20211230 Nārada Instructs Mṛgāri to Serve Tulasī and Continuously Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahā-Mantra Part 1

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 30th 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! Toady we are continuing reading for the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter entitled is:

Phalaśruti – The Result of Hearing about the Story of Nārada and Mṛgāri, Part 1
Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.263

tabe sei mṛgādi tine nārada sustha kaila 
sustha hañā mṛgādi tine dhāñā palāila

Translation: “The three animals that were half-killed were then brought to their consciousness by the sage Nārada. Indeed, the animals got up and swiftly fled.

Jayapatākā Swami: Nārada Muni had all the mystic powers that he could heal the animals and then fled away.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.264

dekhiyā vyādhera mane haila camatkāra 
ghare gela vyādha, guruke kari’ namaskāra

Translation: “When the hunter saw the half-killed animals flee, he was certainly struck with wonder. He then offered his respectful obeisances to the sage Nārada and returned home.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sometimes showing miracles instills faith in faithless people.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.265

yathā-sthāne nārada gelā, vyādha ghare āila 
nāradera upadeśe sakala karila

Translation: “After all this, Nārada Muni went to his destination. After the hunter returned home, he exactly followed the instructions of his spiritual master, Nārada.

Purport: For spiritual advancement one must have a bona fide spiritual master and follow his instructions in order to be assured of advancement.

Jayapatākā Swami: By taking shelter of a devotee of the Lord, even the sinful hunter could be purified. As said in Śrīmad-bhāgavatam 2.4.18.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.266

grāme dhvani haila, — vyādha ‘vaiṣṇava’ ha-ila 
grāmera loka saba anna ānite lāgila

Translation: “The news that the hunter had become a Vaiṣṇava spread all over the village. Indeed, all the villagers brought alms and presented them to the Vaiṣṇava who had formerly been a hunter.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all the villagers were so impressed to see the hunter become a vaiṣṇava that they brought him rice and other things, so that he didn’t have to hunt anymore

Purport: It is the duty of the public to present a gift to a saintly person, Vaiṣṇava or brāhmaṇa when going to see him. Every Vaiṣṇava is dependent on Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is ready to supply all of life’s necessities, provided a Vaiṣṇava follows the principles set forth by the spiritual master. There are certainly many householders in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. They join the movement and live in the society’s centers, but if they take advantage of this opportunity and do not work but live at the expense of the movement, eating prasādam and simply sleeping, they place themselves in a very dangerous position. It is therefore advised that gṛhasthas should not live in the temple. They must live outside the temple and maintain themselves. Of course, if the gṛhasthas are fully engaged in the Lord’s service according to the directions of the authorities, there is no harm in their living in a temple. In any case, a temple should not be a place to eat and sleep. A temple manager should be very careful about these things.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here Śrīla Prabhupāda is explaining how the temple should be a place to execute Kṛṣṇa's sevā, not just for eating and sleeping. Many people visit Māyāpur and they are wondering why the devotees are all busy, because the devotees all have sevā to perform. In fact, we have to assign some devotees as a service just to take care of the guests, otherwise they are busy with other things.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.267

eka-dina anna āne daśa-biśa jane 
dine tata laya, yata khāya dui jane

Translation: “In one day enough food was brought for ten or twenty people, but the hunter and his wife would accept only as much as they could eat.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the hunter did not accumulate excess donations, he took only what he needed only.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.268

eka-dina nārada kahe, — “śunaha, parvate 
āmāra eka śiṣya āche, calaha dekhite”

Translation: “One day, while speaking to his friend Parvata Muni, Nārada Muni requested him to go with him to see his disciple the hunter.

Jayapatākā Swami: Parvata Muni is a great yogī who could travel also by will from planet to planet.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.269

tabe dui ṛṣi āilā sei vyādha-sthāne 
dūra haite vyādha pāila gurura daraśane

Translation: “As the saintly sages approached the hunter’s place, the hunter could see them from a distance.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.270

āste-vyaste dhāñā āse, patha nāhi pāya 
pathera pipīlikā iti-uti dhare pāya

Translation: “With great alacrity the hunter began to run toward his spiritual master, but he could not fall down and offer obeisances because ants were running hither and thither around his feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: Here the hunter who would enjoy half killing the animals, now he had become so conscious that he didn’t want to hurt even an ant.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.271

daṇḍavat-sthāne pipīlikāre dekhiyā 
vastre sthāna jhāḍi’ paḍe daṇḍavat hañā

Translation: “Seeing the ants, the hunter whisked them away with a piece of cloth. After thus clearing the ants from the ground, he fell down flat to offer his obeisances.

Jayapatākā Swami: How the hunter is offering his obeisances after clearing away the ants! This shows his total change of consciousness by the mercy of Nārada Muni, his spiritual master.

Purport: The word daṇḍa means “rod,” and vat means “like.” To offer obeisances to the spiritual master, one must fall flat exactly as a rod falls on the ground. This is the meaning of the word daṇḍavat.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.272

nārada kahe, — “vyādha, ei nā haya āścarya 
hari-bhaktye hiṁsā-śūnya haya sādhu-varya

Translation: “Nārada Muni said, ‘My dear hunter, such behavior is not at all astonishing. A man in devotional service is automatically nonviolent. He is the best of gentlemen.

Purport: In this verse the word sādhu-varya means “the best of gentlemen.” At the present moment there are many so-called gentlemen who are expert in killing animals and birds. Nonetheless, these so-called gentlemen profess a type of religion that strictly prohibits killing. According to Nārada Muni and Vedic culture, animal-killers are not even gentlemen, to say nothing of being religious men. A religious person, a devotee of the Lord, must be nonviolent. Such is the nature of a religious person. It is contradictory to be violent and at the same time call oneself a religious person. Such hypocrisy is not approved by Nārada Muni and the disciplic succession.

Jayapatākā Swami: Here we see how the instructions of Nārada Muni purified this hunter and the Brahmā-Madhva-Gauḍīya sampradāya is coming in the line of Nārada Muni. Nārada Muni is a disciple of Brahmā and Vyāsadevā is a disciple of Nārada Muni and Madhavācārya is a disciple of Vyāsadevā, in this way the disciplic succession goes down and His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is coming in the line, he represents Nārada Muni and all the previous ācārya and thus he is training people to be true gentlemen or sādhus gentle men and women.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.273

skānda-vacana—

ete na hy adbhutā vyādha
tavāhiṁsādayo guṇāḥ
hari-bhaktau pravṛttā ye
na te syuḥ para-tāpinaḥ

Translation: “O hunter, good qualities like nonviolence, which you have developed, are not very astonishing, for those engaged in the Lord’s devotional service are never inclined to give pain to others because of envy.’

Purport: This is a quotation from the Skanda Purāṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: By being engaged in devotional service to Viṣṇu one automatically obtains all good qualities.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.274

tabe sei vyādha doṅhāre aṅgane ānila 
kuśāsana āni’ doṅhāre bhaktye vasāila

Translation: “The hunter then received the two great sages in the courtyard of his house. He spread out a straw mat for them to sit upon, and with great devotion he begged them to sit down.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the simple welcoming with a grass mat, sweet words is exemplary. A king could offer a golden seat but since he is humble person, he would offer a straw mat; he offered the best things he had.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.275

jala āni’ bhaktye doṅhāra pāda prakṣālila 
sei jala strī-puruṣe piyā śire la-ila

Translation: “He then fetched water and washed the sages’ feet with great devotion. Then both husband and wife drank that water and sprinkled it on their heads.

Purport: This is the process one should follow when receiving the spiritual master or someone on the level of the spiritual master. When the spiritual master comes to the residence of his disciples, the disciples should follow in the footsteps of the former hunter. It doesn’t matter what one was before initiation. After initiation, one must learn the etiquette mentioned herein.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrīla Prabhupāda is giving the etiquette of receiving the spiritual master or someone on the level of the spiritual master So, Śrīla Prabhupāda is giving the etiquette of receiving the spiritual master and by following the system one will get purified.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.276

kampa-pulakāśru haila kṛṣṇa-nāma gāñā 
ūrdhva bāhu nṛtya kare vastra uḍāñā

Translation: “When the hunter chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra before his spiritual master, his body trembled and tears welled up in his eyes. Filled with ecstatic love, he raised his hands and began to dance, waving his garments up and down.

Jayapatākā Swami: We can see that this previous hunter, he is becoming a pure Vaiṣṇava and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa before the tulasī plant. We can see that this previous hunter, he is becoming a pure Vaiṣṇava and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa before the tulasī plant He had awakened his ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. this is the protection of devotional service.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.277

dekhiyā vyādhera prema parvata-mahāmuni 
nāradere kahe, — tumi hao sparśa-maṇi

Translation: “When Parvata Muni saw the ecstatic loving symptoms of the hunter, he told Nārada, ‘Certainly you are a touchstone.’

Purport: When a touchstone touches iron, it turns the iron to gold. Parvata Muni called Nārada Muni a touchstone because by his touch the hunter, who was the lowest among men, became an elevated and perfect Vaiṣṇava. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura said that the position of a Vaiṣṇava can be tested by seeing how good a touchstone he is — that is, by seeing how many Vaiṣṇavas he has made during his life. A Vaiṣṇava should be a touchstone so that he can convert others to Vaiṣṇavism by his preaching, even though people may be fallen like the hunter. There are many so-called advanced devotees who sit in a secluded place for their personal benefit. They do not go out to preach and convert others into Vaiṣṇavas, and therefore they certainly cannot be called sparśa-maṇi, advanced devotees. Kaniṣṭha-adhikārī devotees cannot turn others into Vaiṣṇavas, but a madhyama-adhikārī Vaiṣṇava can do so by preaching. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised His followers to increase the numbers of Vaiṣṇavas.

yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa 
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa
(Cc. Madhya 7.128)

It is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s wish that everyone should become a Vaiṣṇava and guru. Following the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His disciplic succession, one can become a spiritual master, for the process is very easy. One can go everywhere and anywhere to preach the instructions of Kṛṣṇa. The Bhagavad-gītā is Kṛṣṇa’s instructions; therefore the duty of every Vaiṣṇava is to travel and preach the Bhagavad-gītā, either in his country or a foreign country. This is the test of sparśa-maṇi, following in the footsteps of Nārada Muni.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, of course Nārada Muni was a uttama-adhikārī and a māha-bhāgavata, but he came down to the madhyama-adhikārī level to preach and by his preaching he converts many non-vaiṣṇavas to Vaiṣṇavas. This is the special outreach program of Nārada Muni and those coming in his disciplic succession are also to do this. This was the desire of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, that every Vaiṣṇava should make others Vaiṣṇavas.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.278

skānda-vacana—

“aho dhanyo ’si devarṣe
kṛpayā yasya tat-kṣaṇāt nīco
’py utpulako lebhe
lubdhako ratim acyute”

Translation: “Parvata Muni continued, ‘My dear friend Nārada Muni, you are glorified as the sage among the demigods. By your mercy, even a lowborn person like this hunter can immediately become attached to Lord Kṛṣṇa.’

Purport: A pure Vaiṣṇava believes in the statements of the śāstras. This verse is quoted from the Vedic literature, the Skanda Purāṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this history told by Lord Caitanya to Sanātana Gosvāmī, is from the Skanda Purāṇa and it is a true history of what actually happened and similarly such miracles were performed by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.279

parama-vaiṣṇavapravara śrī-nāradera kṛpāya
bhakta vyādhera yoga-kṣema-samādhānaḥ-

nārada kahe, — ‘vaiṣṇava, tomāra anna kichu āya?’ 
vyādha kahe, “yāre pāṭhāo, sei diyā yāya

Translation: “Nārada Muni then asked the hunter, ‘My dear Vaiṣṇava, do you have some income for your maintenance?’

Purport: “The hunter replied, ‘My dear spiritual master, whoever you send gives me something when he comes to see me.’

This confirms the statement in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.22) to the effect that the Lord carries all necessities to His Vaiṣṇava devotee. Nārada Muni asked the former hunter how he was being maintained, and he replied that everyone who came to see him brought him something for his maintenance. Kṛṣṇa, who is situated in everyone’s heart, says, “I personally carry all necessities to a Vaiṣṇava.” He can order anyone to execute this. Everyone is ready to give something to a Vaiṣṇava, and if a Vaiṣṇava is completely engaged in devotional service, he need not be anxious for his maintenance.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya asked Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, why he was not going out for his maintenance. He said, “well, if I don’t get food for three days, I will clap my fingers. Lord Caitanya said, “what do you mean?” He said, “around my neck I will tie a stone or something and jump in the Ganges. Lord Caitanya laughed, he said, “Even if Lakṣmī has to go begging, you will never never go hungry! Haribol!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.280

eta anna nā pāṭhāo, kichu kārya nāi 
sabe dui-janāra yogya bhakṣya-mātra cāi”

Translation: “The former hunter said, ‘Please do not send so much grain. Only send what is sufficient for two people, no more.’

Purport: The former hunter only wanted enough for two people to eat, no more. It is not necessary for a Vaiṣṇava to keep a stock of food for the next day. He should receive only sufficient grain to last one day. The next day, he must again depend on the Lord’s mercy. This is the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When His personal servant Govinda sometimes kept a stock of harītakī (myrobalan), Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chastised him, saying, “Why did you keep a stock for the next day?” Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and others were begging daily from door to door for their sustenance, and they never attempted to stock their āśrama with food for the next day. We should not materially calculate, thinking, “It is better to stock food for a week. Why give the Lord trouble by having Him bring food daily?” One should be convinced that the Lord will provide daily. There is no need to stock food for the next day.

Jayapatākā Swami: This is the path of nivṛtti renunciation. So, Lord Caitanya told Govinda Ghośa, that you are keeping food for the next day, this is path of the gṛhasthas, so you should get married.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.281

nārada kahe, — ‘aiche raha, tumi bhāgyavān’ 
eta bali’ dui-jana ha-ilā antardhāna

Translation: “Nārada Muni approved his not wanting more than a daily supply of food, and he blessed him, saying, ‘You are fortunate.’ Nārada Muni and Parvata Muni then disappeared from that place.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows the wonderful seva of Nārada Muni, how he could change the hunter, who enjoyed half-killing animals to a pure Vaiṣṇava who was conscious even of ants, who did not want additional food grains. This complete change in consciousness is possible by following a pure spiritual master, a representative of Nārada Muni.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.282

vyādhera ākhyāna-śravaṇe sādhu-saṅga-māhātmopalabdhiḥ—

ei ta’ kahiluṅ tomāya vyādhera ākhyāna 
yā śunile haya sādhu-saṅga-prabhāva-jñāna

Translation: “Thus I have narrated the incident of the hunter. By hearing this narration, one can understand the influence of association with devotees.

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to stress that even a hunter, the lowest of men, could become a topmost Vaiṣṇava simply by associating with Nārada Muni or a devotee in his bona fide disciplic succession.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows the importance of sādhu-sanga, associating with devotees. Lord Caitanya was stressing this to Sanātana Gosvāmī. By hearing this pastime one can appreciate how association with devotes is so superlative, super excellent.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Phalaśruti – The Result of Hearing about the Story of Nārada and Mṛgāri, Part 2

Under the section: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse