Chaitanya Lila

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

[Originally posted by Mukunda Datta Das]

 

One saintly brahmana, who was most virtuous, was touring the

places of pilgrimage in order to obtain Sri Krishna. He used to worship

Gopala by chanting the six-syllable Gopala mantra, and without having

first offered bhoga to Gopala he would eat nothing. Hanging from his neck

like a brilliant jewel was his Bala Gopala Salagrama. By his

transcendental good fortune, one day he came to the home of Jagannatha

Misra in Navadvipa. The pious pilgrim's brahma-tejas was incomparable;

from his mouth, the sound "Krsna, Krsna" was always emanating, and within

his heart he was always relishing the transcendental mellows of affection

for Govinda, such that his eyes were always filled with tears.

 

Seeing such a devotee, Jagannatha Misra at once got up and offered

him respects. Jagannatha Misra did everthing appropriate to receive his

exalted guest. He washed the water of that brahmana's feet and offered him

an elevated seat. Inquiring about his welfare, Sri Misra said, "Dearmost

brahmana, where is your residence?" The brahmana replied, "Having become

indifferent to household life, I have left my own country and continually

wander from one holy place to another. I cannot become attached to any one

place any longer. That's why I constantly wander." Sri Misra responded

with great humility, "Actually, I think that you are wandering about just

to spread good fortune among the residents of this world. Especially today

the topmost fortune is mine. If you give me your order, may I make

arrangements for your meal?"

 

The brahmana said, "Misraji, whatever you desire." Sri Misraji in

great ecstasy collected the best of all materials and cleaned the kitchen

thoroughly and presented everything to the brahmana. He also supplied the

best of all foodstuffs from his pantry. The brahmana, becoming very

happy, cooked everything and sat with eyes closed in meditation to offer

the bhoga to Sri Gopala Krsna.

 

Sri Sacinandana is the all-knowing Supersoul in the hearts of all

living entities. He desired to give His darsana to that brahmana. The

brahmana had just begun his meditation when the Lord crawled into his

presence. His whole body was covered with dust and he was wearing no

clothes at all. His eyes were very restless, and His feet were most

beautiful. The child laughed and took a mouthful of the bhoga and the

brahmana's meditation was broken. That fortunate brahmana saw what had

happened and cried, "Hay! Hay! This child has ruined my offering. Sri

Jagannatha Misra came and saw little Gaurasundara eating rice and smiling.

Misra became furious and ran toward the child to strike him. The brahmana

quickly got up and caught Jagannathe Misra with his hand saying, "Misra,

you are very great, you're a very intelligent, pious gentleman. You know

better than to hit a child. You know the nature of children. They know

no distinction between good or bad. Please do not spank the child."

 

Sri Misra, becoming dejected, sat down and held his head in his

hands. He was so angry, he could say nothing. The brahmana said, "Misra,

don't become dejected like this. Some days are like this. Bhagavan knows

everything. Some days I get only fruits from a house; sometimes wonderful

foodstuffs. I'll just take something simple today. Please don't mind."

 

Misraji said, "Priyavara, if you will consider me your servant,

please once more cook in my kitchen. I will supply you everything you

need. Please cook again and my mind will become peaceful. This is my only

request."

 

The brahmana replied, "All right. If that is your desire I will

cook again." Hearing this, everyone was happy, and somehow or other

collected everything from other places, cleaned everything, and arranged

for the brahmana to again cook. Everyone said to one another, "This child

is too restless. See that he is restrained and cannot return again to

cause more disturbances." For as long as the brahmana was cooking, the

Lord was taken to another house and kept there.

 

Sacimata, holding Nimai in her arms, took him away to another

house. There, all the ladies said, "Why Nimai? Why did you eat the

brahmana's offering?" The Lord smiled. His smile was as beautiful as the

moon. He then said, "What fault of mine is there in this? The brahmana

himself called me to eat!" They all said, "You rascal Nimai! You ate his

cooking, but do you know what his caste is? Or where he's come from? What

will you do now? How will you maintain your caste?" Nimai smiled and

said, "I am just a cowherd, but I eat the food of brahmanas all the time.

Can a cowherd's caste be spoiled by eating the cooking of brahmana?" They

all looked at Nimai's mouth and began to laugh. Sri Gaura was explaining

his factual identity, but they were unable to understand a single thing of

it. Hearing the Lord's words, they simply laughed and squeezed Nimai to

their breasts; they were unfazed.

 

The brahmana again finished cooking and offered the bhoga to

Gopala with his eyes closed, seated in meditation. He began to meditate

upon Bala Gopala in his heart. This fact was taken note of by Sri

Gauracandra. He is the Lord within the heart. Bewildering everyone, and

laughing to Himself, He somehow escaped that house and arrived once more

to where the brahmana was meditating. Quietly, He sneaked a fistful of

rice and put it into His mouth. The sounds of His munching broke the

brahmana's meditation--he saw Nimai. The brahmana again cried, "Hay!

Hay!" and Sri Gaura Prabhu swallowed the rice and ran off. Misraji saw

this and quickly took one big stick in a rage, and ran off to catch Nimai.

 

Sri Gauranga became most fearful and ran from one house to

another, and Misraji quickly followed Him, burning with anger. Sri Misra

said, " If I catch you for what you've done today, I will beat you with

this stick. I've lost all my patience and discrimination."

"Where is that great thief of a son of mine? Which house is He hiding

in?" Saying this, Jagannatha Misra pursued his son Nimai. Everyone began

to say, "Misraji, you're very great and magnanimous. You ought to forgive

such a minor offense. These children, they have no sense. How can you

hit a mere child like this? In this way, they began to give him

instruction, but to no avail.

 

Somehow or other, the pious brahmana appeared on the scene and,

clutching Jagannatha Misra's hand said, "Misra Rai, look, there's no fault

in this boy. What's meant to happen is meant to happen. It just must be

my fate that today Krsna will not accept my bhoga offering. That's my

problem. Please don't be so dejected. This I'm telling you."

Jagannatha Misra simply stood there completely angry and completely

miserable.

At this point, Bhagavan Visvarupa arrived there. There was

incomparable beauty in all of His limbs and He had great transcendental

effulegence, and charming countenance, with a yajna-sutra hanging from

His shoulder, He was the personification of brahma-tejas. He was

non-different from Nityananda Prabhu. All the sastric conclusions were

always ready upon His tongue, and He was always explaining pure devotional

service to Lord Krsna. Seeing such an unprecedented personality, the

pious brahmana was struck with wonder and began to look at Him. His eyes

filled with tears. He asked, "Noble Sir, whose son are You?" Everyone

answered, "He is the elder son of Jagannatha Misra." Hearing this, the

brahmana became very happy and embraced Visvarupa. "Your mother and

father are most fortunate to have such an unequalled son as you." Sri

Visvarupa offered His pranamas to the brahmana and the two sat down. As

if exuding a stream of nectar from His transcendental mouth, He said,

"What a fortunate, greatly auspicious day has come upon us. My house is

blessed with such a saintly personality as Your Grace. Great

personalities such as you wander from one place to another to bless the

denizens of this planet with your purifying association. You are always

full in ecstasy and, freed from any material desire, simply wander at will

filled with bliss. We are most fortunate that you have arrived as an

unexpected guest in our house today. What can I say of our misfortune that

you are fasting? The house from which a guest leaves without having eaten

will only see misfortune henceforth. Having your darsana, I am most

fortunate but hearing what everyone (about your fasting) has said, I have

become most unhappy.

 

The brahmana said, don't be unhappy about anything. If there are

any roots or berries available, I am content to eat that only. I am a

forest-dweller, and I am well-accustomed to eating such things. Some days,

nice grains are cooked, and sometimes there is some obstacle which makes

this impossible. Just seeing you people has given me greater joy

than millions and millions of nicely prepared offerings.

 

Jagannatha Misra had been standing nearby, silent. He was unable

to speak. Holding his head in his hands, he was simply overcome with

despondancy. Sri Visvarupa said, "I am a little fearful to say this, but

you are a great personality, and great personalities are like oceans of

mercy. Sadhus are always unhappy at the unhappiness of others. They become

jublilant in the rejoicings of others too. Therefore if you are pleased to

take a little trouble to cook once more and offer your bhogas to Lord

Krishna, then everyone's unhappiness will be mitigated. Then we will all

experience paramananda."

 

Sri Visvarupa continued, "Priyavara, please don't take offense,

please cook something at least, just once more, and everyone will become

happy. Bowing down, He clutched the feet of that brahmana in his hand with

this entreaty. The brahmana looked at Visvambhara and said, "Alright, I

will cook." Hearing this, everyone became joyful again, singing out, "Hari

bol, Hari bol!" They all cleaned the kitchen again and in but a minute,

everything was assembled and ready. The brahmana then entered the kitchen.

Sri Gaura-gopala took note of this.

 

Everyone told Jagannatha Misra, "Misra, lock your door from

outside so that Nimai won't be able to get out." Misra said, "Yes,

I've already locked Him up inside, too. Meanwhile everyone on the

outside locked the door to Jagannatha Misra's house from the outside.

The ladies all said, "Don't worry, Nimai has gone to sleep now--He won't

be going out to eat anything tonight!" The brahmana soon finished his

cooking.

 

That fortunate brahmana then began to offer his bhoga to Lord Bala

Gopala. Tyhe indwelling Supersoul Sri Gaurasundara then thought, "The

bhoga is ready now." Once again, the desire to give His darsana to that

brahmana arose within His heart. Thus the Lord left the house while

everyone was sleeping (by this time, it was late at night). Nobody knew

about this. Nimai appeared at the place where the brahmana was

meditating. Seeing the child again, the brahmana again cried, "Hay! Hay!"

In utter frustration, he began to cry. But this time nobody heard him--

they were all fast asleep. Then Sri Mahaprabhu said, "Oh, brahmana, you

are very exalted. What is My fault if I come as soon as you call Me?

You're chanting My mantra, invoking My name, how can I not come? Every

time you're making your offering with such pure devotion, so every time I

come to give you My darsana.

 

At that very moment, the brahmana had the darshan of Lord Gaura in

a wonderful form. Before him, Lord Caitanya manifested His eight-armed

Bala Gopala form. In four hands were the conch, disc, club, and lotus;

with two hands, He was playing the flute; in one hand He was holding a

ball of butter; and with the other hand He was eating butter. Upon His

breast were the srivatsa and the kaustubha jewel, and brilliant garlands

of jewels hung from His neck. All of His limbs were bedecked with

beautiful ornaments and jewels, and upon His head was an ornament of gunja

beads and a peacock feather. The lips of His moon-like mouth were

enchanting, and He looked about here and there as He smiled. He had a

vaijayanti mala, and there were shark-shaped earrings swinging from His

ears. There were jewelled ankle bracelets upon His feet, and His

toenails were resplendent. The brahmana then saw that the Lord was

beneath a kadamba tree and He saw Vrindaban, there were birds flying in

all directions. On all sides of the Lord, there were cows, gopas, and

gopis. Whatever the brahmana was accustomed to meditating upon within his

heart, that beautiful vision was now manifest directly before his eyes.

 

That fortunate brahmana saw such wonderful opulence that he simply

fainted in bliss. The ocean of mercy, Sri Gaurasundara held him in His

own transcendental hands. From His touch, the brahmana regained

consciousness, but he was struck dumb with transcendental bliss and he

could not even utter a word. Again and again, he fainted to the ground,

and again and again he would rise in great ecstasy. There was

perspiration, trembling, horipilation, and all manifestation of ecstatic

symptoms in his body. A vast river of tears flowed from his eyes. For

a moment the brahmana regained his sense and fell at the feet of Sri

Gauranga and began to cry loudly. Seeing the condition of this brahmana,

Lord Gauranga began to laugh. Sri Gaura Prabhu said, "He, Priyavara,

listen. You are My servant for many births. You are always desiring my

darsana, and in this way I am always giving you My darsana. In a previous

birth, I gave you My darsana in just this way in the house of Nanda

Maharaja. You don't remember this. When I appeared in the home of Nanda

Maharaja in Gokula, in that birth, you too appeared as a brahmana

wandering from one holy place to another. By transcendental fate, you came

to the home of Nanda Maharaja and offered bhoga in just this way. At that

time, I tricked you and ate your offerings, giving you My darsana just as

I have today. You are My servant birth after birth. How could you get

the darsana of such a wonderful form if it were not so? The Lord then

said, "He vipra! This is a very confidential matter. You should not

disclose this to anyone. If you mention this to anyone, I will annihilate

you! Listen, I have now appeared in this world for the purpose of

spreading Krsna Sankirtana, and I will do this. I will go house to house

giving out such devotional service as either Lord Brahma or Siva cannot

desire.

 

In this way, Sri Gaurasundara pacified the brahmana, and bestowing

His mercy upon him left the room. Becoming as if an ordinary baby again,

He went to sleep with His mother. No one was able to understand any of

these activities because of the agency of Yogamaya. Having seen this

wonderful form of the Lord, the brahmana, his whole body filled with

ecstasy, took the wonderful prasadam of the Lord and danced in ecstasy,

crying, laughing, and singing, "Bala Gopala ki jaya!"

 

Repeated sounds of his calling and crying woke the others in the

house. They shook off sleep, said achamana, and came to see the brahmana.

Seeing him, everyone became very happy. The brahmana in his mind again

and again began to think, "If I could only tell these people that

Parameswara is living in their home, they could become liberated from

material existence and go back to Godhead." Then he thought, "Oh, even

Brahma and Siva cannot have such good fortune to have the Supreme Lord

living with them. They all simply think that He is an ordinary child. If

I could inform them of the real situation, they could obtain the Supreme

destination. But then he remembered that the Lord told him not to reveal

this to anyone. And he became afraid--the Lord's request should not be

broken. In this way the brahmana said nothing to anyone. Having

recognized Bhagavan, that brahmana then stayed only in Navadvipa and

resided there, concealing his feelings. That brahmana would go here and

there to beg and every day would come with the hope of seeing Gaura

Bhagavan.

 

 

This pastime is found in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, but is

more elaborately described as above, in the Sri Caitanya-bhagavata,

Adi-khanda, Chapter 3.

 

 

 

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