20220901 Blessing in disguise, Part 1

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on September 1st,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 Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! After a long break today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, today's chapter is entitled as:

Blessing in disguise, Part 1
Under the section: The Glories of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.35

haridāsera nityakṛtya; gaṅgā-snānānte nirantara uccaiḥsvare harināma kīrtana-pūrvaka sarvatra vicaraṇa—

gaṅgā-snāna kari’ niravadhi hari-nāma
ucca kari’ laiyā bolena sarva-sthāna

Translation: Haridāsa would regularly take bath in the Ganges and then loudly chant the names of Lord Hari while wandering about.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Haridāsa Ṭhākura as his daily pastime, took bath in the Ganges and after that he would chant loudly the holy names and go around chanting loudly

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

Haribol!

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.36

haridāsera viruddhe navābera nikaṭa kājīra abhiyoga—

kājī giyā mulukera adhipati-sthāne
kahileka tāhāna sakala vivaraṇe

Translation: The Kazi went to the king of Bengal and complained about Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

Purport (By His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura): Śrīla Prabhupāda Kazi, the Muslim justice of Phuliyā, informed his respected superior, the king of Bengal, about the activities of Haridāsa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Phuliyā is a place near to Śāntipura and there Haridāsa Ṭhākura had an earthen cave, which he would stay in and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and bathe in Ganges but the Kazi of Phuliyā complained about him to the King.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.37

jaḍa-deśakālapātrātīta vidvadanubhava-yukta nirgrantha bhāgavata paramahaṁsa vaiṣṇava-ṭhākurake jaḍa-deśakālapātrādhīna-jñāne jāti-buddhi-hetu tatkṛta paramārtha vaikuṇṭha ātmadharmera cidanuśīlanake jaḍa-deśakāla-pātradūṣita śāsanādhīne ānayana-ceṣṭa—

“yavana haiyā kare hindura ācāra
bhāla-mate tāre āni’ karaha vicāra”

Translation: “Haridāsa is a Moslem, but he follows the religion of the Hindus. Please call him and consider his case.”

Purport (By His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Śrīla Prabhupāda): Since Ṭhākura Haridāsa appeared in a Moslem family and acted contrary to the behavior of the Moslems, according to their consideration he had committed a grave offense and must be punished. Considering in this way, the Kazi complained to the king.

Jayapatākā Swami: At that time in India, just by spitting-in a glass of water and pouring it on a Hindu, they would be ostracized from the Hindu community and would be forced to accept Islam as their religion.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.38

pāpīra vacana śuni’ seha pāpa-mati
dhari’ ānāila tā’ne ati śīghragati

Translation: Hearing the words of the sinful Kazi, the sinful king immediately called for Haridāsa.

Purport (By His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Śrīla Prabhupāda): The sinful king, who was hostile to devotional service, ordered that Haridāsa be arrested without delay.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the King and the Kazi were both described as sinful since they were envious of Haridāsa Ṭhākura although his only fault was that he was a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. So, they were doing a great offense to this Vaiṣṇava.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.39

nikhila-cidbalākara baladevāṁśa akutobhaya nṛsiṃhadevābhigupta haridāsera mahākāla haiteo bhayaleśaśūnyatā —

kṛṣṇera prasāde haridāsa mahāśaya
yavanera ki dāya, kāler o nāhi bhaya

Translation: By the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Haridāsa was not even afraid of death personified, so what speak of the Moslem rulers.

Purport (By His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Śrila Prabhupāda): Ṭhākura Mahāśaya, who was glorious by the mercy of the Lord, was not afraid of the Moslem king as he came before him. What to speak of an ordinary human being, he was not even afraid of Yamarāja, the destroyer of all.

Jayapatākā Swami: Because he had the protection of Kṛṣṇa he was not afraid of anyone.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.40

akutobhaya haridāsera nirbhaye navāb-samīpe upasthiti —

‘kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa’ baliyā calilā sei-kṣaṇe
muluka-patira āge dilā daraśane

Translation: Chanting the name of Kṛṣṇa, he immediately went to see the king.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in front of the King he loudly chanted Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! and he gave the Muslim king darśana. He was actually purifying everybody by his spiritual practices.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.41

ṭhākurera śubhāgamana śravaṇe sthānīya sādhugaṇera harṣa o viṣāda—

haridāsa-ṭhākurera śuniñā gamana
hariṣe-viṣāda hailā yata susajjana

Translation: Hearing about Haridāsa’s departure to see the king, pious persons felt morose in the midst of their happiness.

Purport (By His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Śrila Prabhupāda): Upon hearing that the Muslim king had arrested Ṭhākura Haridāsa in order to torture him, the local residents became extremely distressed. They were already happy from hearing about Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s loud chanting of the holy names and his pure ecstatic transformations. But by now hearing and fearing about the inevitable oppression of Haridāsa, they became depressed in the midst of their happiness resulting from seeing him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, naturally the pious persons were happy to hear about Haridāsa Ṭhākura that he was chanting the Holy names very ecstatically but then they heard that he was arrested by the King they felt morose and sad.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.42

haridāsera śubhāgamana śravaṇe udārahṛdaya bandigaṇera harṣa—

baḍa baḍa loka yata āche bandī-ghare
tā’rā saba hṛṣṭa haila śuniñā antare

Translation: When the respectable persons in prison heard that Haridāsa had come to see the king, they became pleased at heart.

Purport (By His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Śrila Prabhupāda): Being arrested, Ṭhākura Haridāsa was put in prison like an ordinary criminal. Already many prestigious persons had been imprisoned there. These persons became extremely joyful on receiving the association of this transcendental sādhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, to have Haridāsa Ṭhākura in their midst was a great blessing in disguise they were very happy to have his transcendental association.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.43

haridāsake divyasūri-jñāne bandigaṇera duḥkha-nāśa o sukhodaya-sambhāvanā-cintana —

“parama-vaiṣṇava haridāsa mahāśaya
tā’ne dekhi’ bandi-duḥkha haibeka kṣaya”

Translation: “Haridāsa is a great Vaiṣṇava. By seeing him, our distress due to imprisonment will be vanquished.”

Purport (By His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Śrila Prabhupāda): Those prisoners began to consider that by seeing such a mahā-bhāgavata mahātmā as Haridāsa, their miseries would be diminished.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, how the prisoners had such appreciation for Haridāsa Ṭhākura, that they were waiting for his association to diminish their miseries.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.44

kārā-rakṣīke kākuktidvārā santoṣaṇa phale tatkṛpāya bandigaṇera animeṣa-netre haridāsake darśana—

rakṣaka-lokere sabe sādhana kariyā
rahilena bandi-gaṇa eka-dṛṣṭi haiyā

Translation: The prisoners tactfully persuaded the guards to let them see Haridāsa without disturbance.

Purport (By His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Śrila Prabhupāda): The word sādhana means “the method for achieving one’s goal,” “flattery,” “earnest entreaty,” “submissive request,” or “adulation.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the prisoners flattered the guards and humbly submitted their requests to see Haridāsa Ṭhākura. So, in this way they were taking this opportunity to hear transcendental words associated with Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.45

kārā-samīpe āsiyā bandigaṇera prati kṛpā kaṭākṣa—

haridāsa-ṭhākura āilā sei-sthāne
bandi-sabe dekhi’ kṛpā-dṛṣṭi haila mane

Translation: When Haridāsa Ṭhākura came there and saw the prisoners, he glanced mercifully upon them.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, to have association of a great devotee or a māha-bhāgavata even for a moment gives one all perfection. So just by seeing the prisoners Haridāsa Ṭhākura glanced mercifully upon them.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.46

haridāsa-darśane bandigaṇera daṇḍavat-praṇati—

haridāsa-ṭhākurera caraṇa dekhiyā
rahilena bandi-gaṇa praṇati kariyā

Translation: Seeing the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, all the prisoners offered obeisances to him.

Jayapatākā Swami: The prisoners offered their prostrate obeisances to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, just by seeing Haridāsa Ṭhākura their heart became softened.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.47

haridāsa ṭhākurera rūpa-varṇana—

ājānu-lambita-bhuja kamala-nayana
sarva-manohara mukha-candra anupama

Translation: Haridāsa’s hands reached to his knees, his eyes were like lotus petals, and his enchanting moonlike face was beyond comparison.

Jayapatākā Swami: His face is described as all-enchanting, everyone on seeing his lotus face became enchanted. The form of Haridāsa Ṭhākura was totally blissful to see.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.48

haridāsake praṇāma-phale bandigaṇera sāttvika vikāra—

bhakti kari’ sabe karilena namaskāra
sabāra haila kṛṣṇa-bhaktira vikāra

Translation: As everyone devotedly offered obeisances to him, ecstatic devotional symptoms manifest in their bodies.

Jayapatākā Swami: The devotional symptoms are things like tears flowing from the eyes, hairs standing on end, voice choking up, perspiration and voice rolling and rolling on the ground and fainting are the eight transcendental symptoms of pure devotion for Kṛṣṇa. Just by seeing Haridasa Thakura and offering obeisances to them they manifested these symptoms.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.49

bandigaṇera śraddhā-darśane haridāsera sadaya hāsya—

tā’sabāra bhakti dekhe prabhu-haridāsa
bandi-saba dekhi’ tāna haila kṛpā-hāsa

Translation: When Haridāsa saw the prisoners’ devotion, he mercifully smiled at them.

Purport (By His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Śrila Prabhupāda): Seeing the prisoners, Haridāsa compassionately displayed his smiling face to them.

Jayapatākā Swami: A Vaiṣṇava is naturally merciful and Haridāsa Ṭhākura being a māha-bhāgavata, he smiled mercifully upon all the prisoners

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.50

bandigaṇake tādṛśa śraddadhānāvasthāya nityakāla-yāpanārtha kauśale gūr̤ha-āśīrvāda —

“thāka thāka, ekhana āchaha yena-rūpe”
gupta-āśīrvāda kari’ hāsena kautuke

Translation: With a curious smile, Haridāsa Ṭhākura gave them an ambiguous blessing. “Stay there. Stay as you are now.”

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.51

ajñarūḍhi-vṛttite bhrama-vaśe akṣaja-jñāne haridāsera gūḍha maṅgalāśīrvādake nirdaya jñāna-hetu tāhādera duḥkha —

nā bujhiyā tāhāna se durjñeya vacana
bandi-saba haila kichu viṣādita-mana

Translation: Unable to understand his equivocal words, the prisoners felt morose.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, they are feeling sad that he was telling them to stay as prisoners in the prison.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.52

bandigaṇake duḥkhita-darśane kṛpā-vaśe ṭhākurera svīya-gūḍha maṅgalāśīrvāda-vyākhyāna—

tabe pāche kṛpā-yukta hai’ haridāsa
gupta āśīrvāda kahe kariyā prakāśa

Translation: Shortly after, however, Haridāsa mercifully explained the meaning of his mysterious blessing.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, although it seemed that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was cursing them but actually he is giving his disguised blessing.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.53

kṛpāpātra bandigaṇake svīya gūḍha maṅgalāśīrvāda marmānabhijña o duḥkhita-darśane mṛdu bhartsana o anuyoga —

“āmi tomā’-sabāre ye kailuṅ āśīrvāda
tāra artha nā bujhiyā bhāvaha viṣāda

Translation: “You have not understood the meaning of the blessings I gave, and therefore you are lamenting.

Purport (By His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Śrila Prabhupāda): Upon seeing the all-auspicious smile of Ṭhākura Haridāsa, the imprisoned criminals became morose, not understanding that the smile was a confidential blessing in disguise. Seeing their moroseness, Ṭhākura Mahāśaya said to them, “I have blessed you with an auspicious smile. Do consider it otherwise and feel sad.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Haridāsa Ṭhākura is going to explain his mysterious blessing but actually it’s a blessing to the prisoner.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 16.54

amandodayā-dayā-sindhu vaiṣṇava-ṭhākurera āśīrvāda dīna-jīvera aśubhajanaka nahe, paranta carama kalyāṇaprada—

manda āśīrvāda āmi kakhano nā kari
mana diyā sabe ihā bujhaha vicāri’

Translation: “I never award inauspicious benedictions. Carefully try to understand as I explain.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the prisoners were thinking that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was offering them an inauspicious blessings but actually he never does a thing so I will explain it tomorrow why his blessings are actually auspicious.