20210829 Discussion Between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and The Sanoḍiyā Brāhmaṇa Part 1

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on August 29th, 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:

Discussion Between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and The Sanoḍiyā Brāhmaṇa Part 1
Under the Section: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana

Caitanya-Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.47’

divāniśi nāhi jāne—āche sei khāne 
samvedana nāhi prabhu-āche tina dine

Jayapatākā Swami: He did not know day or night and stayed there. Lord Caitanya stayed there unconscious for three days.

In Mathurā Lord Caitanya was ecstatic and He remained almost unconscious, So He was overwhelmed in ecstasy for being in the birth place of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.2.9

Translation: A certain eminent brāhmaṇa was observing these activities of Śrī Gaurahari. Suddenly his own composure also became wholly shattered by emotions of kṛṣṇa-prema. As that fortunate soul fell at the feet of Gaura Jagadīśvara, his voice became choked, and his hair-follicles erupted.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, a brāhmaṇa he was observing Lord Caitanya and then Lord Caitanya’s ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa entered into that brāhmaṇa and he became also ecstatic and his hairs stood on end.

Caitanya-Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.48-49

gatāgati kare loka dekhaye āścaryya 
kṛṣṇadāsa nāme eka āche dvijavarya

prabhure dekhiyā sei mane mane 
kothā haite āilā ei puruṣaratane

Translation: People passing by saw this wonderful condition of Lord Caitanya. Kṛṣṇadāsa, an exalted brāhmaṇa seeing Lord Caitanya thought, “Where has such a crest jewel personality come from?”

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇadāsa he was wondering where this jewel of a person come from? He was astonished to see the symptoms of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.50

baḍa bhāgye dekhilāṅ ihāra caraṇa 
ei śuka, prahalāda kibā hena laya mana

Translation: “I’m so fortunate to see this person’s lotus feet. To the mind, He seems to be Śukadeva or Prahlāda.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.2.10

Translation: The Lord said, "May I know your grace's identity? By the influence of good fortune, I have seen your composure devastated by the symptoms of prema." That vaiṣṇava, his heart engladdened, replied to Prabhu, "O Bhagavān! O ocean of mercy! I am Your eternal servant.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the brāhmaṇa immediately accepted the shelter of the Lotus feet of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.51

premāya vihvala prabhu puchila tāhāre 
ki nāma tomāra kaha śuna dvijabare

Translation: Overwhelmed by ecstatic love, Lord Caitanya asked him, "O best of the brāhmaṇa, what is your name? Please tell me, the best of the brāhmaṇas?" 

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was asking this best of the brāhmaṇas his identity because He saw that the brāhmaṇa had also experienced ecstatic symptoms of prema.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.2.11

Translation: “Eventhough I am known as Kṛṣṇadāsa, but by name only do I have that honor. However, I am now rendered fortunate by Your darśana. O jewel of compassion! Kindly purify me with the dust from the feet of the Vaiṣṇavas, O youthful son of Nanda! Gaura!”

Jayapatākā Swami: Somehow this Kṛṣṇadāsa has recognized Lord Caitanya as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.52

brāhmaṇa kahaye-śuna, śuna, nyāsibara 
kṛṣṇadāsa nāma mora-karila uttara

Translation:: The brāhmaṇa said, “Listen, listen, the best of the sannyāsīs; My name is Kṛṣṇadāsa.” He replied thus.

Jayapatākā Swami: Here it is said that although his name is Kṛṣṇa dāsa, he doesn’t feel qualified but by meeting Lord Caitanya he could get His blessings.

Caitanya-Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.53

e bola śuniñā prabhu aṭṭa aṭṭa hāsa 
kṛṣṇera sakali jāna tumi kṛṣṇadāsa

Jayapatākā Swami: Hearing this, Lord Caitanya laughed very loudly. Then He said, "Oh, Kṛṣṇadāsa! You know everything about Lord Kṛṣṇa, therefore you are Kṛṣṇa dāsa.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.2.12

Translation: Hearing this, Śrī Gaura Prabhu became immersed in a sea of transcendental bliss and said, “Most certainly You are a bona fide servant of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, indeed you are conversant with the confidential pastimes of Kṛṣṇa's dhāma. O pure soul! Kindly narrate all of them to Me.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, it is said that one should visit the holy dhāma and hear from the exalted sādhūs who are present there, hear the glories of the holy dhāma. So, Lord Caitanya is asking the brāhmaṇa, to tell Him the glories of Vṛndāvana dhāma.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.164

sei viprera premadarśane paricaya-jijñāsā

tabe mahāprabhu sei brāhmaṇe lañā 
tāṅhāre puchilā kichu nibhṛte vasiyā

Translation: After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took the brāhmaṇa aside. Sitting in a solitary place, the Lord began to question him.

Jayapatākā Swami: Here detail is given that the Lord took him aside to a solitary place and there asked him different questions.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.165

‘ārya, sarala, tumi—vṛddha brāhmaṇa 
kāhāṅ haite pāile tumi ei prema-dhana?’

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “You are an elderly brāhmaṇa, you are sincere, and you are advanced in spiritual life. Wherefrom have you gotten this transcendental opulence of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa?”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, its very rare to see someone with ecstatic prema and that Lord Caitanya could recognize that this brāhmaṇa was advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So He was asking him, where did he get such a blessing?

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.166

svīya gurudeva śrī-mādhavendrera paricaya-pradāna:—

vipra kahe,—‘śrīpāda śrī-mādhavendra-purī 
bhramite bhramite āilā mathurā-nagarī

Translation: The brāhmaṇa replied, “His Holiness Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī came to the city of Mathurā while he was on tour.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.167

kṛpā kari’ teṅho mora nilaye āilā 
more śiṣya kari’ mora hāte ‘bhikṣā’ kailā

Translation: “While at Mathurā, Śrīpāda Mādhavendra Purī visited my house and accepted me as a disciple. He even took lunch at my home.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa he revealed that he had taken initiation from Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, that’s why he was showing such ecstasy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.168

gopāla prakaṭa kari’ sevā kaila ‘mahāśaya’ 
adyāpiha tāṅhāra sevā ‘govardhane’ haya

Translation: “After installing the Deity of Gopāla, Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī rendered Him service. That very Deity is still being worshiped at Govardhana Hill.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa dāsa, he knows the pastimes of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī and how the deity of Gopāla is there on the Govardhana hill.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.169

gurujñāne prabhura viprake vandanā, viprera bhaya o santramabhare prabhu-praṇāma:—

śuni’ prabhu kaila tāṅra caraṇa vandana 
bhaya pāñā prabhu-pāya paḍilā brāhmaṇa

Translation: As soon as Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard about Mādhavendra Purī’s relationship with the brāhmaṇa, He immediately offered obeisances at his feet. Becoming fearful, the brāhmaṇa also immediately fell at the Lord’s feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya was a grand disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī when He heard that the brāhmaṇa was the disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, he immediately offered respects. But since He was a sannyāsī, the brāhmaṇa felt fearful and immediately touched the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.170

maryādā- rakṣaka prabhura gurusamīpe dīnatā pradarśana:—

prabhu kahe,—“tumi ‘guru’, āmi ‘śiṣya’-prāya 
‘guru’ hañā ’śiṣye’ namaskāra nā yuyāya”

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “You are on the platform of My spiritual master, and I am your disciple. Since you are My spiritual master, it is not befitting that you offer Me obeisances.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was taking the external position of the grand disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī and since the brāhmaṇa was also a disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī like Lord Caitanya’s guru Īśvara Purī, therefore He considered this brāhmaṇa as Guru-varga, as the same level as the spiritual master, therefore He shouldn’t be offering Lord Caitanya obeisances.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.171

viprera bhaya o dainya-jñāpana:—

śuniyā vismita vipra kahe bhaya pāñā 
aiche bāt kaha kene sannyāsī hañā

Translation: Upon hearing this, the brāhmaṇa became afraid. He then said, “Why do You speak like this? You are a sannyāsī."

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the brāhmaṇa doesn’t know all the background of Lord Caitanya’s initiation from the disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī. So, he doesn’t understand why the Lord is saying this.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.172

prabhuke mādhavendrasaha sambandhayukta baliyā viprera anumāna:—

kintu tomāra prema dekhi’ mane anumāni 
mādhavendra-purīra ’sambandha’ dhara—jāni

Translation: “Upon seeing Your ecstatic love, I can just imagine that You must have some relationship with Mādhavendra Purī. This is my understanding.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrī Mādhavendra Purī was one who introduce, prema-bhakti, pure loving ecstasy in the Brahmā-Madhva-sampradāya. So, therefore Lord Caitanya estimated that this brāhmaṇa must have some connection with Śrī Mādhavendra Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.173

mādhavendra-sambandha vyatīta anyatra kṛṣṇapremā alabhya:—

kṛṣṇa-premā tāṅhā, yāṅhā tāṅhāra ‘sambandha’ 
tāhāṅ vinā ei premāra kāhāṅ nāhi gandha

Translation: “This kind of ecstatic love can be experienced only when one has a relationship with Mādhavendra Purī. Without him, even a scent of such transcendental ecstatic love is impossible.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, spontaneous Kṛṣṇa-prema ecstatic love is only possible by having some relationship with Śrī Mādhavendra Purī. So, fortunate are the devotees of ISKCON who are coming in the line Śrī Mādhavendra Purī. Therefore, it is possible that they can awaken their dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.174

bhaṭṭakarttṛka prabhura guruparicaya pradāna:—

tabe bhaṭṭācārya tāre ‘sambandha’ kahili 
śuni’ ānandita vipra nācite lāgila

Translation: Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya then explained the relationship between Mādhavendra Purī and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. After hearing this, the brāhmaṇa became very pleased and began to dance.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when he heard that Lord Caitanya was also in the line of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, he became very happy and he began to dance.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.175

prabhuke svagṛhe ānayana o sevana:—

tabe vipra prabhure lañā āilā nija-ghare 
āpana-icchāya prabhura nānā sevā kare

Translation: The brāhmaṇa then took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home and, out of his own free will, began to serve the Lord in various ways.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇadāsa after getting the mercy of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, he also got the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.176

viprera sadainya bhaṭṭadvārā annapāka, śuddhabhaktira anukūla daiva varṇāśrama-dharmma-pālaka prabhura yathārtha śāstra-tātparya-kīrtanadvārā
lokaśikṣā-pradāna :—

bhikṣā lāgi’ bhaṭṭācārye karāilā randhana 
tabe mahāprabhu hāsi’ balilā vacana

Translation: He asked Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya to cook Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lunch. At that time the Lord, smiling, spoke as follows.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.177

purīra kṛpālabdha vipragṛhe prabhura bhikṣābhilāṣa:—

“purī-gosāñi tomāra ghare karyāchena bhikṣā 
more tumi bhikṣā deha,—ei mora ’śikṣā’”

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Mādhavendra Purī has already taken lunch at your place. Therefore you may cook and give Me the food. That is My instruction.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa initially told Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya to cook for Lord Caitanya. But Lord Caitanya said that “Śrī Mādhavendra Purī has taken prasāda in your house so you can cook and I will eat your prasāda.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.178

ācāryera ācaraṇai lokera ādarśa:—

Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītāya (3/21)—

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas 
tat tad evetaro janaḥ 
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute 
lokas tad anuvartate

Translation: “Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.”

Purport: This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (3.21).

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Śrī Mādhavendra Purī has taken his prasāda there, Lord Caitanya was willing to follow his example.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 17.179

śaukrakula-sambandhe sei vipra—abhojyānna:—

yadyapi ‘sanoḍiyā’ haya seita brāhmaṇa 
sanoḍiyā-ghare sannyāsī nā kare bhojana

The brāhmaṇa belonged to the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa community, and a sannyāsī does not accept food from such a brāhmaṇa.

Purport: In northwestern India, vaiśyas are divided into various subdivisions. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura points out that they are divided as Āgarwālā, Kālawāra and Sānwāḍa. Out of them, the Āgarwālās are said to be first-class vaiśyas, and the Kālawāras and Sānwāḍas are considered lower due to their occupational degradation. The Kālawāras generally take wine and other intoxicants. Although they are vaiśyas, they are considered to belong to a lower class. The priests who guide the Kālawāras and the Sānwāḍas are called Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇas. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura states that the word sānoyāḍa in Bengal indicates suvarṇa-vaṇik. In Bengal there are priests who guide the suvarṇa-vaṇik community, which is also considered a low class. There is little difference between the Sānwāḍas and the suvarṇa-vaṇiks. Generally the suvarṇa-vaṇiks are bankers dealing in gold and silver. In western India, the Āgarwālās also belong to the banking profession. This is the original business of the suvarṇa-vaṇik or Āgarwālā community. Historically, the Āgarwālās came from the up-country named Ayodha, and the suvarṇa-vaṇik community also came from Ayodha. It therefore appears that the suvarṇa-vaṇiks and the Āgarwālās belong to the same community. The Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇas were the guides of the Kālawāras and Sānwāḍas. They are therefore considered to be lower-class brāhmaṇas, and a sannyāsī is not allowed to take alms or food from them. However, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted lunch cooked by a Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa simply because he belonged to Mādhavendra Purī’s community. Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī was the spiritual master of Īśvara Purī, who was the spiritual master of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus, a spiritual relationship is established on the spiritual platform, without consideration of material inferiority or superiority.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya considered the spiritual relationship more important than the varṇāśrama relationship. Since the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa was a disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, He accepted him as suitable to take food at. It is interesting to note that Śrīla Prabhupāda also comes in the dynasty of suvarṇa-vaṇiks, and He is a descendant of one of the associates of Lord Nityānanda, who lived in Ādī-Saptagrāma, he is a disciple and Śrīla Prabhupāda comes in that family line. All these external things are not considered, but the spiritual position of a Vaiṣṇava is more important. So, Lord Caitanya taught this by His personal example, and also Śrī Mādhavendra Purī taught this by his example

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Discussion Between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and The Sanoḍiyā Brāhmaṇa, Part 1