CC Madhya 16.147 – Becoming Glorious and Perfect

Giriraj Swami: Reading from the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Chapter Sixteen, “The Lord’s Attempt to go to Vrindavan.”

Lord Chaitanya has left Jagannatha Puri to begin his journey to Vrindavan and Gadadhara Pandit is following him. Lord Chaitanya ordered Gadadhara Pandit to return to Jagannatha Puri and in the end, Gadadhara Pandit submitted. After Lord Chaitanya left, Gadadhara Pandit fainted behind him in separation. Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya consoled him. We will read the last verse of this pastime and then continue.

TEXT 147

ei-mata kahi’ tāṅre prabodha karilā
dui-jane śokākula nīlācale āilā

In this way Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya revived Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Then both of them, very much grief-stricken, returned to Jagannātha Purī, Nīlācala.

TEXT 148

prabhu lāgi’ dharma-karma chāḍe bhakta-gaṇa

bhakta-dharma-hāni prabhura nā haya sahana

All the devotees would abandon all kinds of duties for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s sake, yet the Lord did not like the devotees’ giving up their promised duties.

TEXT 149

‘premera vivarta’ ihā śune yei jana

acire miliye tāṅre caitanya-caraṇa

All these are the misgivings of loving affairs. Whoever listens to these incidents gets the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lotus feet very soon.

TEXT 150

dui rāja-pātra yei prabhu-saṅge yāya

‘yājapura’ āsi’ prabhu tāre dilena vidāya

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His party arrived at Yājapura, the Lord asked the two government officers who had come with Him to return.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

The place called Yājapura is very well known in Orissa. It is a subdivision of the Kaṭaka district and is situated on the southern side of the Vaitaraṇī River. Formerly great sages performed sacrifices on the northern bank of the Vaitaraṇī River; consequently the place is known as Yājapura, “the place where sacrifices are performed.” Some people say that this was one of the capital cities of King Yayāti and that from the name Yayāti-nagara the name Yājapura has come. As stated in the Mahābhārata (Vana-parva, chapter 114):

ete kaliṅgāḥ kaunteya yatra vaitaraṇī nadī

yatrāyajata dharmo ‘pi devān śaraṇam etya vai

atra vai ṛṣayo ‘nye ca purā kratubhir ījire

According to the Mahābhārata, great sages formerly performed sacrifices in this place. There are still many temples of demigods and incarnations there, and there is also a Deity of Śrī Varāhadeva. This Deity is especially important and is visited by many pilgrims. Those who worship the Supreme Lord’s energy worship Vārāhī, Vaiṣṇavī and Indrāṇī, as well as many similar forms of Devī, the internal energy. There are many deities of Lord Śiva, and there are many places along the river known as Daśāśvamedha-ghāṭa. Sometimes Yājapura is also called Nābhi-gayā or Virajā-kṣetra.

TEXT 151

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade farewell to the officers, and Rāya Rāmānanda continued on with the Lord. The Lord talked to Rāmānanda Rāya about Śrī Kṛṣṇa day and night.

TEXT 152

In each and every village, in compliance with the King’s order, government officers constructed new houses and filled each of them with stocks of grain. Thus they served the Lord.

TEXT 153

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finally arrived at Remuṇā, where He bade farewell to Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

It was stated in the first chapter of Madhya-līlā, verse 149, that Rāmānanda Rāya was bade farewell from Bhadraka. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura states that in those days the place called Remuṇā also included Bhadraka.

TEXT 154

bhūmete paḍilā rāya nāhika cetana

rāye kole kari’ prabhu karaye krandana

When Rāmānanda Rāya fell to the ground and lost consciousness, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took him upon His lap and began to cry.

TEXT 155

rāyera vidāya-bhāva nā yāya sahana

kahite nā pāri ei tāhāra varṇana

Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s feelings of separation from Rāmānanda Rāya are very difficult to describe. Indeed, it is almost intolerable to do so, and therefore I cannot describe them further.

TEXT 156

tabe ‘oḍhra-deśa-sīmā’ prabhu cali’ āilā

tathā rāja-adhikārī prabhure mililā

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu finally arrived at the border of the state of Orissa, a government officer came there to meet Him.

TEXT 157

For two or four days, the government officer served the Lord. He also gave the Lord detailed information of what was ahead.

TEXT 158

He informed the Lord that the territory ahead was ruled by a Muslim governor who was a drunkard. Out of fear of this king, no one could walk the road freely.

TEXT 159

The jurisdiction of the Muslim government extended up to Pichaladā. Due to fear of the Muslims, no one would cross the river.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

During the old days, Pichaladā was part of Tamluk and Bengal. Pichaladā is located about fourteen miles south of Tamluk. The river Rūpa-nārāyaṇa is well known in Tamluk, and Pichaladā was situated on the bank of the Rūpa-nārāyaṇa River.

TEXT 160

dina kata raha — sandhi kari’ tāṅra sane
tabe sukhe naukāte karāiba gamane

Mahārāja Pratāparudra’s government officer further informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that He should stay at the Orissa border for some days so that a peaceful agreement could be negotiated with the Muslim governor. In that way, the Lord would be able to cross the river peacefully in a boat.

TEXT 161

At that time, a follower of the Muslim governor arrived at the Orissa encampment dressed in disguise.

TEXT 162–163

The Muslim spy saw the wonderful characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and when he returned to the Muslim governor, he told him, “A mendicant has come from Jagannātha Purī with many liberated persons.

TEXT 164

“All these saintly people incessantly chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and they all laugh, dance, chant and cry.

TEXT 165

“Many millions upon millions of people come to see Him, and after they see Him, they cannot return home.

TEXT 166

“All these people become like madmen. They simply chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and dance. Sometimes they even cry and roll on the ground.

TEXT 167

“Actually these things cannot even be described. One can understand them only by seeing. Considering His influence, I accept Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

TEXT 168

After saying this, the messenger began to chant the holy names of Hari and Kṛṣṇa. He also began to laugh and cry, dance and sing exactly like a madman.

TEXT 169

When the Muslim governor heard this, his mind changed. He then sent his secretary to the representative of the Orissan government.

TEXT 170

The Muslim secretary came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When he offered his respects to the Lord’s lotus feet and uttered the holy name of the Lord, “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa,” he also was overwhelmed with ecstatic love.

TEXT 171

After calming down, the Muslim secretary offered his respects and informed the representative of the Orissan government, “The Muslim governor has sent me here.

TEXT 172

“If you agree, the Muslim governor will come here to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and then return.

TEXT 173

“The Muslim governor is very eager, and he has submitted this petition with great respect. It is a proposal for peace. You need not fear that we will fight.”

COMMENT 

So generally, Muslims are reputed to be very fanatical, but here we see the Muslim governor was very willing to accept a saintly person from the Hindu community. Similarly, Hindus should be open-minded and accept a saintly person from the Muslim community, if the person comes to Krishna consciousness.

TEXT 174

śuni’ mahā-pātra kahe hañā vismaya

‘madyapa yavanera citta aiche ke karaya!

Upon hearing this proposal, the representative of the Orissan government, the mahā-pātra, was very much astonished. He thought, “The Muslim governor is a drunkard. Who has changed his mind?

TEXT 175

āpane mahāprabhu tāṅra mana phirāila

darśana-smaraṇe yāṅra jagat tārila’

“It must be Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself who has changed the Muslim’s mind. Due to His presence and even due to His remembrance, the whole world is liberated.”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada 

From this we can understand that since the Muslim governor was a drunkard (madyapa), ordinarily there would have been no chance that he would change. But Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu could turn anyone’s mind to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

COMMENT 

Actually, there are stories of Srila Prabhupada when he lived in the Bowery of New York City and drunkards used to sleep on the footpath, seeming to be almost unconscious. But when Srila Prabhupada would pass to enter his apartment, they would make way for him. So Krishna, within the heart, inspired even the drunkards in the presence of Srila Prabhupada. 

PURPORT (continued)

 One can be delivered from material existence simply by remembering Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s holy name or by visiting Him. This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is being spread throughout the world, but not even one yavana or mleccha addicted to drinking could have changed and accepted Kṛṣṇa consciousness without Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s grace.

COMMENT 

In other words, the representative of the Orissan government wondered how the Muslim governor could have changed because he was a drunkard. He says the only explanation could be the Lord’s mercy and presence. So Srila Prabhupada is applying the same logic—how could so many persons who were drunkards come to Krishna consciousness? The only explanation is the Lord’s presence and mercy. 

PURPORT (continued)

This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is being spread throughout the world, but not even one yavana or mleccha addicted to drinking could have changed and accepted Kṛṣṇa consciousness without Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s grace.

COMMENT

Actually, elsewhere, Srila Prabhupada explained that the terms mlechchha and yavana apply to persons who slaughter animals and eat meat—or in general, persons who do not follow the Vedic principles. The words mlechchha and yavana do not specifically refer to a particular community. Just the other day, one congregational devotee was telling me about another congregational devotee—how he used to drink all the time and be so different until he came in contact with Krishna consciousness. So even among the Hindu community members, now in Kali-yuga, many drink and eat meat, but they also, by the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the holy name can be changed. So what to speak of persons who did not have the opportunity to [Unintelligible 00:19:30].

PURPORT (continued)

People are often astonished to see many thousands of Westerners converted to Vaiṣṇavism. Generally Westerners are addicted to meat-eating, drinking, gambling and illicit sex; therefore their taking up Kṛṣṇa consciousness is astonishing. In India, especially, there is much astonishment at this. The answer, however, is given here: darśana-smaraṇe yāṅra jagat tārila. This change is made possible simply by the remembrance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Western devotees are very sincerely chanting the holy names of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates: śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda.

COMMENT 

By the way, the incarnation of the internal potency of the Lord is called Gadadhara. Sometimes, maybe to fit the meter of the tune when devotees sing a particular melody, they say Gadadhara. But actually his name is Gadadhara. One of our god brothers, who is in Los Angeles now, told me that the first time he led kirtan before Srila Prabhupada he was very nervous, but afterwards Srila Prabhupada complimented him saying that he sang very nicely. Srila Prabhupada also added that you should not pronounce the name Gadadhara but Gadadhara.

PURPORT (continued)

The Western devotees are very sincerely chanting the holy names of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates: śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda. By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates, people are being purified and their consciousness directed from māyā to Kṛṣṇa.

The word viśvāsa refers to a secretary. This title is generally found among the kāyastha caste in the Hindu community. In Bengal, the title viśvāsa is still used by the kāyasthas. The word viśvāsa means “faithful,” and a viśvāsī is a person in whom one can place faith. 

COMMENT

So the secretary—as indicated by the word ‘viśvāsa’ should be faithful. Srila Prabhupada has also commented on the English word secretary—the secretary should be secretive. These are two important qualifications for the secretary.

PURPORT (continued)

The word viśvāsa means “faithful,” and a viśvāsī is a person in whom one can place faith. Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura states that during the Muslim reign in Bengal, there was a secretariat entitled viśvāsa-khānā. The office of viśvāsa-khānā was a secretariat office in which only the most reliable people were employed. They were elected from the kāyastha community, a community that is still very expert in managing business and government affairs. The secretariat, or viśvāsa-khānā, is generally a very reliable and faithful servant. Whenever some confidential service was needed, these officers were employed.

TEXT 176

eta bali’ viśvāsere kahila vacana
“bhāgya tāṅra — āsi’ karuka prabhu daraśana

After thinking this, the mahā-pātra immediately informed the Muslim secretary, “It is a great fortune for your governor. Let him come visit Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

TEXT 177

“However, let me make it understood that he should come here without weapons. He may bring with him five or seven servants.”

TEXT 178

The secretary returned to the Muslim governor and informed him of this news. Dressing himself like a Hindu, the Muslim governor then came to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

COMMENT

So, out of respect for Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Muhammadan governor dressed himself like a Hindu. So when we come to the temple to see Sri Sri Radha-Radhanath and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, we should also be dressed properly, if possible.

TEXT 179

dūra haite prabhu dekhi’ bhūmete paḍiyā

daṇḍavat kare aśru-pulakita hañā

Upon seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu from a distant place, the Muslim governor fell to the ground and offered obeisances. Tears came to his eyes, and he was jubilant with ecstatic emotions. 

TEXT 180

Arriving in that way, the Muslim governor was respectfully brought before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by the mahā-pātra. The governor then stood before the Lord with folded hands, and he chanted the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 181

The governor then submissively asked, “Why was I born in a Muslim family? This is considered a low birth. Why didn’t supreme Providence grant me a birth in a Hindu family?

TEXT 182

“If I had taken birth in a Hindu family, it would have been easy for me to remain near Your lotus feet. Since my body is now useless, let me die immediately.”

TEXT 183

Upon hearing the governor’s submissive statement, the mahā-pātra was overwhelmed with joy. He clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and began to offer the following prayers.

TEXT 184

‘caṇḍāla — pavitra yāṅra śrī-nāma-śravaṇe

hena-tomāra ei jīva pāila daraśane

“Simply by hearing Your holy name, a caṇḍāla, the lowest of men, can be purified. Now this conditioned soul has received Your personal interview.

TEXT 185

iṅhāra ye ei gati, ithe ki vismaya?

tomāra darśana-prabhāva ei-mata haya’

“It is no wonder that this Muslim governor has attained such results. Simply by seeing You, all this is possible.

COMMENT 

So two things are especially potent in awakening Krishna consciousness. One is the holy name of Krishna and the other is the personal audience of Krishna.

TEXT 186

yan-nāmadheya-śravaṇānukīrtanād

yat-prahvaṇād yat-smaraṇād api kvacit

śvādo ‘pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate

kutaḥ punas te bhagavan nu darśanāt

“ ‘To say nothing of the spiritual advancement of persons who see the Supreme Person face to face, even a person born in a family of dog-eaters becomes immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices if he once utters the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or chants about Him, hears about His pastimes, offers Him obeisances or even remembers Him.’ ”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.33.6). According to this verse, it does not matter what position a person holds. One may be the lowest of the low — a caṇḍāla, or dog-eater — but if he takes to chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, he is immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices. This is especially true in this Age of Kali.

COMMENT

Actually persons who are born in brahman families are not immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices. They have to undergo some purificatory processes. But one who just chants the holy name of Krishna once, remembers the pastimes of the lord or even offers Him obeisances from the core of the heart is immediately eligible to perform Vedic sacrifices. Unfortunately, ignorant persons do not know the science of Krishna consciousness. They do not actually know the conclusion of Vedic scriptures. Therefore there are persons in India who are supposed to believe in Vedic sacrifices but they do not know the potency of the holy name of the Lord. They don’t realize that someone who is engaged in chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra or the Pancha-tattva mantra is already more qualified than someone who is simply born in a brahman family. But they do not understand this fact. Some months ago, we went to visit the Guruvayur temple in South India. The rule of this temple is that no one can enter the temple unless he is born Hindu. But if he is not born Hindu he can go to the Arya Samaj and go through some process of conversion and get a certificate. And then when he comes back with the certificate he can enter the temple. So we complied with the rule. We went to the Arya Samaj in the next city. Actually, they knew that we were qualified so they didn’t make us go through the procedure for conversion. They just had us sign the register and pay the fees and then they gave us the certificate. Actually, the fact is, that if someone is chanting the holy names of the Lord, he is already qualified to perform Vedic sacrifices. They don’t have to undergo any other ritualistic procedures.

PURPORT (continued)

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam

kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā

(Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa 38.126)

“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only means of deliverance is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.” A person born in a brāhmaṇa family cannot perform Vedic sacrifices until he is properly purified and has attained his sacred thread. However, according to the present verse of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam), it is understood that even a lowborn person can immediately perform sacrifices if he sincerely chants and hears the holy name of the Lord. Sometimes envious people ask how Europeans and Americans in this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement can become brāhmaṇas and perform sacrifices. They do not know that the Europeans and Americans have already been purified by chanting the holy name of the Lord — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. This is the proof. Śvādo ‘pi sadyaḥ savanāya kalpate. One may be born in a family of dog-eaters, but he can perform sacrifices simply by chanting the mahā-mantra.

Those who find fault in the Western Vaiṣṇavas should consider this statement from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the commentary on this verse by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī. In this regard, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has stated that to become a brāhmaṇa one has to wait for purification and undergo the sacred thread ceremony, but a chanter of the holy name does not have to wait for the sacred thread ceremony. We do not allow devotees to perform sacrifices until they are properly initiated in the sacred thread ceremony. Yet according to this verse, an offenseless chanter of the holy name is already fit to perform a fire ceremony, even though he is not doubly initiated by the sacred thread ceremony. This is the verdict given by Devahūti, the mother of Lord Kapiladeva, when He was instructing her in pure Sāṅkhya philosophy.

COMMENT 

In other words, according to the verse just quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the Muhammadan governor, simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord without offense and in ecstasy, is qualified to offer or perform Vedic sacrifices. We don’t know if the Arya Samaj would accept him, but according to the Vedic literatures he is qualified. When we first came to India, and people started to protest the fact that we had been awarded the sacred thread and the title of brahmans, Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter because some people had complained in the newspaper. So Prabhupada wrote a letter in which he said, the fact that some communities of brahmans do not accept the brahmans in ISKCON does not hamper the ability of the brahmans to perform their duties. He gave the example that in different states, there may be different rules and regulations to pass the bar examination to practice as lawyers. But the fact that someone is not accepted as a lawyer in one state does not hamper his acting as a lawyer in another state. So Srila Prabhupada said the fact that some communities of brahmans do not accept the ISKCON brahmans [Unintelligible 00:38:29].

TEXT 187

tabe mahāprabhu tāṅre kṛpā-dṛṣṭi kari’
āśvāsiyā kahe, — tumi kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘hari’

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then glanced with mercy at the Muslim governor. Giving him assurance, He asked him to chant the holy names “Kṛṣṇa” and “Hari.”

PURPORT

It is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mercy that He advises everyone — even caṇḍālas, mlecchas and yavanas — to chant the holy name of the Lord. In other words, one who has taken to chanting the holy names “Kṛṣṇa” and “Hari” has already received Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mercy. The Lord’s request to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is now extended to everyone in the world through the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Whoever follows Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s instructions will certainly be purified, and one who sincerely chants the holy name offenselessly is already more than a brāhmaṇa. Unfortunately there are many fools and rascals in India who do not allow Western Vaiṣṇavas to enter certain temples. Such rascals do not clearly understand the Vedas. As stated previously, yan-nāmadheya-śravaṇānukīrtanād. . . savanāya kalpate.

COMMENT

So the Bhagavad-gītā mentions ‘veda bhāgavata’—persons who claim to be followers of the Vedas but who do not actually know the Vedas. So there are many such persons in India, especially now with lack of proper spiritual guidance. They claim to be followers of the Vedas—they are very proud of being followers of the Vedas—but they do not understand the conclusion of the Vedas, which is devotional service to Lord Krishna. Therefore, out of ignorance or envy they criticize.

TEXT 188

sei kahe, — ‘more yadi kailā aṅgīkāra

eka ājñā deha, — sevā kari ye tomāra

The Muslim governor then said, “Since You have so kindly accepted me, please give me some order so that I can render You some service.”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

If one is purified by following Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s orders — that is, by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa — one must certainly be eager to render service to the Lord. This is the test. When one engages enthusiastically in the Lord’s service, it is to be understood that he is reaping the results of chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa and Hari.

COMMENT

Srila Prabhupada explains that the Hare Krishna mantra is a prayer for service. We are chanting ‘Hare.’ ‘Hare’ means the energy of the Lord. ‘Krishna’ means the Lord directly. So when we call the holy names of Radharani and Krishna and they respond saying, ‘yes, you have called, what do you want,’ what will we say? I want a new house, I want a Mercedes Benz, I want a new VCR. No, we will say that we want to engage in your service. We have no other desire. So when one offenselessly chants the holy name, the result will be that the chanter will be imbued with the desire to render service. Here, the Muhammadan governor, having been influenced by the holy name of Krishna, he is asking Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, “please give me some orders so that I can render you some service.” In other words, someone who simply wants to chant the holy name and not be disturbed by service is not really getting the full benefit of chanting. Once, on the morning walk on the beach, His Holiness Lokanath Swami asked Srila Prabhupada, “Why have you prescribed sixteen rounds?” Srila Prabhupada replied “I have not prescribed sixteen rounds, sixteen rounds is the minimum.”