20220722 Lessons Derived From the Pastime of Lord Caitanya with Choṭa Haridāsa

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on July 22th,2022 in Śrī 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 we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, today's chapter is entitled as:

Lessons Derived From the Pastime of Lord Caitanya With Choṭa Haridāsa

Under the section: The Chastisement of Junior Haridāsa

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.150

ekadina bhaktagaṇa-samīpe prabhura haridāsera vārttā-jijñāsāḥ—

eka-dina mahāprabhu puchilā bhakta-gaṇe
‘haridāsa kāṅhā? tāre ānaha ekhāne’

Translation: One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from the devotees, “Where is Haridāsa? Now you may bring him here.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Caitanya Mahāprabhu eventually asked for Junior Haridāsa, but by that time Junior Haridāsa had given up.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.151

sakalera haridāsa-sambandhe anabhijñatā-jñāpanaḥ—

sabe kahe,—“haridāsa varṣa-pūrṇa dine
rātre uṭhi kāṅhā gelā, keha nāhi jāne”

Translation: The devotees all replied, “One night at the end of a full year, Junior Haridāsa got up and went away. No one knows where he has gone.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.152

prabhura hāsya, taddarśane bhaktagaṇera vismayaḥ—

śuni’ mahāprabhu īṣat hāsiyā rahilā
saba bhakta-gaṇa mane vismaya ha-ilā

Translation: While hearing the devotees lament, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was mildly smiling. Thus all the devotees were very much astonished.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya would have known where he had gone, He was smiling and silent, and all the other devotees who didn’t know they were astonished.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 153-154

ekadina samudra-snānakāle svarūpa o govindādi-bhaktera alakṣye haridāsera gānaśravaṇaḥ—

eka-dina jagadānanda, svarūpa, govinda
kāśīśvara, śaṅkara, dāmodara, mukunda

samudra-snāne gelā sabe, śune katho dūre
haridāsa gāyena, yena ḍāki’ kaṇṭha-svare

Translation: One day Jagadānanda, Svarūpa, Govinda, Kāśīśvara, Śaṅkara, Dāmodara and Mukunda all went to bathe in the sea. They could hear Haridāsa singing from a distant place as if calling them in his original voice.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all the devotees could hear the voice of Junior Haridāsa singing from a distant place.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.155

manuṣya nā dekhe—madhura gīta-mātra śune
govindādi sabe meli’ kaila anumāne

Translation: No one could see him, but they could hear him singing in a sweet voice. Therefore all the devotees, headed by Govinda, made this guess.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.156

svarūpa vyatīta govindādi-bhaktera anumāna—haridāsera ātmahatyā-phale brahmarākṣasatva-lābhaḥ—

‘viṣādi khāñā haridāsa ātma-ghāta kaila
sei pāpe jāni ‘brahma-rākṣasa’ haila

Translation: “Haridāsa must have committed suicide by drinking poison, and because of this sinful act, he has now become a brāhmaṇa ghost.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the devotees headed by Govinda speculated that Junior Haridāsa must have drunk poison but Svarūpa Dāmodara he didn’t believe this.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.157

ākāra nā dekhi, mātra śuni tāra gāna’
svarūpa kahena,—“ei mithyā anumāna

Translation: “We cannot see his material form,” they said, “but still we hear his sweet singing. Therefore he must have become a ghost.”

Svarūpa Dāmodara, however, protested, “This is a false guess.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, a ghost or brahma-rākṣasa couldn’t be able to chant the names of the Lord, so this is a false speculation.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.158

svarūpakarttṛka choṭa haridāsera guṇa o sadgatira praśaṁsāḥ—

ājanma kṛṣṇa-kīrtana, prabhura sevana
prabhu-kṛpā-pātra, āra kṣetrera maraṇa

Translation: Junior Haridāsa chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra throughout his entire life and served the Supreme Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Moreover, he is dear to the Lord and has died in a holy place.

Jayapatākā Swami: Actually if Junior Haridāsa would have waited Lord Caitanya may have called for him eventually. But anyway Svarūpa Dāmodara is describing the great qualities of Junior Haridāsa, so therefore he must have achieved liberation.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.159

durgati nā haya tāra, sad-gati se haya
prabhu-bhaṅgī ei, pāche jānibā niścaya

Translation: “Haridāsa cannot have been degraded; he must have attained liberation. This is a pastime of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s. You will all understand it later.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya made an example of Junior Haridāsa and sometimes Śrīla Prabhupāda chastised a dear devotee though everybody would be doing the same mistake. The devotee wondered why he was singled out and being chastised, because Śrīla Prabhupāda knew that he would take it. So he would it is just like a saying in Bengali “to praise your daughter-in-law and chastise your daughter.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.160

prayāga haite navadvīpe pratyāgata janaika vaiṣṇavera mukhe śrīvāsādira haridāsera dehatyāga-śravaṇaḥ—

prayāga ha-ite eka vaiṣṇava navadvīpa āila
haridāsera vārtā teṅho sabāre kahila

Translation: A devotee returned to Navadvīpa from Prayāga and told everyone the details of Junior Haridāsa’s suicide.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, if Junior Haridāsa would have waited then may be the Lord would have asked for him later.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.161

yaiche saṅkalpa, yaiche triveṇī praveśila
śuni’, śrīvāsādira mane vismaya ha-ila

Translation: He explained how Junior Haridāsa had made his resolution and had thus entered the waters at the confluence of the Yamunā and Ganges. Hearing these details, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and the other devotees were very surprised.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the devotees of Navadvīpa were surprised to hear how Junior Haridāsa has left.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.162

paravartti-varṣe gauḍīyabhaktagaṇera purīte āgamanaḥ—

varṣāntare śivānanda saba bhakta lañā
prabhure mililā āsi’ ānandita hañā

Translation: At the end of the year, Śivānanda Sena came to Jagannātha Purī as usual, accompanied by the other devotees, and thus in great happiness met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya said that He would come to Bengal at the month Pauṣa, and He came but He came in his āvirbhāva form. So, He was not visible to everyone so people were happy to finally meet the Lord.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.163

choṭa haridāsa-sambandhe prabhusamīpe śrīvāsera jijñāsā o prabhura uttaraḥ—

‘haridāsa kāṅhā?’ yadi śrīvāsa puchilā
“sva-karma-phala-bhuk pumān”—prabhu uttara dilā

Translation: When Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura inquired from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “Where is Junior Haridāsa?” the Lord replied, “A person is sure to achieve the results of his fruitive activities.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, every action that we perform has some karmic reactions and this is sure to happen.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.164

śrīvāsakarttṛka choṭa-haridāsera dehatyāga-vṛttānta varṇana:—

tabe śrīvāsa tāra vṛttānta kahila
yaiche saṅkalpa, yaiche triveṇī praveśila

Translation: Then Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura related the details of Haridāsa’s decision and his entering the waters at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.165

saddharmmagoptā jagadguru lokaśikṣaka prabhura vidhi-vyavasthā-vidhānaḥ—

śuni’ prabhu hāsi’ kahe suprasanna citta
‘prakṛti darśana kaile ei prāyaścitta’

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard these details, He smiled in a pleased mood and said, “If with sensual intentions one looks at women, this is the only process of atonement.”

Jayapatākā Swami: As I mentioned earlier, Śrīla Prabhupāda he gave in the eighth canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the Gajendra-mokṣa part, he said that those who are in the renounced order of life should not give up their devotional service if they don’t feel suitably engaged as a vairāgī, then become a gṛhastha but continue with your devotional service.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.166

triveṇī prabhṛti viṣṇu-tīrthe dehatyāgera phalaḥ—

svarūpādi mili’ tabe vicāra karilā
triveṇī-prabhāve haridāsa prabhu-pada pāilā

Translation: Then all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, concluded that because Haridāsa had committed suicide at the confluence of the rivers Ganges and Yamunā, he must have ultimately attained shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Purport: Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura remarks that after one adopts the renounced order and accepts the dress of either a sannyāsī or a bābājī, if he entertains the idea of sense gratification, especially in relationship with a woman, the only atonement is to commit suicide at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā. Only by such atonement can his sinful life be purified. If such a person is thus punished, it is possible for him to attain the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Without such punishment, however, the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very difficult to regain.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, among all the avatāras, Lord Caitanya is most merciful, but His representatives and His pure devotees are even more merciful.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.167

bhaktera hṛtkarṇarasāyana prabhu-līlāḥ—

ei-mata līlā kare śacīra nandana
yāhā śuni’ bhakta-gaṇera yuḍāya karṇa-mana

Translation: In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, performs His pastimes, which greatly satisfy the ears and minds of pure devotees who hear about them.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is known as Mahāprabhu and He teaches the whole universe by His own example and through His pastimes He is satisfying all His devotees. As Lord Kṛṣṇa promised that He will always protect His devotees, Junior Haridāsa achieved his siddha-dehā and he obtained the shelter of Lord Caitanya's lotus feet.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.168

choṭa haridāsera daṇḍapradāna-līlāya śikṣaṇīya viṣayaḥ—

āpana kāruṇya, loke vairāgya-śikṣaṇa
sva-bhaktera gāḍha-anurāga-prakaṭī-karaṇa

Translation: This incident manifests the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, His teaching that a sannyāsī should remain in the renounced order, and the deep attachment to Him felt by His faithful devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya wanted devotees not to imitate the sahajiyās, the sahajiyās, they take everything very cheaply, that’s why He gave this strong example.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.169

tīrthera mahimā, nija bhakte ātmasāt
eka līlāya karena prabhu kārya pāṅca-sāta

Translation: It also demonstrates the glories of holy places and shows how the Lord accepts His faithful devotee. Thus, the Lord fulfilled five or seven purposes by performing one pastime.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this pastime Junior Haridāsa many things were shown by Lord Caitanya, the importance of adhering to your vows, how the holy places are glorious and how just like there is a verse in the śāstra that says, you shouldn’t sit alone even with your mother sister or daughter, what to speak of other women. So like that Lord Caitanya instructed many things by this example.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.170

asatsaṅga-tyāge dṛḍhaprayatna buddhimān niṣkapaṭa kṛṣṇa-bhajanecchurai paramagabhīra kṛṣṇa-caitanya-līlāmarmānubhave adhikāraḥ—

madhura caitanya-līlā—samudra-gambhīra
loke nāhi bujhe, bujhe yei ‘bhakta’ ‘dhīra’

Translation: The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are like nectar, and they are deep like the ocean. People in general cannot understand them, but a sober devotee can.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya's pastimes are very sweet but to understand these pastimes is sometimes very hard becaue they produce many very deep instructions. Unless a devotee is very serious he may not understand this.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.171

tarkapanthā tyāga-pūrvaka śrautapathāśraye sakalake aprākṛta caitanya-līlā-śravaṇārtha granthakārera anurodhaḥ—

viśvāsa kariyā śuna caitanya-carita
tarka nā kariha, tarke habe viparīta

Translation: Please hear the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with faith and confidence. Do not argue, for arguments will produce a contrary result.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya's pastimes are not understandable by logic or argument, one has to understand these pastimes by deep realization.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 2.172

śrī-rūpa-raghunātha-pade yāra āśa
caitanya-caritāmṛta kahe kṛṣṇadāsa

Translation: Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.

Purport: By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupāda Summarizing this chapter, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that one should derive from it the following lessons.

(1) Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is an incarnation of mercy, He nevertheless gave up the company of one of His personal associates, namely Junior Haridāsa, for if He had not done so, pseudodevotees would have taken advantage of Junior Haridāsa’s fault by using it as an excuse to live as devotees and at the same time have illicit sexual connections. Such activities would have demoralized the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and as a result, devotees would surely have gone to a hellish life in the name of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

(2) By chastising Junior Haridāsa, the Lord set the standard for ācāryas, or the heads of institutions propagating the Caitanya cult, and for all actual devotees. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to maintain the highest standard.

(3) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed that a pure devotee should be simple and free from sinful activities, for thus one can be His bona fide servant. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught His followers how to observe the renounced order strictly.

(4) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to prove that His devotees are exalted and that their character is ideal. He kindly accepts His faithful devotees and teaches them how much tribulation and disturbance can be produced by even a slight deviation from the strict principles of devotional life.

(5) By chastising Junior Haridāsa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited His mercy toward him, thus showing how elevated was Junior Haridāsa’s devotion for Him. Because of this transcendental relationship, the Lord corrected even a slight offense committed by His pure devotee. Therefore one who wants to be a pure devotee of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu should give up all material sense gratification; otherwise, the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are very difficult to attain.

(6) If one dies in such a celebrated holy place as Prayāga, Mathurā or Vṛndāvana, one can be relieved of the reactions to sinful life and then attain the shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

(7) Although a pure or faithful devotee may fall down, he nevertheless ultimately gets the chance to go back home, back to Godhead, by the mercy of the Lord.

? Jayapatākā Swami: So, various ācāryas have laid out the teachings that we can learn from these pastimes of Lord Caitanya and Junior Haridāsa.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lessons Derived From the Pastime of Lord Caitanya with Choṭa Haridāsa

Under the section: The Chastisement of Junior Haridāsa