20230517 Lord Caitanya wanders in the garden mistaking it for Vṛndāvana

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 17th, 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 Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book. 

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.75

sulalita dīrghārgala, kṛṣṇera bhuja-yugala,
bhuja nahe,—kṛṣṇa-sarpa-kāya

dui śaila-chidre paiśe, nārīra hṛdaye daṁśe,
mare nārī se viṣa-jvālāya

Translation: “The two very beautiful arms of Kṛṣṇa are just like long bolts. They also resemble the bodies of black snakes that enter the space between the two hill-like breasts of women and bite their hearts. The women then die from the burning poison.

Purport: In other words, the gopīs become very much agitated by lusty desire; they are burning due to the poisonous bite inflicted by the black snakes of Kṛṣṇa’s beautiful arms.

Jayapatākā Swami: So here the gopīs want to serve Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa is very pleased if the gopīs love Him. As we mentioned there are five kinds of relationships and this is seeing from the relationship of mādhurya-rasa, and the gopīs, the young girls are attracted by Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa is reciprocating with their love. But these are souls who have done many, many devotional services. Therefore, they have this opportunity to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They have this desire. But we should not think that this is like the mundane activity. The mundane activity is kind of perverted reflection. But the activities with Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs is transcendental.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.76

kṛṣṇa-kara-pada-tala, koṭi-candra-suśītala,
jini’ karpūra-veṇā-mūla-candana

eka-bāra yāra sparśe, smara-jvālā-viṣa nāśe,
yāra sparśe lubdha nārī-mana

Translation: “The combined cooling effect of camphor, roots of khasakhasa and sandalwood is surpassed by the coolness of Kṛṣṇa’s palms and the soles of His feet, which are cooler and more pleasing than millions upon millions of moons. If women are touched by them even once, their minds are enticed, and the burning poison of lusty desire for Kṛṣṇa is immediately vanquished.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So here it is glorifying how Kṛṣṇa’s palms and lotus feet are very cooling and someone, if the women have lusty desires, if that is touched by Kṛṣṇa then that lusty desire is vanquished.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.77

kṛṣṇavirahī prabhura śloka-pāṭha:—

eteka vilāpa kari’ premāveśe gaurahari,
ei arthe paḍe eka śloka

yei śloka paḍi’ rādhā, viśākhāre kahe bādhā,
ughāḍiyā hṛdayera śoka

Translation: Lamenting in ecstatic love, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then recited the following verse, which was spoken by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī while exposing the lamentation of Her heart to Her friend Śrīmatī Viśākhā.

Jayapatākā Swami: These verses were spoken by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the great Master, where He is taking the role of Rādhārāṇī and feeling great separation and ecstatic love for Lord Kṛṣṇa. We remember that Kṛṣṇa took the heart of Rādhārāṇī, took Her mood, took Her color, and wanted to experience what Rādhārāṇī’s love had for Him, now that‘s Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.78

śrī-rādhāra kṛṣṇa-darśana-tṛṣṇā:—

govinda-līlāmṛte (8/7)—

Translation: “My dear friend, Kṛṣṇa’s chest is as broad and attractive as a door made of indranīla gems, and His two arms, as strong as bolts, can relieve the mental anguish of young girls distressed by lusty desires for Him. His body is cooler than the moon, sandalwood, the lotus flower and camphor. In this way, Madana-mohana, the attractor of Cupid, is increasing the desire of My breasts.”

Purport: This verse is also found in the Govinda-līlāmṛta (8.7).

Jayapatākā Swami: So Rādhārāṇī is experiencing great separation thinking constantly of Kṛṣṇa and so Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is experiencing this form of ecstatic love.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.79

kṛṣṇa-darśana-vañcita prabhura vilāpa:—

prabhu kahe,—“kṛṣṇa muñi ekhana-i pāinu
āpanāra durdaive punaḥ hārāinu

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “I just now had Kṛṣṇa, but unfortunately I have lost Him again.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya in this mood of having Kṛṣṇa and lost Him, He is speaking so many things in separation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. So, this is the, you see the secret – there are three reasons why Lord Caitanya came - one thing was to establish the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa the holy name of God, the saṅkīrtana movement. He did that in the beginning of His pastimes and then to experience the separation and love of His devotees for Him. Third reason is very confidential that – you know that right? It’s very confidential; I shouldn’t speak it! You all know right? You see, how Rādhārāṇī seems to experience greater happiness than He does. How can anyone experience anything more than the Supreme Personality of Godhead? But He expanded Himself into two – Rādhā and Himself. Rādhā is the pleasure potency. So somehow She has more happiness than He does! To realize that, He has to take the position of Rādhārāṇī. Therefore, He appeared as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and He was experiencing the madness of pure love in the highest level.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.80

cañcala-svabhāva kṛṣṇera, nā raya eka-sthāne
dekhā diyā mana hari’ kare antardhāne

Translation: “By nature, Kṛṣṇa is very restless; He does not stay in one place. He meets with someone, enchants his mind and then disappears.

Jayapatākā Swami: So now, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is in His love of Kṛṣṇa, He is suddenly criticizing Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.81

gopī-premavarddhanārtha kṛṣṇera rāsa haite antarddhāna:—

śrīmad-bhāgavate (10/29/48)—

Translation: “The gopīs became proud of their great fortune. To subdue their sense of superiority and show them special favor, Keśava, the subduer of even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, disappeared from the rāsa dance.”

Purport: This verse quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.29.48) was spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is present in everyone’s heart. We can understand that the gopīs dancing with the Supreme Person, they felt very proud. To subdue that feeling of superiority, Kṛṣṇa disappeared, left them alone.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.82

svarūpake gāna gāite ājñā:—

svarūpa-gosāñire kahena,—“gāo eka gīta
yāte āmāra hṛdayera haye ta’ ‘samvit’”

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said to Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, “Please sing a song that will bring consciousness to My heart.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī would sing songs that gave Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu some relief. But he would sing a song which was based on Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes Caitanya Mahāprabhu would tell Rāmānanda Rāya to quote a verse and he would recite some verse from a scripture, which would help Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who was overwhelmed with the separation in ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.83

svarūpa-gosāñi tabe madhura kariyā
gīta-govindera pada gāya prabhure śunāñā

Translation: Thus for the pleasure of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī began very sweetly singing the following verse from the Gīta-govinda.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.84

gopīra rāsa-rasika kṛṣṇake smaraṇa:—

gīta-govinde (2/3)—

Translation: “Here in the arena of the rāsa dance, I remember Kṛṣṇa, who is always fond of joking and performing pastimes.’ ”

Purport: This verse (Gīta-govinda 2.3) is sung by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Bhagavān means all-powerful, all-beautiful, all-knowledgeable, all-wealthy, all-famous and all- renounced. But some devotees they are attracted by other qualities of Kṛṣṇa. His sense of humor, His fantastic pastimes, His personality. I mean, normally people do not realize that the Supreme Personality of Godhead has a wonderful personality! They think that is all some impersonal idea. So, actually, the gopīs they surrendered to Kṛṣṇa because of all His wonderful qualities.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.85

gānaśravaṇe prabhura premāveśe nṛtya:—

svarūpa-gosāñi yabe ei pada gāhilā
uṭhi’ premāveśe prabhu nācite lāgilā

Translation: When Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī sang this special song, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately got up and began to dance in ecstatic love.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we cannot imagine Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s dancing, dancing in love of Kṛṣṇa, it’s something completely transcendental.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.86

prabhura śrī-aṅge aṣṭasāttvika vikāra o sarvabhāvera yugapat udaya:—

‘aṣṭa-sāttvika’ bhāva aṅge prakaṭa ha-ila
harṣādi ‘vyabhicārī’ saba uthalila

Translation: At that time, all eight kinds of spiritual transformations became manifest in Lord Caitanya’s body. The thirty-three symptoms of vyabhicāri-bhāva, beginning with lamentation and jubilation, became prominent as well.

Jayapatākā Swami: We wonder how can someone be experiencing lamentation and jubilation at the same time? The eight aṣṭa-sāttvika-bhāvas, eight manifestations of ecstatic love, profuse crying, laughing, yawning, perspiring, quivering, falling on the ground unconscious, like that. But Lord Caitanya would manifest one after another all these different bhāvas, emotions, and more subtle vyabhicārī-bhāvas, subtle emotional states like lamentation, jubilation. And all these started to manifest as He was remembering Kṛṣṇa in the mood of Rādhārāṇī.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.87

bhāvodaya, bhāva-sandhi, bhāva-śābalya
bhāve-bhāve mahā-yuddhe sabāra prābalya

Translation: All the ecstatic symptoms, such as bhāvodaya, bhāva-sandhi and bhāva-śābalya, awakened in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. A great fight arose between one emotion and another, and each of them became prominent.

Jayapatākā Swami: Bhāvo-daya is something like the arising of a particular emotion. Bhāva-sandhi is like transiting from one emotion to another. Bhava-śābalya is that one overcomes another. Like this, different ecstatic symptoms, different emotions arose one after another in the body of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.88

sei padera gāna, āsvādana o narttana:—

sei pada punaḥ punaḥ karāya gāyana
punaḥ punaḥ āsvādaye, karena nartana

Translation: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu had Svarūpa Dāmodara sing the same verse again and again. Each time he sang it, the Lord tasted it anew, and thus He danced again and again.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, has unlimited features. One of His names is Navayauvana, eternally new and youthful. Although the same verse was sung again and again, each time it was sung, some different aspect of Kṛṣṇa was realized, and thus Lord Caitanya was dancing in different moods.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.89

svarūpera kīrtana-samāpana:—

ei-mata nṛtya yadi ha-ila bahu-kṣaṇa
svarūpa-gosāñi pada kailā samāpana

Translation: After the Lord had been dancing for a long time, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī stopped singing the verse.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.90

prabhura avasthā-darśane svarūpera gāne virati:—

‘bal’ ‘bal’ bali’ prabhu kahena bāra-bāra
nā gāya svarūpa-gosāñi śrama dekhi’ tāṅra

Translation: Over and over again Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Go on! Sing! Sing! But Svarūpa Dāmodara, seeing the Lord’s fatigue, did not resume singing.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī was the senior most secretary of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He was seeing how Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing for a long time. And He was becoming very tired. Although He wanted to go on, but His secretary wouldn’t cooperate.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.91

sakalera haridhvani:—

‘bal’ ‘bal’ prabhu balena, bhakta-gaṇa śuni’
caudikete sabe meli’ kare hari-dhvani

Translation: When the devotees heard Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu say “Go on singing!” they all gathered around Him and began to chant the holy name of Hari in unison.

Jayapatākā Swami: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.92

rāyakarttṛka prabhura śrānti-apanodana:—

rāmānanda-rāya tabe prabhure vasāilā
vījanādi kari’ prabhura śrama ghucāilā

Translation: At that time, Rāmānanda Rāya made the Lord sit down and dissipated His fatigue by fanning Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: Rāmānanda Rāya is the second secretary, He made Lord Caitanya sit down and cooled Him off by fanning Him. In this way, all the secretaries were trying to facilitate Lord Caitanya’s ecstasy and keep Him healthy.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.93

prabhura snāna o bhojanānte śayana:—

prabhure lañā gelā sabe samudrera tīre
snāna karāñā punaḥ tāṅre lañā āilā ghare

Translation: Then all the devotees took Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to the beach and bathed Him. Finally, they brought Him back home.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was overwhelmed in love of Godhead. But the devotees - Jagannātha Purī – it’s on the Bay of Bengal. They took Lord Caitanya to the beach, gave Him a bath and took Him home.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.94

bhojana karāñā prabhure karāilā śayana
rāmānanda-ādi sabe gelā nija-sthāna

Translation: After they fed Him lunch, they made Him lie down. Then all the devotees, headed by Rāmānanda Rāya, returned to their respective homes.

Jayapatākā Swami: Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, he stayed with Lord Caitanya. Sometimes Rāmānanda Rāya would stay in the night, but this is day time. And so, after Lord Caitanya took His lunch, He lay-down and all the others went to their respective homes.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.95

gopīkiṅkarī-abhimāne prabhura vṛndāvana-līloddīpanarūpa divyonmāda (udaghūrṇā o citrajalpa):—

ei ta’ kahiluṅ prabhura udyāna-vihāra
vṛndāvana-bhrame yāhāṅ praveśa tāṅhāra

Translation: Thus I have described Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes in the garden, which He entered, mistaking it for Vṛndāvana.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.96

pralāpa sahita ei unmāda-varṇana
śrī-rūpa-gosāñi ihā kariyāchena varṇana

Translation: There He exhibited transcendental madness and ecstatic ravings, which Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī has described very nicely in his Stava-mālā as follows.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.97

vṛndāvanoddīpanāya premāveśe kṛṣṇanāmoccāraṇakārī prabhu:—

stavamālāya prathama caitanyāṣṭake (6)—

Translation: “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the topmost of all devotees. Sometimes, while walking on the beach, He would see a beautiful garden nearby and mistake it for the forest of Vṛndāvana. Thus He would be completely overwhelmed by ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa and begin to chant the holy name and dance. His tongue worked incessantly as He chanted, ‘Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!’ Will He again become visible before the path of my eyes?”

Purport: This quotation is verse 6 from the first Caitanyāṣṭaka in Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Stava-mālā.

Jayapatākā Swami: So these symptoms of speaking madly about Kṛṣṇa, and the other ecstatic symptoms that Lord Caitanya displayed, are part of the love of Godhead in its high level. We mentioned previously that there are eight levels up to the level of bhāva, then prema pure level starts that has eight levels. Lord Caitanya as explained is in the highest level.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 15.98

ananta caitanya-līlā nā yāya likhana
diṅ-mātra dekhāñā tāhā kariye sūcana

Translation: The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are unlimited; it is not possible to write of them properly. I can give only an indication of them as I try to introduce them.

Jayapatākā Swami: As the author has written, he is only indicating. Because, actually, these emotional expressions are not possible to understand unless you are on that position. But you can appreciate something, it is a very wonderful experience. And be motivated and desire to have love of Godhead. How many of you would like to have love of Godhead? Thank you very much!

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lord Caitanya wanders in the garden mistaking it for Vṛndāvana
Under the section: The Transcendental Madness of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu