20211202 By Associating With a Devotee, One Awakens His Faith in Devotional Service to Kṛṣṇa Which Awakens One’s Dormant Love for Kṛṣṇa

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 2nd 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:

By Associating With a Devotee, One Awakens His Faith in Devotional Service to Kṛṣṇa Which Awakens One’s Dormant Love for Kṛṣṇa
Under the section: The Process of Devotional Service

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.43

sukṛtimān jīva-varṇana—

saṁsāra bhramite kona bhāgye keha tare
nadīra pravāhe yena kāṣṭha lāge tīre

Translation: The conditioned souls are wandering throughout the different planets of the universe, entering various species of life. By good fortune one of these souls may somehow or other be delivered from the ocean of nescience, just as one of the many big logs in a flowing river may by chance reach the bank.

Purport: There are unlimited conditioned souls who are bereft of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service. Not knowing how to cross the ocean of nescience, they are scattered by the waves of time and tide. However, some are fortunate to contact devotees, and by this contact they are delivered from the ocean of nescience, just as a log floating down a river accidentally washes upon the bank.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we understand that meeting a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is so great and good fortune, they can deliver one from this material world and one can go back home back to godhead

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.44

maivaṁ mamādhamasyāpi syād evācyuta-darśanam
hriyamāṇaḥ kāla-nadyā kvacit tarati kaścana

Translation: ‘Because I am so fallen, I shall never get a chance to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” This was my false apprehension. Rather, by chance a person as fallen as I am may get to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although one is being carried away by the waves of the river of time, one may eventually reach the shore.’

Purport: This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.38.5) was spoken by Akrūra.

Jayapatākā Swami: If one is fortunate enough to meet a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, that person may easily be able to take shelter of the Lord to awaken his dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.45

bhaktyunmukhī-sukṛti-phale baddha-jīvera siddhi-lābha—

kona bhāgye kāro saṁsāra kṣayonmukha haya
sādhu-saṅge tabe kṛṣṇe rati upajaya

Translation: By good fortune one becomes eligible to cross the ocean of nescience, and when one’s term of material existence decreases, one may get an opportunity to associate with pure devotees. By such association, one’s attraction to Kṛṣṇa is awakened.

Purport: Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains this point. Is this bhāgya (fortune) the result of an accident or something else? In the scriptures, devotional service and pious activity are considered fortunate. Pious activities can be divided into three categories: pious activities that awaken one’s dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness are called bhakty-unmukhī sukṛti, pious activities that bestow material opulence are called bhogonmukhī sukṛti, and pious activities that enable the living entity to merge into the existence of the Supreme are called mokṣonmukhī sukṛti. These last two awards of pious activity are not actually fortunate. Pious activities are fortunate when they help one become Kṛṣṇa conscious. The good fortune of bhakty-unmukhī is attainable only when one comes in contact with a devotee. By associating with a devotee willingly or unwillingly, one advances in devotional service, and thus one’s dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness is awakened.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in one Ardha Kumbha-mela in Allahabad, Śrīla Prabhupāda mentioned that by good fortune, by performing pious activities that someone reaches devotional service. Then one devotee raised his hand, said I look back at my life, and I didn’t do any pious activities, I didn’t do any sacrifice, I don’t see I did anything pious, then how did I get this mercy?” Then Śrīla Prabhupāda replied, I have made your good fortune” So by meeting a pure devotee like Śrīla Prabhupāda, he made the good fortune of so many people.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.46

sukṛti-phale sadhu-saṅga, tatphale bhajana-pravṛtti o anartha-nivṛttikrame sādhanera siddhi vā sādhya kṛṣṇa-prema-lābha— Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10.51.53)—

bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ
sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau parāvareśe tvayi jāyate ratiḥ

Translation: ‘O my Lord! O infallible Supreme Person! When a person wandering throughout the universes becomes eligible for liberation from material existence, he gets an opportunity to associate with devotees. When he associates with devotees, his attraction for You is awakened. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead — the highest goal of the topmost devotees and the Lord of the universe.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.51.53).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, having some attraction for serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the perfection of life and somehow or another to get that attraction usually by associating with a pure devotee, then that attraction for Kṛṣṇa is awakened.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.47

kṛṣṇa-prasādei guru-prasāda lābha—

kṛṣṇa yadi kṛpā kare kona bhāgyavāne
guru-antaryāmi-rūpe śikhāya āpane

Translation: Kṛṣṇa is situated in everyone’s heart as the caitya-guru, the spiritual master within. When He is kind to some fortunate conditioned soul, He personally gives him lessons so he can progress in devotional service, instructing the person as the Supersoul within and the spiritual master without.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa as the caitya-guru, as the spiritual master within instructs that is confirmed by the spiritual master who is speaking from outside, and in this way the devotee is guided to the perfectional platform.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (11.29.6)—

Translation: ‘O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmā, for You appear in two features — externally as the ācārya and internally as the Supersoul — to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.’

Purport: This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.29.6). It was spoken by Uddhava after he had been instructed in yoga by Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Uddhava is a very fortunate devotee that He had Kṛṣṇa as his guru. Kṛṣṇa was helping him from within and without, also the spiritual master, the ācārya helps the devotees from outside and inside the Supersoul, Kṛṣṇa confirms what the ācārya says as true.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.49

dīkṣānte sambandha-jñāna o abhidheya-phale anartha-nivṛtti, ruci, āsakti o prāpya-prayojana-lābha:—

sādhu-saṅge kṛṣṇa-bhaktye śraddhā yadi haya
bhakti-phala ‘prema’ haya, saṁsāra yāya kṣaya

Translation: By associating with a devotee, one awakens his faith in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Because of devotional service, one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens, and thus one’s material, conditioned existence comes to an end.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is instructing Sanātana Gosvāmī from the various verses from Śrīmad-bhāgavatam and other scriptures on how one can achieve Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.50

śraddhāvān bhakti-yogī atirāgī vā ativairāgī nahena Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (11.20.18)

yadṛcchayā mat-kathādau jāta-śraddhas tu yaḥ pumān
na nirviṇṇo nāti-sakto bhakti-yogo ‘sya siddhi-daḥ

Translation: ‘Somehow or other, if one is attracted to talks about Me and has faith in the instructions I have set forth in the Bhagavad-gītā, and if one is neither falsely detached from material things nor very much attracted to material existence, his dormant love for Me will be awakened by devotional service.’

Purport: This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.8) was spoken by Kṛṣṇa at the time of His departure from this material world. It was spoken to Uddhava.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this part of the Śrīmad-bhāgavatam is known as the Uddhava-gītā, because Lord Kṛṣṇa was giving instructions on bhakti-yoga to Uddhava.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.51

guru o vaiṣṇava vā sādhura kṛpātei anartha-nivṛtti o śuddha-bhakti-lābha—

mahat-kṛpā vinā kona karme ‘bhakti’ naya
kṛṣṇa-bhakti dūre rahu, saṁsāra nahe kṣaya

Translation: Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, one cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of kṛṣṇa-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.

Purport: Pious activities bring about material opulence, but one cannot acquire devotional service by any amount of material pious activity — not by giving charity, opening big hospitals and schools or working philanthropically. Devotional service can be attained only by the mercy of a pure devotee. Without a pure devotee’s mercy, one cannot even escape the bondage of material existence.

The word mahat in this verse means a pure devotee,” as Lord Kṛṣṇa confirms in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.13):

mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ
bhajanty ananya-manaso jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam

O son of Pṛthā, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.”

One has to associate with such a mahātmā, who has accepted Kṛṣṇa as the supreme source of the entire creation. Without being a mahātmā, one cannot understand Kṛṣṇa’s absolute position. A mahātmā is rare and transcendental, and he is a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Foolish people consider Kṛṣṇa a human being, and they consider Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotee an ordinary human being also. Whatever one may be, one must take shelter at the lotus feet of a devotee mahātmā and treat him as the most exalted well-wisher of all human society. We should take shelter of such a mahātmā and ask for his causeless mercy. Only by his benediction can one be relieved from attachment to the materialistic way of life. When one is thus relieved, he can engage in the Lord’s transcendental loving service through the mercy of the mahātmā.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we can see how His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami created the good fortune by his mercy and made many devotees and those devotees should also give the mercy to many souls as possible.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.52

śuddha-bhaktera ānugatya vyatīta kṛṣṇa-prāpti sudurllabhā— Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (5.12.12)—

rahūgaṇaitat tapasā na yāti na cejyayā nirvapaṇād gṛhād vā
na cchandasā naiva jalāgni-sūryair vinā mahat-pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekam

Translation: ‘O King Rahūgaṇa, without taking upon one’s head the dust from the lotus feet of a pure devotee [a mahājana or mahātmā], one cannot attain devotional service. Devotional service is not possible to attain simply by undergoing severe austerities and penances, by gorgeously worshiping the Deity, or by strictly following the rules and regulations of the sannyāsa or gṛhastha order; nor is it attained by studying the Vedas, submerging oneself in water, or exposing oneself to fire or scorching sunlight.’

Purport: This verse appears in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.12.12). Jaḍa Bharata herein tells King Rahūgaṇa how he attained the paramahaṁsa stage. Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa, the King of Sindhu-sauvīra, had asked Jaḍa Bharata how he had attained the paramahaṁsa stage. The King had called him to carry his palanquin, but when the King heard from paramahaṁsa Jaḍa Bharata about the supreme philosophy, he expressed surprise and asked Jaḍa Bharata how he had attained such great liberation. At that time Jaḍa Bharata informed the King how to become detached from material attraction.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we can see how a Vaiṣṇava is so special, Prabhupāda mentioned that the ladies in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement were not ordinary women, they were Vaiṣṇavīs by associating with them one could become a devotee. Similarly, all Vaiṣṇavas and Vaiṣṇavīs should distribute Prabhupāda books and give their association to the conditioned souls so that they can advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.53

mahat vā śuddha-vaiṣṇavera kṛpātei anartha-nāśa o tatphale viṣṇupada-lābha—

naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat

Translation: ‘Unless human society accepts the dust of the lotus feet of great mahātmās — devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions — mankind cannot turn its attention to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Those lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted, miserable conditions of material life.’

Purport: This verse appears in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.32). When the great sage Nārada was giving instructions to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, he narrated the activities of Prahlāda Mahārāja. This verse was spoken by Prahlāda Mahārāja to his father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, the king of demons. Prahlāda Mahārāja had informed his father of the nine basic processes of bhakti-yoga, explaining that whoever takes to these processes is to be considered a highly learned scholar. Hiraṇyakaśipu, however, did not like his son to talk about devotional service; therefore he immediately called Prahlāda’s teacher, Ṣaṇḍa. The teacher explained that he had not taught devotional service to Prahlāda but that the boy was naturally inclined that way. At that time Hiraṇyakaśipu became very angry and asked Prahlāda why he had become a Vaiṣṇava. In answer to this question, Prahlāda Mahārāja recited this verse to the effect that one cannot become the Lord’s devotee without receiving the mercy and blessings of another devotee.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Hiraṇyakaśipu gave the order to kill any Vaiṣṇava who approaches his school, but he didn’t know that Prahlāda had received the instructions from Nārada muni when he was in the womb of his mother.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.54

cetanera kṣaṇārddha saṅgaphalei jīvera cidvṛtti kṛṣṇa-sevāra udbodhana o sādhya-prāpti

‘sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’—sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya

Translation: The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.

Purport: According to astronomical calculations, a lava is one eleventh of a second.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, even if one can associate with a pure devotee for a fraction of a second, his life can be changed.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.55

sādhu-saṅgera mahimā:— Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (1.18.13)

tulayāma lavenāpi na svargaṁ nāpunar-bhavam
bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya martyānāṁ kim utāśiṣaḥ

Translation: ‘The value of a moment’s association with a devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even to the attainment of the heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.18.13). This verse concerns the Vedic rites and sacrifices performed by the great sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, headed by Śaunaka Ṛṣi. The sages pointed out that association with a devotee for even less than a second is beyond comparison to a thousand Vedic rituals and sacrifices, elevation to heavenly planets or merging into the existence of the Supreme.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the sages in Naimsaranya could appreciate the association of Suta Gosvāmī, that even a moment's association with a pure devotee is incomparably better than any amount of pious activities as mentioned above.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.56

gītāra śikṣā:—

kṛṣṇa kṛpālu arjunere lakṣya kariyā
jagatere rākhiyāchena upadeśa diyā

Translation: Kṛṣṇa is so merciful that simply by aiming His instructions at Arjuna, He has given protection to the whole world.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, how the Bhagavad-gītā is so special by Kṛṣṇa giving these instructions to Arjuna, He has blessed the whole world.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.57-58

kṛṣṇa-prāptira uddeśei yāvatīya kriyā kartavya Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītāya (18.64-65)

Translation: ‘Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you My supreme instruction, the most confidential knowledge of all. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit. Always think of Me and become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Bhagavad-gītā (18.64-65).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, although Kṛṣṇa said this to Arjuna His friend, if we follow this instructions we can also be delivered.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.59

pūrve karma-jñāna-yogādira abhidheyatva kathita haileo, sarvaśeṣa ājñā kṛṣṇa-bhaktii ekamātra abhidheya o vidhi:—

pūrva ājñā,—veda-dharma, karma, yoga, jñāna
saba sādhi’ śeṣe ei ājñā—balavān

Translation: Although Kṛṣṇa previously explained the proficiency of executing Vedic rituals, performing fruitive activity as enjoined in the Vedas, practicing yoga and cultivating jñāna, these last instructions are most powerful and stand above all the others.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa had given various instructions in the Bhagavad-gītā, but in the 18th Chapter, he gave this instruction, which is more important, but that instruction which was given at the end is considered to be the most important.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.60

sarvadharma chāḍiyā kṛṣṇa-bhajana-ceṣṭā—

ei ājñā-bale bhaktera ‘śraddhā’ yadi haya
sarva-karma tyāga kari’ se kṛṣṇa bhajaya

Translation: If the devotee has faith in the strength of this order, he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa and gives up all other activities.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is the ultimate instructions that we should give up all other activities , all other work and do everything devotional service for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.61

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (11.20.9)—

tāvat karmāṇi kurvīta na nirvidyeta yāvatā
mat-kathā-śravaṇādau vā śraddhā yāvan na jāyate

Translation: ‘As long as one is not satiated by fruitive activity and has not awakened his taste for devotional service by śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ, one has to act according to the regulative principles of the Vedic injunctions.’

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.9).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when one awakens his desire to taste devotional service and engages in śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ of Lord Viṣṇu, then he doesn’t have to engage in the regulative principle of the Vedic injunctions, if he follows the path of pure devotional service.