20220104 Directory about the Activities of Vaiṣṇavas, Part 1

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on January 04th, 2022 in Śrī Dhāma 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 Krishna! My Dear Devotees! We are reading from the Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya compilation class: Today's chapter entitled as:

Directory about the Activities of Vaiṣṇavas, Part 1

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

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.324

prabhu-samīpe sanātanera ‘vaiṣṇava-smṛti’-sambandhe sadainye jijñāsā o śrī-mukhera upadeśa-śravaṇecchāḥ—

punaḥ sanātana kahe yuḍi’ dui kare 
“prabhu ājñā dilā ‘vaiṣṇava-smṛti’ karibāre

Translation: Folding his hands, Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “My Lord, You ordered me to write a directory about the activities of Vaiṣṇavas.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sanātana Gosvāmī is asking for instructions what exactly he should write.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.325

muñi — nīca-jāti, kichu nā jānoṅ ācāra 
mo-haite kaiche haya smṛti-paracāra

Translation: “I am a most lowborn person. I have no knowledge of good behavior. How is it possible for me to write authorized directions about Vaiṣṇava activities?”

Purport: Actually Sanātana Gosvāmī belonged to a very respectable brāhmaṇa family. Nonetheless, he submitted himself as a fallen, lowborn person because he had served in the Muslim government. A brāhmaṇa is never supposed to engage in anyone’s service. Serving others for a livelihood (paricaryātmakaṁ karma) is the business of śūdras. The brāhmaṇa is always independent and busy studying śāstra and preaching śāstra to subordinate social members such as kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. Sanātana Gosvāmī felt unfit to write Vaiṣṇava smṛti about the behavior of Vaiṣṇavas because he had fallen from the brahminical position. Thus Sanātana Gosvāmī clearly admits that the brahminical culture should be standardized. Presently in India, so-called brāhmaṇas are almost all engaged in some mundane service, and they do not understand the import of the Vedic śāstras. Nonetheless, they are passing themselves off as brāhmaṇas on the basis of birth. In this connection, Sanātana Gosvāmī declares that a brāhmaṇa cannot be engaged in anyone’s service if he wants to take a leading part in society. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Nārada Muni states that even if a brāhmaṇa is in a difficult position, he should not accept the occupation of a śūdra. This means that he should not be engaged in service for another, for this is the business of dogs. Under the circumstances, Sanātana Gosvāmī felt very low because he had accepted a position of service in the Muslim government. The conclusion is that no one should claim to be a brāhmaṇa simply by birthright while engaging in someone else’s service.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sanātana Gosvāmī was taking a very humble position. Although he was serving as the Prime Minister in the Muslim government, he was born in a brāhmaṇa family. But since he took service in a Muslim government, he considered Himself as low born, so this is a good example for us

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.326

sūtra kari’ diśā yadi karaha upadeśa 
āpane karaha yadi hṛdaye praveśa

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī then requested the Lord, “Please personally tell me how I can write this difficult book about Vaiṣṇava behavior. Please manifest Yourself in my heart.

Purport: The writing of Vaiṣṇava literatures is not a function for ordinary men. Vaiṣṇava literatures are not mental concoctions. They are all authorized literatures meant to guide those who are going to be Vaiṣṇavas. Under these circumstances, an ordinary man cannot give his own opinion. His opinion must always correspond with the conclusion of the Vedas. Unless one is fully qualified in Vaiṣṇava behavior and authorized by superior authority (the Supreme Personality of Godhead), one cannot write Vaiṣṇava literatures or purports and commentaries on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the Bhagavad-gītā.

Jayapatākā Swami: In order to write on the Vedic scriptures one needs to be empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representatives.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.327

tabe tāra diśā sphure mo-nīcera hṛdaya 
īśvara tumi, — ye karāha, sei siddha haya”

Translation: “If You would please manifest Yourself within my heart and personally direct me in writing this book, then, although I am lowborn, I may hope to be able to write it. You can do this because You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Yourself, and whatever You direct is perfect.”

Jayapatākā Swami: This reminds me of the prayer that Śrīla Prabhupāda wrote when he was about to land Boston, America. He mentioned that make me dance like a puppet, I will do whatever You want. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 24.328

prabhu-karttṛka sanātanake varadānaḥ—

prabhu kahe, — “ye karite karibā tumi mana 
kṛṣṇa sei sei tomā karābe sphuraṇa

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Whatever you want to do you will be able to do correctly by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s favor. He will manifest the real purport.

Purport: Sanātana Gosvāmī was a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. A pure devotee has no business other than serving Kṛṣṇa; consequently, Kṛṣṇa is always ready to help him. This benediction was given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Sanātana Gosvāmī, who was authorized to write Vaiṣṇava smṛti. Sanātana Gosvāmī was a pure devotee of the Lord, and through the blessings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu he was able to write the book perfectly.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda used to say that guru and Kṛṣṇa were writing through him. A pure Vaiṣṇava, he doesn’t give his own speculation but rather writes the direct purports, as a representative of Krsna, to the śāstra.