20211007 Lord Caitanya is Forcibly Taken Out of Vṛndāvana

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on October 7th, 2021 in Sri Dhama Mayapur, 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. Today's chapter is entitled :

Lord Caitanya is Forcibly Taken Out of Vṛndāvana

Under the Section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 1.240

vṛndāvane premonmāda, pare mathurā haiyā prayāga

līlā-sthala dekhi’ preme ha-ilā asthira
balabhadra kaila tāṅre mathurāra bāhira

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited all twelve places of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, He became very much agitated because of ecstasy. Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya somehow or other got Him out of Mathurā.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya became so agitated by intense loving ecstasy for Kṛṣṇa that Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, His servant had to get Him out of Vṛndāvana, keep the lord out of Vṛndāvana as soon as possible since, His ecstasy was uncontrollable.

 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.132: Men bringing news: They (the men who travelled with the Lord) told us that the Lord suddenly saw somewhere the beauty of a peacock’s neck that was blissful due to happiness, and He fell down, rolled about on the ground, trembled, cried out, ran to and fro, wept, and fainted unconscious.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this illustrates some of the intense ecstasy of Lord Caitanya. So, this Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya felt anxious for the welfare of the lord.

 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.133: Translation: Once when Lord Caitanya saw calves running in Vṛndāvana forest with tails raised He fainted in ecstasy and fell into thorn bushes by the roadside and all of his limbs were pierced by the thorns.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya’s servants were very concerned, the Lord in His ecsatasy would harm Himself.

 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.134: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Then? One time on the edge of the bushes He suddenly fainted and fell to the ground in ecstasy. Then the deer licked the foam from His mouth and the birds drank the tears that had fallen from His eyes.

Jayapatākā Swami: What mercy these brds and deers were receiving, taking the foam from Lord Caitanyas mouth and His tears from His eyes. the animals would get Kṛṣṇa-prema.

 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.136: Translation: Once, although he fell on Govardhana Hill and His body became broken, because He was drowning in the nectarean ocean of ecstatic love, He was not aware that He was hurt.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was not aware that His body was being broken and injured because He was absorbed in ecstasy of love of Kṛṣṇa. But His servants were very concerned with the welfare of the Lord.

 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.137: Translation: When Lord Caitanya saw forest after forest and the bushes, without restraint lamented loudly out of love. Seeing this, the trees and vines also cried, and the birds fainted as if being attacked.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Kṛṣṇa is Krsna in the mood of Rādhārānī, seeing these sacred places of Vṛndāvana He fainted in great ecstasy and maddened all with love. As a result, even the trees and bushes were also crying. His ecstasy was so intense that even birds fell some affected by His intense lamentation in love.

 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.138: Translation: In one place, when the Lord lamented plaintively, roaring with a deep voice as that of the clouds, the peacocks stopped there merry dancing, and surrounding the Lord, they also cried with chocked voice for a long time.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, normally peacocks cry and make their sound. But Lord Caitanya’s loving ecstasy was so intense that the peacocks surrounded Lord Caitanya and also began crying with a choked voice.

 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.139: Translation: Undergoing these kind of bodily transformation due to being overwhelmed out of great love, but to keep the body in tact (to live) is possible by Lord Caitanya because of His being the īśvara and not by anyone else (i.e., others will die). But, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya and the other pious devotees who saw all these became anxious and thinking that a trouble has fell upon the Lord. Thus, they forced the Lord to leave Vṛndāvana so the Lord did not stay there for a long time.

Jayapatākā Swami: Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya and all the devotees were very worried for the welfare of Lord Caitanya. Therefore, they forcibly pushed Him out of Vṛndāvana. So, that His ecstasy would be somewhat controlled.

 

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 135

prabhura akraraghāṭe basiyā aiśvavya-pūjaka akrarera mādhurya-sevaka vraja-vāsīra sva-sva-adhikāre dhāma-darśana-vicāra:—

eka-dina sei akrūra-ghāṭera upare
vasi’ mahāprabhu kichu karena vicāre

Translation: One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sat at the bathing ghat of Akrūra-tīrtha and thought the following thoughts.

Purport His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda:  Akrūra-tīrtha is located on the road between Vṛndāvana and Mathurā. When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were being taken to Mathurā by Akrūra, the Lord rested at this place and took His bath in the Yamunā. When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma took Their baths, Akrūra saw the entire world of Vaikuṇṭha within the water. The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana also saw the Vaikuṇṭha planets within the water.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this was a miracle performed by Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma. By their taking bath in the Yamunā, they gave Akrūra and the Vrajavāsīs the vision of Vaikuṇṭha.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 136

ei ghāṭe akrūra vaikuṇṭha dekhila
vrajavāsī loka ’goloka’ darśana kaila

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thought, “At this bathing place, Akrūra saw Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual world, and all the inhabitants of Vraja saw Goloka Vṛndāvana.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Akrūra was in a bit in awe and respect of Lord Kṛṣṇa, therefore He saw Vaikuṇṭha but the Vraja vāsīs saw the spiritual world Goloka Vṛndāvana, the abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 137

prabhura jale jhampapradāna o nimajjana :—

eta bali’ jhāṅpa dilā jalera upare
ḍubiyā rahilā prabhu jalera bhitare

Translation: While considering how Akrūra remained within the water, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately jumped in and stayed under water for some time.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 138

kṛṣṇadāsera krandana-citkāre bhaṭṭera tatkṣaṇāt āsiyā prabhuke uttolana :—

dekhi’ kṛṣṇadāsa kāndi’ phukāra karila
bhaṭṭācārya śīghra āsi’ prabhure uṭhāila

Translation: When Kṛṣṇadāsa saw that Caitanya Mahāprabhu was drowning, he cried and shouted very loudly. Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya immediately came and pulled the Lord out.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya and other devotees were thinking of the Lord as a human being, they got very concerned and thought that He was drowning, and His secretary pulled Him out of the water right away and this is another example of the dangers Lord Caitanya was facing due to His great ecstasy.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 139

bhaṭṭa o viprera parāmarśa :—

tabe bhaṭṭācārya sei brāhmaṇe lañā
yukti karilā kichu nibhṛte vasiyā

Translation: After this, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya took the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa to a secluded place and consulted with him.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 140

āji āmi āchilāṅa uṭhāiluṅ prabhure
vṛndāvane ḍubena yadi, ke uṭhābe tāṅre?

Translation: Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Since I was present today, it was possible for me to pull the Lord up. But if He starts to drown at Vṛndāvana, who will help Him?

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 141

janasaṅagha, bhikṣā-daurātmya o prabhura sarvadā premāveśe bhīta bhaṭṭera vṛndāvana haite prabhuke sthānāntarita karite icchā :—

lokera saṅghaṭṭa, āra nimantraṇera jañjāla
nirantara āveśa prabhura nā dekhiye bhāla

Translation: “Now there is a crowd of people here, and these invitations are causing much disturbance. In addition, the Lord is always ecstatic and emotional. I do not find the situation here very good.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya was saying all the problems he saw in Vṛndāvana for the welfare of Lord Caitanya in Vrndavana.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 142

vṛndāvana haite yadi prabhure kāḍiye
tabe maṅgala haya,—ei bhāla yukti haye

Translation: “It would be good if we could get Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu out of Vṛndāvana. That is my final conclusion.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya he was thinking that Lord Caitanya is so excited in love of Kṛṣṇa, that He can do anything at any time, in this uncontrollable situation, it is better somehow or other to get Lord Caitanya to leave Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 143

viprera māghasnāna-upalakṣe gaṅgā-taṭapathe prayāge laiyā yāivāra yukti :—

vipra kahe,—prayāge prabhu lañā yāi
gaṅgā-tīra-pathe yāi, tabe sukha pāi

Translation: The Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa said, “Let us take Him to Prayāga and go along the banks of the Ganges. It will be very pleasurable to go that way.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 144

‘soro-kṣetre, āge yāñā kari’ gaṅgā-snāna
sei pathe prabhu lañā kariye payāna

Translation: “After going to the holy place named Soro-kṣetra and bathing in the Ganges, let us take Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that way and go.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, they made a plan to take Lord Caitanya to Prayāga, which had festival during month of Māgha.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 145

māgha-māsa lāgila, ebe yadi yāiye
makare prayāga-snāna kata dina pāiye

Translation: “It is now the beginning of the month of Māgha. If we go to Prayāga at this time, we shall have an opportunity to bathe for a few days during Makara-saṅkrānti.”

Purport: Bathing during the month of Māgha at the Māgha-melā still takes place. This is a very old melā (assembly), dating from time immemorial. It is said that ever since the Lord in the form of Mohinī took a bucket of nectar and kept it at Prayāga, holy men have gathered there every year and observed the Māgha-melā. Every twelfth year there is a Kumbha-melā, a great festival, and all the holy men from all over India assemble there. The brāhmaṇa wanted to take advantage of the Māgha-melā and bathe there.

Bathing at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā, near the fort at Allahabad (Prayāga), is mentioned in the revealed scriptures:

“If one goes to Prayāga and bathes at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā in the month of Māgha, he attains the result of giving hundreds and thousands of cows in charity. Simply by bathing for three days there, he attains the results of such a pious activity.” Because of this, the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa was very eager to go to Prayāga and bathe. Generally, karmīs (fruitive laborers) take advantage of bathing there during the month of Māgha, thinking that they will be rewarded in the future. Those who are situated in devotional service do not very strictly follow this karma-kāṇḍīya process.

Jayapatākā Swami: In 1971 Śrīla Prabhupāda went for the Ardha Kumbha-Mela which had 21 million people, in 1976 he went to the Purna Kumba-Mela which had 31 million and, in this way, Śrīla Prabhupāda made many contacts and expanded the preaching. Now every year especially during Kumbha-mela, ISKCON makes a camp at the Trivenī confluence of Ganges, Yamunā and Sarasvatī. Saravatī is the hidden river under the earth, so this bathing place is called Trivenī.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 146

nijaduḥkha-nivedana o sāmayika parāmarśa-dāna :—

āpanāra duḥkha kichu kari’ nivedana
‘makara-paṅcasi prayāge’ kariha sūcana

Translation: The Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa continued, “Kindly submit to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu the unhappiness you are feeling within yourself. Then propose that we all go to Prayāga on the full-moon day of the month of Māgha.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 147

prabhusamīpe bhaṭṭera bhikṣānurodha- daurātmya-varṇana-pūrvaka māgha-snānārtha prayāge yāite anurodha :—

gaṅgā-tīra-pathe sukha jānāiha tāṅre
bhaṭṭācārya āsi’ tabe kahila prabhure

Translation: “Tell the Lord of the happiness you will feel in traveling via the banks of the Ganges.” Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya therefore submitted this prayer to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this was the plan made by the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa, Kṛṣṇa dāsa, to Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 148

“sahite nā pāri āmi lokera gaḍabaḍi
nimantraṇa lāgi’ loka kare huḍāhuḍi

Translation: Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya told the Lord, “I can no longer tolerate the disturbance of the crowd. People are coming one after another to offer invitations.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this was the excuse given by Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, Lord Caitanya would appreciate the crowds of people but He did not appreciate His personal danger due to His ecstasies. Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya was telling the Lord how all the people were asking him for invitations.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 149

prātaḥ-kāle āise loka, tomāre nā pāya
tomāre nā pāñā loka mora māthā khāya

Translation: “Early in the morning people come here, and not seeing You present, they simply tax my brain.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 150

tabe sukha haya yabe gaṅgā-pathe yāiye
ebe yadi yāi, ’makare’ gaṅgā-snāna pāiye

Translation: “I will be very happy if we all leave and take the path by the banks of the Ganges. Then we can have the opportunity of bathing in the Ganges at Prayāga during Makara-saṅkrānti.

Purport His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda: There are two great occasions for bathing in the Ganges during Māgha-melā. One is on the day of the dark moon, and the other is on the day of the full moon during the month of Māgha.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Makara-saṅkrānti or the full moon day, when the sun goes from the dakṣiṇāyana to uttarāyaṇa and it is considered a very sacred day.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 151

udvigna ha-ila prāṇa, sahite nā pāri
prabhura ye ājñā haya, sei śire dhari”

Translation: “My mind has become very much agitated, and I cannot bear this anxiety. Now everything rests on the permission of Your Lordship. I will accept whatever You want to do.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya he is submitting himself very humbly to Lord Caitanya and although he said, he would follow anything that Lord Caitanya decided, he submitted a strong case of why He should leave.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 152

vṛndāvana-tyāge icchā nā thākileo bhaṭṭera icchāpūraṇa o bhaṭṭake stuti :—

yadyapi vṛndāvana-tyāge nāhi prabhura mana
bhakta-icchā pūrite kahe madhura vacana

Translation: Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had no desire to leave Vṛndāvana, He began to speak sweet words just to fulfill the desire of His devotee.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Kṛṣṇa is known as bhakta-vatsala, so Lord Caitanya to satisfy His devotees, He spoke sweet words.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 153

“tumi āmāya āni’ dekhāilā vṛndāvana
ei ’ṛṇa’ āmi nāriba karite śodhana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “You have brought Me here to show Me Vṛndāvana. I am very much indebted to you, and I shall not be able to repay this debt.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 154

ye tomāra icchā, āmi seita kariba
yāhāṅ lañā yāha tumi, tāhāṅi yāiba”

Translation: “Whatever you desire, I must do. Wherever you take Me, I shall go.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, although Lord Caitanya is the independent personality of Godhead, to satisfy His devotees, he can do anything out of loving reciprocation.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 155

prāte snānānte bhāvi-biccheda-smaraṇe premāveśa :—

prātaḥ-kāle mahāprabhu prātaḥ-snāna kaila
‘vṛndāvana chāḍiba’ jāni’ premāveśa haila

Translation: The next morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up early. After taking His bath, He became ecstatic with love, knowing that He now had to leave Vṛndāvana.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya had no desire toleave Vṛndāvana, because of His feeling indebted to His devotee Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, He was leaving Vṛndāvana but He was feeling great separation and love.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 156

prabhuke gokule laite naukāya uṭhāiyā parapāre gamana :—

bāhya vikāra nāhi, premāviṣṭa mana
bhaṭṭācārya kahe,—cala, yāi mahāvana

Translation: Although the Lord did not exhibit any external symptoms, His mind was filled with ecstatic love. At that time, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya said, “Let us go to Mahāvana [Gokula].”

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18. 157

eta bali’ mahāprabhure naukāya vasāñā
pāra kari’ bhaṭṭācārya calilā lañā

Translation: Saying this, Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya made Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu sit aboard a boat. After they crossed the river, he took the Lord with him.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord is known as ajitā, unconquerable but He allows Himself to be conquered with the love of His devotees. So, He allowed Himself to be taken by Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.141: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Sārvabhauma, eventhough Vṛndāvana the most dearest, why did He stay there for such a short time.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.142: Sārvabhauma: He was drawn back because He could not bear the separation of Lord Jagannātha.

Jayapatākā Swami: The deity of Lord Jagannātha was very dear to Lord Caitanya and he wanted His darśana.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lord Caitanya is Forcibly Taken Out of Vṛndāvana 
Under the section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Visit to Śrī Vṛndāvana