20230329 In the Third Attempt, the Dacoits are Blinded, Fall into a Ditch and Indradeva Sends Rainstorm

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on March 29th,2023 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!

Today we are ontinuing with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book. Today's chapter is entitled as:

In the Third Attempt, the Dacoits are Blinded,
Fall into a Ditch and Indradeva Sends Rainstorm
Under the Section: The Pastimes of Nityānanda

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.592

nityānandacaraṇa-bhajanakārīrai yakhana anāyāse sarvavighnera khaṇḍana haya, takhana nityānanda prabhura vighnakārīra astitva kothāya?—

nityānanda-caraṇa bhajaye ye ye jane
sarva-vighna khaṇḍe tāhā sabāra smaraṇe

Jayapatākā Swami: By the remembrance of all those who worship the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda, all obstacles are vanquished.

So, not only remembrance of the Lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda, but by remembering those who are constantly worshipping the Lotus feet Lord Nityānanda, also vanquishes all the obstacles.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.593

hena nityānanda prabhu vihare āpane
tāhāne karite vighna pāre kon jane

Jayapatākā Swami: As such when Lord Nityānanda Prabhu Himself wanders about, is there any person who can obstruct Him in any way?

Purport (by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura): Envious people always try to create obstacles in the endeavors of saintly persons. Under the influence of their sinful mentality, they create obstacles for all sorts of beneficial activities in this world. But no envious person will ever be able to create obstacles in any of the activities Śrī Nityānanda performs in His desire to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Ratha yātrā, Prasāda distribution, Harināma in the Western world require so many licenses and permissions, but by the mercy of Nitāi-Gaura these obstacles are overcome.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.594

nityānandadāsera smaraṇe avidyā-khaṇḍana —

avidyā khaṇḍaye yāṅra dāsera smaraṇe
se prabhure vighna karibeka kon jane

Jayapatākā Swami: Ignorance is destroyed by remembering Lord Nityānanda’s servants. Considering that, is there any person who can obstruct Lord Nityananda in any way?

Purport (by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura): No one is able to place impediments before Śrī Nityānanda, who is the master of the Supreme Lord’s servants, for if a person remembers topics of even Śrī Nityānanda’s servants, the actions of ignorance, in the form of aversion to the Supreme Lord, cannot be maintained and all his sinful thoughts are destroyed.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Nityānanda is so auspicious that even His servants' remembrance can destroy obstacles because Śrīla Prabhupāda, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda was with his previous spiritual masters,  as result all obstacles were removed.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.595

sarvagaṇasaha vighnanātha nityānandadāsa, viśva-vināśaka rudra nityānandera ‘aṁśāṁśa—

sarva-gaṇa-saha vighna-nātha yāṅra dāsa
yāṅra aṁśa rudra kare jagata-vināśa

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaṇeśa, the destroyer of all obstacles is the servant of Lord Nityānanda. Lord Nityānanda’s servant is Rudra, who is His plenary portion, and who annihilates the universe.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5. 596

nityānanda-aṁśāṁśa śeṣera āloḍane bhūmikampa—

yāṅra aṁśa naḍite bhuvana kampa haya
hena prabhu nityānanda, kāre tāna bhaya

Jayapatākā Swami: When Lord Nityānanda’s plenary portion, Anantadeva, slightly moves, the universe trembles. How, then, can that Lord Nityānanda Prabhu be afraid of anyone?

Purport (by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura): When the guṇa-avatāra Rudra, who is a portion of the plenary portion of Nityānanda Prabhu, is able to annihilate the universe; when Gaṇapati and his associates are always engaged in His service; and when His plenary portion Śrī Ananta, who supports the universe, becomes a little restless, the fourteen worlds tremble. Then how can that Nityānanda Prabhu be afraid of anyone?

In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.85.31) it is stated:

“O Soul of all that be, the creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe are all carried out by a fraction of an expansion of an expansion of Your expansion. Today I have come to take shelter of You, the Supreme Lord.”

In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.42) it is stated:

“It is because of My supremacy that the wind blows, out of fear of Me; the sun shines out of fear of Me, and the lord of the clouds, Indra, sends forth showers out of fear of Me. Fire burns out of fear of Me, and death goes about taking its toll out of fear of Me.”

In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.29.38-45) it is stated:

“Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the enjoyer of all sacrifices, is the time factor and the master of all masters. He enters everyone’s heart, He is the support of everyone, and He causes every being to be annihilated by another.

“No one is dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, nor is anyone His enemy or friend. But He gives inspiration to those who have not forgotten Him and destroys those who have.

“Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the wind blows, out of fear of Him the sun shines, out of fear of Him the rain pours forth showers, and out of fear of Him the host of heavenly bodies shed their luster.

“Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the trees, creepers, herbs and seasonal plants and flowers blossom and fructify, each in its own season.

“Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the rivers flow, and the ocean never overflows. Out of fear of Him only does fire burn and does the earth, with its mountains, not sink in the water of the universe.

“Subject to the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sky allows outer space to accommodate all the various planets, which hold innumerable living entities. The total universal body expands with its seven coverings under His supreme control.

“Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the directing demigods in charge of the modes of material nature carry out the functions of creation, maintenance and destruction; everything animate and inanimate within this material world is under their control.

“The eternal time factor has no beginning and no end. It is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the maker of the criminal world. It brings about the end of the phenomenal world, it carries on the work of creation by bringing one individual into existence from another, and likewise it dissolves the universe by destroying even the lord of death, Yamarāja.”

In the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.50) it is stated:

“I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda. Gaṇeśa always holds His lotus feet upon the pair of tumuli protruding from his elephant head in order to obtain power for his function of destroying all obstacles on the path of progress in the three worlds.”

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.597

sarva navadvīpe kare svacchande kīrtana
svacchande karena krīḍā bhojana śayana

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Nityānanda freely performs kīrtana throughout Navadvīpa, and He freely enjoys pastimes of eating and sleeping.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.598

sarva-aṅge sakala amūlya alaṅkāra
yena dekhi baladeva—rohiṇī-kumāra

Jayapatākā Swami: All His limbs had all priceless ornaments. He looked just like Baladeva, the son of Rohiṇī devī.

Many people didn’t know how Lord Nityānanda was wearing such priceless ornaments, but just as Lord Baladeva was decorated with jewels of gold ornaments and pearl necklaces, Lord Nityānanda also dressed like Baladeva.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.599

karpūra, tāmbūla prabhu karena carvaṇa
īṣat hāsiyā mohe jaga-jana-mana

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord chewed betel nuts mixed with camphor, and His gentle smile enchanted people of the entire world.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.600

abhaya-paramānanda būle sarva-sthāne
abhaya-paramānanda bhakta-goṣṭhī-sane

Jayapatākā Swami: Fearless and in transcendental ecstasy, Lord Nityānanda strolled everywhere in the association of devotees who were also fearless and transcendentally ecstatic.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.601

tṛtīyabāra dasyugaṇera nityānanda vāsasthānera samīpe āgamana—

āra-bāra yukti kari’ pāpī dasyu-gaṇe
āilena nityānanda-candrera bhavane

Jayapatākā Swami: Again after making their plan, the sinful dacoits came to Lord Nityānanda Candra’s house.

This was the third attempt , first and second having been fruitless, now they are ready to rob Lord Nityānanda and they came with that spirit. But they don’t know that Lord Nityānanda is fearless!

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.602

daive sei dine mahā-meghe andhakāra
mahā-ghora-niśānāhi lokera sañcāra

Jayapatākā Swami: By the will of providence, that day, due to dense cloud cover, it was dark. Because it was a dense dark night, there were no people commuting.

This was a good night for the dacoits to strike, they want cover of darkness.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.603

mahā-bhayaṅkara-niśā cora-dasyu-gaṇa
daśa-pāñca astra eko janera kācana

Jayapatākā Swami: Due to the greatly fearful night, each and every one of the thieves and dacoits carried five or ten weapons.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.604

sakalera andhatā-prāpti o garte patana—

praviṣṭa haila mātra bāḍīra bhitare
sabe haila andha, keha cāhite nā pāre

Jayapatākā Swami: As soon as, the dacoits and thieves entered the courtyard of Lord Nityānanda’s house, they were completely blinded and unable to see anything.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.605

kichu nāhe dekhe, andha haila dasyu-gaṇa
sabei haila hata-prāṇa-buddhi-mana

Jayapatākā Swami: The dacoits could not see anything and they became blind. Everyone’s life air, intelligence, and mind was disturbed.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.606

keha giyā paḍe gaḍa-khāira bhitare
joṅke poke ḍāṅse tāre kāmaḍāi’ māre

Jayapatākā Swami: Some of the thieves fell into a trench, the leeches, insects, and gadflies were biting them profusely.

Purport: The phrase gaḍa-khāira refers to a trench surrounding the palace or residence of a king or landlord.

So, the dacoits couldn’t see the trench around the house, being blinded by the darkness and they fell into trench. In the trench they were bitten by insects, by leeches sucking their blood and they were suffering like anything.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.607

ucchiṣṭa gartete keha keha giyā paḍe
tathāya maraye vichā-pokera kāmaḍe

Jayapatākā Swami: Some of the dacoits fell into a pit where food remnants were thrown and there being bitten by insects and scorpions some of them died.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.608

keha keha paḍe giyā kāṅṭāra upare
sarva aṅge phuṭe kāṅṭā, naḍite nā pāre

Jayapatākā Swami: Some of the dacoits fell on thorns that pierced all of their limbs and they could not move. naḍite nā pare, they could not move.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.609

khālera bhitare giyā paḍe kona jana
hasta-pada bhāṅgi’ keha karaye krandana

Jayapatākā Swami: Some of the dacoits fell into a canal. Their hands and legs being broken, they cried out.

In those days they don’t have flashlights or torches. So they didn’t see where they are going, some fell in a ditch , some fell in a garbage hole, some fell in a canal and their arms and legs broken, they were crying. Wow!

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.610

seikhāne kāro kāro gāye āila jvara
sarva dasyu-gaṇa cintā pāila antara

Jayapatākā Swami: In that place, in some of their bodies fever arrived and all the dacoits became worried within.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.611

indrera mahājhaḍavṛṣṭi prakāśapūrvaka nityānanda-sevā—

henai samaye indra parama-kautukī
karite lāgilā mahā-jhaḍa-vṛṣṭi tathi

Jayapatākā Swami: At the same time, the playful Lord Indra started a great rainstorm at that place.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.612

eke mare dasyu poka-joṅkera kāmaḍe
viśeṣe maraye āro mahāvṛṣṭi-jhaḍe

Jayapatākā Swami: On the one hand, the dacoits suffered the bites of leeches and insects, and on the other hand they suffered further from the great rainstorm, mahāvṛṣṭi-jhaḍe.

Don’t mess with Lord Nityānanda!

Wow! Wow!

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.613

śilāvṛṣṭi paḍe saba aṅgera upare
prāṇa nāhi yāya, bhāse duḥkhera sāgare

Jayapatākā Swami: Hail stones fell on all of their limbs, but their life-air did not pass away and so they floated in an ocean of misery.

Wanting to steal from Lord Nityānanda, this is what they got. If we approach Lord Nityānanda to give the love of Kṛṣṇa, He gives it freely, but if you want to steal from Him, this is what they got!

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.614

hena se paḍaye eko mahā-jhanjhanā
trāse mūrcchā yāya sabe pāsari’ āpanā

Jayapatākā Swami: Then one big lightning bolt struck there, and being frightened the dacoits fell unconscious, forgetting themselves.

Hailstorms, lightning, rain, leeches, insects you name it they were suffering like anything. Like we hear in the Bengali story, gacher katal, goper tel, - they wanted to steal the fruit, but if they beg Lord Nityānanda, He gives it freely!

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.615

mahāvṛṣṭi dasyu-gaṇa bhije nirantara
mahā-śīte sabhāra kampita kalevara

Jayapatākā Swami: Because of the heavy rain, the dacoits were continuously drenched with rain water. Due to great cold, all their bodies shivered.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.616

andha haiyāche—kichu nā pāya dekhite
mare dasyu-gaṇa mahā-jhaḍa-vṛṣṭi-śīte

Jayapatākā Swami: The dacoits became blind and they could not see anything. They were dying due to the great storm, rain and cold.

Caitanya Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.617

nityānanda-drohe āsiyāche e jāniyā
krodha indra viśeṣe mārena duḥkha diyā

Jayapatākā Swami: To betray Lord Nityānanda they have come – knowing this, angrily Lord Indra killed the dacoits by giving them suffering.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, In the Third Attempt, the Dacoits are Blinded, Fall into a Ditch and Indradeva Sends Rainstorm
Under the Section: The Pastimes of Nityānanda