20221218 The Great Escape of Raghunātha dāsa

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on December 18th,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! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book. Today's chapter is entitled as:

Raghunātha Dāsa Receives the Mercy of Nityānanda Prabhu
Under the section: The Meeting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.155

tadavadhi bahirvāṭite avasthāna:—

sei haite abhyantare nā karena gamana
bāhire durgā-maṇḍape yāñā karena śayana

Translation: From that day on, he did not go into the interior section of the house. Instead, he would sleep on the Durgā-maṇḍapa [the place where mother Durgā was worshiped].

Jayapatākā Swami: So, every rich man’s house in Bengal, they would have a Durgā-maṇḍapa. During Durgā pūjā they bring a clay deity of Durgā and worship her and then put her in the river.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.156

praharī rakṣigaṇa:—

tāṅhā jāgi’ rahe saba rakṣaka-gaṇa
palāite karena nānā upāya cintana

Translation: There, however, the watchmen alertly kept guard. Raghunātha dāsa was thinking of various means by which to escape their vigilance.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Raghunatha dāsa wanted to go to Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he was thinking of different ways to escape. As previously said, he was always caught and brought back by his father.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.157

prabhudarśanārtha varṣākāle gauḍīya bhaktagaṇera purī-yātrā:—

hena-kāle gauḍa-deśera saba bhakta-gaṇa
prabhure dekhite nīlācale karilā gamana

Translation: At that time, all the devotees of Bengal were going to Jagannātha Purī to see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: Every year Śivānanda Sena would take a group of devotees from Bengal to Orissa to see Lord Caitanya and participate in the Ratha-yātrā with Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.158

prakāśyabhāve gauḍīyabhaktagaṇasaha gamane dhṛta haibāra āśaṅkāya purīyātrāya asāmarthya:—

tāṅ-sabāra saṅge raghunātha yāite nā pare
prasiddha prakaṭa saṅga, tabahiṅ dharā paḍe

Translation: Raghunātha dāsa could not accompany them, for they were so famous that he would have been caught immediately.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since the annual party by Śivānanda Sena was very famous naturally his father would look there first, so Raghunatha dāsa Gosvāmī could not go with them, he has to figure out some other way.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.159-160

raghunāthera prabhusaha milanavṛttānta-varṇana; raghunāthera saubhāgya-divasa:—

ei-mata cintite daive eka-dine
bāhire devī-maṇḍape kariyāchena śayane

śeṣarātre guru yadunandanasaha sākṣātkāra:—

daṇḍa-cāri rātri yabe āche avaśeṣa
yadunandana-ācārya tabe karilā praveśa

Translation: Thus Raghunātha dāsa thought deeply about how to escape, and one night while he was sleeping on the Durgā-maṇḍapa, the priest Yadunandana Ācārya entered the house when only four daṇḍas remained until the end of the night.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, one daṇḍa is twenty-two and a half minutes, so four daṇḍas means an hour and a half.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.161

yadunandanera paricaya:—

vāsudeva-dattera teṅha haya ‘anugṛhīta’
raghunāthera ‘guru’ teṅho haya ‘purohita’

Translation: Yadunandana Ācārya was the priest and spiritual master of Raghunātha dāsa. Although born in a brāhmaṇa family, he had accepted the mercy of Vāsudeva Datta.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Yadunandana Ācārya was a brāhmaṇa by birth and qualification, but Vāsudeva Datta was not a brāhmaṇa by birth. But as he was a pure devotee, Yadunandana Ācārya accepted his shelter.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.162

advaita-ācāryera teṅha ‘śiṣya antaraṅga’
ācārya-ājñāte māne—caitanya ‘prāṇa-dhana’

Translation: Yadunandana Ācārya had been officially initiated by Advaita Ācārya. Thus he considered Lord Caitanya his life and soul.

Purport: Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments that although the atheists who have deviated from the order of Śrī Advaita Ācārya introduce themselves as followers of Advaita Ācārya, they do not accept Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Yadunandana Ācārya, one of the most confidential followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, was the initiated disciple of Advaita Ācārya. He was not polluted by sentimental distinctions classifying Vaiṣṇavas according to birth. Therefore, although Vāsudeva Datta had not been born in a brāhmaṇa family, Yadunandana Ācārya also accepted him as his spiritual master.

Jayapatākā Swami: This shows how a Vaiṣṇava may accept a dīkṣā-guru and a sīkṣā-guru on a similar level.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.163

yadunandanake raghunāthera praṇāma:—

aṅgane āsiyā teṅho yabe dāṇḍāilā
raghunātha āsi’ tabe daṇḍavat kailā

Translation: When Yadunandana Ācārya entered the house of Raghunātha dāsa and stood in the courtyard, Raghunātha dāsa went there and fell down to offer his obeisances.

Jayapatākā Swami: When Raghunatha dāsa saw his guru Yadunandana Ācārya, he naturally offered prostrate obeisances.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.164

tāṅra eka śiṣya tāṅra ṭhākurera sevā kare
sevā chāḍiyāche, tāre sādhibāra tare

Translation: One of Yadunandana Ācārya’s disciples had been worshiping the Deity but had left that service. Yadunandana Ācārya wanted Raghunātha dāsa to induce the disciple to take up that service again.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, there was always some troubles with management, Yadunandana Ācārya's disciple was worshipping a deity, and then the disciple stopped the worship, and then Yadunandana Ācārya wanted to see that it got started again.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.165

vigrahārcanatyāgakārī śiṣyake prātarārātrika-sampādanārtha anurodha-janya raghunāthake saṅge grahaṇa:—

raghunāthe kahe,—“tāre karaha sādhana
sevā yena kare, āra nāhika brāhmaṇa”

Translation: Yadunandana Ācārya requested Raghunātha dāsa, “Please induce the brāhmaṇa to resume the service, for there is no other brāhmaṇa to do it.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.166

rātriśeṣe praharī rakṣigaṇera gāḍhanidrāveśa:—

eta kahi’ raghunāthe lañā calilā
rakṣaka saba śeṣa-rātre nidrāya paḍilā

Translation: After saying this, Yadunandana Ācārya took Raghunātha dāsa with him and went out. By that time all the watchmen were deeply asleep because it was the end of the night.

Jayapatākā Swami: Although the watchman was supposed to stay awake the whole night, at the end of the night they had fallen asleep. This opportunity was there for Raghunatha dāsa to escape.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.167

raghunāthera gurvanuvrajyā; ubhayera ācārya-gṛhābhimukhe gamana:—

ācāryera ghara ihāra pūrva-diśāte
kahite śunite duṅhe cale sei pathe

Translation: East of the house of Raghunātha dāsa was the house of Yadunandana Ācārya. Yadunandana Ācārya and Raghunātha dāsa talked together as they went toward that house.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.168

pathe buddhimān raghunāthera ai suyoge guru-samīpe kṛṣṇabhajanārtha vidāyājñā-grahaṇa:—

ardha-pathe raghunātha kahe gurura caraṇe
“āmi sei vipre sādhi’ pāṭhāimu tomā sthāne

Translation: Halfway along the path, Raghunātha dāsa submitted at the lotus feet of his spiritual master, “I shall go to the home of that brāhmaṇa, induce him to return, and send him to your home.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.169

tumi sukhe ghare yāha—more ājñā haya”
ei chale ājñā māgi’ karilā niścaya

Translation: “You may go home without anxiety. Following your order, I shall persuade the brāhmaṇa.” On this plea, after asking permission, Raghunātha dāsa decided to go away.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Raghunatha dāsa decided to take this opportunity to escape and join Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.170

raghunāthera palāyana-cintā:—

“sevaka rakṣaka āra keha nāhi saṅge
palāite āmāra bhāla eita prasaṅge”

Translation: Raghunātha dāsa thought, “This is the greatest opportunity to go away because this time there are no servants or watchmen with me.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Normally Raghunatha dāsa would have some watchman or servants with him but this time there was no one.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.171

ati-drutavege palāyana:—

eta cinti’ pūrva-mukhe karilā gamana
ulaṭiyā cāhe pāche,—nāhi kona jana

Translation: Thinking in this way, he quickly proceeded toward the east. Sometimes he turned around and looked back, but no one was following him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, he went eastward, which was a slightly different path, as Jagannātha Purī was in the south, then he saw that no one was following.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.172

dhṛta haibāra āśaṅkāya vane vane upapathe dhāvana:—

śrī-caitanya-nityānanda-caraṇa cintiyā
patha chāḍi’ upapathe yāyena dhāñā

Translation: Thinking of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, he left the general path and proceeded with great haste on the one not generally used.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, instead of going by the general route he went on a separate route so that he could go unseen.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.173

ekāntabhāve caitanyacaraṇa dhyānapūrvaka samasta dine bahupatha atikrama o sandhyāya gopagṛhe dugdhapānapūrvaka śrāntadehe viśrāma:—

grāme-grāmera patha chāḍi’ yāya vane vane
kāya-mano-vākye cinte caitanya-caraṇe

Translation: Giving up the general path from village to village, he passed through the jungles, thinking with heart and soul about the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: Raghunatha dāsa was completely absorbed - mind, words, deeds - in the thoughts of Lord Caitanya and he went off the general route from village to village, all the time thinking of Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.174

pañca-daśa-krośa-patha cali’ gelā eka-dine
sandhyā-kāle rahilā eka gopera bāthāne

Translation: He walked about thirty miles in one day, and in the evening he took rest in the cowshed of a milkman.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, 30 miles in a day going on small pathways is a very intense program. Normally, one can go half the distance, but he was racing to join Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.175

upavāsī dekhi’ gopa dugdha āni’ dilā
sei dugdha pāna kari’ paḍiyā rahilā

Translation: When the milkman saw that Raghunātha dāsa was fasting, he gave him some milk. Raghunātha dāsa drank the milk and lay down to rest there for the night.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya, Lord Kṛṣṇa takes care of His devotees, seeing Raghunatha dāsa was fasting the milkman gave some milk. Like this Lord Kṛṣṇa takes care of His devotees.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.176

paradivasa prāte raghunāthera adarśane kolāhala o tadanveṣaṇārtha pitāra purī-yātrigaṇera nikaṭa patra o loka-preraṇa:—

ethā tāṅra sevaka rakṣaka tāṅre nā dekhiyā
tāṅra guru-pāśe vārtā puchilena giyā

Translation: At the house of Raghunātha dāsa, the servant and watchman, not seeing him there, immediately went to inquire about him from his spiritual master, Yadunandana Ācārya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.177

teṅha kahe, ‘ājñā māgi’ gelā nija-ghara’
‘palāila raghunātha’—uṭhila kolāhala

Translation: Yadunandana Ācārya said, “He has already asked my permission and returned home.” Thus there arose a tumultuous sound, as everyone cried, “Now Raghunātha has gone away!” 

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari Bol! They have been watching Raghunatha dāsa so that he would not escape but somehow using this opportunity he left.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.178

tāṅra pitā kahe,—“gauḍera saba bhakta-gaṇa
prabhu-sthāne nīlācale karilā gamana

Translation: Raghunātha dāsa’s father said, “Now all the devotees from Bengal have gone to Jagannātha Purī to see Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.179

sei-saṅge raghunātha gela palāñā
daśa jana yāha, tāre ānaha dhariyā”

Translation: “Raghunātha dāsa has fled with them. Ten men should immediately go catch him and bring him back.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Raghunatha dāsa knew that if he went with the devotees he would be easily caught, therefore he did not go with the devotees.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.180

śivānande patrī dila vinaya kariyā
‘āmāra putrere tumi dibā bāhuḍiyā’

Translation: Raghunātha dāsa’s father wrote a letter to Śivānanda Sena, asking him with great humility, “Please return my son.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.181

jhāṅkarā paryanta gela sei daśa jane
jhāṅkarāte pāila giyā vaiṣṇavera gaṇe

Translation: In Jhāṅkarā, the ten men caught up with the group of Vaiṣṇavas going to Nīlācala.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.182

prerita lokera śivānandake patrapradāna o raghunāthera saṁbāda-jijñāsā:—

patrī diyā śivānande vārtā puchila
śivānanda kahe,—‘teṅha ethā nā āila’

Translation: After delivering the letter, the men inquired from Śivānanda Sena about Raghunātha dāsa, but Śivānanda Sena replied, “He did not come here.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Raghunatha dāsa, knowing that his father would search this party of Bengalis going to Nilacala, and that’s what they did, ra. but he went through another way.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 6.183

śivānandera svīya anabhijñatā-jñāpana, raghunāthera adarśane patravāhakagaṇera gṛhe pratyāvartana —

bāhuḍiyā sei daśa jana āila ghara
tāṅra mātā-pitā ha-ila cintita antara

Translation: The ten men returned home, and Raghunātha dāsa’s father and mother were filled with anxiety.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is how Raghunatha dāsa escaped and went to see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he is on the path now and he is thinking day and night about the Lotus feet of Nitāi Gau Hari Bol!

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Raghunātha dāsa Receives the Mercy of Nityānanda Prabhu
Under the section: The Meeting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī