20211214 Four Services Given to Sanātana Gosvāmī by Lord Caitanya

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 14th 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:

Four Services Given to Sanātana Gosvāmī by Lord Caitanya
Under the section: Life’s Ultimate Goal — Love of Godhead

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.93

śānta vyatīta apara sevakagaṇera rasacatuṣṭaye kṛṣṇa-sevā varṇanaḥ—

ei-mata dāsye dāsa, sakhye sakhā-gaṇa 
vātsalye mātā pitā āśrayālambana

Translation: Just as Lord Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī are the object and shelter of the mellow of conjugal love, respectively, so in the mellow of servitorship, Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda, is the object, and servants like Citraka, Raktaka and Patraka are the shelter. Similarly, in the transcendental mellow of friendship, Lord Kṛṣṇa is the object, and friends like Śrīdāmā, Sudāmā and Subala are the shelter. In the transcendental mellow of parental affection, Kṛṣṇa is the object, and mother Yaśodā and Mahārāja Nanda are the shelter.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in the spiritual world Kṛṣṇa is the central object of all rasas.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.94

ei rasa anubhave yaiche bhakta-gaṇa 
yaiche rasa haya, śuna tāhāra lakṣaṇa

Translation: Now hear how the mellows appear and how they are realized by the devotees on different transcendental platforms.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is going to explain how devotees in different mellows, how they relate with Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.95-98

Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.1.7-10)—

bhakti-nirdhūta-doṣāṇāṁ
prasannojjvala-cetasām śrī-bhāgavata-raktānāṁ
rasikāsaṅga-raṅgiṇām

jīvanī-bhūta-govinda-
pāda-bhakti-sukha-śriyām premāntaraṅga-bhūtāni
kṛtyāny evānutiṣṭhatām

bhaktānāṁ hṛdi rājantī
saṁskāra-yugalojjvalā ratir ānanda-rūpaiva
nīyamānā tu rasyatām

kṛṣṇādibhir vibhāvādyair
gatair anubhavādhvani prauḍhānandaś camatkāra-
kāṣṭhām āpadyate parām

Translation: For those who are completely washed of all material contamination by pure devotional service, who are always satisfied and brightly enlightened in the heart, who are always attached to understanding the transcendental meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, who are always eager to associate with advanced devotees, whose happiness in the service of the lotus feet of Govinda is their very life, who always discharge the confidential activities of love — for such advanced devotees, who are by nature situated in bliss, the seed of love [rati] is expanded in the heart by previous and current reformatory processes. Thus, the mixture of ecstatic ingredients becomes tasty and, being within the perception of the devotee, reaches the highest platform of wonder and deep bliss.’

Purport: These verses are found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.1.7-10).

Jayapatākā Swami: Since a devotee has no other desire than serving Kṛṣṇa, he is constantly experiencing transcendental wonder and bliss, and this is being explained here in these verses. So, this we should aspire for reaching this stage.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.99

ei cinmaya aprākṛta rasāsvādana—advayajñāna-kṛṣṇāśliṣṭa mukta kṛṣṇa bhaktera pakṣei sambhava, jaḍa kurasikera pakṣe asambhavaḥ—

ei rasa-āsvāda nāhi abhaktera gaṇe 
kṛṣṇa-bhakta-gaṇa kare rasa āsvādane

Translation: The exchange between Kṛṣṇa and different devotees situated in different transcendental mellows is not to be experienced by non-devotees. Advanced devotees can understand and appreciate the different varieties of devotional service reciprocated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Jayapatākā Swami: Advanced devotees can appreciate how the devotees in different mellows are reciprocating their love for Lord Kṛṣṇa, whether they are in friendship, whether they are in servitude, parental love or conjugal love, but the non-devotees they have no access to this transcendental bliss. They only are experiencing material sense gratification which is very transient by nature and causing pain as well.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.100

śāstra-pramāṇa :— Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.5.131)—

sarvathaiva durūho ’yam
abhaktair bhagavad-rasaḥ tat pādāmbuja-sarvasvair
bhaktair evānurasyate

Translation: Nondevotees cannot understand the exchange of transcendental mellows between the devotees and the Lord. In all respects, this is very difficult to understand, but one who has dedicated everything to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa can taste the transcendental mellows.’

Purport: This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.5.131).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the non-devotees who do not have access or understanding of the exchange of loving mellows between devotees and Kṛṣṇa, naturally they think the devotees are crazy, because their concept or reference point is completely different. That is why being a devotee is so important.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.101

prayojana-tattva-vicāra saṁkṣepe varṇitaḥ—

saṅkṣepe kahiluṅ ei ‘prayojana’-vivaraṇa 
pañcama-puruṣārtha—ei ‘kṛṣṇa-prema’-dhana

Translation: This brief description is an elaboration of the ultimate goal of life. Indeed, this is the fifth and ultimate goal, which is beyond the platform of liberation. It is called kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana, the treasure of love for Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Normally people know the four puruṣārthas, dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. But this is the fifth puruṣārtha, love of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa-prema dhana, the treasure of love for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.102

pūrve prayāge daśāśvamedha ghāṭe śrī-rūpake kṛṣṇa-rasa-śikṣā-dānaḥ—

pūrve prayāge āmi rasera vicāre 
tomāra bhāi rūpe kailuṅ śakti-sañcāre

Translation: Previously I empowered your brother Rūpa Gosvāmī to understand these mellows. I did this while instructing him at the Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa in Prayāga.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.103

prabhura vaiṣṇavācārya sanātanake ācāryocita cāriṭī sāmpradāyika sevāra pradānaḥ—

tumiha kariha bhakti-śāstrera pracāra 
mathurāya lupta-tīrthera kariha uddhāra

Translation: O Sanātana, you should broadcast the revealed scriptures on devotional service and excavate the lost places of pilgrimage in the district of Mathurā.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here Lord Caitanya is giving two instructions to Sanātana Gosvāmī

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.104

vṛndāvane kṛṣṇa-sevā, vaiṣṇava-ācāra 
bhakti-smṛti-śāstra kari’ kariha pracāra

Translation: "Establish devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī in Vṛndāvana. You should also compile bhakti scriptures and preach the bhakti cult from Vṛndāvana."

Purport: Sanātana Gosvāmī was enjoined

(1) to broadcast the revealed scriptures on devotional service and establish the conclusions of devotional service,

(2) to reestablish lost places of pilgrimage like Vṛndāvana and Rādhā-kuṇḍa,

(3) to establish the Vṛndāvana method of temple worship and install Deities in temples (Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī established the Madana-mohana temple, and Rūpa Gosvāmī established the Govindajī temple), and

(4) to enunciate the behavior of a Vaiṣṇava (as Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī did in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa).

In this way Sanātana Gosvāmī was empowered to establish the cult of Vaiṣṇavism.

As stated by Śrīnivāsa Ācārya in his Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka (2):

nānā-śāstra-vicāraṇaika-nipuṇau sad-dharma-saṁsthāpakau
lokānāṁ hita-kāriṇau tri-bhuvane mānyau śaraṇyākarau
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-padāravinda-bhajanānandena mattālikau
vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-gopālakau

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvāmīs, namely Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī and Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, who are very expert in scrutinizingly studying all the revealed scriptures with the aim of establishing eternal religious principles for the benefit of all human beings. Thus they are honored all over the three worlds, and they are worth taking shelter of because they are absorbed in the mood of the gopīs and are engaged in the transcendental loving service of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.”

This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement continues the tradition of the six Gosvāmīs, especially Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī and Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Serious students of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must understand their great responsibility to preach the cult of Vṛndāvana (devotional service to the Lord) all over the world. We now have a nice temple in Vṛndāvana, and serious students should take advantage of it. I am very hopeful that some of our students can take up this responsibility and render the best service to humanity by educating people in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here we see how Sanātana Gosvāmī was given four instruction by Lord Caitanya and how worshipping Rādhā Kṛṣṇa in Vrndavana is so special and that this has to be spread all over the world, like Śrīla Prabhupāda did and then he established a temple in Vṛndāvana and also in Māyāpuṛ, to follow the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.105

yukta-vairāgyai jīvera kāmya o sādhya evaṁ phalga-vairāgya—sarvathvā tyājyaḥ

yukta-vairāgya-sthiti saba śikhāila 
śuṣka-vairāgya-jñāna saba niṣedhila

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told Sanātana Gosvāmī about proper renunciation according to a particular situation, and the Lord forbade dry renunciation and speculative knowledge in all respects.

Purport: This is the technique for understanding śuṣka-vairāgya and yukta-vairāgya.

In the Bhagavad-gītā (6.17) it is said:

yuktāhāra-vihārasya yukta-ceṣṭasya karmasu
yukta-svapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkha-hā

He who is temperate in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.” To broadcast the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one has to learn the possibility of renunciation in terms of country, time and candidate. A candidate for Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the Western countries should be taught about the renunciation of material existence, but one would teach candidates from a country like India in a different way. The teacher (ācārya) has to consider time, candidate and country. He must avoid the principle of nīyamāgraha — that is, he should not try to perform the impossible. What is possible in one country may not be possible in another. The ācārya’s duty is to accept the essence of devotional service. There may be a little change here and there as far as yukta-vairāgya (proper renunciation) is concerned. Dry renunciation is forbidden by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and we have also learned this from our spiritual master, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Gosvāmī Mahārāja. The essence of devotional service must be taken into consideration, and not the outward paraphernalia.

Sanātana Gosvāmī wrote his Vaiṣṇava smṛti, Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, which was specifically meant for India. In those days, India was more or less following the principle of smārta-vidhi. Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī had to keep pace with this, and his Hari-bhakti-vilāsa was compiled with this in mind. According to smārta-brāhmaṇas, a person not born in a brāhmaṇa family could not be elevated to the position of a brāhmaṇa.

Sanātana Gosvāmī, however, says in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (2.12) that anyone can be elevated to the position of a brāhmaṇa by the process of initiation.

yathā kāñcanatāṁ yāti
kāṁsyaṁ rasa-vidhānataḥ tathā dīkṣā-vidhānena
dvijatvaṁ jāyate nṛṇām

As bell metal is turned to gold when mixed with mercury in an alchemical process, so one who is properly trained and initiated by a bona fide spiritual master immediately becomes a brāhmaṇa.”

There is a difference between the smārta process and the gosvāmī process. According to the smārta process, one cannot be accepted as a brāhmaṇa unless he is born in a brāhmaṇa family. According to the gosvāmī process, the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa and the Nārada-pañcarātra, anyone can be a brāhmaṇa if he is properly initiated by a bona fide spiritual master.

This is also the verdict of Śukadeva Gosvāmī in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18):

kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ
ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

Kirātas, Hūṇas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pulkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khasa races, and even others who are addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.”

A Vaiṣṇava is immediately purified, provided he follows the rules and regulations of his bona fide spiritual master. It is not necessary that the rules and regulations followed in India be exactly the same as those in Europe, America and other Western countries. Simply imitating without effect is called niyamāgraha. Not following the regulative principles but instead living extravagantly is also called niyamāgraha. The word niyama means regulative principles,” and āgraha means eagerness.” The word agraha means not to accept.” We should not follow regulative principles without an effect, nor should we fail to accept the regulative principles. What is required is a special technique according to country, time and candidate. Without the sanction of the spiritual master, we should not try to imitate. This principle is recommended here: śuṣka-vairāgya-jñāna saba niṣedhila. This is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s liberal demonstration of the bhakti cult. We should not introduce anything whimsically, without the sanction of the bona fide spiritual master.

In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments on these points by quoting two verses by Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī

(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.255-256).

anāsaktasya viṣayān
yathārham upayuñjataḥ

When one is not attached to anything but at the same time accepts everything in relation to Kṛṣṇa, one is rightly situated above possessiveness. On the other hand, one who rejects everything without knowledge of its relationship to Kṛṣṇa is not as complete in his renunciation.” To preach the bhakti cult, one should seriously consider these verses.

So, these long purports tells us the special position of Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī and other members of the six Gosvāmīs and how the dry renunciation is forbidden and how we should engage in yukta-vairāgya or appropriate renunciation. Here Śrīla Prabhupāda has mentioned that the renunciation in the practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in India and the West may be slightly different. And that has to be adapted by the bona fide spiritual master. One condition may not be the same in every time, place and country, so accordingly the aspects of devotional service are adapted.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.106-107

gītāya kṛṣṇapriya bhaktera taṭastha-lakṣaṇa-nirddeśaḥ—

Śrīmad-Bhagavad-gītāya (12.13-20)

Translation: One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is always satisfied, forgiving and self-controlled, and who is engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence dedicated to Me — such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.

Purport: One should not be jealous of members of other castes or nations. It is not that only Indians or brāhmaṇas can become Vaiṣṇavas. Anyone can become a Vaiṣṇava. Therefore, one should recognize that the bhakti cult must be spread all over the world. That is real adveṣṭā. Moreover, the word maitra, friendly,” indicates that one who is able to preach the bhakti cult all over the world should be equally friendly to everyone. These two and the following six verses were spoken by Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (12.13-20).

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.108

Translation: He by whom no one is put into difficulty or anxiety and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is liberated from jubilation, anger, fear and anxiety, is very dear to Me.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.109

Translation: A devotee who is not dependent on others but is dependent solely on Me, who is clean inwardly and outwardly, who is expert, indifferent to material things, without cares and free from all pains, and who rejects all pious and impious activities is very dear to Me.

Purport: The word anapekṣa means that one should not be concerned with mundane people and should not depend upon them. One should depend solely on the Supreme Personality of Godhead and be free from material desires. One should also be clean, within and without. To be outwardly clean, one should regularly bathe with soap and oil, and to be inwardly clean one should always be absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa. The words sarvārambha-parityāgī indicate that one should not be interested in the so-called smārta-vidhi of pious and impious activities.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this advice by Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā, how to get shelter of Kṛṣṇa is very important.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.110

Translation: One who is free of all material jubilation, hatred, lamentation and desire, who renounces both materially auspicious and materially inauspicious things, and who is devoted to Me is very dear to Me.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.111-112

Translation: One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from attachment to material things and always grave and satisfied in all circumstances, who doesn’t care for any residence, and who is always fixed in devotional service — such a person is very dear to Me.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sometimes devotees ask how they can be dear to Kṛṣṇa, here Kṛṣṇa is explaining the procedures how one can be dear to Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.113

Translation: Devotees who follow these imperishable religious principles of Kṛṣṇa consciousness with great faith and devotion, fully accepting Me as the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me.’

Jayapatākā Swami: This verse tells the priority by which one can become very, very dear to Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.114

bhaktyanuga śuddha-vairāgyamūlaka-vākya:

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2.2.5)

cīrāṇi kiṁ pathi na santi diśanti bhikṣāṁ naivāṅghri-pāḥ para-bhṛtaḥ sarito ’py aśuṣyan ruddhā guhāḥ kim ajito ’vati nopasannān kasmād bhajanti kavayo dhana-durmadāndhān

Translation: Are there no torn clothes lying on the common road? Do the trees, which exist for maintaining others, no longer give alms in charity? Do the rivers, being dried up, no longer supply water to the thirsty? Are the caves of the mountains now closed, or, above all, does the unconquerable Supreme Personality of Godhead not protect the fully surrendered souls? Why then should learned persons like devotees go to flatter those who are intoxicated by hard-earned wealth?”

Purport: This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.2.5). In this verse, Śukadeva Gosvāmī advises Mahārāja Parīkṣit that a devotee should be independent in all circumstances. The body can be maintained with no problem if one follows the instructions given in this verse. To maintain the body, we require shelter, food, water and clothing, and all these necessities can be obtained without approaching puffed-up rich men. One can collect old garments that have been thrown out, one can eat fruits offered by the trees, one can drink water from the rivers, and one can live within the caves of mountains. By nature’s arrangements, shelter, clothing and food are supplied to the devotee who is completely surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a devotee does not need a puffed-up materialistic person to maintain him. In other words, devotional service can be discharged in any condition.

This is the version of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6):

The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted in order to completely satisfy the self.” This verse explains that devotional service cannot be checked by any material condition.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we see that in some countries normally people throw out old clothes, they throw out electrical appliances, just because it is not the latest model, but still in working order. Anyway, in this present age of Kali, the people are destroying the environment in a such a way that even rivers are drying up. Therefore it is not recommended that one take type of sannyāsa where one lives in the forest. If he takes sannyāsa or brahmācarya, he should live in an āśrama or temple serving Lord Kṛṣṇa. So, in this way one can depend on Kṛṣṇa in all circumstance and not have to be a servant of some puffed up materialistic person. Rather serve the Supreme Lord and preach the sect of Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Four Services Given to Sanātana Gosvāmī by Lord Caitanya Under the section: Life’s Ultimate Goal — Love of Godhead