20230516 Absorbed in the Ecstatic Mood of the Gopīs, Lord Caitanya Searches for Kṛṣṇa [Part 2]

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 16th, 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!

Welcome! Dear Devotees! Today we are continuing from the compilation of the Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book.

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, the gopīs in Vṛndāvana are very eager to see Kṛṣṇa and therefore they are asking all the trees, have you seen Kṛṣṇa go by? Of course, trees don’t normally talk to you, but in their enthusiasm and love of Kṛṣṇa they said, the trees are male and maybe they are friends of Kṛṣṇa, therefore they are not telling us. But let us ask the creepers, they are female, they might tell us. In other words, they are mad in love of Kṛṣṇa, Lord Caitanya, He was in this mood. He had said He would come back in Kali-yuga as His devotee. This was what He was doing in this garden in Jagannātha Purī.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.39

avaśya kahibe,—pāñāche kṛṣṇera darśane
eta anumāni’ puche tulasy-ādi-gaṇe

Translation: “They will certainly tell us where Kṛṣṇa has gone, since they have seen Him personally.’ ” Guessing in this way, the gopīs inquired from the plants and creepers, headed by tulasī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since the trees didn’t reply, now they are asking the creepers and plants headed by tulasī, if they will certainly tell them, is a guess.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.40

“tulasi, mālati, yūthi, mādhavi, mallike
tomāra priya kṛṣṇa āilā tomāra antike?

Translation: “‘O tulasī! O mālatī! O yūthī, mādhavī and mallikā! Kṛṣṇa is very dear to you; therefore He must have come near you.

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa was dancing with all the gopīs in rasa-līlā. Suddenly, He left with Rādhārāṇī. The gopīs were mad in love for Kṛṣṇa. They were looking in the forest for Kṛṣṇa. First, they asked the trees, now they are asking the creepers, the plants, “has anyone has seen Kṛṣṇa come by?”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.41

tumi-saba—hao āmāra sakhīra samāna
kṛṣṇoddeśa kahi’ sabe rākhaha parāṇa

Translation: “You are all just like dear friends to us. Kindly tell us which way Kṛṣṇa has gone and save our lives.”

Jayapatākā Swami: They were feeling such separation of Kṛṣṇa that if they didn’t find Kṛṣṇa soon, it felt like they were going to perish. So, they asked the creepers and Tulasī, please tell us where Kṛṣṇa has gone, save our life!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.42

uttara nā pāñā punaḥ bhāvena antare
‘eha—kṛṣṇa-dāsī, bhaye nā kahe āmāre’

Translation: When they still received no reply, the gopīs thought, “‘These plants are all Kṛṣṇa’s maidservants, and out of fear they will not speak to us.’ ”

Jayapatākā Swami: The gopīs are speaking in this way and they are so anxious to see Kṛṣṇa that they are talking to the trees and plants, expecting them to reply. This is an example how we can worship Kṛṣṇa in separation.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.43

āge mṛgī-gaṇa dekhi’ kṛṣṇāṅga-gandha pāñā
tāra mukha dekhi’ puchena nirṇaya kariyā

Translation: The gopīs then came upon a group of she-deer. Smelling the aroma of Kṛṣṇa’s body and seeing the faces of the deer, the gopīs inquired from them to ascertain if Kṛṣṇa was nearby.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.44

hariṇīke kṛṣṇasandhāna-jijñāsā:—
Śrīmad-Bhāgavate (10/30/11)—

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “ ‘O wife of the deer, Lord Kṛṣṇa has been embracing His beloved, and thus the kuṅkuma powder on Her raised breasts has covered His garland of kunda flowers. The fragrance of this garland is flowing here. O my dear friend, have you seen Kṛṣṇa passing this way with His dearmost companion, increasing the pleasure of the eyes of all of you?’

Purport: This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.30.11).

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was reliving the pastime of the gopīs searching for Kṛṣṇa and actually, there are no gopīs, this was all spoken by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in the mood of the gopīs and He is quoting from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, what the gopīs said when they were looking for Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda explained that when they saw Rādhārāṇī, they were very happy. That one of them had conquered Kṛṣṇa. So, Lord Caitanya, He is experiencing this madness in love for Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.45

ślokārtha:—

“kaha, mṛgi, rādhā-saha śrī-kṛṣṇa sarvathā
tomāya sukha dite āilā? nāhika anyathā

Translation: “‘O dear doe, Śrī Kṛṣṇa is always very pleased to give you pleasure. Kindly inform us whether He passed this way in the company of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. We think They must certainly have come this way.

Jayapatākā Swami: So now they are talking to the female deer, looking for Kṛṣṇa. How Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is thinking about Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī and in this way, He is in meditation, He is asking every tree, creeper, now He is asking the deer. Actually, He is showing us this highest stage of pure love, how this could be achieved in due course, when one actually is mad to find Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.46

rādhā-priya-sakhī āmarā, nahi bahiraṅga
dūra haite jāni tāra yaiche aṅga-gandha

Translation: “‘We are not outsiders. Being very dear friends of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, we can perceive the bodily fragrance of Kṛṣṇa from a distance.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, they were pleading with the deer that they were well-wishers. We are dear to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī to Kṛṣṇa, so you tell us where They are.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.47

rādhā-aṅga-saṅge kuca-kuṅkuma-bhūṣita
kṛṣṇa-kunda-mālā-gandhe vāyu—suvāsita

Translation: “‘Kṛṣṇa has been embracing Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and the kuṅkuma powder on Her breasts has mixed with the garland of kunda flowers decorating His body. The fragrance of the garland has scented the entire atmosphere.

Jayapatākā Swami: The gopīs, as I was explaining yesterday, there are five different relationships. Everybody is connected with Kṛṣṇa in one of these relationships – neutral, service, friendship, parental and conjugal – śānta, dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya - so this is showing the existing abodes in the mādhurya-rasa. It is not that like someone asked yesterday, you have to go through all the five. That state exists is what Lord Caitanya has given. But actually one may be a friend, a parent a servant of Kṛṣṇa, or even like the trees and animals, they are in śānta-rasa. They don’t offer service, they are just there and they appreciate the Lord.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.48

kṛṣṇa ihāṅ chāḍi’ gelā, ihoṅ—virahiṇī
kibā uttara dibe ei—nā śune kāhinī”

Translation: “Lord Kṛṣṇa has left this place, and therefore the deer are feeling separation. They do not hear our words; therefore how can they reply?”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the gopīs are thinking these deer have seen Kṛṣṇa, and now they have gone somewhere else. Therefore, they are feeling such separation, they cannot hear us and they cannot speak to us.

Śrīla Prabhupāda used to say there is a saying ātmavan manyate jagat. As you think, you think the whole world thinks. So, the gopīs feel the separation of Kṛṣṇa and they think all the deer’s must be feeling separation from Kṛṣṇa. We can have such intense love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead like the gopīs, be completely absorbed in loving Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.49

vṛkṣagaṇake kṛṣṇasandhāna-jijñāsā:—

āge vṛkṣa-gaṇa dekhe puṣpa-phala-bhare
śākhā saba paḍiyāche pṛthivī-upare

Translation: The gopīs then came upon many trees so laden with fruits and flowers that their branches were bent down to the ground.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.50

kṛṣṇe dekhi’ ei saba karena namaskāra
kṛṣṇa-gamana puche tāre kariyā nirdhāra

Translation: The gopīs thought that because all the trees must have seen Kṛṣṇa pass by they were offering respectful obeisances to Him. To be certain, the gopīs inquired from the trees.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was saying, that the trees overladen with fruits, they seemed to be bending down, thinking that these trees are offering their obeisances to Kṛṣṇa, so Lord Caitanya, He is in this mood.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.51

śāstradṛṣṭānta:—śrīmad-bhāgavate (10/30/12):—

Translation: Lord Caitanya continued, “‘O trees, kindly tell us whether Balarāma’s younger brother, Kṛṣṇa, welcomed your obeisances with loving glances as He passed this way, resting one hand on the shoulder of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, holding a lotus flower in the other, and being followed by a swarm of bumblebees maddened by the fragrance of tulasī flowers.

Purport: This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.30.12).

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya, He was saying different verses from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, remembering how the gopīs were feeling when Kṛṣṇa left from the rasa-līlā. So, He is acting in this way, talking to all the trees, deer, everything. He is completely absorbed in the mood of the gopīs.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.52

ślokārtha:—

priyā-mukhe bhṛṅga paḍe, tāhā nivārite
līlā-padma cālāite haila anya-citte

Translation: “‘To stop the bumblebees from landing on the face of His beloved, He whisked them away with the lotus flower in His hand, and thus His mind was slightly diverted.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, they are meditating what Kṛṣṇa must be doing in His relationship with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. It says that Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī were one, then He expanded Her, They divided into two, so that He could enjoy different types of spiritual, loving relationships. So, we are all meant ultimately to serve Kṛṣṇa although we are very infinitesimal, very small, we have the capacity to love. Normally people love their family, their community, their nation. Some people, they love all human beings, but the actual goal of love is to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That has been achieved, Lord Caitanya is showing that by following in the footsteps of the gopīs.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.53

tomāra praṇāme ki kairāchena avadhāna?
kibā nāhi karena, kaha vacana-pramāṇa

Translation: “Did He or did He not pay attention while you offered Him obeisances? Kindly give evidence supporting your words.

Jayapatākā Swami: They are addressing this to the trees bent down laden with fruits. And the trees are not going to reply! But it shows that how He is so much enamored by Kṛṣṇa that He is doing things which are completely out of this world!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.54

kṛṣṇera viyoge ei sevaka duḥkhita
kibā uttara dibe? ihāra nāhika samvit”

Translation: “Separation from Kṛṣṇa has made these servants very unhappy. Having lost consciousness, how can they answer us?”

Jayapatākā Swami: They are trying to understand why the trees are not replying. They said they must have lost the association of Kṛṣṇa and they are feeling very unhappy and therefore they are feeling great separation, great unhappiness, and so they could not reply to us.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.55

kṛṣṇarūpadarśana-lābha:—

eta bali’ āge cale yamunāra kūle
dekhe,—tāhāṅ kṛṣṇa haya kadambera tale

Translation: Saying this, the gopīs stepped onto the beach by the Yamunā River. There they saw Lord Kṛṣṇa beneath a kadamba tree.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.56

koṭi-manmatha-mohana muralī-vadana
apāra saundarye hare jagan-netra-mana

Translation: Standing there with His flute to His lips, Kṛṣṇa, who enchants millions upon millions of Cupids, attracted the eyes and minds of all the world with His unlimited beauty.

Jayapatākā Swami: The gopīs saw Kṛṣṇa standing there with a flute to His lips and it describes He attracts millions and millions of Cupids. Normally, one Cupid can use his arrows to attract someone. But millions and millions of Cupids could be attracted by Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is all-attractive, He is all beautiful. So, the gopīs they are so much satisfied to see the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, what they had been searching for so long.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.57

kṛṣṇadarśane prabhura mūrcchā o bhaktagaṇera caitanya-sampādana:—

saundarya dekhiyā bhūme paḍe mūrcchā pāñā
hena-kāle svarūpādi mililā āsiyā

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw the transcendental beauty of Kṛṣṇa, He fell down on the ground unconscious. At that time, all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, joined Him in the garden.

Jayapatākā Swami: In His ecstasy, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Kṛṣṇa. Seeing the unlimited, transcendental beauty of Kṛṣṇa, He was so overwhelmed that He fainted to the ground. Externally no one could see anything. There was the garden, and they were watching Him, He fainted. But Lord Caitanya He was seeing Kṛṣṇa, He was feeling this ecstasy, He became overwhelmed and fainted. All the other devotees were racing after Him, they saw Him lying down in the garden unconscious, and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī was there and others.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.58

pūrvavat sarvāṅge sāttvika-bhāva-sakala
antare ānanda-āsvāda, bāhire vihvala

Translation: Just as before, they saw all the symptoms of transcendental ecstatic love manifested in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Although externally He appeared bewildered, He was tasting transcendental bliss within.

Jayapatākā Swami: To someone He may appear bewildered or something abnormal, but although someone may think, oh, He is sick or something, He is actually transcendentally experiencing extreme ecstasy and bliss within, fully satisfied, fully overwhelmed with love for Kṛṣṇa. It is said that normally there are eight ecstatic symptoms, aṣṭa-sāttvika-bhāva. One experiences one or two of these at one time, Caitanya Mahāprabhu was so advanced in kṛṣṇa-prema that He would manifest almost all at one time! So, when the devotees came to see Him, He was perspiring, crying, stunned, all the things at one time.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.59

pūrvavat sabe mili’ karāilā cetana
uṭhiyā caudike prabhu karena darśana

Translation: Once again all the devotees brought Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu back to consciousness by a concerted effort. Then the Lord got up and began wandering here and there, looking all around.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the devotees were chanting, to wake the Lord up. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare, Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare! But obviously He was looking all around, where is Kṛṣṇa? He had seen Kṛṣṇa then He fainted. Now, they brought Him back, He is looking where is Kṛṣṇa? Where is Kṛṣṇa?

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.60

kṛṣṇadarśana-vañcita prabhura vilāpa:—

“kāhāṅ gelā kṛṣṇa? ekhani pāinu daraśana!
tāṅhāra saundarya mora harila netra-mana!

Translation: Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Where has My Kṛṣṇa gone? I saw Him just now, and His beauty has captivated My eyes and mind.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, He saw Kṛṣṇa. He was captivated by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa. He became stunned and unconscious. The devotees came and chanted Hare Kṛṣṇa, with a concerted effort brought Him back to consciousness. Lord Caitanya was looking everywhere, where has He gone, My Kṛṣṇa? So, He is going through all these transcendental experiences.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.61

punaḥ kene nā dekhiye muralī-vadana!
tāṅhāra darśana-lobhe bhramaya nayana

Translation: “Why can’t I again see Kṛṣṇa holding His flute to His lips? My eyes are wandering in hopes of seeing Him once more.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is sharing with us His experience of seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa. He is giving us this blessing that if we follow in His footsteps, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, we can eventually develop pure love for Kṛṣṇa. People artificially like to take some intoxication but that wears off and it is all artificial. Here we see that in love of Kṛṣṇa, actually one becomes overwhelmed, mad! Lord Caitanya was, there are eight levels of level up to prema and in prema there are eight levels of prema. The highest level is known as mahā-bhāva. Lord Caitanya, Rādhārāṇī, Mādhavendra Purī, only a few devotees reached this level. But all the levels of prema are wonderful. So, if we engage in Kṛṣṇa consciousness we can eventually experience some of these ecstatic symptoms.

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