20211215 Phalaśruti - The Result of Hearing About the Instructions Given to Sanātana Gosvāmī by Lord Caitanya

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 15th 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:

Phalaśruti - The Result of Hearing About the Instructions Given to Sanātana Gosvāmī by Lord Caitanya
Under the section: Life’s Ultimate Goal — Love of Godhead

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.115

sanātanera paripraśne prabhukarttṛka bhāgavatera gṛḍha siddhānta kīrtanaḥ—

tabe sanātana saba siddhānta puchilā 
bhāgavata-siddhānta gūḍha sakali kahilā

Translation: Thereafter Sanātana Gosvāmī inquired from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about all the conclusive statements concerning devotional service, and the Lord very vividly explained all the confidential meanings of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya revealed the confidential meanings of the Śrīmad-bhāgavatam to Sanātana Gosvāmī

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.116

hari-vaṁśe kahiyāche goloke nitya-sthiti 
indra āsi’ karila yabe śrī-kṛṣṇere stuti

Translation: In the revealed scripture Hari-vaṁśa, there is a description of Goloka Vṛndāvana, the planet where Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa eternally resides. This information was given by King Indra when he surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and offered prayers after Kṛṣṇa had raised Govardhana Hill.

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda In the Vedic scripture Hari-vaṁśa (Viṣṇu-parva, chapter nineteen), there is the following description of Goloka Vṛndāvana:

When the King of heaven, Indra, surrendered to Kṛṣṇa after Kṛṣṇa had raised Govardhana Hill, Lord Indra stated that above the planetary systems wherein human beings reside is the sky, where birds fly. Above the sky is the sun and its orbit. This is the entrance to the heavenly planets. Above the heavenly planets are other planets, up to Brahmaloka, where those advancing in spiritual knowledge reside. The planets up to Brahmaloka are part of the material world (Devī-dhāma). Because the material world is under the control of Devī, Durgā, it is called Devī-dhāma. Above Devī-dhāma is a place where Lord Śiva and his wife Umā reside. Those brightened by spiritual knowledge and liberated from material contamination reside in that Śivaloka. Beyond that planetary system is the spiritual world, where there are planets called Vaikuṇṭhalokas. Goloka Vṛndāvana is situated above all the Vaikuṇṭhalokas. Goloka Vṛndāvana is the kingdom of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and the parents of Kṛṣṇa, Mahārāja Nanda and mother Yaśodā. In this way there are various planetary systems, and they are all creations of the Supreme Lord.

As stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.43):

goloka-nāmni nija-dhāmni tale ca tasya 
devī-maheśa-hari-dhāmasu teṣu teṣu
te te prabhāva-nicayā vihitāś ca yena 
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

“Below the planet named Goloka Vṛndāvana are the planets known as Devī-dhāma, Maheśa-dhāma and Hari-dhāma. These are opulent in different ways. They are managed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, the original Lord. I offer my obeisances unto Him.”

Thus Goloka Vṛndāvana-dhāma is situated above the Vaikuṇṭha planets. The spiritual sky containing all the Vaikuṇṭha planets is very small compared to Goloka Vṛndāvana-dhāma. The space occupied by Goloka Vṛndāvana-dhāma is called mahākāśa, or “the greatest sky of all.” Lord Indra said, “We asked Lord Brahmā about Your eternal planet, but we could not understand it. Those fruitive actors who have controlled their senses and mind with pious activities can be elevated to the heavenly planets. Pure devotees who are always engaged in Lord Nārāyaṇa’s service are promoted to the Vaikuṇṭha-lokas. However, my Lord Kṛṣṇa, Your Goloka Vṛndāvana-dhāma is very difficult to attain. Yet both You and that supreme planetary system have descended here upon this earth. Unfortunately, I have disturbed You by my misdeeds, and that was due to my foolishness. I am therefore trying to satisfy You by my prayers.”

Śrī Nīlakaṇṭha confirms the existence of Goloka Vṛndāvana-dhāma by quoting the Ṛg-saṁhitā (Ṛg Veda 1.154.6):

“We wish to go to Your [Rādhā’s and Kṛṣṇa’s] beautiful houses, about which cows with large, excellent horns are wandering. Yet distinctly shining on this earth is that supreme abode of Yours that showers joy on all, O Urugāya [Kṛṣṇa, who is much praised].”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by this we can understand the glories of Goloka Vṛndāvana where Kṛṣṇa and His loving associates reside. it is above the Hari-dhāma which is above the Maheśa-dhāma, which is above the Devī-dhāma. Maheśa-dhāma is on the border of the material and spiritual world, Devī-dhāma is the material world and Hari-dhāma is in the spiritual sky and Goloka Vṛndāvana is the highest of all.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.117-118

katipaya asura-mohinī anitya prākṛta ghaṭanāḥ—

mauṣala-līlā, āra kṛṣṇa-antardhāna 
keśāvatāra, āra yata viruddha vyākhyāna

prabhukarttṛka ukta mauṣala-līlādi-sambandhe yathārtha siddhānta vyākhyāḥ—

mahiṣī-haraṇa ādi, saba—māyāmaya 
vyākhyā śikhāila yaiche susiddhānta haya

Translation: Illusory stories opposed to the conclusions of Kṛṣṇa consciousness concern the destruction of the Yadu dynasty, Kṛṣṇa’s disappearance, the story that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma arise from a black hair and a white hair of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, and the story about the kidnapping of the queens. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained to Sanātana Gosvāmī the proper conclusions of these stories.

Purport: by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupāda Due to envy, many asuras describe Kṛṣṇa to be like a black crow or an incarnation of a hair. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Sanātana Gosvāmī how to counteract all these asuric explanations of Kṛṣṇa. The word kāka means crow, and keśa means hair. The asuras describe Kṛṣṇa as an incarnation of a crow, an incarnation of a śūdra (a blackish tribe) and an incarnation of a hair, not knowing that the word keśa means ka-īśa and that ka means Lord Brahmā and īśa means Lord. Thus the word keśa indicates that Kṛṣṇa is the Lord of Lord Brahmā.

Some of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are mentioned in the Mahābhārata as mauṣala-līlā. These include the stories of the destruction of the Yadu dynasty, Kṛṣṇa’s disappearance, His being pierced by a hunter’s arrow, the story of Kṛṣṇa’s being an incarnation of a piece of hair (keśa-avatāra) as well as mahiṣī-haraṇa, the kidnapping of Kṛṣṇa’s queens. Actually these are not factual but are related for the bewilderment of the asuras, who want to prove that Kṛṣṇa is an ordinary human being. They are false in the sense that these pastimes are not eternal, nor are they transcendental or spiritual. There are many people who are by nature averse to the supremacy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. Such people are called asuras. They have mistaken ideas about Kṛṣṇa. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, the asuras are given a chance to forget Kṛṣṇa more and more, birth after birth. Thus they make their appearance in a family of asuras and continue this process, being kept in bewilderment about Kṛṣṇa. Asuras in the dress of sannyāsīs even explain the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in different ways according to their own imaginations. Thus they continue to remain asuras birth after birth.

As far as the keśa-avatāra (incarnation of a hair)

is concerned, it is mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.7.26).

The Viṣṇu Purāṇa also states, ujjahārātmanaḥ keśau sita-kṛṣṇau mahā-bala

Similarly, it is stated in the Mahābhārata

Thus in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the Viṣṇu Purāṇa and the Mahābhārata there are references to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma being incarnations of a black hair and a white hair respectively. It is stated that Lord Viṣṇu snatched two hairs — one white and one black — from His head. These two hairs entered the wombs of Rohiṇī and Devakī, members of the Yadu dynasty. Balarāma was born from Rohiṇī, and Kṛṣṇa was born of Devakī. Thus Balarāma appeared from the first hair, and Kṛṣṇa appeared from the second hair. It was also foretold that all the asuras, who are enemies of the demigods, would be cut down by Lord Viṣṇu by His white and black plenary expansions and that the Supreme Personality of Godhead would appear and perform wonderful activities. In this connection, one should see the Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta, the chapter called Kṛṣṇāmṛta, verses 156-164. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has refuted this argument about the hair incarnation, and his refutation is supported by Śrī Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa’s commentaries. This matter is further discussed in the Kṛṣṇa-sandarbha (29) and in the commentary known as Sarva-saṁvādinī, by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Kṛṣṇa in order to bewilder the asurās, He does some things that is not understood by the asurās, while they think He is an ordinary person. But actually, devotees they are not bewildered by this, they can understand that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and these are bewildering only to the asurās.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.119

prabhu-caraṇe sanātanera dainya o prārthanāḥ—

tabe sanātana prabhura caraṇe dhariyā 
nivedana kare dante tṛṇa-guccha lañā

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī then humbly accepted his position as lower than a piece of straw, and symbolically holding some straw in his mouth, he fell down, clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and submitted the following petition.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in all humility is recommended by all the śāstras.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.120

“nīca-jāti, nīca-sevī, muñi—supāmara 
siddhānta śikhāilā,—yei brahmāra agocara

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “My dear Lord, I am a very lowborn person. Indeed, I am a servant to lowborn people; therefore I am very, very downtrodden. Nonetheless, You have taught me conclusions unknown even to Lord Brahmā.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, although Sanātana Gosvāmī comes from an illustrious family, he presents himself as very low born, Lord Caitanya is patita-pāvana so Sanātana Gosvāmī presents himself as most patita and begged for the mercy of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.121

tumi ye kahilā, ei siddhāntāmṛta-sindhu 
mora mana chuṅite nāre ihāra eka-bindu

Translation: “The conclusions that You have told me are the ocean of the ambrosia of truth. My mind is unable to approach even a drop of that ocean."

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sanātana Gosvāmī is appreciating the nectar which Lord Caitanya taught him, although without Lord Caitanya’s mercy he declares that he cannot touch anything.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.122

paṅgu nācāite yadi haya tomāra mana 
vara deha’ mora māthe dhariyā caraṇa

Translation: “If You want to make a lame man like me dance, kindly bestow Your transcendental blessings by placing Your lotus feet on my head.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sanātana Gosvāmī is begging the Lord to bless him with His lotus feet.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.123

ullikhita bhaktisiddhānta-vāṇīra sphūrttiprāptira janya prabhusamīpe vara-yācñāḥ—

‘muñi ye śikhāluṅ tore sphuruka sakala’ 
ei tomāra vara haite habe mora bala”

Translation: “Now, will You please tell me, ‘Let whatever I have instructed all be fully manifested unto you.’ By blessing me in this way, You will give me strength to describe all this.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sanātana Gosvāmī was surrendering completely to Lord Caitanya and he asked Lord Caitanya to bless him so that he could repeat and understand and describe the essence of what Lord Caitanya taught.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.124

sanātanake prabhura varadānaḥ—

tabe mahāprabhu tāṅra śire dhari’ kare 
vara dilā—’ei saba sphuruka tomāre’

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then placed His hand on Sanātana Gosvāmī’s head and blessed him, saying, “Let all these instructions be manifested to you.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari Bol! So, in this Lord Caitanya gave His blessings to Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.125

kṛṣṇa-prema-rūpa prayojana-tattva o prabhu-kṛpākhyāna saṁkṣepe varṇitaḥ—

saṅkṣepe kahiluṅ—‘prema’-prayojana-saṁvāda 
vistāri’ kahana nā yāya prabhura prasāda

Translation: Thus, I have briefly described a discussion of the ultimate goal of life, love of Godhead. The mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu cannot be described expansively.

Jayapatākā Swami: Actually Lord Caitanya taught Sanātana Gosvāmī, about two months all day long, so that is briefly described in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta but to expansively describe it would take months and months and Sanātana Gosvāmī received the blessings to understand all these instructions but we don’t know if even the little part he has been offered us, how much we can understand!

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.3

śrī-sanātana-śikṣā-(3) prayojana (kṛṣṇa-prema)-varṇana; abhidheya ‘sādhana-bhakti’ra phale prayojana-rūpa ‘sādhya’-prema-bhaktiḥ—

ebe śuna bhakti-phala ‘prema’-prayojana 
yāhāra śravaṇe haya bhakti-rasa-jñāna

Hear about the result of devotional service, which is love of Godhead, life’s ultimate goal. One who hears this description will be enlightened in the transcendental mellows of devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by hearing these descriptions of Sanātana Gosvāmī's instructions given by Caitanya Mahāprabhu one can get love for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 23.126

prabhura upadeśāmṛta-śravaṇe ātmāra cidvṛtti kṛṣṇa-sevāra udbodhana o premalābhaḥ—

prabhura upadeśāmṛta śune yei jana 
acirāt milaye tāṅre kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana

Whoever hears these instructions given to Sanātana Gosvāmī by the Lord comes very soon to realize love of God, Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, although hearing these instructions by Lord Caitanya to Sanātana Gosvāmī, may have been somewhat difficult for many people but by hearing this with concentration and faith, Lord Caitanya said that very soon one will get love of Kṛṣṇa.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Phalaśruti - The Result of Hearing About the Instructions Given to Sanātana Gosvāmī by Lord Caitanya
Under the section: Life’s Ultimate Goal — Love of Godhead