20230512 Absorbed in the Ecstatic Mood of the Gopīs, Lord Caitanya Searches for Kṛṣṇa [Part 1]

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 12th,2023 in Dallas, Texas, USA.

So today we are continuing from the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book. So today's chapter entitled is:

Absorbed in the Ecstatic Mood of the Gopīs, Lord Caitanya Searches for Kṛṣṇa [Part 1]
Under the Section: The Transcendental Madness of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.28

gopīra kiṅkarī-abhimāne prabhura sarvatra kṛṣṇalīlā-darśana o tadanveṣaṇa:—

eka-dina mahāprabhu samudra-tīre yāite
puṣpera udyāna tathā dekhena ācambite

Translation: One day, while going to the beach by the sea, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu suddenly saw a flower garden.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.29

vṛndāvana-bhrame tāhāṅ paśilā dhāñā
premāveśe bule tāhāṅ kṛṣṇa anveṣiyā

Translation: Lord Caitanya mistook that garden for Vṛndāvana and very quickly entered it. Absorbed in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, He wandered throughout the garden, searching for Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: You see, in the end of Kṛṣṇa’s Caitanya-līlā in Jagannātha Purī, there, He was absorbed in the mood of Rādhārāṇī and the gopīs.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.30

rāse rādhā lañā kṛṣṇa antardhāna kailā
pāche sakhī-gaṇa yaiche cāhi’ beḍāilā

Translation: After Kṛṣṇa disappeared with Rādhārāṇī during the rāsa dance, the gopīs wandered in the forest looking for Him. In the same way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered in that garden by the sea.

Jayapatākā Swami: The point is that Lord Caitanya, He was Kṛṣṇa with the heart of Rādhārāṇī, and the color of Rādhārāṇī. That way He became Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.31

sei bhāvāveśe prabhu prati-taru-latā
śloka paḍi’ paḍi’ cāhi’ bule yathā tathā

Translation: Absorbed in the ecstatic mood of the gopīs, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered here and there. He began to inquire after Kṛṣṇa by quoting verses to all the trees and creepers.

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then quoted the following three verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.30.9, 7, 8).

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.32

kṛṣṇavirahiṇī gopīgaṇera sarvatra cetanamayī kṛṣṇa-kārṣṇa pratīti- vaśe kṛṣṇānveṣaṇa (udaghūrṇā); prativṛkṣake kṛṣṇasandhāna-jijñāsā:—

śrīmad-bhāgavate (10/30/9, 7, 8)—

Translation: “[The gopīs said:] ‘O cūta tree, priyāla tree, panasa, āsana and kovidāra! O jambu tree, O arka tree, O bel, bakula and mango! O kadamba tree, O nīpa tree and all other trees living on the bank of the Yamunā for the welfare of others, please let us know where Kṛṣṇa has gone. We have lost our minds and are almost dead.

Jayapatākā Swami: This mood of the gopīs was the mood of Lord Caitanya in disguise.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.33

śrī-tulasīke kṛṣṇasandhāna-jijñāsā:—

Translation: “‘O all-auspicious tulasī plant, you are very dear to Govinda’s lotus feet, and He is very dear to you. Have you seen Kṛṣṇa walking here wearing a garland of your leaves, surrounded by a swarm of bumblebees?

Jayapatākā Swami: The gopīs were asking each tree, Tulasī, “Where is Kṛṣṇa?” They were going crazy, mad, wanting to see Kṛṣṇa again. Lord Caitanya was in this mood.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.34

puṣpagaṇake kṛṣṇasandhāna-jijñāsā:—

Translation: “‘O plants of mālatī flowers, mallikā flowers, jātī and yūthikā flowers, have you seen Kṛṣṇa passing this way, touching you with His hand to give you pleasure?’ ”

Jayapatākā Swami: The gopīs this way were asking every plant. That way, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, was in the mood of the gopīs, He was asking every tree, every plant and the flowers, where is Kṛṣṇa, where is Kṛṣṇa? You see Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā, Rukmiṇī told Kṛṣṇa, “You know everything. What Lord Brahmā is doing in Satyaloka, what Lord Śiva is doing in Kailāsa, you know what is going on in the unlimited millions of universes. But You don’t know one thing?” “Oh, what is that? I don’t know?” “One thing You don’t know. What is that? I know, Rādhārāṇī knows, You don’t know.” “What is that?” Kṛṣṇa asked. So then, Rukmiṇī she revealed, “No one is above You. You don’t know what it is like because no one is above You. You don’t know how much we love You. And what type of love we have for You, You don’t know.” So Lord Kṛṣṇa He thought, “Alright, in Kali-yuga I will come as My devotee! I WILL COME IN KALI-YUGA, I WILL COME IN KALI-YUGA AS MY DEVOTEE!” Gaurāṅga! Gaurāṅga! And He is teaching us that the real happiness, the highest ecstasy is being a devotee. Haribol!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.35

ślokārtha; kṛṣṇe tanmayī virahiṇī gopīgaṇera kṛṣṇānveṣaṇapūrvaka vilāpa:—

āmra, panasa, piyāla, jambu, kovidāra
tīrtha-vāsī sabe, kara para-upakāra

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “‘O mango tree, O jackfruit tree, O piyāla, jambu and kovidāra trees, you are all inhabitants of a holy place. Therefore kindly act for the welfare of others.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.36

kṛṣṇa tomāra ihāṅ āilā, pāilā daraśana?
kṛṣṇera uddeśa kahi’ rākhaha jīvana

Translation: “‘Have you seen Kṛṣṇa coming this way? Kindly tell us which way He has gone and save our lives.’ ”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.37

uttara nā pāñā punaḥ kare anumāna
ei saba—puruṣa-jāti, kṛṣṇera sakhāra samāna

Translation: When the trees did not reply, the gopīs guessed, “‘Since all of these trees belong to the male class, all of them must be friends of Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the gopīs, they were mad after Kṛṣṇa. They started to speculate that these trees they must be males, friends of Kṛṣṇa, therefore they are not telling us. Normally, you don’t expect a tree to reply. These trees are not replying because they are trees. But the gopīs are so desirous of seeing Kṛṣṇa that they are asking the trees and expecting an answer!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.38

e kene kahibe kṛṣṇera uddeśa āmāya?
e—strī-jāti latā, āmāra sakhī-prāya

Translation: “ ‘Why should the trees tell us where Kṛṣṇa has gone? Let us rather inquire from the creepers; they are female and are therefore like friends to us.

Jayapatākā Swami: So this is a very long chapter. And we read about almost two-thirds. But one third or more the gopīs are still looking for Kṛṣṇa. So we will end here tonight, the verses reading.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Absorbed in the Ecstatic Mood of the Gopīs, Lord Caitanya Searches for Kṛṣṇa [Part 1]
Under the Section: The Transcendental Madness of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu