20211031 Sanātana Gosvāmī Meets Lord Caitanya (Part 1)

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on October 31th, 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:

Sanātana Gosvāmī Meets Lord Caitanya Part 1

Under the section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī in the Science of the Absolute Truth

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.151

Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Then? Then?

Men bringing news: Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, the elder brother of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, a most brilliant gem in that assembly in the government of Hussain Shah, the ruler of Bengal, gave up everything just to accept the youthful goddess of Vairāgya. Although he externally appeared to be an avadhūta, he was filled with the mellow of bhakti within his heart. Thus he can be compared to large lake covered by śaivāla plants. He was the giver of pleasure for all the devotees who knew the science of bhakti.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sanātana Gosvāmī as the prime minister of emperor Hussain Shah, he was actually running the whole government. He was in a very enviable position, he gave up everything to join Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and to practice vairāgya in Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.46

candraśekharera gṛhe upasthita

candraśekharera ghare āsi’ dvārete vasilā
mahāprabhu jāni’ candraśekhare kahilā

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī then went to the house of Candraśekhara and sat down by the door. Understanding what was happening, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spoke to Candraśekhara.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya has understood that Sanātana Gosvāmī had come.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.47

vāhyaveṣa-nirapekṣa prakṛta vaiṣṇava sanātanake ānayanārtha śekharake ādeśa

‘dvāre eka ‘vaiṣṇava’ haya, bolāha tāṅhāre’
candraśekhara dekhe—‘vaiṣṇava’ nāhika dvāre

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “There is a devotee at your door. Please call him in.” Going outside, Candraśekhara could not see a Vaiṣṇava at his door.

Jayapatākā Swami: Because Sanātana Gosvāmī had not shaved for many days and he was wearing a dress like a Muslim Fakir, so Candraśekhara couldn’t see anyone who he could recognize as a Vaiṣṇava.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.48

sanātanera bahir-vaiṣṇava-veṣa nā dekhiyā pratyāvartana:—

‘dvārete vaiṣṇava nāhi’—prabhure kahili
‘keha haya’ kari’ prabhu tāhāre puchila

Translation: When Candraśekhara informed the Lord that no Vaiṣṇava was at his door, the Lord asked him, “Is there anyone at all at your door?”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.153

Mahārāja Pratāparudra: How did he come to see the Lord?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.154

Men bringing news: We heard of that from his (Sanātana) own mouth.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.155

Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Please speak.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.156

Men bringing news: (Sanātana said:) At first, I sat at the doorstep. A large number of people very eagerly went to see the Lord in the house of Candraśekhara and after seeing the Lord they were, they obtained love of Kṛṣṇa. While coming out of the house they were constantly chanting the holy names, shedding tears with the hairs of their bodies standing erect in ecstasy. While standing outside, I saw these people going to and from the Lord, and seeing their emotions, I took the dust of their feet in order to see the Lord. At that time, the omniscient Lord, called me to Him through someone.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, when people saw Him, they immediately developed ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, the symptoms are explained by Sanātana Gosvāmī. So, we should be eager to get the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Sanātana Gosvāmī was taking the dust from the feet of the devotees who were coming out, just hoping that he would get the mercy of Lord Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.49

daraveśaveṣī sanātanake ānite prabhura ādeśa

teṅho kahe,—eka ‘daraveśa’ āche dvāre
‘tāṅre āna’ prabhura vākye kahila tāṅhāre

Translation: Candraśekhara replied, “There is a Muslim mendicant.”

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately said, “Please bring him here.” Candraśekhara then spoke to Sanātana Gosvāmī, who was still sitting beside the door.

Jayapatākā Swami: It was natural that Candraśekhara could not recognize Sanātana Gosvāmī but Lord Caitanya who is omniscient, He knew everything.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.50

sanātanake candraśekharera ‘daraveśa’ baliyā sambodhana

‘prabhu tomāya bolāya, āisa, daraveśa!’
śuni’ ānande sanātana karilā praveśa

Translation: “O Muslim mendicant, please come in. The Lord is calling you.” Sanātana Gosvāmī was very pleased to hear this order, and he entered Candraśekhara’s house.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.152

Men bringing news: The Lord became compassionate just by seeing by His eyes, as soon as Sanātana Gosvāmī arrived. The Lord, who has the complexion of a golden campaka flower, out of mercy, opened His long arms and embraced Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.51

sanātana-darśane drutavege prabhura āgamana o āliṅgana

tāṅhāre aṅgane dekhi’ prabhu dhāñā āilā
tāṅre āliṅgana kari’ premāviṣṭa hailā

Translation: As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Sanātana Gosvāmī in the courtyard, He immediately went up to him with great haste. After embracing him, the Lord was overwhelmed with ecstatic love.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda was describing this meeting of Sanātana Gosvāmī and Lord Caitanya when he was visiting Gorakhpur. He said that,“It was just like when the gopīs met Kṛṣṇa” then Śrīla Prabhupāda he started crying and he couldn’t continue on with the class. So, this meeting of Lord Caitanya with Sanātana Gosvāmī was something very special.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.52

āliṅganaphale sanātanera prema o dainyokti

prabhu-sparśe premāviṣṭa ha-ilā sanātana
‘more nā chuṅiha’—kahe gadgada-vacana

Translation: As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu touched Sanātana Gosvāmī, Sanātana was also overwhelmed with ecstatic love. In a faltering voice, he said, “O my Lord, do not touch me.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Sanātana Gosvāmī was so humble that he was thinking that in his soiled condition, he shouldn’t be touched and he considered Himself very fallen.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.53

prabhu o sanātana, ubhayerai prema-krandana, candraśekharera vismaya

dui-jane galāgali rodana apāra
dekhi’ candraśekharera ha-ila camatkāra

Translation: Shoulder to shoulder, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Sanātana Gosvāmī began to cry unlimitedly. Candraśekhara was very much astonished to see this.

Jayapatākā Swami: Candraśekhara was thinking that here a Muslim mendicant is being embraced by Lord Caitanya and they were both crying so he was very confused and very astonished, what is happening!

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.54

sasnehe sanātanake nijasamīpe āsanapradāna

tabe prabhu tāṅra hāta dhari’ lañā gelā
piṇḍāra upare āpana-pāśe vasāilā

Translation: Catching his hand, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took Sanātana Gosvāmī inside and made him sit on an elevated place next to Him.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.55

svahaste sanātanāṅga-mārjana, sanātanera dainyokti

śrī-haste karena tāṅra aṅga sammārjana
teṅho kahe,—‘more, prabhu, nā kara sparśana’

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began cleansing Sanātana Gosvāmī’s body with His own transcendental hand, Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “O my Lord, please do not touch me.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya we can see how He loves His devotees so much. Sanātana Gosvāmī went through great difficulties to reach Him, so the Lord was appreciating very much. So, he was doing all these things.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.56

prabhukarttṛka tāṅhāke mahā-bhāgavatocita gauraba-dāna

prabhu kahe,—“tomā sparśi ātma pavitrite
bhakti-bale pāra tumi brahmāṇḍa śodhite

Translation: The Lord replied, “I am touching you just to purify Myself, because by the force of your devotional service you can purify the whole universe.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was glorifying Sanātana Gosvāmī appreciating his performance of bhakti yoga He said that by his bhakti yoga he could purify the whole universe. Lord Caitanya was instructing all of us how a devotee should be appreciated

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (1/13/10)—

bhavad-vidhā bhāgavatās
tīrtha-bhūtāḥ svayaṁ prabho
tīrthī-kurvanti tīrthāni
svāntaḥ-sthena gadā-bhṛtā

Translation: “‘Saints of your caliber are themselves places of pilgrimage. Because of their purity, they are constant companions of the Lord, and therefore they can purify even the places of pilgrimage.’

Purport: This verse was spoken by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira to Vidura in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.13.10). Vidura was returning home after visiting sacred places of pilgrimage, and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was receiving his saintly uncle. In essence, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was saying, “My dear Lord Vidura, you yourself are a holy place because you are an advanced devotee. People like you always carry Lord Viṣṇu in their hearts. You can revitalize all holy places after they have been polluted by the pilgrimages of sinners.”

A sinful person goes to a holy place of pilgrimage to be purified. In a holy place, there are many saintly people and temples of Lord Viṣṇu; however, the holy place becomes infected with the sins of many visitors. When an advanced devotee goes to a holy place, he counteracts all the sins of the pilgrims. Therefore Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira addressed Vidura in this way.

Since an advanced devotee carries Lord Viṣṇu within his heart, he is a moving temple and a moving Viṣṇu. An advanced devotee does not need to go to holy places, for wherever he stays is a holy place. In this connection, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura states, tīrtha-yātrā pariśrama, kevala manera bhrama: visiting holy places is simply another type of bewilderment. Since an advanced devotee does not need to go to a holy place, why does he go? The answer is that he goes simply to purify the place.

Jayapatākā Swami: His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda travelled around the world fourteen times and then wherever he went, that place became a place of pilgrimage, and he purified the people and the place and in the same way very advanced devotee can purify any place, because he carries Viṣṇu in his heart.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.157

Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.158

Men bringing news: When He saw Sanātana, the Lord recited the verse:

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.58

Hari-bhakti-vilāse (10/91)—

na me ‘bhaktaś catur-vedī
mad-bhaktaḥ śva-pacaḥ priyaḥ
tasmai deyaṁ tato grāhyaṁ
sa ca pūjyo yathā hy aham

Translation: “[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] ‘Even though a person is a very learned scholar of the Sanskrit Vedic literatures, he is not accepted as My devotee unless he is pure in devotional service. However, even though a person is born in a family of dog-eaters, he is very dear to Me if he is a pure devotee who has no motive to enjoy fruitive activity or mental speculation. Indeed, all respects should be given to him, and whatever he offers should be accepted. Such devotees are as worshipable as I am.’

Purport: This verse is included in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (10.127), compiled by Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was not seeing the external appearance, he was seeing the consciousness and devotion therefore He was very affectionate towards Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.59

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (7/9/10)—

viprād dvi-ṣaḍ-guṇa-yutād aravinda-nābha-
pādāravinda-vimukhāt śva-pacaṁ variṣṭham
manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitārtha-
prāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ na tu bhūri-mānaḥ

Translation: “‘One may be born in a brāhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a caṇḍāla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must become a pure devotee of the Lord. If a śva-paca or caṇḍāla is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his whole family, whereas a brāhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.’”

Purport: This verse is spoken by Prahlāda Mahārāja in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.10). A brāhmaṇa is supposed to be qualified with twelve qualities.

As stated in the Mahābhārata:

dharmaś ca satyaṁ ca damas tapaś ca
amātsaryaṁ hrīs titikṣānasūyā
yajṣaś ca dānaṁ ca dhṛtiḥ śrutaṁ ca
vratāni vai dvādaśa brāhmaṇasya

“A brāhmaṇa must be perfectly religious. He must be truthful, and he must be able to control his senses. He must execute severe austerities, and he must be detached, humble and tolerant. He must not envy anyone, and he must be expert in performing sacrifices and giving whatever he has in charity. He must be fixed in devotional service and expert in the knowledge of the Vedas. These are the twelve qualifications for a brāhmaṇa.”

The Bhagavad-gītā (18.42) describes the brahminical qualities in this way:

śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ
kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca
jñānaṁ vijṣānam āstikyaṁ
brahma-karma svabhāva-jam

“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness — these are the natural qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work.”

In the Muktāphala-ṭīkā, it is said:

śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ
kṣānty-ārjava-viraktayaḥ
jñāna-vijñāna-santoṣāḥ
satyāstikye dvi-ṣaḍ guṇāḥ

“Mental equilibrium, sense control, austerity, cleanliness, tolerance, simplicity, detachment, theoretical and practical knowledge, satisfaction, truthfulness and firm faith in the Vedas are the twelve qualities of a brāhmaṇa.”

Jayapatākā Swami: His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura has glorified how the brāhmaṇas have these twelve qualities and then he explained the Vaiṣṇavas have these twelve and one more, pure devotion for Viṣṇu. If one doesn’t have pure devotion to Viṣṇu then actually everything is futile and if one has pure devotion for Viṣṇu, everything else is perfect.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.60

bhaktasevāte niyogaphalei sakala indriyera sārthakatā:—

tomā dekhi, tomā sparśi, gāi tomāra guṇa
sarvendriya-phala,—ei śāstra-nirūpaṇa

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “By seeing you, by touching you and by glorifying your transcendental qualities, one can perfect the purpose of all sense activity. This is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.

Purport: This is confirmed in the following verse from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (13.2).

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.61

jagate śuddha-bhagabad-bhakta—sudurllabha

Hari-bhakti-sudhodaye (13/2)—

akṣṇoḥ phalaṁ tvādṛśa-darśanaṁ hi tanoḥ
phalaṁ tvādṛśa-gātra-saṅgaḥ
jihvā-phalaṁ tvādṛśa-kīrtanaṁ
hi su-durlabhā bhāgavatā hi loke

Translation: “‘My dear Vaiṣṇava, seeing a person like you is the perfection of one’s eyesight, touching your lotus feet is the perfection of the sense of touch, and glorifying your good qualities is the tongue’s real activity, for in the material world it is very difficult to find a pure devotee of the Lord.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Many people may be devotees of God, but they pray for some material result, or they want liberation from this material world. Actually, one who wants to serve Kṛṣṇa, who wants to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead with no other motive is very rare and such a person Lord Caitanya is teaching, such a person is very purifying.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.62

kṛṣṇera ahaitukī kṛpā-māhātmya-varṇana; prabhu svayaṁi sanātanera vandhana-mocana- līlābhinayera mūla-sūtradhara

eta kahi kahe prabhu,—“śuna, sanātana
kṛṣṇa—baḍa dayāmaya, patita-pāvana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “My dear Sanātana, please hear from Me. Kṛṣṇa is very merciful, and He is the deliverer of all fallen souls.

Jayapatākā Swami: If one desires to serve Kṛṣṇa then Kṛṣṇa gives him all the facility, He is patita pāvana the deliverer of the fallen. So, He makes it possible for such a devotee to be free from all the bondage of the material world. So, Lord Caitanya was telling Sanātana Gosvāmī that His freedom was actually facilitated by Lord Kṛṣṇa He gave His special mercy so that he could be free and could join Lord Caitanya.

Hare Krishna! Thus ends the chapter entitled, Sanātana Gosvāmī Meets Lord Caitanya Part 1 
Under the section: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī in the Science of the Absolute Truth