20210913 Seeing the Boyhood Pastime Places Part 3

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation

By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 13^th September 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

Introduction: We are continuing with the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter entitled today is:

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.7.15

praviṣṭaṁ veṇu-nādena kṛṣṇenānītam apy uta
dāvānale madhya-gaṁ ca sva-gaṇaṁ vīkṣya śrī-hariḥ

Translation: “Led by the sound of Kṛṣṇa’s flute, the cows entered the heart of the forest. However, they found themselves surrounded by a forest-fire.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this wild fire suddenly appeared in the forest and endangered all the boys and calves and Kṛṣṇa, He promised that He would always protect His devotees.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.203

tṛṇa-mukhe dhenu dhāya batsa stanasukhī
muralīra gānete mohita mṛga-pākhī

Jayapatākā Swami: The cows with the grass that they were eating, ran with the grass in the mouth and the calves that were sucking their mother’s udders, came with running in that very condition. Not only the cows and the calves, but all the birds, beasts and animals of Vṛndāvana would become charmed by the sweet, captivating sound of Kṛṣṇa’s muralī [flute].

One of the spiritual qualities that Kṛṣṇa have over all the svāṁsas Viṣṇu expansions is His flute. His flute playing is so attractive that all the animals, all the calves and everyone would come running to hear the sound, even the yogis who are meditating in the mountain caves, if they heard the flute, they became overwhelmed with ecstasy.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.7.16

papau kara-talīkṛtyānalaṁ bhakta-jana-priyaḥ
paśya cātra rasajñena śrī-kṛṣṇena kṛtaṁ hi yat

Translation: Seeing His own herd endangered, Śrī Hari, who is affectionate to His devotees, cupped His hands and drank the fire. Behold the spot where Śrī Kṛṣṇa performed this wonderful deed.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa dāsa is taking Lord Caitanya in Vṛndāvana Parikramā, he is showing the place where Kṛṣṇa drank the forest fire.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.204

punaḥ dābānale vyagra bhela śiśugaṇa
dābānala pāna – śiśu mudila nayana

Jayapatākā Swami: Again, the cowherd boys were anxious due the forest fire and Lord Kṛṣṇa swallowing forest fire while the boys closed their eyes.

Kṛṣṇa asked the boys to close their eyes while He consumed the forest fire.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.205

eimate kṛṣṇera vihāra sthāne sthāne
ānande dekhaye gaura-kahaye locane

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way, Lord Kṛṣṇa enjoyed His transcendental pastimes in many places and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt great happiness as He saw these places in Vraja-maṇḍala. Locana Dāsa describes these pastimes.

So, Lord Caitanya was ecstatic to hear all the pastimes of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and He wanted Kṛṣṇa dāsa to go on speaking more and more.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.7.17

tam eva patim icchantyo vrataṁ ceruḥ kumārikāḥ
atraiva yamunā-tīre vastrābharaṇa-rakṣitāḥ

Jayapatākā Swami: “Desiring to get Kṛṣṇa as their husband, the young maidens of Vṛndāvana practiced an austere vow. In this place on the bank of the Yamunā they carefully kept their dresses and ornaments before bathing.”

So, this tells how the gopīs during the Katyāyani pūjā, each one desired to have Lord Kṛṣṇa as their husband.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.206

āre mora aparūpa gaurā
loke bolere kācāṅsoṇāra kiśorā
gopakumārikā vrata kaila eikhāne
kāmya kaila-dāsī haba kṛṣṇera caraṇe

Jayapatākā Swami: “The unmarried gopīs executed vows and worshiped Katyāyanī-devī in order to become Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet’s maidservants.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.207

vastra ābharaṇa tārā thuñā ei ghāṭe
jale nāmbi, snāna tārā karaye lāṅgaṭe

Jayapatākā Swami: Keeping their clothes and ornaments on the bank, they would bathe naked in the Yamunā.

So, this gives the situation prior to Kṛṣṇa stealing their clothes.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.7.18

viśantyo jalam evaitās tato nāgara-śekharaḥ
ādāya tāsāṁ vastrāṇi nīpam āruhya satvaraḥ

Tranalation: “When they entered the water, the crest-jewel of all paramours Lord Kṛṣṇa, snatched their garments and speedily climbed into a kadamba tree.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.208

ācambite vastra-ābharaṇa laiyā hari
nīpataru-pare uṭhi’ hāse dhīri dhīri

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Hari suddenly came and stole their clothes. He climbed up this kadamba tree, sat on the branch and smiled mischievously.

Since all the gopīs had been praying to have Kṛṣṇa as their husband and a maiden, female should not appear naked in front of anyone except their husband, in this way Kṛṣṇa would fulfill all their desires by stealing their clothes.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.7.19

hasati sākhibhiḥ sārdhaṁ tatas tāḥ śīta-vepitāḥ
kṛṣṇaṁ santoṣayām āsuḥ śuddha-bhāvena bhāvitāḥ

Translation: “Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke jestingly, teasing the gopīs who were shivering in the cold water of the Yamunā. Finally, they received back their dresses after pleasing the Lord by their pure consciousness and innocent demeanor.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.209

gopakumārikā stuti aneka yatane
tuṣṭa hañā dila tāre vastra-ābharaṇe

Jayapatākā Swami: The gopīs offered many prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa with attention and being pleased by their prayers, Lord Kṛṣṇa returned their clothing and ornaments.

So, this a famous pastime of Lord Kṛṣṇa stealing the garments of gopīs and they are very simple and devotional, they offered their prayers to Lord Kṛṣṇa and He gave them back their garments.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.7.20

śrī-rāmeṇa samaṁ kṛṣṇas tam uddeśya vanaspatīn
vṛndāraṇya-sthitān atra praśaṁsan yamunāṁ gataḥ

Translation: “Thereafter in the company of Lord Śrī Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa pointed out the worthy qualities of the trees of Vṛndāraṇya. After praising them, they bathed in Yamunā.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Vṛndāvana trees and bushes are all very special , they are especially there to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa so Lord Kṛṣṇa was praising these trees and plants to Lord Balarāma.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.7.21

tato’tra vipra-patnībhyaś cānnam ādāya yajña-bhuk
bubhuje bālakaiḥ sārdhaṁ balenāpi balīyasā

Translation: “Here the enjoyer of all sacrifice accepted gifts of food from the wives of learned brāhmaṇa. He enjoyed them with mighty Balarāma and the cowherd boys.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.210

vṛndāvane praśaṁsaye śiśu sambodhiyā
yajñapatnī-sthāne anna khāila māgiyā

Jayapatākā Swami: “Lord Kṛṣṇa glorified Vṛndāvana by addressing the cowherd boys and here, for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure, the cowherd boys begged food from the wives of the yajnic brāhmaṇas.”

The yajnic brāhmaṇas were not inclined to stop their yajña to feed Lord Kṛṣṇa. although Kṛṣṇa is the enjoyer of all the yajñas and sacrifices. But the wives of the brāhmaṇas, they were eager to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa. So they took this opportunity and served the Lord and then the yajnic brāhmaṇas understood that their wives were more advanced than they were. sSnce Kṛṣṇa was playing the part of a cowherd boy, He would not accept any of the brāhmaṇas wives.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Seeing the Boyhood Pastime Places, Part 3

Under the Section: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana

Transcribed and Verified by JPS Archives 19^th Sep 2021