20230501 Phalaśruti – Gaurahari bestows ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 1st,2023 in Dallas, Texas, USA.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Continuation of the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, Today's chapter is entitled as:

Phalaśruti – Gaurahari Bestows Ecstatic Love for Kṛṣṇa
Under the Section: Pastimes with Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī

Haribol! Haribol! Haribol! Haribol! 

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.112

raghunāthake upalakṣya kariyā prabhukarttṛka saṁsāre praveśānicchuka o apraviṣṭa sādhakake svasthāne thākiyā yoṣitsaṅgadvārā indriyasukha-spṛhā-mūle atyāhāra, prayāsa vā laulyādi-niṣedha

aṣṭa-māsa rahi’ prabhu bhaṭṭe vidāya dilā
‘vivāha nā kariha’ bali’ niṣedha karilā

Translation: After eight months, when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, the Lord flatly forbade him to marry. “Do not marry,” the Lord said.

Purport: Raghunātha Bhaṭṭācārya had become a greatly advanced devotee while still unmarried. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could see this, and therefore He advised him not to begin the process of material sense gratification. Marriage is a concession for people who are unable to control their senses. Raghunātha, however, being an advanced devotee of Kṛṣṇa, naturally had no desire for sense gratification. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised him not to enter the bondage of marriage. Generally a person cannot make much advancement in spiritual consciousness if he is married. He becomes attached to his family and is prone to sense gratification. Thus his spiritual advancement is very slow or almost nil.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Śrīla Prabhupāda he engaged his gṛhastha devotees in preaching. By this preaching they could advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, by working together, how to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness,how to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. They were not ordinary gṛhasthas and normally people, they don’t make much of advancement in married life because they are attached to all the material facilities. But if they work to see how Lord Kṛṣṇa will be pleased, how Kṛṣṇa consciousness will be spread, then they can make advancement. In fact, Śrīla Prabhupāda said he wanted his gṛhastha followers to be paramahaṁsas. And he was saying how his spiritual master had sent sannyāsīs to London, but they were not able to do much. But he sent three gṛhastha couples and they did so much! So, we should be very committed to try and do something in our gṛhastha-āśrama for Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.113

kāśīte giyā vaiṣṇava-sevārthe ādeśa evaṁ anarthamukta kṛṣṇasukhatatpara-bhāgavatasamīpei kṛṣṇasevārthe cinmaya-bhāgavatādhyayanārtha ādeśa :—

vṛddha mātā-pitāra yāi’ karaha sevana
vaiṣṇava-pāśa bhāgavata kara adhyayana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, “When you return home, serve your aged father and mother, who are devotees, and try to study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a pure Vaiṣṇava who has realized God.”

Purport: One should note how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, advised Raghunātha Bhaṭṭācārya to learn Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. He advised him to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam not from professional men but from a real bhāgavata, a devotee. He also advised Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa to serve his mother and father because they were both Lord Caitanya’s devotees. Anyone who wishes to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness must try to serve the devotees of Kṛṣṇa. As Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra peyeche kebā: “Without serving a self-realized Vaiṣṇava, no one has ever been released from the materialistic way of life.” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would have never advised Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa to serve ordinary parents, but since his parents were Vaiṣṇavas, the Lord advised him to serve them.

One might ask, “Why shouldn’t ordinary parents be served?” As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.18):

“One who cannot deliver his dependent from the path of birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a relative, a father or mother, or a worshipable demigod, nor should such a person become a husband.”

Everyone naturally gets a father and mother at the time of birth, but the real father and mother are those who can release their offspring from the clutches of imminent death. This is possible only for parents advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Therefore any parents who cannot enlighten their offspring in Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be accepted as a real father and mother.

The following verse from the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.200) confirms the uselessness of serving ordinary parents:

“One should perform only those activities — either worldly or prescribed by Vedic rules and regulations — which are favorable for the cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”

Concerning the study of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu clearly advises that one avoid hearing from a non-Vaiṣṇava professional reciter.

In this connection Sanātana Gosvāmī quotes a verse from the Padma Purāṇa:

“No one should hear or take lessons from a person who is not a Vaiṣṇava. Even if he speaks about Kṛṣṇa, such a lesson should not be accepted, for it is like milk touched by the lips of a serpent.”

Nowadays it is fashionable to observe Bhāgavata-saptāha and hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from persons who are anything but advanced devotees or self-realized souls. There are even many Māyāvādīs who read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to throngs of people. Many Māyāvādīs have recently begun reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in Vṛndāvana, and because they can present the Bhāgavatam with word jugglery, twisting the meaning by grammatical tricks, materialistic persons who go to Vṛndāvana as a matter of spiritual fashion like to hear them. All this is clearly forbidden by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. We should note carefully that since these Māyāvādīs cannot personally know the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, they can never deliver others by reciting it. On the other hand, an advanced devotee of the Lord is free from material bondage. He personifies Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in life and action. Therefore we advise that anyone who wants to learn Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam must approach such a realized soul.

Jayapatākā Swami: When I came to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, I thought my parents would be very pleased. That I had given up all bad habits, I was leading a regulated life, but my father said, you give up immediately, come back home and I will have you sent to the Army to die in the war in Vietnam. I asked Śrīla Prabhupāda, “What should I do?” He said, “Better you join Kṛṣṇa’s Army!” Haribol! and that is what I did and I am still in the service of Kṛṣṇa’s Army. So we see here that parents are devotees, they could be served. But also, a child is called putra or putrī - pu means hell, tra or tri means deliver. So a child also tries to deliver his parents from hell, so that the parents take up bhakti-yoga and avoid going down to a horrible, condemned birth. Today is the Mohinī Ekādaśī and one of the Ekādaśīs there was a history how a parent ended up in hell because of his wrong behavior and their son or daughter, by offering by observing the Ekādaśī, offering the fruits to their father, the father was delivered from hell. Haribol! So we hope that all our devotees, are putras or putrīs, and help their parents go back home back to Godhead. In the case of Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, his parents were already devotees. So, Lord Caitanya instructed him to serve his parents because they were devotees.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.114

purīte ekabāra āsite ādeśa, kaṇṭhamālā-prasāda-dāna :—

punarapi eka-bāra āsiha nīlācale”
eta bali’ kaṇṭha-mālā dilā tāṅra gale

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu concluded, “Come again to Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī].” After saying this, the Lord put His own neck beads on Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa’s neck.

Jayapatākā Swami: Wow! To get Lord Caitanya’s neck beads. That shows how dear Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa was to Lord Caitanya. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.115

bhaṭṭake vidāya-dāna, ‘prabhuvirahe bhaṭṭera krandana :—

āliṅgana kari’ prabhu vidāya tāṅre dilā
preme gara gara bhaṭṭa kāndite lāgilā

Translation: Then the Lord embraced him and bade him farewell. Overwhelmed with ecstatic love, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa began to cry due to imminent separation from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He embraced Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, He bestowed on him pure ecstatic love for Lord Kṛṣṇa, and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa was crying feeling the separation from Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.116

bhaktājñā laiyā raghunāthera kāśīte āgamana :—

svarūpa-ādi bhakta-ṭhāñi ājñā māgiyā
vārāṇasī āilā bhaṭṭa prabhura ājñā pāñā

Translation: After taking permission from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa returned to Vārāṇasī.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Gopāla Bhaṭṭa is from South India, and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa is the son of a devotee from Benaras. The two of them became one of the Six Gosvāmīs.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.117

kāśīte vaiṣṇava-paṇḍita-samīpe bhāgavatādhyayana :—

cāri-vatsara ghare pitā-mātāra sevā kailā
vaiṣṇava-paṇḍita-ṭhāñi bhāgavata paḍilā

Translation: In accordance with the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he continuously rendered service to his mother and father for four years. He also regularly studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a self-realized Vaiṣṇava.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows that when the parents are devotees, then their children would serve them. So this is an important thing that every parent should try to be a realized Vaiṣṇava and naturally, the children would also serve such an advanced Vaiṣṇavas.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.118

pitāmātāra dhāmaprāptira para virakta haiyā purīte prabhu-sakāśe āgamana :—

pitā-mātā kāśī pāile udāsīna hañā
punaḥ prabhura ṭhāñi āilā gṛhādi chāḍiyā

Translation: Then his parents died at Kāśī [Vārāṇasī], and he became detached. He therefore returned to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, giving up all relationships with his home.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya had ordered Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa to come again to Nīlācala - after his parents’ demise he followed that instruction of Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.119

pūrvavat raghura aṣṭamāsa avasthānānte prabhura vraje rūpa-sanātanera saṅgī haite ādeśa :—

pūrvavat aṣṭa-māsa prabhu-pāśa chilā
aṣṭa-māsa rahi’ punaḥ prabhu ājñā dilā

Translation: As previously, Raghunātha remained continuously with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu for eight months. Then the Lord gave him the following order.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.120

“āmāra ājñāya, raghunātha, yāha vṛndāvane
tāhāṅ yāñā raha rūpa-sanātana-sthāne

Translation: “My dear Raghunātha, on My order go to Vṛndāvana and live there under the care of Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here we are seeing how Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa is becoming one of the Six Gosvāmīs under Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs, on the order of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.121

vṛndāvane nityakṛtya-karttavyopadeśa :—

bhāgavata paḍa, sadā laha kṛṣṇa-nāma
acire karibena kṛpā kṛṣṇa bhagavān”

Translation: “In Vṛndāvana you should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra twenty-four hours a day and read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam continuously. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will very soon bestow His mercy upon you.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya is actually, Kṛṣṇa Himself, He says do these things and Kṛṣṇa will soon bestow His mercy on you, there is no doubt that Lord Caitanya He was bestowing His mercy.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.122

prabhura kṛpāliṅgana; raghunāthera kṛṣṇaprema-mattatā :—

eta bali’ prabhu tāṅre āliṅgana kailā
prabhura kṛpāte kṛṣṇa-preme matta hailā

Translation: After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, and by the Lord’s mercy Raghunātha was enlivened with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: By carrying out the order of Lord Caitanya or His representatives, one is enlivened with ecstatic love of Lord Kṛṣṇa. It is like becoming mad with ecstatic love.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.123

japera tulasī-mālādi pradāna :—

caudda-hāta jagannāthera tulasīra mālā
chuṭā-pāna-viḍā mahotsave pāñāchilā

Translation: At a festival Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had been given some unspiced betel and a garland of tulasī leaves fourteen cubits long. The garland had been worn by Lord Jagannātha.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.124

raghunāthera pratyaha mālikā-sevā :—

sei mālā, chuṭā pāna prabhu tāṅre dilā
‘iṣṭa-deva’ kari’ mālā dhariyā rākhilā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave the garland and betel to Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, who accepted them as a worshipable Deity and preserved them very carefully.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this was a very special prasāda of Lord Jagannātha, given personally by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and he cherished this gift from Lord Caitanya and preserved it very carefully.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.125

vṛndāvane āsiyā rūpa-sanātanera saṅge avasthāna :—

prabhura ṭhāñi ājñā lañā gelā vṛndāvane
āśraya karilā āsi’ rūpa-sanātane

Translation: Taking permission from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa then departed for Vṛndāvana. When he arrived there, he put himself under the care of Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs.

Jayapatākā Swami: Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, he was following exactly the instruction of Lord Caitanya. This is the secret of success. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, he said that if we did anything, we should try to carry out the instructions of the spiritual master and that’s what he said is very important for the devotee.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.126

śrī-rūpa-prabhura nikaṭa rūpānugavara raghunāthera bhāgavata-pāṭha :—

rūpa-gosāñira sabhāya karena bhāgavata-paṭhana
bhāgavata paḍite preme āulāya tāṅra mana

Translation: When reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the company of Rūpa and Sanātana, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa would be overwhelmed with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, he got the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and he was in the association of pure devotees, Śrīla Rūpa and Sanātana. In this way, he became overwhelmed with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. We hope that all devotees be very careful and also get such a blessing of pure love for Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.127

raghunāthera aṣṭasāttvika bhāva :—

aśru, kampa, gadgada prabhura kṛpāte
netra kaṇṭha rodhe bāṣpa, nā pāre paḍite

Translation: By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he experienced the symptoms of ecstatic love — tears, trembling and faltering of the voice. His eyes filled with tears and his throat became choked, and thus he could not recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Jayapatākā Swami: Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, he was, by the mercy of Lord Caitanya, experiencing these ecstatic symptoms of love for Lord Kṛṣṇa. This is the special quality, facility, of following Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. One can awaken their spontaneous love for Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.128

atīva sukaṇṭha bhaṭṭagosvāmī :—

pika-svara-kaṇṭha, tāte rāgera vibhāga
eka-śloka paḍite phirāya tina-cāri rāga

Translation: His voice was as sweet as a cuckoo’s, and he would recite each verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in three or four tunes. Thus his recitations were very sweet to hear.

Jayapatākā Swami: His recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was very special. It was sweet and he could recite the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in many different tunes and these advanced devotees in Vṛndāvana could understand all the Sanskrit verses. Śrīla Prabhupāda, he is so kind that he has translated these Sanskrit and Bengali verses to English.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.129

‘kṛṣṇa-smaraṇe ātmahārā raghunātha :—

kṛṣṇera saundarya-mādhurya yabe paḍe, śune
premete vihvala tabe, kichui nā jāne

Translation: When he recited or heard about the beauty and sweetness of Kṛṣṇa, he would be overwhelmed with ecstatic love and become oblivious to everything.

Jayapatākā Swami: Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī when he recited Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, he came to a part which glorified the beauty and sweetness of Kṛṣṇa. He would become so ecstatic that he would become completely overwhelmed and he would not know where he was and just be overwhelmed. Haribol!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.130

govindaikaprāṇa raghunātha :—

govinda-caraṇe kailā ātma-samarpaṇa
govinda-caraṇāravinda—yāṅra prāṇa-dhana

Translation: Thus Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa surrendered fully at the lotus feet of Lord Govinda, and those lotus feet became his life and soul.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrī Rādhā Govinda are considered the abhidheya Lord and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa was completely absorbed in Their service.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.131

svīya śiṣyadvārā govinda-mandira o vigrahabhūṣaṇādi-nirmmāṇa :—

nija śiṣye kahi’ govindera mandira karāilā
vaṁśī, makara kuṇḍalādi ’bhūṣaṇa’ kari’ dilā

Translation: Subsequently Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa ordered his disciples to construct a temple for Govinda. He prepared various ornaments for Govinda, including a flute and shark-shaped earrings.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows how the Six Gosvāmīs have engaged in building different temples for the Lords. Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, he was dedicated to building a temple, engaging in the worship of Lord Govindajī and his disciples were instructed to help him in that. Like this, Śrīla Prabhupāda has asked us to build the Temple of the Pañca-tattva, Rādhā Mādhava Aṣṭa-sakhis, the Temple of Vedic Planetarium, and the devotees naturally are trying hard to fulfill this instruction.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.132

mahā-bhāgavata-śreṣṭha viraktakulacūḍāmaṇi śrī-raghunātha-bhaṭṭa gosvāmī :—

grāmya-vārtā nā śune, nā kahe jihvāya
kṛṣṇa-kathā-pūjādite aṣṭa-prahara yāya

Translation: Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa would neither hear nor speak about anything of the material world. He would simply discuss Kṛṣṇa and worship the Lord day and night.

Jayapatākā Swami: This shows the activities of Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa. He was completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, 24 hours a day!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.133

raghunāthera anya-nindādiśūnyatā, sarvatra kṛṣṇakārṣṇa-darśana o anubhūti :—

vaiṣṇavera nindya-karma nāhi pāḍe kāṇe
sabe kṛṣṇa bhajana kare,—ei-mātra jāne

Translation: He would not listen to blasphemy of a Vaiṣṇava, nor would he listen to talk of a Vaiṣṇava’s misbehavior. He knew only that everyone was engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s service; he did not understand anything else.

Purport: Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa never did anything harmful to a Vaiṣṇava. In other words, he was never inattentive in the service of the Lord, nor did he ever violate the rules and regulations of a pure Vaiṣṇava. It is the duty of a Vaiṣṇava ācārya to prevent his disciples and followers from violating the principles of Vaiṣṇava behavior. He should always advise them to strictly follow the regulative principles, which will protect them from falling down. Although a Vaiṣṇava preacher may sometimes criticize others, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa avoided this. Even if another Vaiṣṇava was actually at fault, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa would not criticize him; he saw only that everyone was engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s service. That is the position of a mahā-bhāgavata. Actually, even if one is serving māyā, in a higher sense he is also a servant of Kṛṣṇa. Because māyā is the servant of Kṛṣṇa, anyone serving māyā serves Kṛṣṇa indirectly.

Therefore it is said:

“Some accept Him, whereas others do not, yet everyone is His servant. One who does not accept Him, however, will be ruined by his sinful activities.” (Cc. Ādi 6.85)

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa, he would not hear any Vaiṣṇava being blasphemed. Sometimes we hear questions, like if someone treats you bad how can you help not treating bad with them? We can see by the example of Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa that he would never see anyone in bad light. He was a true example of an uttama-adhikārī, he would see everyone engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa. Because they are directly serving Kṛṣṇa or they are serving māyā. Māyā is a servant, the servitor of Kṛṣṇa, and so serving Kṛṣṇa indirectly. So somehow, he thinks everyone is serving Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.134

raghunāthera kṛṣṇa-smaraṇa-prakriyā :—

mahāprabhura datta mālā mananera kale
prasāda-kaḍāra saha bāndhi lena gale

Translation: When Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī was absorbed in remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa, he would take the tulasī garland and the prasādam of Lord Jagannātha given to him by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, bind them together and wear them on his neck.

Jayapatākā Swami: We are reminded how Uddhava Prabhu, he would always wear the prasāda of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī was wearing the prasāda garland of Lord Jagannātha and Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.135

raghunāthera avyavahita kṛṣṇaprema :—

mahāprabhura kṛpāya kṛṣṇa-prema anargala
ei ta’ kahiluṅ tāte caitanya-kṛpā-phala

Translation: Thus I have described the powerful mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by which Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī remained constantly overwhelmed with ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: This was the special mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. That He would give out pure love of Kṛṣṇa and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa was the recipient of this mercy. Who would like to receive mercy like that?

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 5.136-137

paricchede varṇita-viṣayera saṁkṣepe punarukti :—

jagadānandera kahiluṅ vṛndāvana-gamana
tāra madhye deva-dāsīra gāna-śravaṇa

mahāprabhura raghunāthe kṛpā-prema-phala
eka-paricchede tina kathā kahiluṅ sakala

Translation: In this Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā I have spoken about three topics: Jagadānanda Paṇḍita’s visit to Vṛndāvana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s listening to the song of the deva-dāsī at the temple of Jagannātha, and how Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī achieved ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these three topics were explained in this section and by this we can understand how Lord Caitanya’s mercy works.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 13.138

gaura o gaurabhaktakathā-śravaṇe gaura-kṛpāya kṛṣṇa-premodaya :—

ye ei-sakala kathā śune śraddhā kari’
tāṅre kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana dena gaurahari

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu [Gaurahari] bestows ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa upon anyone who hears all these topics with faith and love.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, hearing these pastimes has a very profound effect and by hearing these pastimes with faith and love, Lord Caitanya gives His mercy of pure love for Kṛṣṇa.

So, that’s why it is very important to read Caitanya-caritāmṛta, to hear with faith and love. We may think that these are very simple thing, but they are very important.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Phalaśruti – Gaurahari bestows ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa
Under the Section: Pastimes with Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī

Haribol! So, this was a long chapter but it is very nectarine.