(4/5) Learn from Lord's Pastimes

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
6 January 2020, part 4

Mahaprabhu performed so many pastimes in Puri, Nabadwip and other places. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu even rescued and gave Their mercy to two drunkards, Jagai and Madhai. Madhai beat Nityananda Prabhu and broke His head, but Nityananda Prabhu gave His mercy to him. How much mercy They are giving us! Even when He was beaten, Nityananda Prabhu said, "No problem, you can beat Me more if you like, but please chant the Holy Name just once! It will give you real benefit, and it will also make Me happy."

Gurudev also said that before Mahaprabhu left Nabadwip, He had been tortured by brahmans because He would say:

যেই ভজে, সেই বড়, অভক্ত—হীন, ছার ।
কৃষ্ণভজনে নাহি জাতি-কুলাদি বিচার ॥

yei bhaje sei bada, abhakta—hina, chhara
krsna-bhajane nahi jati-kuladi-vichara

"Only a nondevotee can be considered as worthless and abominable: anyone who takes to devotional service is great—there is no consideration of class, caste or any other status for those who have taken up service to Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 4.67)

কিবা বিপ্র, কিবা ন্যাসী, শূদ্র কেনে নয় ।
যেই কৃষ্ণতত্ত্ববেত্তা, সেই ‘গুরু’ হয় ॥

kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya
yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya

"Whether one is a brahman, a sannyasi, or a sudra, regardless of what one is, one can become a spiritual master if they know the science of Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 8.128)

Nimai said that even a brahman can sit down and a sudra can take a higher seat if this sudra has good qualities. In other words, even a sudra can teach a brahman, and a brahman can sit like a student. When Mahaprabhu spoke like this, some of His classmates who liked to debate and explore logic began to disturb Mahaprabhu. Gurudev said that this was the reason why Mahaprabhu quickly took sannyas and left for Puri.

When we come to preach, we come to give everyone an opportunity. You can see people doing something similar in political parties also. For example, we are born as Hindus, but somebody converts Hindus into Christian, Muslim and so on; therefore, the central government is adamant about creating so-called 'Hindu rashtra' (promotion of Hindu nationalism). Actually, when people covert Hindus into Christians, Christians into Hindus or bring lower caste people to Hinduism, they do not think about anyone's benefit except their own benefit—they do this to gain votes. You can see that although Mahaprabhu defeated Keshav Kashmiri Dig-vijayi, who was a very great scholar, and Prakasananda Saraswati in Kashi, He did not become proud, "Oh, I have defeated them!" Mahaprabhu thought in a very humble way, "I am giving them real benefit—I am their servant, and they are engaging Me in their service."

There is also one important pastime described in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita. I have told it to you many times. When Mahaprabhu lived in Puri, He had a servitor called Govinda. Govinda was actually Sri Ishwar Puri's disciple, but he never thought that Sri Ishwar Puri was his guru; rather, he always thought that Mahaprabhu was his Guru. One day, Mahaprabhu had been chanting all day and night, and when He came to His room in Gambhira, He was so tired that He lay down right in the doorway. Govinda would massage Mahaprabhu's legs every day, but this time, because Mahaprabhu was lying in the doorway, Govinda could not come inside.

"Prabhu," he asked, "I cannot come inside. Please move a little."

"I am very tired," said Mahaprabhu, "I cannot move..."

"But I do this service every day... How will I do it today?"

"That is your matter."

Then, Govinda thought, "What should I do? I do this service every day, and I cannot stop it today." This is what is called sincerity. Then, Govinda put a cloth on Mahaprabhu's body and, crossing over Him, came inside the room. He picked up his cloth and put whatever dust had fallen on it on his head. After Govinda massaged Mahaprabhu's legs, Mahaprabhu slept very well, but Govinda remained inside the room—he was sitting, leaning against the wall. After midnight, Mahaprabhu woke up.

"What is this?" Mahaprabhu asked, surprised. "Govinda, why did you not go to take prasad? Did you not go to take rest? Why are you still here?"

"Prabhu," Govinda answered, "how will I go? You are sleeping in the doorway."

"Then how did you come inside?" Mahaprabhu asked.

"I came inside for Your service, not for myself, but I cannot cross You for my own enjoyment, to satisfy my senses."

This is the main thing in our spiritual life, but our situation is such that:

আমার জীবন সদা পাপে রত
নাহিক পুণ্যের লেশ ।
পরেরে উদ্বেগ দিয়াছি যে কত
দিয়াছি জীবেরে ক্লেশ ॥

amara jivana sada pape rata
nahika punyera lesa
parere udvega diyachhi ye kata
diyachhi jivere klesa

"My life is always engrossed in sin. There is not a trace of piety in it. I have caused others so much anxiety and trouble."

(Saranagati, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur)

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READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Madhava Tithi
2) The Pride of the Prideless
3) Inconceivable Mercy
4) Learn from Lord's Pastimes
5) Appreciate Service