20211201 Kṛṣṇa Forcibly Gives Shelter at His Lotus Feet to Those Who Engage in His Service But Have Other Desires

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 1st December 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!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today is the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter today is entitled:

Kṛṣṇa Forcibly Gives Shelter at His Lotus Feet to Those Who Engage in His Service But Have Other Desires
Under the section: The Process of Devotional Service

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.26

bhaktivihīna varṇāśrama-dharma-pālane niraya-lābha—

cāri varṇāśramī yadi kṛṣṇa nāhi bhaje
svakarma karite se raurave paḍi’ maje

Translation: The followers of the varṇāśrama institution accept the regulative principles of the four social orders [brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra] and four spiritual orders [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa]. However, if one carries out the regulative principles of these orders but does not render transcendental service to Kṛṣṇa, he falls into a hellish condition of material life.

Purport: One may be a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra, or one may perfectly follow the spiritual principles of brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa, but ultimately one falls down into a hellish condition unless one becomes a devotee. Without developing one’s dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one cannot be factually elevated. The regulative principles of varṇāśrama-dharma in themselves are insufficient for attainment of the highest perfection. That is confirmed in the following two quotations from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.2-3).

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.27

daiva-varṇāśrama-dharmera utpatti — Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (11.5.2-3)—

mukha-bāhūru-pādebhyaḥ puruṣasyāśramaiḥ saha
catvāro jajñire varṇā guṇair viprādayaḥ pṛthak

Translation: ‘From the mouth of Brahmā, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the kṣatriyas have come, from his waist the vaiśyas have come, and from his legs the śūdras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa] combine to make human society complete.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.28

bhaktira pratikūla adaiva-varṇāśramīra nirayalābha—

ya eṣāṁ puruṣaṁ sākṣād ātma-prabhavam īśvaram na bhajanty avajānanti sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ

Translation: ‘If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition.’

Jayapatākā Swami: So, just adhering to the varṇāśrama-dharma, without becoming a devotee is of no use. Rather one falls down into a hellish condition. So the real purpose of varṇāśrama is that one should offer their work to Kṛṣṇa, if they are not serving Kṛṣṇa then they will get no real fruits but just suffering.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.29

bhakti-śūnya muktābhimānī jñānīo samala-manodharmī, śuddha-bhaktai nirmala ātmadharmī —

jñānī jīvan-mukta-daśā pāinu kari’ māne
vastutaḥ buddhi ‘śuddha’ nahe kṛṣṇa-bhakti vine

Translation: There are many philosophical speculators [jñānīs] belonging to the Māyāvāda school who consider themselves liberated and call themselves Nārāyaṇa. But their intelligence is not purified unless they engage in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: If one thinks they are one with the Lord, they think they are Nārāyaṇa, actually because of their offensive mentality they fall down.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.30

kṛṣṇa-bhakti-vihīna śuṣka-jñānīra adhogati-lābha— Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.2.32)

ye ’nye ’ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas
tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ
āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ
patanty adho ’nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ

 Translation: ‘O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but do not render devotional service to You must be of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet.’

Purport: This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.32).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the jñānīs rise up to the impersonal Brahman realization but they don’t worship the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and again they fall down into the material world.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.31

kṛṣṇa-darśane māyā-darśana nāi, māyā-darśane kṛṣṇa-darśana nāi—

kṛṣṇa—sūrya-sama, māyā haya andhakāra
yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra

Translation: Kṛṣṇa is compared to sunshine, and māyā is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine, there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.

Purport: In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.9.34) it is stated:

ṛte ’rthaṁ yat pratīyeta na pratīyeta cātmani
tad vidyād ātmano māyāṁ yathābhāso yathā tamaḥ

What appears to be truth without Me is certainly My illusory energy, for nothing can exist without Me. It is like a reflection of a real light in the shadows, for in the light there are neither shadows nor reflections.”

Wherever there is light, there cannot be darkness. When a living entity becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is immediately relieved of all material lusty desires. Lusty desires and greed are associated with rajas and tamas, passion and darkness. When one becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, the modes of passion and darkness immediately vanish, and then the mode of goodness (sattva-guṇa) remains. When one is situated in the mode of goodness, he can make spiritual advancement and understand things clearly. This position is not possible for everyone. When a person is Kṛṣṇa conscious, he continuously hears about Kṛṣṇa, thinks about Him, worships Him and serves Him as a devotee. If he remains in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this way, the darkness of māyā certainly will not be able to touch him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, that’s why it is recommended that one should be firmly in the service of Kṛṣṇa. If they are not serving Kṛṣṇa, they will end up serving māyā, thus they will not be satisfied. By worshipping Kṛṣṇa, one is spiritually blissful.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.32

māyā-ceṭī svīya prabhura sammukhe thākite lajjitā, ābāra prabhu-vimukha janake vivarta-buddhi diyā kārāvaddhakāriṇī——

vilajjamānayā yasya sthātum īkṣā-pathe ’muyā
vimohitā vikatthante mamāham iti durdhiyaḥ

Translation: ‘The external illusory energy of Kṛṣṇa, known as māyā, is always ashamed to stand in front of Kṛṣṇa, just as darkness is ashamed to remain before the sunshine. However, that māyā bewilders unfortunate people who have no intelligence. Thus they simply boast that this material world is theirs and that they are its enjoyers.’

Purport: The entire world is bewildered because people are thinking, This is my land,” America is mine,” India is mine.” Not knowing the real value of life, people think that the material body and the land where it is produced are all in all. This is the basic principle behind nationalism, socialism and communism. Such thinking, which simply bewilders the living being, is nothing but rascalism. It is due to the darkness of māyā. But as soon as one becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is immediately relieved from such misconceptions. This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.5.13).

There is also another appropriate verse in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.7.47):

"What is realized as the Absolute Brahman is full of unlimited bliss without grief. That is certainly the ultimate phase of the supreme enjoyer, the Personality of Godhead. He is eternally devoid of all disturbances, fearless, completely conscious as opposed to matter, uncontaminated and without distinctions. He is the principal, primeval cause of all causes and effects, in whom there is no sacrifice for fruitive activities and in whom the illusory energy does not stand."

This verse was spoken by Lord Brahmā when he was questioned by the great sage Nārada. Nārada was surprised to see the creator of the universe meditating, for this indicated there might be someone greater than Lord Brahmā. While answering the great sage Nārada, Lord Brahmā described the position of māyā and the bewildered living entities. This verse was spoken in that connection.

Jayapatākā Swami: Although Lord Brahmā does the secondary creation, one sees him as the creator but he actually he receives the empowerment to get the ability to create from Kṛṣṇa and His expansions.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.33

ātmanivedanakārī sambandha-jñānalabdha sādhakera anartha-nivṛtti—

‘kṛṣṇa, tomāra haṅa’ yadi bale eka-bāra
māyā-bandha haite kṛṣṇa tāre kare pāra

Translation: One is immediately freed from the clutches of māyā if he seriously and sincerely says, ‘My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, although I have forgotten You for so many long years in the material world, today I am surrendering unto You. I am Your sincere and serious servant. Please engage me in Your service.’

Jayapatākā Swami: If one says this simple prayer to Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa will certainly help him and free him from the clutches of māyā.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.34

parama dayālu kṛṣṇera āśvāsavānī—

Hari-bhakti-vilāse (11.337)-dhṛta śloka, rāmāyaṇe laṅkā-kāṇḍe (18.33) vibhīṣaṇa-saha milana sambandhe sugrīvera prati śrī-rāmacandra-vacana—

sakṛd eva prapanno yas tavāsmīti ca yācate
abhayaṁ sarvadā tasmai dadāmy etad vrataṁ mama

Translation: ‘It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me, saying My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours,” and prays to Me for courage, I shall immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on.’

Purport: This verse from the Rāmāyaṇa (Yuddha-kāṇḍa 18.33) was spoken by Lord Rāmacandra.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we should surrender to Kṛṣṇa or His expansions and He gives us the courage to crossover this illusory material energy and we will be saved by His mercy.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.35

sakāma aśānta puruṣera nirantara bhajana-phale śānti-lābha—

bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī ‘subuddhi’ yadi haya
gāḍha-bhakti-yoge tabe kṛṣṇere bhajaya

Translation: Due to bad association, the living entity desires material happiness, liberation or merging into the impersonal aspect of the Lord, or he engages in mystic yoga for material power. If such a person actually becomes intelligent, he takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness by engaging himself in intense devotional service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: In the material world there are lots of bad association, one may think that they will be happy by material sense gratification or they think by liberation into the impersonal brahman they will be happy or they will be happy if they have mystic powers but actually the only way you can really be happy is by surrendering unto Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.36

buddhimān mātrerai kṛṣṇa-bhajana bidheya— Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2.3.10)—

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ
tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena yajeta puruṣaṁ param

Translation: Whether one desires everything or nothing, or whether he desires to merge into the existence of the Lord, he is intelligent only if he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental loving service.’

Purport: This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.10).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, if one renders pure devotional service to the Lord, then that person can get the ultimate blessing.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.37

kṛṣṇera ahaitukī dayāra paricaya—

anya-kāmī yadi kare kṛṣṇera bhajana
nā māgiteha kṛṣṇa tāre dena sva-caraṇa

Translation: If those who desire material enjoyment or merging into the existence of the Absolute Truth engage in the Lord’s transcendental loving service, they will immediately attain shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, although they did not ask for it. Kṛṣṇa is therefore very merciful.

Jayapatākā Swami: Although one may have other ulterior desires, if they render devotional service the Lord will fix them up at His lotus feet and they will transcend all these temporary desires by the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.38

kṛṣṇa kahe,—‘āmā bhaje, māge viṣaya-sukha
amṛta chāḍi’ viṣa māge,—ei baḍa mūrkha

Translation: Kṛṣṇa says, ‘If one engages in My transcendental loving service but at the same time wants the opulence of material enjoyment, he is very, very foolish. Indeed, he is just like a person who gives up ambrosia to drink poison.

Jayapatākā Swami: By worshipping Kṛṣṇa one can get the eternal mercy of the Lord, instead if one wants something temporary which is transient by nature, they are less intelligent or foolish.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.39

āmi—vijña, ei mūrkhe ‘viṣaya’ kene diba?
sva-caraṇāmṛta diyā ‘viṣaya’ bhulāiba

Translation:  ‘Since I am very intelligent, why should I give this fool material prosperity? Instead I shall induce him to take the nectar of the shelter of My lotus feet and make him forget illusory material enjoyment.’

Purport: Those who are interested in material enjoyment are known as bhukti-kāmī. One who is interested in merging into the effulgence of Brahman or perfecting the mystic yoga system is not a devotee at all. Devotees do not have such desires. However, if a karmī, jñānī or yogī somehow contacts a devotee and renders devotional service, Kṛṣṇa immediately awards him love of God and gives him shelter at His lotus feet, although he may have no idea how to develop love of Kṛṣṇa. If a person wants material profit from devotional service, Kṛṣṇa condemns such materialistic desires. To desire material opulence while engaging in devotional service is foolish. Although the person may be foolish, Kṛṣṇa, being all-intelligent, engages him in His devotional service in such a way that he gradually forgets material opulence. The point is that we should not try to exchange loving service for material prosperity. If we are actually surrendered to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, our only desire should be to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. That is pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Surrender means not that we demand something from the Lord but that we comp letely depend on His mercy. If Kṛṣṇa likes, He may keep His devotee in a poverty-stricken condition, or if He likes He may keep him in an opulent position. The devotee should not be concerned in either case; he should simply be very serious about trying to satisfy the Lord by rendering Him service.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, materialistic people worship demigods to get some material opulence but if they worship Kṛṣṇa, why should He give them something illusory or temporary. He gives them something eternal and spiritual.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.40

sakāma upāsakerao kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya śuddha-bhakti kāmanā vā niṣkāmatā—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (5.19.26)

satyaṁ diśaty arthitam arthito nṛṇāṁ
naivārtha-do yat punar arthitā yataḥ
svayaṁ vidhatte bhajatām anicchatām
icchā-pidhānaṁ nija-pāda-pallavam

Translation: ‘Whenever Kṛṣṇa is requested to fulfill one’s desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, will cause one to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord’s service, Kṛṣṇa forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.19.27).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, if one worships Kṛṣṇa, he or she gets the mercy to transcend all the material things and in that transcendental shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the devotee is fully satisfied. By material things, one may ask for one benediction, when they receive that they want more and more, instead Kṛṣṇa give them transcendental bliss, loving service, which fully satisfies Him.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.41

kona kona sakāma upāsakera śuddha-bhaktītara asat kāmanā thākileo nirantara sevānanda-prabhāve airūpa abhadra-nāśa haya, tāhā haileo sakāmabhāva
niṣkāmabhāvera kāraṇa nahe—

kāma lāgi’ kṛṣṇe bhaje, pāya kṛṣṇa-rase
kāma chāḍi’ ‘dāsa’ haite haya abhilāṣe

Translation: When someone engages in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service for the satisfaction of the senses and instead acquires a taste for serving Kṛṣṇa, he gives up his material desires and willingly offers himself as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Kṛṣṇa is so intelligent, that if a person engages in devotional service then Kṛṣṇa will give him transcendental attachment to His devotional service and then he will lose interest in the temporary material enjoyment.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.42

sakāma dhruvera śrī-hari-darśane prārthanā—

Hari-bhakti-sudhodaye dhruvacarite (7.28)—

sthānābhilāṣī tapasi sthito ’haṁ
tvāṁ prāptavān deva-munīndra-guhyam
kācaṁ vicinvann api divya-ratnaṁ
svāmin kṛtārtho ’smi varaṁ na yāce

Translation: [When he was being blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja said:] ‘O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.’

Purport: This verse is from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (7.28).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Dhruva Mahārāja he realized that having obtained Kṛṣṇa, this was much more valuable than anything that he had desire previously. He was very grateful and his desires were completely satisfied.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Kṛṣṇa Forcibly Gives Shelter at His Lotus Feet to Those Who Engage in His Service But Have Other Desires
Under the section: The Process of Devotional Service