associating with people who are naturally abominable. Rūpa and Sanātana, as Dabira Khāsa and Sākara Mallika, associated with Muslims, who were naturally opposed to brahminical culture and cow protection. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Seventh Canto) it is stated that every person belongs to a certain classification. A person is identifiable by the special symptoms mentioned in the śāstras. By one’s symptoms, one is known to belong to a certain caste. Both Dabira Khāsa and Sākara Mallika belonged to the brāhmaṇa caste, but because they were employed by Muslims, their original habits degenerated into those of the Muslim community. Since the symptoms of brahminical culture were almost nil, they identified themselves with the lowest caste. In the Bhakti-ratnākara it is clearly stated that because Sākara Mallika and Dabira Khāsa associated with lower-class men, they introduced themselves as belonging to the lower classes. Actually, however, they had been born in respectable brāhmaṇa families.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sākara Mallika and Dabira Khāsa presented themselves very humbly before Lord Caitanya mahaprabhu and thus Lord Caitanya is known as patita-pāvana, deliverer of the most fallen . Indirectly they are saying that they were candidates for His mercy.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 3.18.3
&
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 190

Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.154) —

mat-tulyo nāsti pāpātmā nāparādhī ca kaścana
parihāre ’pi lajjā me kiṁ bruve puruṣottama

Translation: Dear Lord, let us inform you that no one is more sinful than us, nor is there any offender like us. Even if we wanted to mention our sinful activities, we would immediately become ashamed. And what to speak of giving them up!’ ”

Purport: This verse is from the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.154), by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the two brothers Rupa and Sanatana, had presented themselves very humbly before Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 191

patita-pāvana-hetu tomāra avatāra
āmā-ba-i jagate, patita nāhi āra

Translation: The two brothers submitted, “Dear Lord, You have incarnated to deliver the fallen souls. You should consider that in this world there is none so fallen as us.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows that they are appealing for Lord Caitanya’s mercy. This is the example of the most exalted souls, although they were most exalted they present themselves as most fallen and thus begged for the Lord’s mercy.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 192

jagāi-mādhāike apekṣākṛta laghupāpi-jñāna:—

jagāi-mādhāi dui karile uddhāra
tāhāṅ uddhārite śrama nahila tomāra

Translation: You have delivered the two brothers Jagāi and Mādhāi, but to deliver them You did not have to exert Yourself very much.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 193

brāhmaṇa-jāti tārā, navadvīpe ghara
nīca-sevā nāhi kare, nahe nīcera kūrpara

Translation: The brothers Jagāi and Mādhāi belonged to the brāhmaṇa caste, and their residence was in the holy place of Navadvīpa. They never served low-class persons, nor were they instruments to abominable activities.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, as the ministers of Nawab they had to assist the Nawab in his abominable activities.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1. 194

nāmābhāsei tāhādera pāpanāśa o uddhāra:—

sabe eka doṣa tāra, haya pāpācāra
pāpa-rāśi dahe nāmābhāsei tomāra

Translation: Jagāi and Mādhāi had but one fault — they were addicted to sinful activity. However, volumes of sinful activity can be burned to ashes simply by a dim reflection of the chanting of Your holy name.

Purport: Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī presented themselves as being lower than the two brothers Jagāi and Mādhāi, who were delivered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When Rūpa and Sanātana compared themselves to Jagāi and Mādhāi, they found themselves inferior because the Lord had no trouble in delivering two drunken brothers. This was so because, despite the fact that they were addicted to sinful activity, in other ways their life was brilliant. They belonged to the brāhmaṇa caste of Navadvīpa, and such brāhmaṇas were pious by nature. Although they had been addicted to some sinful activities due to bad association, those unwanted things could vanish simply because of the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. Another point for Jagāi and Mādhāi was that, as members of a brāhmaṇa family, they did not accept service under anyone. The śāstras strictly forbid a brāhmaṇa to accept service under anyone. The idea is that by accepting a master, one accepts the occupation of a dog. In other words, a dog cannot thrive without having a master, and for the sake of pleasing the master, dogs offend many people. They bark at innocent people just to please the master. Similarly, when one is a servant, he has to perform abominable activities according to the orders of the master. Therefore, when Dabira Khāsa and Sākara Mallika compared their position to that of Jagāi and Mādhāi, they found Jagāi’s and Mādhāi’s position far better. Jagāi and Mādhāi never accepted the position of serving a low-class person, nor were they forced to execute abominable activities under the order of a low-class master. Jagāi and Mādhāi chanted the name of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by way of blasphemy, but because they simply chanted His name, they immediately became free from the reactions of sinful activities. Thus later they were saved.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sākara Mallika and Dābira Khāsa, Sanātana and Rūpa presented their position as much worse than Jagāi and Mādhāi. Although Jagāi and Mādhāi voluntarily did many sinful activities, they said that these reactions for these sins can be neutralized even by accidentally chanting the holy name and in this way they were glorifying the position of Jagāi and Madhāi in comparison to their lowly position. They have to serve a master who had no higher principles.