Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 20.1–36 – January 26, 1971, Allahabad

We cannot accept anyone as so called incarnation

Devotee: Next lecture delivered in the morning of January 26th.

Prabhupada:

Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami author of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Is in the beginning of the 20th chapter-Madhya-lila. Caitanya-caritamrta is divided into three lilas. Adi-lila, Madhya-lila and Antya-lila. The first part it describes about Lord Caitanya's birth and His youthhood activities in Navadvipa. That comprises the Adi-lila. And His preaching and teaching comprises the Madhya-lila. And His remaining in Jagannatha Puri for 18 years in ecstasy that is called Antya-lila.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared 485 years ago in Navadvipa and He remained in this mortal world for 48 years only. At the age of 24 years although He was very learned scholar, brahmana and very respected in Navadvipa circles. A still for preaching work He gave up his family life at a very early age, 24 years only. And He took sannyasa and travelled all over India preaching this cult of Krsna consciousness.

So He had many thousands and thousands of disciples out of which six Gosvamis were principal and one of them is Sanatana Gosvami. We shall discuss today about Sri Sanatana Gosvami how he was elevated to the position of Gosvami, although he was considered as the lowest. Here in this verse it is said: nico 'pi, nico, nico means-lowest. Nico 'pi, although he was in the lowest position of the society, nico 'pi yat-prasadat-but by the mercy of Lord Caitanya. Syad bhakti-sastra-pravartakaḥ.

Sanatana Gosvami was the principal Gosvami amongst the chief Gosvamis in Vrndavana. Vande rūpa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau [Saḍ-gosvamy-astaka]. The six go for[?], the modern Vrndavana city was developed by the six Gosvamis. Before them it was a field only. Everyone forgot where Krsna's lila was there. Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He visited this Vrndavana area He indicated Radhakunḍa and then He sent His disciples, these Gosvamis. Rūpa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, they excavated the different parts of this Vrndavana. The present Vrndavana city is due to their hard labor and then other four Gosvamis also joined and Vrndavana became a holy place. Vrndavana is always holy place but nobody knew where was Vrndavana, after 5,000 years of Krsna's departure.

So these Gauḍiya Vaisnavas guided by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu this Vrndavana was [indistinct]. Kaviraja Gosvami says that-I offered, vande aham ananta adbhuta aisvaryam. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this is an indication of God or God's incarnation. [indistinct] unlimited opulences which is not possible for ordinary man. We cannot accept anyone as so called incarnation without exhibiting extraordinary power which is impossible for an ordinary. That is the science.

Nico, nicaḥ means-life. But by the mercy of Lord Caitanya the Sanatana Gosvami became the leader of the Gauḍiya Vaisnava's society. The Sanatana Gosvami was of course born in brahmana family, sarasvati brahmana family. But they are very aristocratic, accepted Nawab Hussein Shah's ministership, at that time in Bengal. The government was Pathan government and Nawab Hussein Shah was the ruling governor at that time and these two brothers, Sakara Mallik and Dabir Khas. These are Mohammadan names. They were ashamed because they accepted the ministership of a Mohammadan ruler. The brahmana community excreted them from the society. That eh, excommunicated. That you cannot remain in the brahmana society. They were very strict at that time that anyone... First of all a brahmana could not accept any service then he was considered a sūdra. And if... And they accepted the service of a Mohammadan ruler, so they were rejected from the brahmanas society and practically they became Mohammadan's. Because their names were also changed, Sakara Mallik and Dabir Khas.

Therefore Caitanya-caritamrta says nico, although they were considered the lowest a still by the mercy of Lord Caitanya they were raised to the highest position. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's extraordinary power.

These two brothers decided that we shall retire from this government service and join Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. So this one brother, Rūpa Gosvami, Sakara Mallik, he without giving any notice he left the government service and went to Vrndavana side. And he left some money in a village banker's custody and he informed his brother, elder brother, Sanatana Gosvami. That, "I have come to such and such place, you also come and if you need some money. Such and such money is deposited in such a village banker. You can take it." Sanatana, Rūpa Gosvami after retirement they brought huge amount of money. It is said, "golden coins." At that time there was no paper currency, gold currency. And he brought a full, I mean to say, boat of golden coins. Just imagine how much he brought. Out of that 50% he distributed for Krsna, left to the Vaisnava and the brahmanas and 25% they gave to the relatives. And 25% they kept for their emergency. So this emergency money was deposited in a village banker's custody. That is said here.

And, etha gauḍe sanatana ache bandi-sale [Cc Madhya 20.3], so Sanatana Gosvami was arrested. When he refused to join the government service. Because during those days Mohammadan kingdom although the ruler was Mohammadan but mostly the ministers were Hindus. Because they knew that Mohammadan's could not be trusted with a responsible post. Bhagavata raja[?] also the same principle was there. Respectable Hindus were appointed. As... Just like in Nawab time [?] Maharaja Mansihgh was the commander-in-chief. So that was the policy there. Even in recent years there is a big Mohammadan Agha Khan, all his responsible officers are Hindus.

So Sanatana Gosvami when he wanted that, "I cannot work any more, please excuse me." So Nawab Hussein Shah, very much upset, "How my government will be trained up. Everything depended on you and you are saying that you shall retire." He said, "It cannot be. I cannot allow it." So he wanted that, "Even though you do not accept I cannot join any more." Then he said that, "I shall punish you if you say like that." So Sanatana Gosvami replied, "Sir you are King, representative of Narayana, if you give me some punishment, I shall accept." Just see how much the Vaisnava is humble he did not protest that he was Mohammadan, "Oh you cannot do this," and he said that, "You are representative of Narayana." Actually that is the vision of Vaisnava. Whoever is in power, a Vaisnava gives not only a person who is in power, even to the ant, even to the insect:

Those who are engaged in Krsna consciousness, chanting of the holy name of the Lord. They should be like this Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, trnad api sunicena. They should be humbler than the grass, tolerant than the tree.

They should not demand any respect for themselves but give all respect to others. Even he has no respect. Amanina manadena kirtaniyaḥ, if one can situate his position like this then he will be able to chant this Hare Krishna mantra without being disturbed. So Sanatana Gosvami was arrested because he refused to join the government so he was arrested and put into the jail. In the meantime he got, received one letter from his brother, that somehow or other you come and join with me.

He was very glad to receive the letter from his brother, Rūpa Gosvami and he began to speak to the superintendent of jail. Because he was Minister, so the superintendent of jail was working under him. Now he is put into jail, so the superintendent of jail was very respective to him. But what can be done? State orders, he was put into the jail. So they were talking in friendly terms.

So this is because he was Minister, politician, diplomat. So he's elevating, artificially, the jail superintendent. That you are jindapira. Jindapira means living, ah, pira. Because Mohammadan's they respect their pira. So when a Mohammadan dies the grave is worshipped as pira. So Sanatana Gosvami flattered him that you are not dead pira, but you are living pira. You are so fortunate. That means he flattered him and he said that, ketaba-korana-sastre ache tomara jnana. Although he may be number fool, number one but a still he said that I am sure that you are well versed in your Koran and other scriptures and you are so great. So I am appealing to you. This is political gesture. So:

Now you must be knowing that, that if you can release one prisoner from the prison house. Then you will be released from the material entanglement. That you know, I haven't got to say anything more. You know all these things. So of course what Sanatana Gosvami said that is a fact. But in this way that, "I am put into the prison without any fault. So if you kindly release me Krsna will be very kind upon you and He will release you from this material world." That's a fact but he was presenting in a different way.

Now he is reminding, because he was Minister. So Minister can do so many things, "So I did so much for you, when I was in office. Now I request you that you kindly release me. Don't put me here. That's my request to you."

So, not only he was [indistinct] and flattering but because he had some money in the village banker. He says that, "I have got some money, you take $5,000." Mudra, mudra, at that time mudra was.. The exchange value was, now it is 80 rupees. Just like 80 rupees-dollar was offered to him-5,000. That I shall give you this golden coins 5,000.

"By accepting this money, you'll get money at the same time you'll be pious. Not that because you are taking bribe you will be impious. I give you in good way this money," he said, "And because you will release me, Krsna will be satisfied. Krsna will be satisfied," that's a fact. Because if you do something good to a devotee, who is so anxious to join Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Not that people may criticize, how Sanatana Gosvami was bribing a jail superintendent to get out of it. Now you should not study in that way. It is a fact, Sanatana Gosvami is now dedicated to the service of Lord Caitanya. Anyone who would help him, somehow or other he will be benefited. That's a fact.

"I am quite agreeable to your proposal. But I am also afraid of my life, if I release you then what will the Nawab think of me? He will arrest me and he will give me trouble. How can I avoid that?" Because he was in custody.

Just like it so happened, perhaps you know the Indian history. When Shivaji was arrested by Aurangzeb, so Shivaji appealed to Ramsingha. Ramsingha was at that time commander-in-chief that, "In your presence this Aurangzeb made a trick and he has arrested me and you are seeing me without any... I mean to say, being sorry. So you help me." So Ramsingha helped him to get out of the Red Fort and that was Shivajis Aurangzeb's anger upon him.

He was also politician, he could understand that in the presence of Ramsingha the Shivaji fled away from the Fort. So there is some intrigue and he became very angry and as a reaction he broke the temple constructed in Vrndavana by Man, his grandfather Mansingh. That is the history of breaking the temple of Govindaji. So sometimes these politics and between the Mohammadan rulers and the Hindu chiefs were going on.

So he is also afraid that, "If I release you then what will be my condition?" That means because he was Minister, he was taking advice from him, how I can protect myself?

Sanatana replied, Sanatana Gosvami that even he was not clear about. I shall give you some advice how to get out.

Formerly, a still in India the practice is that people go to evacuate in the fields. So he says that you tell to the Nawab that Sanatana was allowed to go to evacuate himself in the fields.

To evacuate, he went to evacuate himself.

But suddenly from the bank of the Ganges he jumped over. Sanatana lila.

I enquired so much but I could not trace him,

He was, what is call? Handcuffed; and because he jumped he could not swim so by the waves of the Ganges he was carried away. I could not save him. "You tell the Nawab like this." So he, he thought it is nice, wise advice. So he took the money, daḍuka saiva. [?]

And don't be afraid. I am leaving this country for good. Nobody will be able to trace me. Just like Subhash Ghosh left this country. So similarly the Sanatana Gosvami did. He was also helped by the then Minister Mira Murji. [?]

That I'll become a dervish and I shall go to Mecca. So the superintendent jail agreed.

When Sanatana Gosvami saw that a still he was hesitating then he increased the amount to $7,000.

When the money was placed before him. He became captivated, "Oh, so much money I am getting. All right."

Then he was released. He was taken off the handcuffs and at night was released.

Pataḍa-parvate, he attained somewhere here in the Behar province. So, walking, walking, walking for days he came to the pataḍa-parvate hill.

Formerly there was instead of hotel there was sarai. In one of the sarais he took shelter and he requested him that, "I do not know the way." Because he was coming to Benares from Bengal to Benares. And in the middle he had to pass this [indistinct] area, very hilly tract. So he in sarai, he requested the sarai keeper that, "Kindly help me to cross this hill I want to go to Benares."

This sarai keeper, they used to keep astrologers and the astrologer would inform him that this newcomer has got such and such money and if you take the information and somehow or other at night the sarai keeper would kill or somehow or other take the money. That was the system at that time.

Now he whispered in his ear, very sadly he said that, "This man has got some money."

This man has got eight golden coins.

And eight golden coins at that time, even it was a 80 rupees per coin. It means about 600-700 rupees. That same 700 rupees in those days was I think seven lakhs of these days. Because monetary exchange was different. So anyway when he understood that this man has got so much money he was very pleased. Then he said:

"That's all right, I shall help you to cross this field better you now cook and make your food. You take rest at night I shall help you."

So he was given grains for cooking and Sanatana Gosvami took his bath and attempted to cook.

So because he was himself also diplomat he was Minister. He was thinking, "Why this man is respect me so nicely and giving me grains? What is the purpose?"

Īsana was his servant, he was old servant. So when the master was going he offered, "Sir you are my master now you are leaving this world, you are going away. I must also accompany you." So Sanatana Gosvami permitted, "All right if you walk nice you can come with me." So then when the braya [?] this sarai keeper was so, I mean to say, serving in spirit. Eh? Waiting always, how he was cooking, how he was eating, he became very much suspicious. Iti bhakti cila [?].

When he saw that, "It too much devotee what is the purpose of it. I am a new man, I was very respectable to his estimation." Then he asked Īsana his servant, "Whether you have got some money?" Because he did not bring any money, Sanatana Gosvami he left all, without any money. But his servant because he was not advanced. He simply out of sentiment wanted to go with Sanatana Gosvami, so as naturally he kept some money with him.

He enquired immediately that, "I think that you must have got some money. Will you tell me what you have got?" So Īsana said, "Yes I have got seven more." He had got eight but now he saw that Sanatana Gosvami checked the money. So still he wanted to keep one coin. You see?

"Why you have brought this money? It will be the cause of our being killed. You have brought much money but Yamaraja, so better give me that sata whatever you have got. Bring that money, sata-seven more.

Immediately he took that seven golden coins and went to the hotelkeeper, sarai keeper. "Sir, I have got this seven coins, please take this and let me go and let me help. Please help me to cross this."

The last balance in my pocket was this seven mohara, kindly take this money and help me crossing this field.

I am a political prisoner, so I am going away. So I'll not go in the open road therefore I request you that you let me go through this hill.

So the bhūnati, the hotelkeeper said, "No, no I know it is not seven dollars, seven coins, you have got eight. I already known it through my astrologer." So that is.. Just imagine how much intelligent the astrologers were in that time.

"My decision was that I, I would have killed you and take the eight mohara coins. That was my desire. But you are so kind and gentlemen that you are so simple. That you are giving the money, delivering the money yourself. So I have been saved for, saved from the sinful activity of killing you."

"So I am so much pleased with you. I'll not take your money, I shall help you without any payment. I shall help you to cross the hill."

So he will not take the money but if I go with this money again somebody will again kill me. "Therefore please you take this money and get me out of this."

So he took the money, that seven coins and helped him with four men, five. Five what's it called? What is the five?

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: haribhiḥ[?] [indistinct] guards! Four guards. He gave him four guards and he was [indistinct], help to cross over the hill.

When he was crossed over the hill then he asked his servant Īsana. "Īsana I think that still you have got some money, you are so attached with this money." Then Īsana said: "eka mohara ache avasesa-yes I have got one coin still." [Laughs]

"Please take that money and that will help you go back home. Don't come with me." [Laughs] "Don't come with me with all those dangerous things." So he was asked to go back home. That means he was not fit because he has got so much attraction. So he was not fit to go with him. So he was asked to go back.

So kopina kanthaastikyam, mendicant. All torn clothes and one Kahera, that wooden pot. Just like you are seeing some of the sannyasis also do that. That is stated by Srivasacarya:

So this is a prayer for the six Gosvamis. In one of the prayers it is stated that, tyaktva tūrnam asesa-manḍala-pati-srenim. These Gosvami's they were so aristocratic, so respectable that their friend circle were, manḍala-pati. Manḍala-pati, means-leaders of the society. Because they were Minister naturally his friend circle were big zamindars, big landholders or big ministers and government officers. So he gave up that society, tyaktva tūrnam asesa-manḍala-pati-srenim.

These are the examples of Vedic culture, not only.. Of course Sanatana Gosvami did this say about 500 years ago but there are instances in history of India many big, big Kings. They left their kingdom, just like Bharata Maharaja. He was also a very early age, he gave up the kingdom, he was Emperor of the whole world. The whole world was named Bharata-varsa. Bharata Maharaja. So and, and he had nice young children, young wife and a still he left, Bharata Maharaja.

Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He had very beautiful wife, very affectionate mother and He was Himself very influential brahmana in Navadvipa, He also left home. The Panḍavas after situating their grandson Maharaja Pariksit, left home. Lord Buddha he was also Prince, he left home. These are the instances of Indian culture that at a certain age they must give up family relations and completely devote for the service of the Lord. That is called sannyasa. Not that up to the last point of death one should stick to the family life. That has become the practice now. All these ministers unless they are killed, unless they are forced to leave the post, they will not. They will ask for, bod, bod, bod, bod, bod. So how you can expect nice things if the culture is lost? The whole culture is lost.

So Sanatana Gosvami, this behavior of the Sanatana Gosvami and other Gosvami's, tyaktva tūrnam asesa-manḍala-pati-srenim sada tucchavat. Tuccha means-without giving any importance. When we, we consider of leaving home we think, "How can I leave my home, how can I leave my relatives, my friends, my house, my furniture." So many things because artha cit.

This world, this material world is described. That this material is existing on, only on the basis of sex feeling[?]. Pumsaḥ striya mithuni-bhavam etam [SB 5.5.8]. This world the material world is going on being attracted. The male is attracted by the female and the female is attracted by the male. That is their basic principle of existence. Pumsaḥ striya pumsaḥ striya mithuni-bhavam etam tayor mitham hrdaya-granthim ahuḥ. And as soon as they combine together sexually then one becomes more and more attached. Ato grha-ksetra-sutapta-vittair, then gradually after this combination. One wants grha-home, ksetra-some fields because in those days there was no industry. So one must have some sufficient land to produce food.

So grha-home, then ksetra-land, then suta-children, then friends, society. Suta, apta, vittaiḥ-then money. They are hankering after all these things. As soon as they are combined together the attraction for the material world increases by ksetra, suta, vittaiḥ, apta. In this way he becomes sanctioned, ato grha-ksetra-sutapta-vittair janasya moho 'yam. This is mohaḥ because he is wasting time to get all these things although he knows that it is temporary. My business is not temporary, my business is eternal. I am eternal. I am eternal why I am given so much stress in this temporary situation. This is called ignorance, this is called maya. The human form of life is meant for self-realization.

That we understand from this chapter. How Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Before Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sanatana Gosvami submitted how he enquired. These are very instructive. So we shall discuss partly. Thank you very much.

Devotees: [indistinct] [End]