20211210 Symptoms of Bhāva-bhakti

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 10th 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!

Today is the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter today is entitled:

Symptoms of Bhāva-bhakti
Under the section: Life’s Ultimate Goal — Love of Godhead

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.17

pūrvaparicchede (1) sādhana-bhaktira lakṣaṇa varṇita; ekṣaṇe (2) bhāva-bhaktira lakṣaṇa varṇanaḥ—

yāṅhāra hṛdaye ei bhāvāṅkura haya
tāṅhāte eteka cihna sarva-śāstre kaya

Translation: “If one actually has the seed of transcendental emotion in his heart, the symptoms will be visible in his activities. That is the verdict of all revealed scriptures.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Although the devotees try to internalize the symptoms, it’s not always possible. Sometimes their bhāva or emotions is revealed.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.18-19

Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.3.25-26)—

kṣāntir avyartha-kālatvaṁ viraktir māna-śūnyatā
āśā-bandhaḥ samutkaṇṭhā nāma-gāne sadā ruciḥ

āsaktis tad-guṇākhyāne prītis tad-vasati-sthale
ity-ādayo ’nubhāvāḥ syur jāta-bhāvāṅkure jane

Translation: “When the seed of ecstatic emotion for Kṛṣṇa fructifies, the following nine symptoms manifest in one’s behavior: forgiveness, concern that time should not be wasted, detachment, absence of false prestige, hope, eagerness, a taste for chanting the holy name of the Lord, attachment to descriptions of the transcendental qualities of the Lord, and affection for those places where the Lord resides — that is, a temple or a holy place like Vṛndāvana. These are all called anubhāva, subordinate signs of ecstatic emotion. They are visible in a person in whose heart the seed of love of God has begun to fructify.’

Purport: These two verses are found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.3.25-26).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these anubhāvas are difficult to imitate, one may try to imitate the ecstatic symptoms but these anubhāvas are hard to imitate. So, we can observe these anubhāvas, and that can demonstrate that a person actually has the seed of love of Godhead fructifying in his heart.

So, we can observe these anubhāvas, and that can demonstrate that a person actually has the seed of love of Godhead fructifying in his heart.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.20

śloka byākhyā—(1) kṣānti vā kṣobharāhityaḥ—

ei nava prīty-aṅkura yāṅra citte haya
prākṛta-kṣobhe tāṅra kṣobha nāhi haya

Translation: “If love for Kṛṣṇa in a seedling state has fructified in one’s heart, one is not agitated by material things.”

Jayapatākā Swami: This is a synopsis of one who has developed the taste or developed the seed of love of Godhead fructifying in his heart.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (1.19.15)—

taṁ mopayātaṁ pratiyantu viprā
gaṅgā ca devī dhṛta-cittam īśe
dvijopasṛṣṭaḥ kuhakas takṣako vā
daśatv alaṁ gāyata viṣṇu-gāthāḥ

Translation: “O brāhmaṇas, just accept me as a completely surrendered soul, and let mother Ganges, the representative of the Lord, also accept me in that way, for I have already taken the lotus feet of the Lord into my heart. Let the snakebird — or whatever magical thing the brāhmaṇa created — bite me at once. I only desire that you all continue singing the deeds of Lord Viṣṇu.’

Purport: This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.19.15) spoken by Mahārāja Parīkṣit while he was sitting on the bank of the Ganges expecting to be bitten by a snakebird summoned by the curse of a brāhmaṇa boy named Śṛṅgi, who was the son of a great sage named Śamīka. News of the curse was conveyed to the King, who prepared for his imminent death. Many great saintly persons, sages, brāhmaṇas, kings and demigods came to see him in his last days. Mahārāja Parīkṣit, however, was not at all afraid of being bitten by the snakebird. Indeed, he requested all the great personalities assembled to continue chanting the holy name of Lord Viṣṇu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Parīkṣit Mahārāja was simply focused on the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu, he wanted nothing but to hear the glories of the Lord, because if he would leave his body hearing the Lord's glories, Kṛṣṇa promises in the Bhagavad-gītā, that whoever remembers Him at the time of death will come to Him.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.22

(2) avyarthakālatva

kṛṣṇa-sambandha vinā kāla vyartha nāhi yāya

Translation: “Not a moment should be lost. Every moment should be utilized for Kṛṣṇa or connected with Him.

Purport: Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s expression of anxiety is explained in this verse. He says, “Let whatever is destined to happen take place. It doesn’t matter. Just let me see that not a moment of my time is wasted without a relationship with Kṛṣṇa.” One has to tolerate all obstacles on the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and one has to see that not a moment of his life is wasted outside of Kṛṣṇa’s service.

Jayapatākā Swami: This is the desire of the pure devotee, who want to use all his time in Kṛṣṇa's service. So, this is the symptom of anubhāva of bhāva.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.23

samasta indriyadvārā kṛṣṇa-sevā kariyāo bhāva-bhaktera cinmayī camatkāramayī atṛptiḥ— Hari-bhakti-sudhodaye (12.38)—

vāgbhiḥ stuvanto manasā smarantas
tanvā namanto ’py aniśaṁ na tṛptāḥ
bhaktāḥ śravan-netra-jalāḥ samagram
āyur harer eva samarpayanti

Translation: “With their words, they offer prayers to the Lord. With their minds, they always remember the Lord. With their bodies, they offer obeisances to the Lord. Despite all these activities, they are still not satisfied. This is the nature of pure devotees. Shedding tears from their eyes, they dedicate their whole lives to the Lord’s service.’

Purport: This verse from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.3.29).

Jayapatākā Swami: These are the symptoms of pure devotees offering their whole life to the service of the Supreme Lord, but they are not satisfied, they wish more intense union with Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.24

(3) indriya-tarpaṇa-viraktiḥ—

bhukti, siddhi, indriyārtha tāre nāhi bhāya

Translation: “In the material field, people are interested in material enjoyment, mystic power and sense gratification. But these things do not appeal to the devotee at all.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, bhukti, siddhi and mukti merging into the impersonal effulgence of the Lord are the things which is attracted to the materialists. But the pure devotees have nothing to do with them.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.25

kṛṣṇetara-viṣaya-bhoga-virakta bharatera dṛṣṭāntaḥ—
Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (5.14.43)—

yo dustyajān dāra-sutān
suḥṛd-rājyaṁ hṛdi-spṛśaḥ
jahau yuvaiva mala-vad
uttamaḥśloka-lālasaḥ

Translation: “King Bharata was very eager to attain the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, who is called Uttamaḥśloka because poems and prayers are offered to Him for His favor. In his youth, King Bharata gave up his attractive wife and children, as well as his beloved friends and opulent kingdom, just as one gives up stool after passing it.’

Purport: These are the signs of virakti (detachment) found in a person who has developed bhāva, the preliminary stage of love of Godhead. This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.14.43).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Bharata after whom, India is named as Bhāratavarśa, for the residents of other planets this whole planet is known as Bharatavarsa, so he was a bhāva-bhakta who had developed preliminary love of Godhead. As a result, material things were not interesting to him, he wanted association with Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.26

(4) mānaśūnyatā

‘sarvottama’ āpanāke hīna’ kari māne

Translation: “Although a pure devotee’s standard is above all, he still considers himself to be in the lowest stage of life.”

Jayapatākā Swami: This is the natural quality of a pure devotee, he is always very humble.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.27

amānitvera dṛṣṭāntaḥ—
padma purāṇa–vākya—

harau ratiṁ vahann eṣa narendrāṇāṁ śikhā-maṇiḥ
bhikṣām aṭann ari-pure śva-pākam api vandate

Translation: “King Bhagīratha always carried affection for Kṛṣṇa within his heart. Although King Bhagīratha was the crown jewel of kings, he was still wandering about and begging alms in the city of his enemies. He was even offering respects to caṇḍālas, low-class men who eat dogs.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Padma Purāṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: King Bhagīratha was another pure devotee of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. It was he who brought the Ganges down to this planet and liberated his forefathers by having the Ganges water flow on their ashes.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.28

(5) āśābandhaḥ—

‘kṛṣṇa kṛpā karibena’—dṛḍha kari’ jāne

Translation: “A fully surrendered devotee always hopes that Lord Kṛṣṇa will be kind to him. This hope is very firm in him.”

Jayapatākā Swami: One of the qualities of pure devotion to Kṛṣṇa is always remember that Kṛṣṇa will be kind and help one.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.29

āśāvandhayuktera uktiḥ— Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.3.35)—

śrī-rūpa-gosvāmi-dhṛta śrī-sanātana-prabhu vākyaḥ—

na premā śravaṇādi-bhaktir api vā yogo ’tha vā vaiṣṇavo jñānaṁ vā śubha-karma vā kiyad aho saj-jātir apy asti vā hīnārthādhika-sādhake tvayi tathāpy acchedya-mūlā satī he gopī-jana-vallabha vyathayate hā hā mad-āśaiva mām

Translation: “O my Lord, I do not have any love for You, nor am I qualified for discharging devotional service by chanting and hearing. Nor do I possess the mystic power of a Vaiṣṇava, knowledge or pious activities. Nor do I belong to a very high-caste family. On the whole, I do not possess anything. Still, O beloved of the gopīs, because You bestow Your mercy on the most fallen, I have an unbreakable hope that is constantly in my heart. That hope is always giving me pain.’

Purport: This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.3.35).

Jayapatākā Swami: This is the mood of Sanātana Gosvāmī, although we could argue that none of these things are correct, he was thinking these things and still hoping since the Lord is dīna-bandhu, the friend of the fallen, that somehow or another he would get the Lord’s mercy.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.30

(6) samutkaṇṭhā

samutkaṇṭhā haya sadā lālasā-pradhāna

Translation: “This eagerness is chiefly characterized by an ardent desire to associate with the Lord.”

Jayapatākā Swami: The devotee is always eager to associate with Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.31

samutkaṇṭhāya bhaktera uktiḥ—
śrī-kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛte (32)-dhṛta bilva-maṅgala-vākya—

tvac-chaiśavaṁ tri-bhuvanādbhutam ity avehi mac-cāpalaṁ ca tava vā mama vādhigamyam tat kiṁ karomi viralaṁ muralī-vilāsi mugdhaṁ mukhāmbujam udīkṣitum īkṣaṇābhyām

Translation: “O Kṛṣṇa, O flute-player, the sweetness of Your early age is wonderful within these three worlds. You know My unsteadiness, and I know Yours. No one else knows about this. I want to see Your beautiful, attractive face somewhere in a solitary place, but how can this be accomplished?’

Purport: This is a verse from the Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta (32).

Jayapatākā Swami: Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura had this strong desire to associate with and see Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.32

(7) nāmagāne sadā ruciḥ—

nāma-gāne sadā ruci, laya kṛṣṇa-nāma

Translation: “Due to having great relish for the holy name, one is inclined to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra constantly.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is another quality to have a great relish for chanting the holy name.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.33

nāmagānera dṛṣṭāntaḥ—
Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.3.38)—

rodana-bindu-maranda-syandi-dṛg-indīvarādya govinda
tava madhura-svara-kaṇṭhī gāyati nāmāvalīṁ bālā

Translation: “O Govinda, this youthful girl named Rādhikā is today constantly pouring forth tears like nectar falling from flowers as She sings Your holy names in a sweet voice.’

Purport: This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.3.38).

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīmatī Rādhikā is the topmost devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, She is source of all the gopīs, all Rānīs of Dvārakā and all Lakṣmīs of Vaikuṇṭha, She is the embodiment of pure love of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.34

(8) kṛṣṇa-guṇākhyāne āsakti

kṛṣṇa-guṇākhyāne kare sarvadā āsakti

Translation: “At this stage of bhāva, a devotee has awakened the tendency to chant and describe the transcendental qualities of the Lord. He has attachment for this process.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is explaining these symptoms of a devotee who has developed bhāva.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.35

kṛṣṇa-mādhurya varṇanaḥ—
Śrī-kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛte (92) bilva-maṅgala-vākya—

madhuraṁ madhuraṁ vapur asya vibhor madhuraṁ madhuraṁ vadanaṁ madhuram madhu-gandhi mṛdu-smitam etad aho madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuram

Translation: “O my Lord, the transcendental body of Kṛṣṇa is very sweet, and His face is even sweeter than His body. But His soft smile,  which has the fragrance of honey, is sweeter still.’

Purport: This is a verse quoted from Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura’s Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta (92).

Jayapatākā Swami: Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura has realized the sweetness of Kṛṣṇa's body, Kṛṣṇa's smile, and Kṛṣṇa's face and Krsna's smile.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.36

9) kṛṣṇa-vasatisthale prītiḥ—

kṛṣṇa-līlā-sthāne kare sarvadā vasati

Translation: “A devotee absorbed in ecstatic emotion for Kṛṣṇa always resides in a place where Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes were performed.”

Jayapatākā Swami: One of the anubhāvas is that one resides in a place connected with Kṛṣṇa's pastimes like the temple or Vṛndāvana, Māyāpur, Jagannātha Purī, Dvārakā.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.37

kṛṣṇa-priyavasati-sthale prītira dṛṣṭāntaḥ—

Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.154)—

kadāhaṁ yamunā-tīre
nāmāni tava kīrtayan
udbāṣpaḥ puṇḍarīkākṣa
racayiṣyāmi tāṇḍavam

Translation: “O Lord Puṇḍarīkākṣa, while chanting Your holy name with tears in my eyes, when shall I dance in ecstasy on the bank of the Yamunā?’

Purport: This verse is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.156).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, remembering Kṛṣṇa's pastimes on the bank of the Yamunā, the devotees is inspired, feeling like dancing in ecstasy, separation of the Lord

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Symptoms of Bhāva-bhakti

Under the section: Life’s Ultimate Goal — Love of Godhead

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