20211028 Phalaśruti –The Result of Hearing about the Mercy Bestowed Upon Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on October 28th, 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 as:

Phalaśruti – The Result of Hearing about the Mercy Bestowed Upon Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī

Under the section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.237

prayāga haite prabhura kāśī yātrā:—

eta bali’ prabhu tāṅre kailā āliṅgana
vārāṇasī calibāre prabhura haila mana

Translation: After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. The Lord then decided to go to the city of Benares.

Jayapatākā Swami: After instructing Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Lord Caitanya embraced him and He proceeded along the sides of Ganges until He reached Vārāṇasī.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.238

prabhāte uṭhiyā yabe karilā gamana
tabe tāṅra pade rūpa kare nivedana

Translation: The next morning, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arose and prepared to leave for Vārāṇasī [Benares], Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī submitted the following statement at the Lord’s lotus feet.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.239

prabhura anugamanārtha śrī-rūpera ājñā-yācñā:—

‘ājñā haya, āsi muñi śrī-caraṇa-saṅge
sahite nā pāri muñi viraha-taraṅge’

Translation: “If You give me permission, I shall go with Your Lordship. It is not possible for me to tolerate the waves of separation.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Rūpa Gosvāmī was requesting Lord Caitanya that he could go with Him.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4. 13.10

Translation: After taking the dust of Śrī Caitanya’s feet, Rūpa said, “I shall now travel with You as Your foot-servant.” The Lord replied, “No, indeed you shall not. Now you must travel to Mathurā.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4. 13.11

Translation: So saying (to Rūpa Gosvāmī that he must travel to Mathurā), Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya left for Kāśī, where He stayed in the house of a brāhmaṇa. Then the noble Sanātana arrived, who was dear to the heart of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Rūpa Gosvāmī was sent to Mathurā to do Lord Caitanya's service in Vraja Maṇḍala and this was his special assignment.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.240

śrī-rūpake vṛndāvane yāite evaṁ pare tathā haite purīte milite ājñā-dāna:—

prabhu kahe,—tomāra kartavya, āmāra vacana
nikaṭe āsiyācha tumi, yāha vṛndāvana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Your duty is to carry out My order. You have come near Vṛndāvana. Now you should go there.”

Jayapatākā Swami: When one receives some instruction from the spiritual master then that must be carried out, that is the special mercy of the Lord. So Rūpa Gosvāmī had the order to go to Vrndavana and excavate the places of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.241

vṛndāvana haite tumi gauḍa-deśa diyā
āmāre milibā nīlācalete āsiyā

Translation: “Later, you can go from Vṛndāvana to Jagannātha Purī through Bengal [Gauḍa-deśa]. There you will meet Me again.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was giving special permission to Rūpa Gosvāmī and later he can go from Vṛndāvana to Nīlācala and meet Him in Nīlācala.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.242

prabhura naukārohaṇa, śrī-rūpera mūrcchā:—

tāṅre āliṅgiyā prabhu naukāte caḍilā
mūrcchita hañā teṅho tāhāñi paḍilā

Translation: After embracing Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got into a boat. Rūpa Gosvāmī fainted and fell down on the spot.

Jayapatākā Swami: Rūpa Gosvāmī had so much love for Lord Caitanya that after being embraced by the Lord, when the Lord was leaving He fell unconscious at the very spot.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.243

śrī-rūpa o anupamera vṛndāvana-yātrā:—

dākṣiṇātya-vipra tāṅre ghare lañā gelā
tabe dui bhāi vṛndāvanere calilā

Translation: The brāhmaṇa from Deccan took Rūpa Gosvāmī to his home, and thereafter the two brothers departed for Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 1.243

rūpake śikṣā diyā vṛndāvana preraṇa o svayaṁ kāśī gamana:—

śrī-rūpe śikṣā karāi’ pāṭhāilā vṛndāvana
āpane karilā vārāṇasī āgamana

Translation: After instructing Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī at Prayāga, at the Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered him to go to Vṛndāvana. The Lord then returned to Vārāṇasī.

Jayapatākā Swami: This Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa is still visible in Prayāga, Allahabad and one can see the place where Lord Caitanya instructed Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī. In the town of Allahabad, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda lived for many years and at the Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura installed a lotus footprint of Lord Caitanya there.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.244

prabhura kāśī-āgamana:—

mahāprabhu cali’ cali’ āilā vārāṇasī
candraśekhara mililā grāmera bāhire āsi’

Translation: After walking and walking, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finally arrived at Vārāṇasī, where He met Candraśekhara, who was coming out of the city.

Jayapatākā Swami: Candraśekhara and Tapan Miśra were the two hosts of Lord Caitanya in His previous visit.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.245

vaidya śekharera svapnānusāre prabhuke darśana o svagṛhe ānayana:—

rātre teṅho svapna dekhe,—prabhu āilā ghare
prātaḥ-kāle āsi’ rahe grāmera bāhire

Translation: In a dream Candraśekhara had seen that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had come to his home; therefore in the morning Candraśekhara went outside the city to receive the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Candraśekhara was seeing in the dream that Lord Caitanya was coming and would stay at his house and on that basis he was waiting outside the city to receive Lord Caitanya with great devotion.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.246

ācambite prabhu dekhi’ caraṇe paḍilā
ānandita hañā nija-gṛhe lañā gelā

Translation: While Candraśekhara was waiting outside the city, he suddenly saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrive, and he fell down at the Lord’s lotus feet. Being very happy, he took the Lord to his home.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.247

prabhuke tapana-miśrera evaṁ balabhadrake candraśekharera nimantraṇa :—

tapana-miśra śuni’ āsi’ prabhure mililā
iṣṭa-goṣṭhī kari’ prabhura nimantraṇa kailā

Translation: Tapana Miśra also heard news of the Lord’s arrival in Vārāṇasī, and he went to Candraśekhara’s house to meet Him. After talking, he invited the Lord to take lunch at his place.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, devotees were overwhelmed with the transcendental bliss to have Lord Caitanya's association again and they paid their obeisances and invited the Lord to render services to Him.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.248

nija ghare lañā prabhure bhikṣā karāila
bhaṭṭācārye candraśekhara nimantraṇa kaila

Translation: Tapana Miśra took Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his house and gave Him lunch. Candraśekhara invited Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya to take lunch at his home.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, not only Lord Caitanya but also His travelling secretary also got prasāda.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.249

kāśīte avasthānakāla paryanta prabhuke bhikṣā dite miśrera ājñā-yācñā:—

bhikṣā karāñā miśra kahe prabhu-pāya dhari’
eka bhikṣā māgi, more deha’ kṛpā kari’

Translation: After offering lunch to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Tapana Miśra begged a favor from the Lord and requested Him to award him mercy.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Tapan Miśra with all humility asked the favor of the Lord.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.250

yāvat tomāra haya kāśī-pure sthiti
mora ghara vinā bhikṣā nā karibā kati

Translation: Tapana Miśra said, “As long as Your Lordship stays in Vārāṇasī, please do not accept an invitation from anyone but me.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Tapan Miśra he was making this special request to Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.251

māyāvādī sannyāsīra saṅga duḥsaṅga-hetu prabhura bhakta-prārthanāya sammati:—

prabhu jānena—dina pāñca-sāta se rahiba
sannyāsīra saṅge bhikṣā kāhāṅ nā kariba

Translation: It was known to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that He would remain there only five or seven days. He would not accept any invitation that involved Māyāvādī sannyāsīs.

Jayapatākā Swami: Māyāvādī sannyāsīs address each other as Nārāyaṇa and associating with Māyāvādīs was considered by Lord Caitanya as very dangerous and potentially offensive.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.252

prabhura tapana-miśra-gṛhe bhikṣā o candraśekhara-gṛhe avasthāna :—

eta jāni’ tāṅra bhikṣā kailā aṅgīkāra
vāsā-niṣṭhā kailā candraśekharera ghara

Translation: With this understanding, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu agreed to accept lunch at the place of Tapana Miśra. The Lord made His residence at the home of Candraśekhara.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was taking His prasāda at one place and staying in another place.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.253

mahārāṣṭrīya viprera prabhu-kṛpā-lābha:—

mahārāṣṭrīya vipra āsi’ tāṅhāre mililā
prabhu tāṅre sneha kari’ kṛpā prakāśilā

Translation: The Maharashtrian brāhmaṇa came, and the Lord met him. Out of affection, the Lord bestowed His mercy upon him.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya as mercy avatāra, He would give His mercy to everyone very easily.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.254

mahāprabhu āilā śuni’ śiṣṭa śiṣṭa jana
brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya āsi’ karena daraśana

Translation: Hearing that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had come, all the respectable members of the brāhmaṇa and kṣatriya communities came to see Him.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.255

śrī-rūpa-śikṣā saṁkṣepe varṇita:—

śrī-rūpa-upare prabhura yata kṛpā haila
atyanta vistāra-kathā saṅkṣepe kahila

Translation: Much mercy was thus bestowed upon Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, and I have briefly described all those topics.

Jayapatākā Swami: Rūpa Gosvāmī took these instruction of Lord Caitanya and wrote many transcendental literatures which embodied the instructions of Lord Caitanya. Śrīla Prabhupāda has authored some of those book through BBT, like the Nectar of Devotion which is Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu.

Śrī Śrīmad Gaurāṅga-līlā-smaraṇa-maṅgala-stotram, 57

By Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura

Translation: At the sacred junction of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā, He taught to Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī the nectar of transcendental mellows, and to wise Vallabhācārya pure love for the master of Gokula. I meditate on Lord Gaurāṅga, the personified Vedic scriptures, and the jewel among teachers of transcendental mellows.

Jayapatākā Swami: His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura gave a synopsis of Lord Caitanya’s pastime sin Prayāga, how He taught Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and how He gave His association by teaching Śrī Vallabhācārya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 19.256

śrī-rūpa-śikṣā-śravaṇe caitanya-caraṇe prema-bhakti-lābha:—

śraddhā kari’ ei kathā śune ye jane
prema-bhakti pāya sei caitanya-caraṇe

Translation: Whoever hears this narration with faith and love certainly develops love of God at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the great benefit of hearing these instructions of Lord Caitanya to Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī is given here. One develops love of Godhead at the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Phalaśruti – The Result of Hearing about the Mercy Bestowed Upon Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī 
Under the section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī