часть третья

["After Lord Krsna heard Srimati Radharani’s statements, His love for the inhabitants of Vrndavana increased, and His body and mind became very perturbed. After hearing of the Vrajavasis’ love for Him, He immediately considered Himself to be always indebted to them. He began to pacify Srimati Radharani as follows:"]

prana-priye, suna, mora e-satya-vacana
toma-sabara smarane, jhuron muni ratri-dine,
mora duhkha na jane kona jana
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.149)

"[My dearest Srimati Radharani, please hear Me. I am speaking the truth. I cry day and night simply upon remembering all you inhabitants of Vrndavana. No one knows how unhappy this makes Me."]

When Krsna heard the gopis’ desperate words, and especially when He heard from Radhika, He became restless and could not control Himself. He thought, "I cannot repay the Vrajavasis," and He began to pacify all the gopis, especially Radhika. He began to weep as He replied: "Prana-priye, suna, mora e-satyavacana – My most beloved, I am telling you the truth with My pure heart. Toma-sabara smarane, jhuron muni ratri-dine, mora duhkha na jane kona jana – My body is there in Dvaraka, but My heart is with You in Vrndavana. I am always restless, day and night, and I feel unbearable separation. There is no one in Mathura to whom I can reveal My heart. I sent Uddhava to Vraja to be admitted into the school of gopis so that he could learn something about the meaning of prema. I thought that if he were to become expert, then when he would return I could describe to him the extent of My separation and he would realize My heart. But I see that I cannot sha re My heart even with Uddhava, nor with Rukmini or Satyabhama. I thus lament continually."

vraja-vasi yata jana, mata, pita, sakha-gana,
sabe haya mora prana-sama
tanra madhye gopi-gana, saksat mora jivana,
tumi mora jivanera jivana
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.150)

[Sri Krsna continued: 'All the inhabitants of Vrndavana-dhama – My mother, father, cowherd boyfriends, and everyone else – are the same as My life. Amongst all the inhabitants of Vrndavana, the gopis are directly My life and soul. And You, Srimati Radharani, are the chief among the gopis; so You are the very life of My life.'']

toma-sabara prema-rase, amake karila vase,
ami tomara adhina kevala
toma-saba chadana, ama dura-dese lana,
rakhiyache durdaiva prabala
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.151)

["My dear Srimati Radharani, I am always subservient to the love and affection that you all have for Me. I am under your control only. The creator is very cruel, for he has separated Me from You and made Me reside in distant places."]

We are all helpless when it comes to stopping death. Actually, we are helpless in every way. Similarly, Krsna is saying, "Now I am helpless, and You are also helpless. The creator has forcibly taken Me very far away from You and from My birthplace in Gokula. This is My misfortune."

priya priya-sanga-hina, priya priya-sanga vina,
nahi jiye, e satya pramana
mora dasa sone yabe, tanra ei dasa habe,
ei bhaye dunhe rakhe prana
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.152)

["When a woman is separated from her lover, or a man from his beloved, neither of them can live. It is a fact that they only live for each other, for if one dies and the other hears of it, he or she will die also. "]

Krsna continues, "It is true that a woman cannot maintain her life without her beloved. And that beloved can also not maintain his life without his dear one. Mora dasa sone yabe, tanra ei dasa habe, ei bhaye dunhe rakhe prana. Why does a woman not die when she is separated from her lover? She remains alive only by thinking, ‘If I die, my beloved will weep bitterly, and he may also die. So I should not die. I don’t want to give him any suffering.’ Her lover also thinks, ‘If I die, she will suffer grievously, and then she may die of separation.’ For this reason, neither want to die."

sei sati premavati, premavan sei pati,
viyoge ye vanche priya-hite
na gane apana-duhkha, vanche priyajana-sukha,
sei dui mile acirate
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.153)

["Such a loving chaste wife and loving husband desire all welfare for each other in separation and do not care for personal happiness. Such a loving couple only desire each other’s well-being, and they certainly meet again without delay."]

This is an important point. The only chaste lady is one who has such overwhelming love and affection for her beloved that she always thinks of his welfare, even in separation. Rama told Sita, "I must abandon you for the rest of my life." He sent her to the forest, and she wept bitterly in deep separation. She might have died in separation, but she was pregnant at that time, and her two sons Lava and Kusa took birth soon afterwards. Although she suffered on account of her husband, she would say, "I don’t consider whether he has done right or wrong. I only want him to be happy, wherever he is."

At that time, Rama was in his grand royal palace, but he gave up his pillows, his bed, and every other convenience. He became austere and renounced there, and he slept on a mat on the ground, just as Sita-devi did. Instead of eating delicious food, he only took some fruits to maintain his life. He always felt the piercing pain of her separation, and it was because he could not survive without her that he performed fire sacrifices and made statues of her.

The chaste lady who has love and affection for her beloved husband always thinks of his welfare, and even if he does something wrong, she doesn’t mind. And the man also thinks in the same way about his wife or his beloved. Na gane apanaduhkha, vanche priyajana-sukha, sei dui mile acirate. Neither of them cares for their own happiness or suffering. They always think of the happiness and suffering of their loved one.

You should try to understand the instruction given here, and follow it. If you want to enter that transcendental realm, then you should begin these dealings with your gurudeva. If gurudeva is a very high-class devotee, if he has love and affection for you, and if he is taking you more and more toward Krsna consciousness, then place your whole concentration on him. Don’t think about your own suffering and happiness. Rather you should think, "How can I please my gurudeva?" If this mood is not present in a disciple, he is bound to give up the line of devotion. It is stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam:

sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam

iti pumsarpita visnau
bhaktis cen nava-laksana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha
tan manye ’dhitam uttamam
Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.23–4)

["Prahlada Maharaja said: 'The following nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service: hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia, and pastimes of Lord Visnu; remembering them; serving the lotus feet of the Lord; offering Him respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia; offering Him prayers; becoming His servant; considering Him one’s best friend; and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind, and words.) One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krsna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.'"]

In this verse, Sri Prahlada Maharaja uses the word pumsarpita to advise us that one must first offer himself unto the lotus feet of Krsna. To understand this instruction, we must know that there are two Krsnas. The first is guru-bhagavan, and the second is krsna-bhagavan. The first is asraya (the abode of service), and the second is visaya (the object of service). The qualifications of a maha-bhagavata guru are explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam and the Upanisads. You should have strong faith in such a guru and try to please him. He is very powerful, and by his own power he will transfer your sentiments to Radha-Krsna and Mahaprabhu.

Prahlada Maharaja is instructing us that one should not only surrender, he should always engage his heart, mind, and all his senses to please that sad-guru. The disciple can please him if he is always chanting and remembering, glorifying bhakti, Krsna, and Mahaprabhu, and preaching and practicing bhakti-yoga. Then he will be happy.

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has explained how Rupa Gosvami pleased his guru:

sri-caitanya-mano-’bhistam
sthapitam yena bhu-tale
svayam rupah kada mahyam
dadati sva-padantikam

["Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada has established within the material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya. When will he give me shelter at his lotus feet?"]

There are so many devotees who have pleased their gurus, but the author of this sloka has given the example of Rupa Gosvami. Rupa Gosvami knew what Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted, and why He descended to this world. This is why he wrote books such as Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu and Ujjvala-nilamani. He established the message of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the method to please Him.

Krsna continues: "Na gane apana-duhkha, vanche priyajanasukha, sei dui mile acirate – if the lover and beloved engage in this way, they will be able to meet again." Here, Krsna is consoling the gopis, assuring them that they will certainly meet again.

rakhite tomara jivana, sevi ami narayana,
tanra saktye asi niti-niti
toma-sane krida kari’, niti yai yadu-puri,
taha tumi manaha mora sphurti
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.154)

["Krsna said to Srimati Radhika: 'You are My most dearly beloved, and I know that You cannot live for a moment in My absence. I worship Lord Narayana just to keep You alive. By his merciful potency, I come to Vrndavana every day to enjoy pastimes with You, and then I return to Dvaraka-dhama. That is why You can always feel My presence in Vrndavana.'"]

We should try to realize Krsna’s statements. Do you have madiya-bhava, this sense of possessiveness, toward gurudeva and the pure devotees? If not, then all your endeavors in spiritual life are zero, and you will not be able to accomplish anything. You should think, "Gurudeva is mine. I have left my father, mother, sister, and family for Krsna, and my gurudeva can give me Krsna. Now he is my everything." Such attachment for gurudeva will come by cultivation. If we are not attached to gurudeva and very much attached to everyone else, there is something wrong. There are two conceptions in relation to service to gurudeva. The first conception is, "I will serve all the devotees to please my gurudeva." The other conception is, "I will please all the devotees to serve my gurudeva." Our motive should be, "I want to please my gurudeva," not to please everybody else. Whatever we do should be to please gurudeva, not to please everybody else . You can never please everyone.

yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasya prasadan na gatih kuto ’pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam
vande guroh sri-caranaravindam
Sri Gurvastakam (8)

["One receives Krsna’s benedictions by the mercy of the spiritual master, and one cannot make any advancement without his grace. Therefore, I should always remember and praise him. At the three junctions of the day – morning, noon, and evening – I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master."]

Everyone will be pleased if gurudeva is pleased, and even if others are not pleased there is no harm, as long as he is pleased. If Krsna is somewhat angry with me, no harm; gurudeva will save me. But if gurudeva is unhappy, even Krsna cannot save me. He will say, "You should go to your gurudeva." We should know this fact. When Durvasa Rsi tried to kill Ambarisa Maharaja, Krsna saved Ambarisa Maharaja and began to chase Durvasa Rsi with His Sudarsana cakra. Durvasa ran throughout the universe, and finally reached the Vaikuntha planet within this universe, where he begged Bhagavan to protect him. However, Bhagavan told him, "I cannot do anything to save you. You should go to Ambarisa Maharaja."

Krsna continues, "I worship Narayana to please You, so that You will not die of separation from Me. By His merciful potency I go to Vraja to meet You. I wipe the tears from Your face with My pitambara, and I embrace You; and You think, ‘Krsna is in Dvaraka, so how can He come here? Prehaps I was dreaming, or perhaps I saw a sphurti (momentary vision).’ On the other hand, as soon as You see a tamala tree, You think, ‘Krsna has come.’ When I really come to You, You think, ‘Krsna has not come. It was just a sphurti,’ but this is not true. I always come to You, and I meet and embrace You. I sport with You, and then I return to Dvaraka. Then, when Your condition is one of extreme separation again, I come to You again. I always do this."

mora bhagya mo-visaye, tomara ye prema haye,
sei prema parama prabala
lukana ama ane, sanga karaya toma-sane,
prakateha anibe satvara
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.155)

Our love affair is more powerful because of My good fortune in receiving Narayana’s grace. This allows Me to come there unseen by others. I hope that very soon I will be visible to everyone.

"I think that Your unprecedented love and affection will very soon make Me come in such a way that everyone will see Me. I have killed so many kings and powerful demons who were fighting for Kamsa, but there are still some left."

yadavera vipaksa, yata dusta kamsa-paksa,
taha ami kailun saba ksaya
ache dui-cari jana, taha mari’ vrndavana,
ailama ami, janiha niscaya
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.156)

["I have already killed all the mischievous demons who are enemies of the Yadu dynasty, and I have also killed Kamsa and his allies, but there are two or four demons still alive. I want to kill them, and when I have done so, I shall return to Vrndavana very soon. Please know this for certain."]

"You may say, ‘Come immediately,’" Krsna tells Radhika and the gopis, "but if I am in Vraja, the demons will decide, ‘Krsna is there in Vrndavana with His father and mother, Nanda and Yasoda, and all His friends. We should try to kill them all. He has no fort, no army, and nothing with which to fight.’ That is why I purposely remain here in the fort of Dvaraka, surrounded by water on every side, and protected by many armies. If I were in Vrndavana and the opposition party came to know of it, I would not be able to save You. That is why I do not come right away. I must first kill the remaining demons."

sei satru-gana haite, vraja-jana rakhite,
rahi rajye udasina hana
yeba stri-putra-dhane, kari rajya avarane,
yadu-ganera santosa lagiya
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.157)

["I remain in My kingdom because I wish to protect the inhabitants of Vrndavana from the attacks of My enemies; otherwise I am indifferent to My royal position. Whatever wives, sons, and wealth I maintain in the kingdom are only for the satisfaction of the Yadus."]

Krsna continues, "My only consideration is that the Vrajavasis should not suffer or be disturbed. I live in Dvaraka, but I am indifferent to My kingdom and associates there, to My many queens, and to My numerous sons and daughters. I have no attachment for them. Rather, I am suffering due to deep separation from the Vrajavasis. Yeba stri-putra-dhane, kari rajya avarane. It is only to satisfy the Yadus that I have married so many princesses and live like a king in Dvaraka. They are my father’s friends. My father is Nanda Baba, and everyone in the Yadu dynasty, such as Vasudeva and the others, are friends of Nanda Baba. That is why I remain in Dvaraka; otherwise I would have already gone to Vrndavana."

tomara ye prema-guna, kare ama akarsana,
anibe ama dina dasa bise
punah asi’ vrndavane, vraja-vadhu toma-sane,
vilasiba rajani-divase
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.158)

"[Your loving qualities always attract Me to Vrndavana. Indeed, they will bring Me back within ten or twenty days, and when I return I shall enjoy both day and night with You and all the damsels of Vraja-bhumi."]

"I will kill the rest of the demons very quickly, within ten days. Then I will come back very soon. In fact, You can consider that I have already come."

eta tanre kahi krsna, vraje yaite satrsna,
eka sloka padi’ sunaila
sei sloka suni’ radha, khandila sakala badha,
krsna-praptye pratiti ha-ila
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila 13.159)

["While Krsna was speaking to Srimati Radharani, He became very anxious to return to Vrndavana. He made Her listen to a verse that banished all Her difficulties, and which assured Her that She would attain Krsna again."]

mayi bhaktir hi bhutanam
amrtatvaya kalpate
distya yad asin mat-sneho
bhavatinam mad-apanah
Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.82.44)

["Any living being becomes qualified for eternal life by rendering devotional service to Me. But by Your good fortune, You have developed a special loving attitude toward Me, by which You have obtained Me.

"Mayi bhaktir hi bhutanam amrtatvaya kalpate. Sadhanabhakti, devotional activities performed to attain Me, is like nectar, but Your bhakti is far superior to sadhana-bhakti. You have no anarthas, and You already have more than nistha, ruci, asakti, bhava, prema, and sneha." There are two kinds of sneha: ghrtasneha and madhu-sneha. Mana follows sneha, and there are two kinds of mana. There are also two kinds of pranaya, and after pranaya comes raga, anuraga, bhava, and finally mahabhava. Krsna tells the gopis, "You have everything. Sadhana-bhakti is very rare in this world, but what you have is not in this world. Your sneha, mana, pranaya, raga, and anuraga are only found in Goloka Vrndavana. This is the reason that I cannot control Myself, and I am always bound to follow you; there will be no delay in My coming to you."

That love and how to attain it

When Srimati Radhika was in Kadamba-kyari, She remembered Krsna deeply, with great love and affection. Weeping, She asked a bumblebee, "Krsna is coming? When is He coming? Is He on the way here? Can you tell Me? How is He? Does He remember His friends in Vraja-bhumi? Does He remember His father and mother? Does He remember us? Does He remember Me? Does He at least say to any of His queens, ‘Radha is not as intelligent as you.’ Or, does He perhaps tell one of them, ‘That garland is not as good as the one that the gopis used to make’?" While Radhika was speaking like this, She became unconscious.

This is the gopis’ love and affection for Krsna, and to attain it we should try to take up bhakti from the beginning stages – starting from initial faith, associating with pure devotees, accepting initiation from a bona fide guru, and engaging in services under his direction.

Don’t look here and there, otherwise maya will attract you. We should try to be like Krsna’s flute; there is nothing inside it. We should try to accept the "air vibration" that gurudeva breathes into "that flute," because he has taken the moods of pure bhakti from his guru-parampara, from Sri Radha-Krsna, and from Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Your speculation will not do. You may be a learned person in the material sense, but that will not help you in spiritual life. Your intelligence will betray you. You should know this truth, and then you will realize everything. Everything will come automatically.

[Endnote 1 - Mahaprabhu "tested" Jagannatha by going behind the chariot to see if Jagannatha would continue onward without Him. Here Mahaprabhu is in the mood of Srimati Radhika, so She is testing Krsna to see if He is willing to go and be in Vrndavana with the other gopis if She is not there. Jagannatha’s stopping the chariot until Mahaprabhu pushed it very easily with His own head shows the superiority of Radhika over the other gopis.

Endnote 2 - Radhika had received a boon from Durvasa Rsi that whoever will eat her cooking will be very powerful, long-lived, and able to defeat all enemies.

Endnote 3 - Panaghata has two meanings. Pan is an abbreviation for pani, water. This ghata was originally called pani-ghata, and later on it became known as panaghata. Pan also means promise, and it is called panaghata because Krsna and the gopis promised to meet each other there.

Endnote 4 - This refers to the most elevated state of krsna-prema, which is experienced only by Srimati Radhika and which is comprehensible only to that person who directly experiences it.]