SRI CAITANYA BHAGAVATA

          Madhya Lila Chapter 17


          All glory to Lord Gaurasundara the Supreme Personality of Godhead and all glory to Lord Nityananda the embodiment of the highest mood of devotional service. The narrations of pastimes in Madhya Khanda are a cascade of nectar that can wash away the contaminations of faithfulness within.

          Lord Caitanya continued His non-stop kirtanas although His true identity remained undisclosed to common men. When He went about the town the people were stunned by His exquisite looks, they thought that He might be Cupid. People also thought that His demeanor was arrogant; the atheists and logicians felt He paid little attention and respect to the scholars holding titles, walking about in a carefree manner, when out He associated mostly with His devotees.

          The atheist would say to Lord Caitanya, "O Nimai Pandita, as Your friends we advise You to be careful, because the king might summon You to his court any day now. The people do not see You but hear Your night long kirtanas and because of that their sleep is being disturbed and they curse You and send reports against You, naturally the king believes the people."

          Lord Caitanya replied, "let it be so, let your words come true, it has been My wish to see the king. I have studied all the scriptures since childhood and no one inquires from Me on any subject considering Me to be too young and immature. I do not usually meet anyone who is wanting to meet Me, and so if someone is wanting to have audience with Me, I am indeed pleased."

          The atheists sarcastically continued, "The king is a Muslim, he will not engage himself in a scriptural debate, he will want to just hear Your kirtana." The Lord just ignored them and went home.

          The Lord said to His devotees, "Let us perform kirtana, I feel discontent because I have spoken to atheists today." The Lord of Vaikuntha, Nimai Pandita began to dance and all His associates danced around Him.

          Suddenly stopping everything Lord Caitanya spoke hesitantly, "O My dear brothers, today everything I do lacks loving ecstasy; maybe it is due to My having spoken to atheists, or is it that I have offended You, in which case kindly forgive me and resuscitate My withering soul."

          The greatly blessed Advaita Acarya who was dancing grimacing plainly said, "How will You feel ecstasy, Nada has drained it all out of You. Neither me nor Srivasa Pandita can get this love of Godhead, but low class millers and gardeners are relishing the exchange of love and devotion with You. Even `Avadhuta' Nityananda is also a recipient of Your love but not me or Srivasa Pandita. We have been downgraded and made non eligible for Your love but this `Avadhuta' came from nowhere and became the store in charge of the store house of love of Godhead. Listen to me, My Lord, if You do not give me this love of Godhead then I shall suck of You all the love and then I cannot be blamed for it."

          Advaita Acarya is always intoxicated with love for Lord Caitanya, therefore he is unmindful of what he says or does. He is an expert in incarnating the fame and glory of Krsna's devotees, he is the property of the Vaisnavas. They can sell Him where they want; such is the degree of His surrender to the Vaisnava devotees. It is not surprising to hear Advaita's words to Lord Caitanya, for he is a devotee of such a stature that he can sell even Krsna with his loving devotion.

          Lord Caitanya arranges in so many ways for His devotees to advance in spiritual life, who can understand His mercy and His ways of chastising. The Lord felt empty within, devoid of love of Godhead, and Advaita Acarya clapped his hands and danced.

          Lord Visvambhara heard Advaita Acarya speak but did not reply. Right then He left the house closing the door behind Him. Lord Nityananda and Haridasa Thakura went hurrying after Him. The Lord was brooding over the fact that if He was devoid of Love of Godhead then what would be the use of maintaining His body. So He plunged into the waters of the Ganga, Lord Nityananda and Haridasa Thakura almost simultaneously jumped into the water. Swimming swiftly Nityananda caught the Lord by His hair and Haridasa firmly gripped His feet.

          They brought Lord Visvambhara to the safety of the river banks. The Lord inquired of them, "Why did you capture Me, what is the necessity of prolonging this lifeless soul which had no love of Godhead, Krsna. You have committed a mistake." Both Nityananda and Haridasa were shaking with anticipation as to what occurred next. Lord Gauracandra looking at Nityananda said, "Why did You catch Me by My hair?" Nityananda replied, "Why were You trying to commit suicide?"

          Lord Caitanya said, "I know You are always engrossed in love of Godhead." Lord Nityananda replied, "O Lord, please forgive everything. The person You could have easily perished is the person You are trying to give up Your life for. Your devotees have spoken to You harshly out of loving insolence, and for this reason must You go away from us, Your servitors, their most precious life?" Lord Nityananda, who is always relishing Lord Caitanya's love spoke this with a voice full of flattery and tears full in his eyes, Lord Caitanya means everything to Lord Nityananda.

          The Lord said, "Listen carefully Nityananda and Haridasa. Do not disclose to anyone that you have seen Me, if anyone inquires then tell them You do not know anything about My whereabouts. I will remain here in hiding, if You do not follow what I say then I am not responsible for the consequences." The Lord then went to Nandana Acarya's house. The two of them did not reveal any of these facts to anyone being bound by the Lord's order.

          The devotees were in a state of painful shock when they did not receive any news of the Lord, they took shelter of Lord Krsna. They were torn apart by separation from their Lord, which was burning up their minds and hearts.

          The devotees felt as if thunderstruck, specially Advaita Acarya was ravaged by the tremendous sense of guilt. Feeling intense separation from the Lord, he went home and began to fast without hearing his name.

          The other devotees also went back to their homes, their hours darkened by deep sorrow, but ensconced within their hearts was their precious treasure, the Lord's lotus feet.

          The Lord entered Nandana Acarya's house and sat on the throne of Lord Visnu. Nandan Acarya felt that his house was now most blessed by the Lord's presence, he fell flat on the ground to offer obeisances to the Lord. He immediately brought fresh new clothes to the Lord and Lord Caitanya changed out of His wet clothes into the new ones.

          Nandana Acarya then decorated the Lord with the deities flower garlands, sandalwood paste, scented oils and brought Him chewing betel leaf in camphor. The Lord enjoyed these offerings made by His pure devotee with loving surrender and forgot His aching heart.

          The Lord said, "O Nandan Acarya, kindly hear Me, I want you to hide Me here." Nandana replied, "my dear Lord, that is almost an impossible task, where in this entire creation can You hide? You could not remain hiding within the hearts of living entities but was made to appear in Person by Your pure devotees. One who could not hide, lying in the middle of the vast milk ocean how can He hide in the middle of this congested human inhabitation?'

          Lord Caitanya smiled appreciating Nandan Acarya's words, and passed the night in his house. Nandan was indeed very pious and fortunate, he conversed with the Lord the whole night long with the greatest of pleasure, divining topics of Lord Krsna and His pastimes. As if in a short moment the night was gone and as the Lord looked out He saw the first faint light peeping through.

          At first the Lord was chastising Advaita Acarya in His mind but later He felt very compassionate towards him. Lord Caitanya instructed Nandana Acarya, "Bring Srivasa Pandita alone here." Nandana immediately for Srivasa Pandita's house and brought him back with him to the Lord's presence.

          Srivasa Pandita broke down in tears of love as soon as he saw Lord Caitanya. The Lord spoke to him ever so kindly, "do not worry any more, now tell Me how is Advaita Acarya?" Srivasa Pandita after describing the critical conditions of the devotes said, "And here is more news, Advaita Acarya is on fast since yesterday and is somehow continuing to live as his body is still there. He is exceedingly afflicted, be merciful to him my Lord, and appear before him in person, if this concerned someone other than Advaita I would not feel responsible. But I know that you mean everything to him. Without You my Lord our lives are dark and gloomy, what is the reason we suffer such excruciating pain of separation. Your leaving us is more than an harsh chastisement so now kindly return and give us Your mercy."

          Srivasa's words made Him feel supremely compassionate and He went to see Advaita. The Lord saw Advaita in a state of abysmal gloom and thinking of himself as the worst offender. He felt that He had become overtly proud from receiving the Lord's special grace and now by this punishment from Him he was shaking all over His body. This pitiable sight of Advaita's condition softened the Lord's heart and He spoke to him benignly, "O Advaita Acarya, get up and see I, Visvambhara has come to see You." Feeling ashamed Advaita remained silent and in intense love for the Lord he just meditated on His lotus feet.

          Again Lord Caitanya addressed him, "Rise up Advaita, discard your mood of discontentment and go about doing Your normal routine."

          Advaita Acarya replied, "O Lord now You have made me do something. All that You speak about me are superfluous praises, this turns my head and boosts up my pride leading me to the path of hell. You have allowed every other devotee to develop a healthy mood of servitorship to You, but to me You show Your reverence. You make me do things and ascribe my position and You also mete out chastisement accordingly. You say that I am Your servant in Your mind You harbor some other ideas. You are my life, treasure, body, mind, You are everything to me. Yet You cause me pain, of course that is the prerogative of Your Supreme Position. My dear Lord, I just pray to You for one thing, kindly allow me to serve You as Your eternal servant and give me shelter at Your lotus feet as You would to a maidservant's son."

          Lord Gaurasundara then spoke to Advaita Acarya in front of the assemble of Vaisnavas, "Listen Advaita I will reveal to you the esoteric truths. Let Me cite you an example that will explain My point. When the highly placed and trusted officer of the king goes to see the king then all the guards and servants approach him with their problems to be placed before the king. This officers does so as well as collects their remunerations on their behalf and also disburses the money amongst them which sustains the many families of the guards and servants. And if such a trusted officer commits a grievous offense then the king's order for his death does not put the guards and servants into anxiety for sustenance. On one hand because of being loyal the officer was entrusted with an important position as a mark of appreciation, but the same person was executed for his offenses.

          Similarly Lord Krsna is the emperor of all the kings and emperors, He is the master of both Brahma, the creator of the Universe and Lord Siva the annihilator of this creation. The Lord gave everyone their potency, whether to create or do anything. No one dare raise objection if the Lord wants to punish our individuals. Even Rama, Laksmi devi the Goddess of fortune who is the eternal consort of Lord Narayana is punished and even Lord Brahma and other demigods are not spared from His punishment. But the Lord is always prepared to forgive the offenses of His devotees. When Lord Krsna sees anyone committing any offense and actually punishes him then know for certain that that person will attain the position as His eternal servant. So get up and bathe and complete your daily worship, then eat and stop worrying."

          Advaita Acarya became elated, the servant felt happy hearing about his punishment for his master. Advaita said, "now I can say You are my Lord and master," and he began to dance clapping his hands. He was overwhelmed with joy being assured of the Lord's shelter and he forgot his previous sorrows.

          The devotees became very happy and Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura began laughing. Those who are unfortunate are deprived of relishing this nectarine pastime of the Lord.

          Advaita Acarya is Lord Caitanya's eternal servitor, if anyone considers Advaita's spiritual wealth and position as the Lord's servant, to be meager and low is in illusion. One should not diminish the significance and standing of a servant of the Supreme Lord because the Lord never elevates anyone to the position of His servitor until that person has sufficient spiritual realization to attain that transcendental platform. A person first attains liberation thus breaking the bonds of the materialistic concepts of life, only then does he become eligible to be a servitor of Lord Krsna. This has been delineated by the great Acaryas who have commented upon Srimad Bhagavatam and other Vedic works, they all described the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Lord Krsna, and worshiped Him. The pure devotees of Krsna are all invested with His spiritual potency and if anyone commits any offenses Krsna mercifully punishes him to rectify him.

          Those devotees who are narrow minded and bigoted start fighting over petty matters, this is a serious deviation from the path of spiritual realization and so a real knowledgeable devotee will refrain from taking sides in such disputes.

          Pure devotion means someone who has no doubt that Lord Gauracandra is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, others who doubt are faithless, their devotion is impure that will lead them ultimately to degradation. Such faithless persons sometimes play the part of a `gura' collecting disciples having the intelligence of asses and foxes and instruct them to think that the guru is equal to the Supreme Lord Himself.

          Those who possess the power to create, maintain and annihilate this material cosmos is certainly not greater than a pure devotee of Lord Caitanya. One of the best examples of such devotees is Lord Balarama, although He is the support of the entire cosmic creation He is still a perfect devotee of Lord Caitanya. All glory to Lord Nityananda, Haladhara, by whose mercy one is able to glorify Lord Caitanya. Only He can bless one to develop attachment for Lord Caitanya; all the pastimes I am narrating is possible due to His potency. One thought I always cherish in my mind is that my Lord and master Nityananda Prabhu is the servant of Lord Caitanya.

          Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are my life and soul.

          I, Vrndavana dasa, humbly offer this song at their lotus feet.

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