20220428 The Catuḥ-ślokī Bhāgavatam Manifests Sambandha, Abhidheya and Prayojana

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on April 28th,2022 in Sri Dhama Mayapur, 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! Dear Devotees! Introduction: Today we are continuing reading for the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, the chapter entitled is:

The Catuḥ-ślokī Bhāgavatam Manifests Sambandha, Abhidheya and Prayojana, Part 1

Under the section: How All the Residents of Vārāṇasī Became Vaiṣṇavas

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.101

dṛṣṭānta; sakalai viṣṇumaya, tadvyatīta vastu nāi, bhoktṛvuddhi-tyāgapūrvaka yuktavairāgyera sahita samasta viṣaya viṣṇu-sambandhi vā viṣṇu-bhogyajñāne sevya :—

ātmāvāsyam idaṁ viśvaṁ
yat kiñcij jagatyāṁ jagat
tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā
mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam

Translation: “Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things for himself that are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.’

Purport: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda Jay Srila Prabhupada ! This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (8.1.10). Communists and socialists are trying to propagate the philosophy that everything belongs to the mass of people or to the state. Such an idea is not perfect. When this idea is expanded, we can see that everything belongs to God. That will be the perfection of the communistic idea. The purpose of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is here very nicely explained. Every one of us must be satisfied with those things the Supreme Personality of Godhead has allotted us. We should not encroach upon the possessions of others. This simple idea can be expanded in our daily lives. Everyone should have a piece of land given by the government, and everyone should possess a few cows. Both of these should be utilized for one’s daily bread. Above that, if something is manufactured in a factory, it should be considered the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because the ingredients belong to the Supreme Lord. Actually, there is no need to manufacture such things artificially, but if it is done, one should consider that the goods produced belong to the Supreme Lord. Spiritual communism recognizes the supreme proprietorship of the Supreme Lord.

As Lord Kṛṣṇa explains in the Bhagavad-gītā (5.29):

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati

“A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.”

It is further explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that no one should claim anything as his property. Whatever property one claims to be his actually belongs to Kṛṣṇa. One should be satisfied with whatever has been allotted by the Supreme Lord and should not encroach upon the property of others. This will lead to peace in the whole world.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, by following this verse of Bhagavad-gītā, we can have peace on earth. Śrīla Prabhupāda had this natural communism presented in his book. ? But some devotees in some places, where they didn’t like the communist they taught that they were promoting communism and they got into trouble. But actually, Śrīla Prabhupāda was preaching that the whole world takes up Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So, he presented that how everything belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and if that principle if followed, then naturally people would be very happy and peaceful.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.102

ādi catuḥślokī-bhāgavate sambandhābhidheya-prayojana nirūpita :—

bhāgavatera sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana
catuḥ-ślokīte prakaṭa tāra kariyāche lakṣaṇa

Translation: “The essence of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam — our relationship with the Supreme Lord, our activities in that connection and the goal of life — is manifest in the four verses of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam known as the catuḥ-ślokī. Everything is explained in those verses.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the catuḥ-ślokī was taught by Lord Caitanya to His Holiness Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.103

brahmāra nikaṭa śrī-kṛṣṇera catuḥ-ślokīstha tattva-trayera saṁkṣepe vyākhyā—

viṣayabodharūpa bhagavat-svarūpa-nirddhāraṇai kevala cinmātramaya ‘jñāna’, āśrayera cid-vilāsānu-bhava-rūpa bhagavatsphūrti ‘vijñāna’, rahasya vā premāi ‘prayojana’, tadaṅga sādhana-bhaktii ‘abhidheya’ :—

“āmi-’sambandha’-tattva, āmāra jñāna-vijñāna
āmā pāite sādhana-bhakti ’abhidheya’-nāma

Translation: “[Lord Kṛṣṇa says:] ‘I am the center of all relationships. Knowledge of Me and the practical application of that knowledge is actual knowledge. Approaching Me for devotional service is called abhidheya.

Purport: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda Spiritual knowledge means fully understanding the Absolute Truth in three features — impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā and the all-powerful Supreme Personality of Godhead. Ultimately when one takes shelter at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engages in the Lord’s service, the resultant knowledge is called vijñāna, special knowledge, or the practical application of spiritual knowledge. One should be engaged in the Lord’s devotional service to achieve the aim of life, called prayojana. The practice of devotional service to attain that goal of life is called abhidheya.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here by the catuḥ-ślokī the four ślokas of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, one realizes his relationship with the Lord, the process of devotional service and the highest goal, love for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.104

sādhanera phala-‘prema’ mūla-prayojana
sei preme pāya jīva āmāra ‘sevana’

Translation: “By rendering devotional service, one gradually rises to the platform of love of Godhead. That is the chief goal of life. On the platform of love of Godhead, one is eternally engaged in the service of the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is giving out His love for Godhead very freely, He didn’t consider who was consider who was qualified to get it and who was unqualified, He gave it freely to anyone who wanted it. So, there is no is avatāra as merciful as Lord Caitanya. Jaya!

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.105

chayaṭī ślokamadhye catuḥ-ślokī vyatirikta ei śloke sambandhābhidheyaprayojana-varṇana; jñāna o vijñānai ‘sambandha’, rahasyai ‘prayojana’, tadaṅgai ‘abhidheya’ :—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2/9/30)—

jñānaṁ parama-guhyaṁ me
yad vijñāna-samanvitam
sa-rahasyaṁ tad-aṅgaṁ ca
gṛhāṇa gaditaṁ mayā

Translation: “Please hear attentively what I shall speak to you, for transcendental knowledge about Me is not only scientific but full of mysteries.

Purport: By Srila Prabhupada This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.9.31). For an explanation see Ādi-līlā, chapter one, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.51.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya teaches His devotional service as a science filled with mysteries.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.106

avaroha-panthāya bhagavat-kṛpāprabhāve tattva-sphurti :—

ei ‘tina’ tattva āmi kahinu tomāre
‘jīva’ tumi ei tina nāribe jānibāre

Translation: “O Brahmā, I shall explain all these truths to you. Since you are a living being [jīva], without My explanation you will not be able to understand your relationship with Me, devotional activity and life’s ultimate goal.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead He reveals this transcendental love of Kṛṣṇa and if He didn’t reveal it, people could not understand. He is so kind that He gave this instruction to Lord Brahmā and from Lord Brahmā it is being handed down.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.107

nāma-rūpa-guṇa-līlā-maya bhagavān kevala ‘nirviśeṣa’ nahena :—

yaiche āmāra ‘svarūpa’, yaiche āmāra ‘sthiti’
yaiche āmāra guṇa, karma, ṣaḍ-aiśvarya-śakti

Translation: “I shall explain to you My actual form and situation, My attributes, activities and six opulences.’

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Kṛṣṇa is telling Lord Brahmā what He would reveal. Kṛṣṇa is transcendental, He has all opulences and all powers but He alone can explain this tattva.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.108

āmāra kṛpāya ei saba sphuruka tomāre”
eta bali’ tina tattva kahilā tāṅhāre

Translation: “Lord Kṛṣṇa assured Lord Brahmā, ‘By My mercy all these things will be awakened in you.’ Saying this, the Lord began to explain the three truths [tattvas] to Lord Brahmā.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.109

chayaṭī śloka-madhye catuḥ-ślokī vyatirikta ei śloke kṛpā-rūpa āśīrvāda-varṣaṇa :—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (2/9/31)—

yāvān ahaṁ yathā-bhāvo
yad-rūpa-guṇa-karmakaḥ
tathaiva tattva-vijñānam
astu te mad-anugrahāt

Translation: “By My causeless mercy, be enlightened in truth about My personality, manifestations, qualities and pastimes.

Purport: By Srila Prabhupada ! This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.9.32). For an explanation see Ādi-līlā, chapter one, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.52.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa is enlightening Lord Brahmā about His personality, His manifestations, his qualities and pastimes.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.110

catuḥ-ślokī-vyākhyārambha; tanmadhye prathama śloke sambandha-tattva ahaṃ-śabda-vācya svarūpa-śaktimān nitya-satya-sanātana-vigraha kṛṣṇera ‘jñāna’-lakṣaṇa :—

sṛṣṭira pūrve ṣaḍ-aiśvarya-pūrṇa āmi ta’ ha-iye
‘prapañca’, ‘prakṛti’, ‘puruṣa’ āmātei laye

Translation: “Before the creation of the cosmic manifestation,’ the Lord said, ‘I existed, and the total material energy, material nature and the living entities all existed in Me.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa is eternal, and He existed before the material world or universes were manifested so that’s why He is not dependant on the material energy.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.111

sṛṣṭi kari’ tāra madhye āmi praveśiye
prapañca ye dekha saba, seha āmi ha-iye

Translation: “After creating the cosmic manifestation, I entered into it. Whatever you see in the cosmic manifestation is but an expansion of My energy.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa created the material worlds and then He entered inside and He demonstrated His pastimes.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.112

pralaye avaśiṣṭa āmi ‘pūrṇa’ ha-iye
prākṛta prapañca pāya āmātei laye

Translation: “When the whole universe dissolves, I remain full in Myself, and everything that was manifested is again preserved in Me.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in Īśopaniṣad Kṛṣṇa is described as the complete and after He dissolves everything, He still remains balanced, so He is always complete.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, the Catuḥ-ślokī Bhāgavatam Manifests Sambandha, Abhidheya and Prayojana.

Under the section: How All the Residents of Vārāṇasī Became Vaiṣṇavas

? So, as the little children who are dependent on their mother and father to start their spiritual life after a certain age, they become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Before that age whatever they do, the parents are responsible for their karma.