Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation
By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 3rd January 2021 in
Śrīdhāma 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
Introduction: Today we are continuing with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, today’s chapter entitled:
Faith in Mahāprasāda Displayed by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.35
athaiṣa nāthaḥ katicid dināni
nītvā prayātuṁ diśi dakṣiṇasyām
cakre manas taṁ samanuvrajantaḥ
sarve ca jagmur harināma-pūrvam
Translation: The Lord stayed some days and then decided to go to the south. Going with all the devotees, together they walked and chanted the Lord’s names.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.36
gatvā kiyad dūram asau kṛpāvān
visarjayāmāsa tadā samastān
tatrāntare vartmani so’pi gopī-
nāthāhvayo bhūsura ānanāma
Translation: Going for some distance, the merciful Lord then bid farewell to all of them. On the road, a brāhmaṇa named Gopīnātha offered respects to the Lord.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.37
prabhuḥ kare tasya vilokya pustīm
ekāṁ stavānāṁ praṇayād vikṛṣya
jagrāha gacchann atha sarva eva
samāgatās taṁ samanuvrajantaḥ
Translation: Seeing a book of prayers in his hand, the Lord affectionately took it. The devotees following him then arrived around.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.38
gateṣu sarveṣu sa eka eva
prabhur vrajan kutra ca vṛkṣa-mūle
sukhopaviṣṭaḥ parimucya pustīm
ālokayāmāsa cirāya harṣāt
Translation: But when they all left, the Lord after walking for some time, sat comfortably under a tree and taking out the book, scrutinized it for a long time in joy.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.39
sa tatra nāthaḥ parito vicārya
śrī-sārvabhaumasya kavitvam ekam
vilokayāmāsa tadā padānāṁ
madhye padaṁ kṛṣṇa iti vyapaśyat
Translation: The Lord went through the book and saw one poem by Sārvabhauma. In that poem he saw the word “Kṛṣṇa.”
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.40
vilokya taṁ kṛṣṇa-padaṁ tadaiva
premātirekeṇa sa vihvalātmā
papāta bhūmau nayanāśru-dhārā-
samūha-dhautāṅga-lato viceṣṭaḥ
Translation: Seeing that word, the Lord, out of intense prema, became thrilled and fell on the ground. Tears washed his body and he did not move.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.41
tathaiva bhūmau patitaḥ sa vṛkṣa-
mūle’vaśeṣaṁ divasasya yaṁ ca
niśāṁ ca sarvām anayat kṛpāluḥ
śrī-sārvabhaume karuṇāṁ vidhitsuḥ
Translation: Having fallen on the ground at the base of a tree and wanting to give mercy to Sārvabhauma, the merciful Lord lay there for the rest of the day and the whole night.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.42
prātaḥ prabuddho’tisuvihvalātmā
jagāma vāg-gadgada-ruddha-kaṇṭhaḥ
aho mamābhūd bahulāparādho
mahānubhāvātmani sārvabhaume
Translation: In the morning he woke up and, very disturbed, with choked voice said, “I have made a great offense to the great devotee Sārvabhauma.” He then left that place.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.43
kathaṁ nu vā taṁ parihāya mohād
gacchāmi dambhaika-vaśena tīrtham
kṣetraṁ punar yāmi tad asya sevāṁ
karomi sa tv eva mahānubhāvaḥ
Translation: “How can I reject him out of bewilderment and pride and tour the holy sites? I will return to Puri and serve him. He is a great soul.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.44
amuṣya sevā-vidhim antareṇa
na kiṣcanāpi prayataḥ kariṣye
ity eva bhūyaḥ karuṇā-payonidhiḥ
kṣetraṁ samāyāt praharaika-madhye
Translation: “I will do nothing except serve him.” Saying this, the ocean of mercy arrived in Puri within a prahara.
Jayapatākā Swami: One prahāra is three hours or four daṇḍas, 8 praharas is one day or 24 hours
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.45
ācārya-varyānayanāya kaṣcit
sampreṣayāmāsa jhaṭity athāpi
sa tu tvarāvān samupetya gopī-
nāthaṁ tam ācārya-varaṁ jagāda
Translation: Sārvabhauma sent a servant to bring Gopināthācārya. The servant quickly arrived and spoke to Gopīnātha.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.46
ācārya śīghraṁ samupaihi kṛṣṇa-
caitanya-devo’yam ihāgato’sti
kim āttha re kiṁ vitathaṁ samastaṁ
gataḥ saharṣo diśi dakṣiṇasyām
Translation: The servant said, “O ācārya! Lord Caitanya is coming here.” Gopīnātha said, “You must be telling a lie. He has joyfully gone to the south.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.47
asmābhir evāyam anuvrajadbhir
vidūratas tyakta itaḥ kathaṁ syāt
ity uktavān eṣa punaś ca tena
satyaṁ bravīmīty asakṛt sa uktaḥ
Translation: “We followed him and then at a great distance left him and came back. Why would he suddenly return?” The servant then repeatedly said, “I am telling the truth.”
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.48
tvarānvitas tan-nikaṭaṁ sa gopī-
nāthaḥ sadācārya-varo jagāma
avekṣya taṁ hṛṣṭa-mano mahatma
savismayaṁ sapriyam ājagāda
Translation: Quickly, Gopīnātha approached the Lord. Seeing the Lord, with joyful heart, he spoke with astonishment and affection.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.49
kim etad āścaryam atīva deva
kathaṁ gato vā katham āgato vā
tataḥ prabhur danta-visūna-rociś
chaṭā samāpṛkta-vilohitauṣṭhaḥ
uvāca mādhvīka-rasāplutena
vaco-vilāsena vilāsavān saḥ
Translation: “O Lord! Why did you go and why did you come back?” The Lord, with sparkling teeth and red lips, sporting with words filled with sweet rasa, spoke.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.50
ācārya bhūyān aparādha-rāśir
mamābhavat samprati sārvabhaume
yato’ham etaṁ parihāya dambhāt
tīrthāṭanaṁ kartu-manā babhūva
Translation: “O ācārya! I have committed a great offense to Sārvabhauma. I have given him up out of pride and desired to go on pilgrimage.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.51
asau mahātmā bhagavat-svarūpo
jagat-trayī-trāṇa-paraḥ sadīhaḥ
yad asya vaktrād udabhūt sa kṛṣṇa-
nāmānavadyaṁ lalitaika-padyam
Translation: “He is a great soul, a form of the Lord, delivering the three worlds. He performs pure actions, for from his mouth, one nice, faultless verse containing the name of Kṛṣṇa has arisen.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.52
tad asya sevaiva mayā vidheyā
mama tv iyaṁ kevalam īśa-sevā
itthaṁ vicintyārtham ahaṁ gato’pi
tīrtha-prayāṇe punar āgataś ca
Translation: “Therefore I must serve him. This is my service to the Lord. Thinking in this way, though I left, I have returned from the pilgrimage.”
Jayapatākā Swami: So how merciful is Lord Caitanya, that Sārvabhauma Bhattacarya wrote a poem where once the name of Kṛṣṇa was mentioned, and then He wants to come back and serve him. Lord Caitanya is so merciful, by serving our previous ācāryas and preaching the saṅkīrtana movement, how merciful Lord Caitanya must be to us! All glories to Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all glories to our previous ācāryas!
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.53
ity asya vācaṁ paramāṁ durūhaṁ
śruti-smṛtīnām api sāra-bhūtām
athaiva mṛgyāṁ parimṛgya vipraḥ
kṣipraṁ jahāsa sphuṭadanta-paṅktiḥ
Translation: Hearing those most unfathomable words, the essence of the śrutis and smṛtis, which should be heard, the brāhmaṇa Gopīnātha suddenly smiled, showing his shining teeth.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.54
aho mahā-kāruṇikasya ceṣṭāṁ
paśya prabhor dīna-jane kṛpāloḥ
ko vāsya jānātu mahā-durāpaṁ
māhātmyam ete khalu kīṭa-kalpāḥ
Translation: “See the acts of the most merciful Lord, compassionate to the miserable people. Who can understand his inaccessible glory? We are just insects.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.55
aho mahā-kāruṇikasya paśya
jagat-kṛpā-pūra-bhūtaṁ cikīrṣoḥ
anugrahaṁ samprati sārvabhaume
deveśa-kalpair api yo durāpaḥ
Translation: “See the mercy given to Sārvabhauma by the greatly merciful Lord who desired to make the universe full of mercy. This mercy cannot be attained in Brahmā’s life.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.56
vedāntināṁ maṇḍala-sārvabhaumaḥ
sa sārvabhaumo gata-bhakti-gandhaḥ
daivena padyodata-kṛṣṇa-nāmā
babhūva yuṣmat-karuṇādhipātram
Translation: “Sārvabhauma, famous among all knowers of Vedānta, devoid of any trace of bhakti, by chance mentioned Kṛṣṇa in a verse and became the object of your mercy.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.57
aho mahā-kāruṇikaṁ tam enaṁ
ko mūḍha-dhīr nānubhajeta lokaḥ
doṣān bahūn projjhya lavaṁ guṇasya
gṛhṇāti bhūyaḥ kurute’nukampām
Translation: “What foolish person would not worship this greatly merciful Lord? Rejecting all his faults, accepting a small good quality in a person, He shows mercy.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.58
na kasya vaktrāt khalu kṛṣṇa-nāma
bahiḥ prayāty asya tataḥ kim āsīt
jṣātaṁ tadā samprati sārvabhaume
kariṣyase bhūritarānukampām
Translation: “What should happen to the person who does not mention the name of Kṛṣṇa? I understand that now you will give the greatest mercy to Sārvabhauma.”
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.59
ity asya vācaṁ sa niśamya nāthaḥ
sa-vismayotsāha-rasa-praphullām
jagāda maivaṁ vada bho mahātman
sevaiva tasyeha mayā vidheyā
Translation: Hearing his words filled with the rasas of astonishment and enthusiasm, the Lord said, “Do not speak like this, O great soul! I should simply serve him.”
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.60
ity uktavāṁs taṁ divasaṁ ninīya
śeṣe rajanyāḥ prathamāvakāśam
vilokituṁ talpa-talād udāsīt
tato janair nitya-kṛtiṁ cakāra
Translation: Saying this, he passed the day, and at the end of night, he rose from bed to see the dawn. With the devotees he performed his nitya-kriyas.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.216
ekadina pratyuṣe prabhura prasādānna-saṅgraha:—
āra dina prabhu gelā jagannātha-daraśane
darśana karilā jagannātha-śayyotthāne
Translation: Early the following morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to see Lord Jagannātha in the temple, and He saw the Lord rise from His bed.
Jayapatākā Swami: So He saw the maṇgala-ārati of Lord Jagannātha and He was greatly immersed by this first darśana of Lord Jagannātha.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.61
tato bahiś cela-kaṭīra-sūtre
pragṛhya nāma-grahaṇotka-kaṇṭhaḥ
prāsāda-madhye praviveśa nātho
yathodayādriṁ śarad-indur eṣaḥ
Translation: Putting on his lower cloth and a cloth around his waist, eager to chant the name, the Lord entered the temple, like the autumn moon appearing on Sunrise Mountain.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.62
khagādipa-stambha-varasya paścāc
cāmīkara-stambha-vad āsthito’sau
dadarśa nīlācala-mauli-ratnaṁ
vilocanāmbho-jhara-dhauta-dehaḥ
Translation: Standing behind the Garuḍa-stambha like golden pole, he gazed at the crown jewel of Nīlācala, as streams of tears washed his body.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.217
pūjārī āniyā mālā-prasādānna dilā
prasādānna-mālā pāñā prabhu harṣa hailā
Translation: The priest there presented Him with garlands and prasāda that had been offered to Lord Jagannātha. This pleased Caitanya Mahāprabhu very much.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.63
tataḥ sa dhūpāvadhiḥ susthito’sau
pratyūṣa-kṛtāni vilokya tasya
mahā-prasādānnam atīva-ramyaṁ
pragṛhya kiṁcid bahir ājagāma
Translation: Watching the worship till the offering of incense and accepting very attractive mahā-prasāda, he then went outside.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.218
bhaṭṭācārya-gṛhe āgamana :—
sei prasādānna-mālā añcale bāndhiyā
bhaṭṭācāryera ghare āilā tvarāyukta hañā
Translation: Carefully tying the prasāda and garlands in a cloth, Caitanya Mahāprabhu hastened to the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.64
tathaiva devaḥ sa tu sārvabhaumaṁ
vilokituṁ tasya gṛhaṁ jagāma
sa tu prabhāte khalu talpa-madhyād
daivena naivodgatavāṁs tathāsīt
Translation: The Lord went to see Sārvabhauma at his house. Sārvabhauma by chance had not risen from his bed at the dawn.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.219
bhaṭṭācāryera prātaḥkṛtyera pūrvei prabhudatta prasāda-sammāna :—
aruṇodaya-kāle haila prabhura āgamana
sei-kāle bhaṭṭācāryera haila jāgaraṇa
Translation: He arrived at the Bhaṭṭācārya’s house a little before sunrise, just when the Bhaṭṭācārya was arising from bed.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.65
tato’sya kenāpy anugena nāthaṁ
vilokya taṁ bodhayituṁ jagante
nivārayāmāsa tataḥ prabhus taṁ
tat-svāpa-gehāntar-vilīna eva
Translation: A servant, seeing the Lord, was about to go to wake him up. The Lord stopped him and went into the bedroom.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.66
tato’sya pārśvasya vivṛtti-kāle
śrī-kṛṣṇa-kṛṣṇeti niśamya nāthaḥ
ardha-prabuddhārdha-nimagna-vāṇīṁ
jagāma nirvyājam aneka-saukhyam
Translation: As Sārvabhauma was turning over, the Lord heard him utter Kṛṣṇa’s name indistinctly and felt spontaneous, unlimited happiness.
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya heard Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names and because of that he got spontaneous unlimited bliss. How important it is, we are a little Kṛṣṇa conscious.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.220
‘kṛṣṇa’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ sphuṭa kahi’ bhaṭṭācārya jāgilā
kṛṣṇa-nāma śuni’ prabhura ānanda bāḍilā
Translation: As Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya arose from bed, he distinctly chanted, ”Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa.” Lord Caitanya was very pleased to hear him chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.67
tataḥ prabuddho’bhavad eva bhūmī-
gīr-vāṇa-siṁhaḥ sa tu sārvabhaumaḥ
dadarśa cātho yati-maṇḍalīnāṁ
cūḍāmaṇiṁ śrīyuta-gauracandram
Translation: Sārvabhauma, the best of brāhmaṇas, then awoke, and saw beautiful Gauracandra, the crown jewel of sannyāsīs.
Jayapatākā Swami: Gaurāṅga !
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.68
tato’ti sambhrānta-matis tvarāvāṁs
talpāt samutthāya nanāma hṛṣṭaḥ
tatas tu nānā-kathayā sa kālas
tayor mahā-kautuka-pūrṇa āsīt
Translation: With his mind in confusion, he rose from the bed and in joy offered respects to the Lord. They spend some time in great joy discussing various topics.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.221
bāhire prabhura teṅho pāila daraśana
āste-vyaste āsi’ kaila caraṇa vandana
Translation: The Bhaṭṭācārya noticed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu outside, and with great haste he went to Him and offered prayers unto His lotus feet.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.222
vasite āsana diyā duṅheta vasilā
prasādānna khuli’ prabhu tāṅra hāte dilā
Translation: The Bhaṭṭācārya offered a carpet for the Lord to sit upon, and both of them sat there. Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu opened the prasāda and placed it in the hands of the Bhaṭṭācārya.
Jayapatākā Swami: So, remembering this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya had no time brush his teeth, and take bath, he has just risen from his bed. And Lord Caitanya gave Him prasāda of Lord Jagannātha.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.69
tataḥ prabhuḥ kāruṇiko’nuvelaṁ
samasta-lokeṣu mahā-rasābdhiḥ
ākṛṣya rāsoṣcalataḥ prasāda
annaṁ sa jagrāha karāravinde
Translation: The merciful Lord, a great ocean of rasa for all people, pulled from the border of his cloth some prasāda and held it in his lotus hand.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.70
udyamya bāhuṁ sa mahā-prasādaṁ
siddhauṣadhi-vyāvṛta-kalpa-vṛkṣam
uvāca kāle kṛta-nitya-kṛtyo
bhavān idaṁ bhokṣyate ity adāc ca
Translation: Offering the prasāda in his hands, like a desire tree holding powerful medicine, he said, “After performing your nitya-kriyas, please eat this.” Then he gave him the prasāda.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.223
prasādānna pāñā bhaṭṭācāryera ānanda haila
snāna, sandhyā, danta-dhāvana yadyapi nā kaila
Translation: At that time the Bhaṭṭācārya had not even washed his mouth, nor had he taken his bath or finished his morning duties. Nonetheless, he was very pleased to receive the prasāda of Lord Jagannātha.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.224
kṛṣṇa-caitanya-kṛpāya jāḍyanāśa :—
caitanya-prasāde manera saba jāḍya gela
ei śloka paḍi’ anna bhakṣaṇa karila
Translation: By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the dullness in the mind of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was eradicated. After reciting the following two verses, he ate the prasāda offered to him.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.225
aprākṛta-prasāda-sammāne kālākāla-vicārābhāva :—
Padma-Purāṇa—
śuṣkaṁ paryuṣitaṁ vāpi
nītaṁ vā dūra-deśataḥ
prāpti-mātreṇa bhoktavyaṁ
nātra kāla-vicāraṇā
Translation: The Bhaṭṭācārya said, “One should eat the mahā-prasāda of the Lord immediately upon receiving it, even though it is dried up, stale or brought from a distant country. One should consider neither time nor place.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.226
na deśa-niyamas tatra
na kāla-niyamas tathā
prāptam annaṁ drutaṁ śiṣṭair
bhoktavyaṁ harir abravīt
Translation: “The prasāda of Lord Kṛṣṇa is to be eaten by gentlemen as soon as it is received; there should be no hesitation. There are no regulative principles concerning time and place. This is the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’”
Purport: These verses are quoted from the Padma Purāṇa.
Jayapatākā Swami: So, we can see that Lord Caitanya was testing Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, giving him Kṛṣṇa prasada. Although He said you can take after performing your morning duties, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya quoted these two verses from the Padma Purāṇa and he immediately ate the prasāda. We may have many times, had the same type of food but Kṛṣṇa prasada of the deity is very special, since it is the mercy of the Lord.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.71
utthāya so’tispṛhayā tvarāvān
ādāya pāṇau sumahā-prasāda
prasāda-labdhau yadi ced vilambaḥ
kṛtaṁ kṛtaṁ tat khalu vijṣatābhiḥ
Translation: Standing up, Sārvabhauma quickly took the mahā-prasāda in his hand with great desire. “If one delays on receiving prasāda, what use is all one’s acquired knowledge?”
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.72
ity eṣa sadyaḥ pulakāli-yukto
mahā-prasādaṁ vadane dadau tam
prabhur mahāmoda sumedurātmā
pragṛhya dorbhyāṁ tam atho nananda
Translation: Saying this, he immediately put the prasāda in his mouth, while his hairs stood on end. The tender-hearted Lord with great joy embraced him in his arms and became blissful.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.227
sārvabhaumera prasāda-sammāna-darśane prabhura paramānanda o premabhare ubhayera nṛtya
dekhi’ ānandita haila mahāprabhura mana
premāviṣṭa hañā prabhu kailā āliṅgana
Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased to see this. He became ecstatic in love of Godhead and embraced Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.228
dui-jane dhari’ duṅhe karena nartana
prabhu-bhṛtya duṅhā sparśe, doṅhāra phule mana
Translation: The Lord and the servant embraced each other and began to dance. Simply by touching each other, they became ecstatic.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.229
sveda-kampa-aśru duṅhe ānande bhāsilā
premāviṣṭa hañā prabhu kahite lāgilā
Translation: As they danced and embraced, spiritual symptoms manifested in their bodies. They perspired, trembled and shed tears, and the Lord began to speak in His ecstasy.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.73
anyonya-dīrgha-śvasitākṣiṇīva
romāṣca-gharmāmbu-vibhūṣitāṅgau
ānanda-sindhu-plava-tṛpta-cittau
babhūvus tau prabhu-sārvabhaumau
Translation: Both breathed heavily, cried, and perspired while their hairs stood on end. The Lord and Sārvabhauma were satisfied, with hearts inundated in the ocean of bliss.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.74
dṛśau galad-vāri-vilupta-tāre
dehaś ca romāṣca-samūha-luptaḥ
tayos tadā prema-nadī-kṛtena
snānena jāḍyaṁ paramaṁ babhūva
Translation: With eyes lost amidst flowing tears, with bodies lost in the hairs standing on end, they experienced extreme paralysis, because of bathing in the river of prema.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.230
sārvabhaumera uddhāre prabhura ātmagaurava :—
“āji muñi anāyāse jininu tribhuvana
āji muñi karinu vaikuṇṭha ārohaṇa
Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Today I have conquered the three worlds very easily. Today I have ascended to the spiritual world.”
Purport: The goal of human perfection is stated here in brief. One has to surpass all the planetary systems of the material universe, pierce through the covering of the universe and reach the spiritual world, known as Vaikuṇṭhaloka. The Vaikuṇṭhalokas are variegated spiritual planets situated in the Lord’s impersonal bodily effulgence, known as the brahma-jyoti. One may aspire to elevate himself to a heavenly planet within the material world, such as the moon, the sun or Venus, but if one is spiritually advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he does not wish to remain within the material universe, even in a higher planetary system. Rather, he prefers to penetrate the covering of the universe and attain the spiritual world. He can then be situated in one of the Vaikuṇṭha planets there. However, the devotees under the guidance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu aspire to reach the topmost spiritual planet, known as Goloka Vṛndāvana, the residence of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and His eternal associates.
Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was expressing how He was feeling such ecstasy that He felt that He had reached Goloka Vṛndāvana. That should be the goal of all the devotees. But we see the great ecstasy of pure love of Kṛṣṇa when Lord Caitanya was experiencing and distributing. And material happiness is nothing in comparison with the spiritual bliss. This is the special mercy that His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda and the previous ācāryas have distributed. Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.231
āji mora pūrṇa haila sarva abhilāṣa
sārvabhaumera haila mahā-prasāde viśvāsa
Translation: Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “I think that today all My desires have been fulfilled because I see that Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has acquired faith in the mahā-prasāda of Lord Jagannātha.
Jayapatākā Swami: So, devotees should have such faith in the māhā-prasāda of Lord Jagannātha and the deities. We can see how this gave so much satisfaction to Lord Caitanya.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.232
sārvabhaumake prabhura āśīrvāda :—
āji tumi niṣkapaṭe hailā kṛṣṇāśraya
kṛṣṇa āji niṣkapaṭe tomā haila sadaya
Translation: “Indeed, today you have undoubtedly taken shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa, without reservation, has become very merciful toward you.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.233
āji se khaṇḍila tomāra dehādi-bandhana
āji tumi chinna kaile māyāra bandhana
Translation: “My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, today you have been released from material bondage in the bodily conception of life; you have cut to pieces the shackles of the illusory energy.
Jayapatākā Swami: By a small demonstration of pure Kṛṣṇa bhakti one is able to please Lord Caitanya and please Lord Kṛṣṇa, so that their material bondage is cut.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.234
āji kṛṣṇa-prāpti-yogya haila tomāra mana
veda-dharma laṅghi’ kaile prasāda bhakṣaṇa”
Translation: “Today your mind has become fit to take shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa because, surpassing the Vedic regulative principles, you have eaten the remnants of food offered to the Lord.
Jayapatākā Swami: Everybody has their particular conditioning and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was a very strict brāhmaṇa so His princples were strictly following the Vedas. Then he took this prasāda without following these Vedic principles, following after the bhakti principles, the principle of pure devotion. That gave Lord Caitanya immense pleasure, He said certainly Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya had received Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. People in this world they may have different conditionings and say, someone is a vegan and some laddu or Burfi prasāda from the deities is given to them, which may be made from the milk products but because it is Kṛṣṇa prasāda, they take it anyway. Things like that, your devotion to Kṛṣṇa takes precedence over your social customs. Gets Kṛṣṇa’s special mercy.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.235
kṛṣṇera prati niṣkapaṭa śaraṇāgata bhakterai māyāmukti :—
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.7.42)—
yeṣāṁ sa eṣa bhagavān dayayed anantaḥ
sarvātmanāśrita-pado yadi nirvyalīkam
te dustarām atitaranti ca deva-māyāṁ
naiṣāṁ mamāham iti dhīḥ śva-śṛgāla-bhakṣye
Translation: “When a person takes shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead without reservation, the unlimited, merciful Lord bestows His causeless mercy upon him. Thus he can pass over the insurmountable ocean of nescience. Those whose intelligence is fixed in the bodily conception, who think, “I am this body,” are fit food for dogs and jackals. The Supreme Lord never bestows His mercy upon such people.’”
Purport: The Supreme Lord never bestows His benediction upon those fixed in the bodily conception. As Kṛṣṇa clearly states in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.66):
sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ
“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”
The verse that Caitanya Mahāprabhu quoted (Śrīmad–Bhāgavatam 2.7.42) explains the meaning of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s statement. Kṛṣṇa bestowed His causeless mercy upon Arjuna just to get him out of the bodily conception. This was done at the very beginning of the Second Chapter of the Bhagavad–gītā (2.13), where Kṛṣṇa says, dehino ’smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā. In this body, there is an owner, and one should not consider the body to be the self. This is the first instruction to be assimilated by a devotee. If one is under the bodily conception, he is unable to realize his true identity and engage in the loving devotional service of the Lord. Unless one comes to the transcendental position, he cannot expect the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord, nor can he cross over the vast ocean of material nescience. Lord Kṛṣṇa confirms this in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.14): mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te. Without surrendering unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, one cannot expect release from the clutches of māyā, the illusory energy. According to Śrīmad–Bhāgavatam (10.2.32), Māyāvādī sannyāsīs who falsely think of themselves as liberated from the clutches of māyā are called vimukta–māninaḥ. Actually, they are not liberated, but they think that they have become liberated and have become Nārāyaṇa Himself. Although they have apparently realized that they are not the material body but spirit soul, they nonetheless neglect the duty of the spirit soul, which is to render service to the Supreme Soul. Therefore their intelligence remains unsanctified. Unless one’s intelligence is sanctified, one cannot apply it to understanding devotional service. Devotional service begins when the mind, intelligence and ego are completely purified. Māyāvādī sannyāsīs do not purify their intelligence, mind and ego, and consequently they cannot engage in the service of the Lord or expect the causeless mercy of the Lord. Although they rise to a very high position by executing severe austerities and penances, they still hover in the material world without the benediction of the lotus feet of the Lord. Sometimes they rise to the Brahman effulgence, but because their minds are not completely purified, they must return to material existence.
The karmīs are fully under the bodily conception of life, and the jñānīs, although theoretically understanding that they are not the body, also have no information about the lotus feet of the Lord because they overly stress impersonalism. Consequently both karmīs and jñānīs are unfit for receiving the mercy of the Lord and becoming devotees. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore says, karma-kāṇḍa jñāna-kāṇḍa, kevala viṣera bhāṇḍa: those who have taken to the process of karma–kāṇḍa (fruitive activity) and jñāna–kāṇḍa (speculation on the science of transcendence) have simply eaten from poisoned pots. They are condemned to remain in material existence life after life until they take shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. This is confirmed in Śrīmad Bhagavad–gītā (7.19):
bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ
Translation: “After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.”
Jayapatākā Swami: So, the process given by Lord Caitanya is transcendental because it depends on taking shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, following the teachings of Kṛṣṇa in the Gītā and the Bhāgavatam, chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy names and worshiping Kṛṣṇa. Naturally one who follows Lord Caitanya achieves this highest spiritual perfection.
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.236
bhaṭṭācāryera jaḍābhimāna tyāga :—
এত কহি’ মহাপ্রভু আইলা নিজ-স্থানে
সেই হৈতে ভট্টাচার্য্যের খণ্ডিল অভিমানে
Translation: After speaking to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence. From that day on, the Bhaṭṭācārya was free because his false pride had been dismantled.
Jayapatākā Swami: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya had been very proud of his great learning but after receiving the mercy of Lord Caitanya, his false pride was dismantled and after that he became a humble devotee. Haribol!
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.75
itthaṁ prabhur vipra-ghaṭāgra-gaṇyaṁ
vaśe cakārāti-kṛpā-rasena
cittaṁ tatas tat karuṇā-rasena
saṅkrāntatāṁ nirbharam ājagāma
Translation: In this way the Lord controlled the best of brāhmaṇas by the rasa of his extreme mercy. Sārvabhauma’s heart became completely filled with the rasa of his mercy.
Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.76
tataḥ prabhṛyeṣa mahā-kṛpālor
gaurāṅga-candrasya padāravinde
kāyena vācā manasānurakto
bhavan nirastākhila-garva-bhāraḥ
His great pride vanquished, from that time onward, Sārvabhauma was attracted by his body, mind and words to the lotus feet of the most merciful Gauraṅga.
Jayapatākā Swami: Gaurāṅga! So we see how Lord Caitanya gave His special mercy on Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and this pastime is very, very auspicious.
Thus ends the chapter entitled, Faith in Mahāprasāda Displayed by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.
Transcribed and Verified by JPS Archives team, 03rd January 2021