20221231 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Devotees Showed Affectionate Anger toward Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosai

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on December 31st,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:

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Devotees Showed Affectionate Anger toward Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi
Under the section: The Meeting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Vallabha Bhaṭṭa

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.80

prabhura samīpe vallabhera nivedana:—

yātrānantare bhaṭṭa yāi mahāprabhu-sthāne
prabhu-caraṇe kichu kaila nivedane

Translation: One day, after the festival was over, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to the abode of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and submitted a request at the lotus feet of the Lord.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.81

svīya pūrvalikhita ṭīkā śravaṇārtha prabhuke prārthanā:—

“bhāgavatera ṭīkā kichu kariyāchi likhana
āpane mahāprabhu yadi karena śravaṇa”

Translation: “I have written some commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,” he said. “Would Your Lordship kindly hear it?”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.82

āpanāke anadhikāri-jñāne prabhura dainya o chalanokti; kṛṣṇakārṣṇa-sukha-tātparya vyatīta jaḍavidyā o pāṇḍitye bhāgavatārtha durvodhya:—

prabhu kahe, —“bhāgavatārtha bujhite nā pāri
bhāgavatārtha śunite āmi nahi adhikārī

Translation: The Lord replied, “I do not understand the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Indeed, I am not a suitable person to hear its meaning.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was presenting Himself as unsuitable although He is the greatest of all paṇḍitas, he has some other reason which would soon be revealed.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.83

aviśrānta nirantara śuddha-kṛṣṇa-nāmagrahaṇe niṣṭhā o rucitei bhāgavata-pāṭha-śravaṇera sāphalya, indritarpaṇapara jaḍavidyā o pāṇḍitya-pradarśanamūlaka śravaṇa-paṭhanādi vṛthā samayakṣepaṇamātra:—

vasi’ kṛṣṇa-nāma mātra kariye grahaṇe
saṅkhyā-nāma pūrṇa mora nahe rātri-dine

Translation: “I simply sit and try to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and although I chant all day and night, I nevertheless cannot complete the chanting of My prescribed number of rounds.” 

Jayapatākā Swami: It’s a requirement that each devotee at the time of initiation accept a certain number of prescribed rounds. That may be different with different people. But A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda prescribed a minimum of sixteen rounds of 108 mantras in a day. 

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.84

bhaṭṭera svakṛta-śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāma-vyākhyā-śravaṇārtha prabhuke anurodha:—

bhaṭṭa kahe, “kṛṣṇa-nāmera artha-vyākhyāne
vistāra kairāchi, tāhā karaha śravaṇe”

Translation: Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, “I have tried to describe elaborately the meaning of Kṛṣṇa’s holy name. Kindly hear the explanation.” 

Jayapatākā Swami: Vallabha Bhaṭṭa had described the meaning of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, so he wanted Lord Caitanya to hear that.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.85

abhinna-cidvilāsī vācaka kṛṣṇanāma o vācya gokulapati kṛṣṇa-vigraha:—

prabhu kahe,—“kṛṣṇa-nāmera bahu artha nā māni
‘śyāma-sundara’ ‘yaśodā-nandana,’—ei-mātra jāni

Translation: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “I do not accept many different meanings for the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. I know only that Lord Kṛṣṇa is Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. That’s all I know. 

Jayapatākā Swami: The name of Kṛṣṇa may have different meanings, Lord Caitanya was saying that He knew Kṛṣṇa is Śyamasundara, Yaśoda Nandana, that means Krsna in Vṛndāvana.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.86

kṛṣṇanāmera ‘rūḍhi’ artha : kṛṣṇasandarbhe dhṛta śrī-lakṣmīdhara-kṛta nāmakaumudī-śloka—

tamāla-śyāmala-tviṣi śrī-yaśodā-stanan-dhaye
kṛṣṇa-nāmno rūḍhir iti sarva-śāstra-vinirṇayaḥ

Translation: “The only purport of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is that He is dark blue like a tamāla tree and is the son of mother Yaśodā. This is the conclusion of all the revealed scriptures.’

Purport: This is a verse from the Nāma-kaumudī.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.87

‘rūḍhi’ arthai siddha o svīkārya; apara artha asvīkārya:—

ei artha āmi mātra jāniye nirdhāra
āra sarva-arthe mora nāhi adhikāra”

Translation: “I conclusively know these two names, Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. I do not understand any other meanings, nor have I the capacity to understand them.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.88

sva-sukhapara jaḍavidyā, buddhi vā medhā-sāhāyye kṛṣṇanāma o kṛṣṇābhinna bhāgavata-vyākhyādite kṛṣṇa-sukhābhāva baliyā prabhura ghṛṇā:—

phalgu-prāya bhaṭṭera nāmādi saba-vyākhyā
sarvajña prabhu jāni’ tāre karena upekṣā

Translation: Being omniscient, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could understand that Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s explanations of Kṛṣṇa’s name and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam were useless. Therefore He did not care about them.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya wanted to maintain His respect for Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, He therefore took the humble position and avoided hearing his explanation

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.89

duḥkhitacitte bhaṭṭera prasthāna o garva-kharvatāhetu prabhura aiśvaryopalabdhi:—

vimanā hañā bhaṭṭa gelā nija-ghara
prabhu-viṣaye bhakti kichu ha-ila antara

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu rigidly declined to hear his explanations, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went home feeling morose. His faith in the Lord and devotion to Him changed.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa had faith in the Lord, but after this exchange his faith and attitude changed. Actually, Lord Caitanya He gave a simple explanation but Vallabha Bhaṭṭa somehow had a different expectation so this changed his attitude.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.90

śrī-gadādharake toṣāmodārambha:—

tabe bhaṭṭa gelā paṇḍita-gosāñira ṭhāñi
nānā mate prīti kari’ kare āsā-yāi

Translation: Thereafter, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to the home of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. He kept coming and going, showing affection in various ways, and thus maintained a relationship with him.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.91

prabhura upekṣāhetu bhaktagaṇera tatkṛta vyākhyāya anīhā:—

prabhura upekṣāya saba nīlācalera jana
bhaṭṭera vyākhyāna kichu nā kare śravaṇa

Translation: Because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not take Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very seriously, none of the people in Jagannātha Purī would hear any of his explanations.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya didn’t want to hear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa explanation, no one else would also hear them.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.92

bhaṭṭera lajjā o gadādharake toṣāmoda : —

lajjita haila bhaṭṭa, haila apamāne
duḥkhita hañā gela paṇḍitera sthāne

Translation: Ashamed, insulted and unhappy, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa went to Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

Jayapatākā Swami: Gadādhara Paṇḍita is the incarnation of Rādhārāṇī, who is very merciful.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.93

dainya kari’ kahe,—“niluṅ tomāra śaraṇa
tumi kṛpā kari’ rākha āmāra jīvana

Translation: Approaching him with great humility, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, “I have taken shelter of you, my dear sir. Kindly be merciful to me and save my life.

Jayapatākā Swami: He is begging Gadādhara Paṇḍita for mercy.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.94

gadādharake sva-kṛta kṛṣṇa-nāma-vyākhyā-śravaṇārtha prārthanā-jñāpana:—

kṛṣṇa-nāma-vyākhyā yadi karaha śravaṇa
tabe mora lajjā-paṅka haya prakṣālana”

Translation: “Please hear my explanation of the meaning of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s name. In that way the mud of the shame that has come upon me will be washed off.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Vallabha Bhaṭṭa had a great explanation of his own writings, but he was ashamed that Lord Caitanya didn’t want to hear that, so he was asking Gadādhara Paṇḍita to listen to his writings.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.95

gadādharera ubhaya saṅkaṭa :—

saṅkaṭe paḍila paṇḍita, karaye saṁśaya
ki karibena,—eko, karite nā pāre niścaya

Translation: Thus Paṇḍita Gosāñi fell into a dilemma. He was in such doubt that he could not decide alone what to do.

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not take Vallabha Bhaṭṭa very seriously. Therefore Paṇḍita Gosāñi, or Gadādhara Gosāñi, fell into perplexity. What would be his position if he heard Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s explanation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s name? Certainly Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would be displeased. Therefore Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi could not make a decision.

Jayapatākā Swami: By nature Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi was very merciful, but at the same time he always wanted to always please Lord Caitanya, who would not be pleased if he listened to the translations or the writings of Vallabha Bhaṭṭa. So, Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi was bewildered what to do.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.96

gadādharera vallabhakṛta vyākhyā-śravaṇe prathamataḥ asammati, tathāpi bhaṭṭera nirbandha:—

yadyapi paṇḍita āra nā kailā aṅgīkāra
bhaṭṭa yāi’ tabu paḍe kari’ balātkāra

Translation: Although Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi did not want to hear it, Vallabha Bhaṭṭa began to read his explanation with great force.

Jayapatākā Swami: Even though Gadādhara Paṇḍita did not want to hear, because he did not want to displease Lord Caitanya. But Vallabha Bhaṭṭa forcefully read out his writings forcing Gadādhara Paṇḍita to hear.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.97

mānada o udvegadāne anicchuka gadādharera ubhaya saṅkaṭe kṛṣṇakṛpā-yāñchā:—

ābhijātye paṇḍita karite nāre niṣedhana
“e saṅkaṭe rākha, kṛṣṇa la-ilāṅa śaraṇa

Translation: Because Vallabha Bhaṭṭa was a learned brāhmaṇa, Gadādhara Paṇḍita could not forbid him. Thus he began to think of Lord Kṛṣṇa. “My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa,” he requested, “please protect me in this danger. I have taken shelter of You.

Jayapatākā Swami: Gadādhara Paṇḍita is showing how to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa if we are forced into a situation which we do not want to be in.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.98

antare anicchuka haiyāo bhaṭṭera maryādānurodhe prabhura upekṣita vyākhyā-śravaṇa-hetu antaryāmi-prabhura vicāre paṇḍitera viśvāsa, kintu prabhura gaṇake āśaṅkā:—

antaryāmī prabhu jānibena mora mana
tāṅre bhaya nāhi kichu, ‘viṣama’ tāṅra gaṇa

Translation: “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is present in everyone’s heart, and He will certainly know my mind. Therefore I do not fear Him. His associates, however, are extremely critical.”

Purport: As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exists in everyone’s heart. Therefore He would know the circumstances under which Paṇḍita Gosāñi agreed to hear Vallabha Bhaṭṭa’s explanations, and certainly He would not be angry. However, the Vaiṣṇavas who were always with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu might not understand Gadādhara Paṇḍita’s inner consciousness, and they might accuse him of having compromised with Vallabha Bhaṭṭa, despite his having been neglected by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi was seriously thinking in this way.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya as antaryāmi, as the Supersoul He would know that Gadādhara Paṇḍita was obliged to listen to the explanations of Bhakta Vallabha Bhaṭṭa against his will . But the associates of Lord Caitanya may not understand, so he was wondering how will I escape their wrath.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.99

vallabhakṛta vyākhyā-śravaṇe anyāya nā haileo paṇḍitasaha prabhura gaṇera praṇaya kalaha:—

yadyapi vicāre paṇḍitera nāhi kichu doṣa
tathāpi prabhura gaṇa tāṅre kare praṇaya-roṣa

Translation: Although Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosāñi was not in the least at fault, some of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s devotees showed affectionate anger toward him.

Jayapatākā Swami: We have to always try to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, but sometimes His devotees may not understand. We should anyway continue our devotional service with an attempt to please the Lord.

Thus ends the chapter entitled,

Under the section: The Meeting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Vallabha Bhaṭṭa