20230721 The Way to Awaken Our Dormant Love for Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet, Part 2

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on July 21st, 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!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book. Today's chapter is entitled as:

The Way to Awaken Our Dormant Love for Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet
Under the section: The meaning of the Śikṣāṣṭaka and how the Lord tasted it Himself

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.13

ślokārtha vyākhyā —

saṅkīrtana haite pāpa-saṁsāra-nāśana
citta-śuddhi, sarva-bhakti-sādhana-udgama

Translation: “By performing congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, one can destroy the sinful condition of material existence, purify the unclean heart and awaken all varieties of devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Here Lord Caitanya is glorifying the Harināma saṅkīrtana and how it serves one to establish devotional service.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.14

kṛṣṇa-premodgama, premāmṛta-āsvādana
kṛṣṇa-prāpti, sevāmṛta-samudre majjana

Translation: “The result of chanting is that one awakens his love for Kṛṣṇa and tastes transcendental bliss. Ultimately, one attains the association of Kṛṣṇa and engages in His devotional service, as if immersing himself in a great ocean of love.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, how pure love for Kṛṣṇa is awakened and how this comes about from chanting the holy names.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.15

aśoka, abhaya, amṛtādhāra śrī-nāma :—

uṭhila viṣāda, dainya,—paḍe āpana-śloka
yāhāra artha śuni’ saba yāya duḥkha-śoka

Translation: Lamentation and humility awoke within Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and He began reciting another of His own verses. By hearing the meaning of that verse, one can forget all unhappiness and lamentation.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, if one goes through the different verses of the Śikṣāṣṭakam, he is gradually elevated through the different stages of devotional service.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.16

nāmasādhanera sulabhatvera kāraṇa vā kṛṣṇera mahāvadānyatā; durddaivarūpa aparādhāvasthāya jīvera śuddhanāmoccāraṇābhāva :—

padyāvalīte (19) dhṛta śikṣāṣṭakera 2ya śloka—

nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ

etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi
durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ

Translation: “‘My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your holy name there is all good fortune for the living entity, and therefore You have many names, such as “Kṛṣṇa” and “Govinda,” by which You expand Yourself. You have invested all Your potencies in those names, and there are no hard and fast rules for remembering them. My dear Lord, although You bestow such mercy upon the fallen, conditioned souls by liberally teaching Your holy names, I am so unfortunate that I commit offenses while chanting the holy name, and therefore I do not achieve attachment for chanting.’

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here Lord Caitanya is explaining how each of the holy names have got same the potencies as Lord Kṛṣṇa. But because He is chanting with offences, He is not developing attachment.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.17

ślokārtha vyākhyā —

aneka-lokera vāñchā—aneka-prakāra
kṛpāte karila aneka-nāmera pracāra

Translation: “Because people vary in their desires, You have distributed various holy names by Your mercy.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, each holy name has got certain qualities.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.18

khāite śuite yathā tathā nāma laya
kāla-deśa-niyama nāhi, sarva siddhi haya

Translation: “Regardless of time or place, one who chants the holy name, even while eating or sleeping, attains all perfection.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, The holy name is so powerful that by chanting even without adhering to all the time, place and circumstance, one can achieve all perfection.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.19

“sarva-śakti nāme dilā kariyā vibhāga
āmāra durdaiva,—nāme nāhi anurāga!!”

Translation: “You have invested Your full potencies in each individual holy name, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attachment for chanting Your holy names.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this second verse Lord Caitanya is expressing His lack of attachment.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.20

premalābhārtha nāmakīrtana-lakṣaṇa-varṇana–

ye-rūpe la-ile nāma prema upajaya
tāhāra lakṣaṇa śuna, svarūpa-rāma-rāya

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “O Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya, hear from Me the symptoms of how one should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra to awaken very easily one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is teaching Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya how to chant the holy name in such a way, so that they can awaken their dormant love for Kṛṣṇa and continuously chant the holy name.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.21

sādhyanāma-premalābhārtha nāmasādhanera praṇālī vā sarvāparādhamūlaka dehātma-buddhira niṣedha o nairantaryyera vidhi—

padyāvalīte (20) dhṛta śikṣāṣṭakera 3ya śloka—

tṛṇād api su-nīcena
taror iva sahiṣṇunā
amāninā māna-dena
kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

Translation: “One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.’

Jayapatākā Swami: So here Lord Caitanya is saying what mentality one should have to always chant the holy name.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.22

ślokārtha-vyākhyā—

uttama hañā āpanāke māne tṛṇādhama
dui-prakāre sahiṣṇutā kare vṛkṣa-sama

Translation: “These are the symptoms of one who chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Although he is very exalted, he thinks himself lower than the grass on the ground, and like a tree, he tolerates everything in two ways.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.23

vṛkṣa yena kāṭileha kichu nā bolaya
śukāñā maileha kāre pānī nā māgaya

Translation: “When a tree is cut down, it does not protest, and even when drying up, it does not ask anyone for water.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the tree always tolerates to oppressions and never complains when it’s cut down, when it is cut, drying, it doesn’t ask for water.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.24

yei ye māgaye, tāre deya āpana-dhana
gharma-vṛṣṭi sahe, ānera karaye rakṣaṇa

Translation: “The tree delivers its fruits, flowers and whatever else it possesses to anyone and everyone. It tolerates scorching heat and torrents of rain, yet it still gives shelter to others.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, although the tree is receiving scorching heat and torrents of rain, it is providing shelter and products to everyone.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.25

sarvatra kṛṣṇa-darśanarūpa sambandha-jñāna-yoge nāmasādhane premalābha—

uttama hañā vaiṣṇava habe nirabhimāna
jīve sammāna dibe jāni’ ‘kṛṣṇa’-adhiṣṭhāna

Translation: “Although a Vaiṣṇava is the most exalted person, he is prideless and gives all respect to everyone, knowing everyone to be the resting place of Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Kṛṣṇa as the Supersoul is present in living entities’ hearts, the Vaiṣṇava offers all respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.26

ei-mata hañā yei kṛṣṇa-nāma laya
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇe tāṅra prema upajaya

Translation: “If one chants the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa in this manner, he will certainly awaken his dormant love for Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is revealing to us how we can awaken our dormant love for Kṛṣṇa, just adopting this attitude.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, The Way to Awaken Our Dormant Love for Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet, Part 2
Under the section: The meaning of the Śikṣāṣṭaka and how the Lord tasted it Himself

So, in the next chapter we will hear the other verses of the Śikṣāṣṭaka prayers, and if you follow these Śikṣāṣṭaka prayers, naturally you will awaken your dormant love for Krsna’s lotus feet. Here Lord Caitanya practiced these prayers and He awakened His dormant love for Krsna. So His blessing is to bless all of you to also get Kṛṣṇa’s mercy!

Also, don’t forget that behind you, is the book table.