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[The following is a narration of the original Bengali text, along with English translation and Bhaktivedānta purports of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 14.51-61 by Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja.]
Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā — caturdaśa pariccheda, Chapter Fourteen, text fifty-one.
āpani candana pari’ parena phula-mālā
naivedya kāḍiyā khā’na — sandeśa, cāla, kalā
krodhe kanyāgaṇa kahe — śuna, he nimāñi
grāma-sambandhe hao tumi āmā sabāra bhāi
āmā sabākāra pakṣe ihā karite nā yuyāya
nā laha devatā sajja, nā kara anyāya
prabhu kahe, — “tomā sabāke dila ei vara
tomā sabāra bhartā habe parama sundara
paṇḍita, vidagdha, yuvā, dhana-dhānyavān
sāta sāta putra habe — cirāyu, matimān”
vara śuni’ kanyā-gaṇera antare santoṣa
bāhire bhartsana kare kari’ mithyā roṣa
kona kanyā palāila naivedya la-iyā
tāre ḍāki’ kahe prabhu sakrodha ha-iyā
yadi naivedya nā deha ha-iyā kṛpaṇī
buḍā bhartā habe, āra cāri cāri satinī
ihā śuni’ tā-sabāra mane ha-ila bhaya
kona kichu jāne, kibā devāviṣṭa haya
āniyā naivedya tārā sammukhe dharila
khāiyā naivedya tāre iṣṭa-vara dila
ei mata cāpalya saba lokere dekhāya
duḥkha kāro mane nahe, sabe sukha pāya
(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā 14.51-61)
āpani candana pari’ parena phula-mālā
naivedya kāḍiyā khā’na — sandeśa, cāla, kalā
Translation: Without the permission of the girls, the Lord would take the sandalwood pulp and smear it on His own body, put the flower garlands on His neck, and snatch and eat all the offerings of sweetmeats, rice and bananas. (Cc. Ādi 14.51)
Purport: According to the system of worship, when something is offered to deities outside one’s home, it is generally not cooked food but raw rice, bananas and sweetmeats. Out of His causeless mercy, the Lord would snatch the offerings from the girls and eat them, admonishing the girls not to worship the demigods but to worship Him. This worship of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is recommended in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:
kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ
“One should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead who appears in this Age of Kali with His associates as the Pañca-tattva: the Lord Himself and His associates Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrī Advaita Prabhu, Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. In this age an intelligent person worships the Pañca-tattva by the method of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and, if possible, distributing prasādam.” Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is introducing this bonafide method of worship in the Western world. Its members are going from village to village and town to town with Deities of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, teaching people how to worship the Lord by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, offering prasādam and distributing prasādam to people in general.
krodhe kanyāgaṇa kahe — śuna, he nimāñi
grāma-sambandhe hao tumi āmā sabāra bhāi
Translation: All the girls became very angry at the Lord for this behaviour. “Dear Nimāi,” they told Him, “You are just like our brother in our village relationship. (Cc. Ādi 14.52)
āmā sabākāra pakṣe ihā karite nā yuyāya
nā laha devatā sajja, nā kara anyāya
Translation: “Therefore it does not behoove You to act like this. Don’t take our paraphernalia for worship of the demigods. Don’t create a disturbance in this way.” (Cc. Ādi 14.53)
prabhu kahe, — “tomā sabāke dila ei vara
tomā sabāra bhartā habe parama sundara
Translation: The Lord replied, “My dear sisters, I give you the benediction that your husbands will be very handsome. (Cc. Ādi 14.54)
paṇḍita, vidagdha, yuvā, dhana-dhānyavān
sāta sāta putra habe — cirāyu, matimān”
Translation: “They will be learned, clever and young and possess abundant wealth and rice. Not only that, but you will each have seven sons, who will all live long lives and be very intelligent.” (Cc. Ādi 14.55)
Purport: Generally it is the ambition of a young girl to have a very handsome husband who is learned, clever, young and rich. According to the Vedic culture, one is rich if he possesses a large stock of food grain and a very large number of animals. Dhānyena dhanavān gavayā dhanavān: one is rich if he possesses food grain, cows and bulls. A girl also desires to have many children, especially sons (putra) who are very intelligent and long-lived. Now because society has deteriorated there is propaganda to have one or two children and kill the rest by contraceptive methods. But the natural ambition of a girl is to possess not only more than one child but at least half a dozen.
In exchange for the paraphernalia of worship He usurped for Himself, Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to bless the girls to fulfill all their ambitions and desires. One can easily become happy and obtain the material benefits of a good husband, wealth, food grain and a number of nice children by worshiping Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted sannyāsa at an early age, it is not necessary for His devotees to follow Him by also taking sannyāsa. One can stay a householder, but one must be a devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then one will be happy, with all the material opulences of a good home, good children, good mate, good wealth and everything he desires. Therefore the śāstras advise, yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ (Sb. 11.5.32). Every householder, therefore, who is actually intelligent should introduce the saṅkīrtana movement home to home and live peacefully in this life and go back to Godhead in the next.
vara śuni’ kanyā-gaṇera antare santoṣa
bāhire bhartsana kare kari’ mithyā roṣa
Translation: Hearing this benediction from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the girls were inwardly very happy, but externally, as is natural for girls, they rebuked the Lord under the pretense of anger. (Cc. Ādi 14.56)
Purport: This double-dealing is natural for girls. When they are satisfied within, they externally show dissatisfaction. Such feminine dealings are very palatable to boys who try to make friendships with them.
kona kanyā palāila naivedya la-iyā
tāre ḍāki’ kahe prabhu sakrodha ha-iyā
Translation: When some of the girls fled, the Lord called them in anger and advised them as follows: (Cc. Ādi 14.57)
yadi naivedya nā deha ha-iyā kṛpaṇī
buḍā bhartā habe, āra cāri cāri satinī
Translation: “If you are miserly and do not give Me the offerings, every one of you will have an old husband with at least four co-wives.” (Cc. Ādi 14.58)
Purport: In India in those days and even until fifty years ago, polygamy was freely allowed. Any man, especially of the higher castes — the brāhmaṇas, the vaiśyas and particularly the kṣatriyas — could marry more than one wife. In the Mahābhārata, or the old history of India, we see that kṣatriya kings especially used to marry many wives. According to Vedic civilization there was no restriction against this, and even a man more than fifty years old could marry. But to be married to a man who had many wives was not a very pleasing situation because the husband’s love would be divided among his many wives. To punish the girls unwilling to offer Him the naivedya, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu apparently wanted to curse them to be married to men who had at least four wives.
The social structure allowing a man to marry more than one wife can be supported in this way. Generally in every society the female population is greater in number than the male population. Therefore if it is a principle in the society that all girls should be married, unless polygamy is allowed it will not be possible. If all the girls are not married there is a good chance of adultery, and a society in which adultery is allowed cannot be very peaceful or pure. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness society we have restricted illicit sex. The practical difficulty is to find a husband for each and every girl. We are therefore in favour of polygamy, provided, of course, that the husband is able to maintain more than one wife.
ihā śuni’ tā-sabāra mane ha-ila bhaya
kona kichu jāne, kibā devāviṣṭa haya
Translation: Hearing this supposed curse by Lord Caitanya, the girls, considering that He might know something uncommon or be empowered by demigods, were afraid that His curse might be effective. (Cc. Ādi 14.59)
āniyā naivedya tārā sammukhe dharila
khāiyā naivedya tāre iṣṭa-vara dila
Translation: The girls then brought the offerings before the Lord, who ate them all and blessed the girls to their satisfaction. (Cc. Ādi 14.60)
ei mata cāpalya saba lokere dekhāya
duḥkha kāro mane nahe, sabe sukha pāya
Translation: When this cunning behaviour of the Lord with the girls became known to the people in general, it did not create misunderstandings among them. Rather, they enjoyed happiness in these dealings. (Cc. Ādi 14.561)
[Break]
[The following is a narration of Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 6.42-139; original Bengali text and comments by Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja, followed by English translation by a devotee.]
ḍubilā cāñcalya-rase prabhu viśvambhara
saṁhati capala yata dvijera koṅara
As He grew, Nimāi became completely absorbed in the restless mood of a young boy with the other restless young sons of the Navadvīpa brāhmaṇas. (Cb. Ādi 6.42)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: They joined Him.
sabāra sahita giyā paḍe nānā-sthāne
dhariyā rākhite nāhi pāre kona jane
No one could restrain Him and He wandered freely with His friends. (Cb. Ādi 6.43)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: So fickle, restless. No one could catch Him, restrain Him. Yes.
anya śiśu dekhile karaye kutūhala
seha parihāsa kare, bājaye kondala
Upon meeting another young boy, Nimāi would poke fun at him and the boy would return the taunts until a quarrel broke out. (Cb. Ādi 6.44)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Quarrel. Ultimately a quarrel broke out. Yes. He gets pleasure out of it. Isn’t it? Restlessness.
prabhura bālaka saba jine prabhu-bale
anya śiśu-gaṇa yata saba hāri’ cale
Nimāi and His friends always won such quarrels because Nimāi was more powerful; the opponents inevitably went away defeated. (Cb. Ādi 6.45)
GGS: Nimāi and His party, they always win; the opponents are defeated because Nimāi, the Supreme Lord, is very powerful.
dhūlāya dhūsara prabhu śrī-gaurasundara
likhana-kālira bindu śobhe manohara
How enchanting Nimāi looked with His body covered in greyish dust and speckled with drops of black writing ink. (Cb. Ādi 6.46)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: How nice it looks! Nimāi’s whole body is smeared with dust and some spots of writing ink are there. Looks very beautiful. Depict him like Him[?]. Do you want to be like that? Nobody would like, “Ah, ugly looking!” Isn’t it? But Nimāi looks very beautiful because He is the all-attractive Lord. It’s natural beauty.
paḍiyā śuniyā sarva-śiśu-gaṇa-saṅge
gaṅgā-snāne madhyāhne calena bahu-raṅge
After finishing their studies each day at noon, Nimāi and His friends went to bathe in the Gaṅgā, amusing themselves all the while. (Cb. Ādi 6.47)
majjiyā gaṅgāya viśvambhara kutūhalī
śiśu-gaṇa-saṅge kare jala phelāpheli
Diving into the waters of the Gaṅgā, Nimāi and His friends challenged one another by splashing. (Cb. Ādi 6.48)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: …water.
nadīyāra sampatti vā ke balite pāre?
asaṅkhyāta loka eko ghāṭe snāna kare
Who can describe Nadiā’s opulence in those days? Hundreds of people gathered at the bathing places on the river. (Cb. Ādi 6.49)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: In those days, Nadiā was very opulent.
kateka vā śānta dānta gṛhastha sannyāsī
nā jāni kateka śiśu mile taṅhi āsi’
It was impossible to keep track of the number of different people who came to the bathing places. Renunciates in saffron robes, householders, peaceful gentlemen, children, all came there to bathe. (Cb. Ādi 6.50)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Varieties of people.
sabāre laiyā prabhu gaṅgāya sāṅtāre
kṣaṇe ḍube, kṣaṇe bhāse, nānā krīḍā kare
The Lord performed wonderful water sports with His friends, sometimes floating about with the currents of the Gaṅgā. (Cb. Ādi 6.51)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Sometimes drowning, sometimes floating. Different pastimes, water pastimes.
jala-krīḍā kare gaura sundara-śarīra
sabākāra gā’ye lāge caraṇera nīra
Using the excuse of water sports, Nimāi often splashed water from His divine lotus feet upon whoever was near Him, thus showering His grace upon them. (Cb. Ādi 6.52)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Showing His causeless mercy.
sabe mānā kare, tabu niṣedha nā māne
dhariteo keha nāhi pāre eka-sthāne
People would warn Nimāi not to be so mischievous but He would pay no heed, nor could anyone catch Him, as He was the swiftest swimmer. (Cb. Ādi 6.53)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Such swift swimmer; acchā.
punaḥ punaḥ sabāre karāya prabhu snāna
kā’re choṅya, kā’ro aṅge kullola-pradāna
Nimāi would force everyone to bathe several times by contaminating them by touching them after their bath, or sometimes by spitting upon them. (Cb. Ādi 6.54)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: [Makes spitting sound; laughter] Making them take bath again and again.
nā pāiyā prabhura nāgāli vipra-gaṇe
sabe calilena tāṅ’ra janakera sthāne
Unable to catch Nimāi to rebuke Him, the enraged brāhmaṇas stormed off to His father. (Cb. Ādi 6.55)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Jagannātha Miśra.
“śuna, śuna, ohe miśra parama-bāndhava!
tomāra putrera apanyāya kahi saba
bhāla-mate karite nā pāri gaṅgā-snāna”
keha bole,—“jala diyā bhāṅge mora dhyāna”
“Dear Miśra, my good friend,” one gentleman said. “Please listen well. I have come to complain about your son’s misconduct. He does not allow us to perform our daily ablutions in the Gaṅgā properly.” Another man complained, “He splashes water on us and disturbs our meditation.” (Cb. Ādi 6.56-57)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: “He disturbed my meditation. All mischievous activities of your son”, they complained before Jagannātha Miśra.
āro bole,—“kā’re dhyāna kara, ei dekha
kali-yuge “nārāyaṇa” muñi paratekha”
“Furthermore, Nimāi says, “Who are you meditating on? Just look at Me. In this Kali-yuga, I am directly Lord Nārāyaṇa Himself.” (Cb. Ādi 6.58)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: “Meditate on Me; whom do you meditate [upon]?”, Mahāprabhu said like that in His boyhood pastimes.
keha bole,—“mora śiva-liṅga kare curi”
keha bole,—“mora lai’ palāya uttarī”
keha bole,—“puṣpa, dūrvā, naivedya, candana
viṣṇu pūjibāra sajja, viṣṇura āsana
āmi kari snāna, hethā vaise se āsane
saba khāi’ pari’ tabe kare palāyane”
They all came with different complaints. One man said, “He stole my Śiva-liṅga Deity.” Another said, “He ran away with my outer clothes.” Still another reported, “I prepared for Lord Viṣṇu’s worship and collected in one place all the different ingredients like flowers, dūrvā grass, sandalwood and a seat for Lord Viṣṇu. When I went for my bath, Nimāi sat on Lord Viṣṇu’s seat, ate the offering, and threw the other ingredients away. (Cb. Ādi 6.59-61)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: He ran away. Such mischievous activities.
āro bole,— “tumi kene duḥkha bhāva’ mane?
yā’ra lāgi’ kailā, sei khāilā āpane”
“Then Nimāi said, ‘Why do you feel so sad? The Lord of your worship has Himself eaten your offering.’” (Cb. Ādi 6.62)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Yes. Why do you feel sad? [Laughs]. He is the Lord.
keha bole,—“sandhyā kari jalete nāmiyā
ḍuba diyā laiyā yāya caraṇe dhariyā”
The people continued to complain. One brāhmaṇa said, “I stepped into the water to recite my gāyatrī-mantra and from nowhere Nimāi came from under the water and pulled me away by my feet.” (Cb. Ādi 6.63)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Nimāi came drowning, pulled away my feet.
keha bole,—“āmāra nā rahe sāji dhuti”
keha bole,—“āmāra corāya gītā-puṅthi”
Another said, “My clothes and flowers are invariably taken away.” Yet another said, "He steals my Bhagavad-gītā scripture.” (Cb. Ādi 6.64)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Yes, a great stealer. [Laughs]. The supreme thief.
keha bole,—“putra ati-bālaka, āmāra
karṇe jala diyā tā’re kāndāya apāra”
Another exasperated voice added, “My son is very young. Nimāi puts water in his ears and makes him weep miserably.” (Cb. Ādi 6.65)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Miserably. Such mischievous. [Laughs]. Duṣṭa.
keha bole,—“mora pṛṣṭha diyā kāndhe caḍe
‘muñi re maheśa’ bali’ jhāṅpa diyā paḍe”
keha bole,—“vaise mora pūjāra āsane
naivedya khāiyā viṣṇu pūjaye āpane
snāna kari’ uṭhile bālukā deya aṅge
yateka capala śiśu, sei tā’ra saṅge
Someone else complained, “He sneaks around to my back and climbs onto my shoulders shouting, ‘I am Maheśa!’ and then jumps down.” Another complained, “He sits on my seat of worship and eats all my offerings; then He performs worship of Lord Viṣṇu. He throws sand at anyone who has finished bathing and all the other restless, mischievous boys join Him. (Cb. Ādi 6.66-68)
strī-vāse puruṣa-vāse karaye badala
paribāra belā sabe lajjāya vikala!
“One of His worst tricks is that while the women and men are bathing He mixes up their clothes and when they want to dress, they become quite disturbed.” (Cb. Ādi 6.69)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Women put on men’s clothes and men put on women’s clothes. Nimāi has made such disturbances. [Laughs]. Very nice, isn’t it?
parama-bāndhava tumi miśra-jagannātha!
nitya ei-mata kare, kahiluṅ tomāta
“Dear Jagannātha Miśra, you are a generous and friendly gentleman, but I tell you your son Nimāi does this sort of mischief every single day. (Cb. Ādi 6.70)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Everyday He does like that.
dui-prahareo nāhi uṭhe jala haite
deha vā tāhāra bhāla thākibe kemate”
“He remains in the water well past two in the afternoon teasing everyone that comes for their bath. How do you expect Him to maintain His health?” (Cb. Ādi 6.71)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: He will fall sick.
hena kāle pārśva-vartī yateka bālikā
kopa-mane āilena śacīdevī yathā
In the meantime, many angry young girls from the neighbourhood approached Śacīdevī. (Cb. Ādi 6.72)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: They complained.
śacire sambodhiyā sabe bolena vacana
“śuna, ṭhākurāṇī, nija-putrera karama
vasana karaye curi, bole ati-manda
uttara karile jala deya, kare dvandva
vrata karibāre yata āni phula-phala
chaḍāiyā phele bala kariyā sakala
snāna kari’ uṭhile bālukā deya aṅge
yateka capala śiśu, sei tā’ra saṅge
alakṣite āsi’ karṇe bole baḍa bola”
keha bole,—“mora mukhe dileka kullola
okaḍāra bici deya keśera bhitare
keha bole,—“more cāhe vibhā karibāre
They arrested Śacīdevī with serious complaints, “Please hear from us, respected mother, about your son’s misdeeds. He steals our clothes and uses awful abusive language with us. When we try to correct His speech, He starts quarrelling and splashes water upon us. We bring fruits and flowers to the Gaṅgā to follow our religious observances, but He scatters and spoils everything. He waits for us to finish our ablutions and then throws sand upon us. Your son Nimāi stealthily comes from behind us and suddenly shouts loudly into our ears, mortifying us.” Another said, “Nimāi spat a mouthful of water right into my face, and threw these okaḍa seeds in my hair. They do not come off so easily.” Yet another voice complained, “Nimāi says He wants to marry me.” (Cb. Ādi 6.73-78)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: “Wants to marry me”, one girl says.
prati-dina ei-mata kare vyavahāra
tomāra nimāi kibā rājāra kumāra?
“Everyday He behaves in this manner; do you think your son is a prince?”, they inquired. (Cb. Ādi 6.79)
pūrve śunilāṅa yena nandera kumāra
sei-mata saba kare nimāi tomāra
“Everything your son Nimāi does is exactly what Nanda Mahārāja’s son Gopāla Kṛṣṇa did a long time ago. We have heard stories of Kṛṣṇa. (Cb. Ādi 6.80)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: He is Kṛṣṇa. [Laughs]. The same pastimes.
duḥkhe bāpa-māyere baliba yei dine
tata-kṣaṇe kondala haibe tomā’ sane
“If we report all these complaints to our parents, they will surely quarrel with you. (Cb. Ādi 6.81)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Yes. If we report to our parents, they will come and quarrel with you. So we tell you, take care of your child.
nivāraṇa kara jhāṭa āpana chāoyāla
nadīyāya hena karma kabhu nahe bhāla”
“You should immediately correct your young son; His conduct is certainly not well received in a town like Nadiā.” (Cb. Ādi 6.82)
śuniyā hāsena mahāprabhura jananī
sabe kole kariyā balena priya-vāṇī
With a smiling face, Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mother embraced the girls and spoke comforting words to them all. (Cb. Ādi 6.83)
“nimāi āile āji vāḍyāmu bāndhiyā
āra yena upadrava nāhi kare giyā”
“When Nimāi returns home today I will beat Him and bind Him up so that He can never again go out and tyrannize anyone.” (Cb. Ādi 6.84)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Yes, like Yaśodā-mātā.
śacīra caraṇa-dhūli lañā sabe śire
tabe calilena punaḥ snāna karibāre
All the girls respectfully took the dust from Śacīdevī’s feet upon their heads and proceeded to the Gaṅgā to take their baths again. (Cb. Ādi 6.85)
yateka cāpalya prabhu kare yā’ra sane
paramārthe sabāra santoṣa baḍa mane
Regardless of how everyone suffered due to Nimāi's mischief, each person felt great satisfaction in His presence. (Cb. Ādi 6.86)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: They get the opportunity to develop, make advancement in devotional service because they are getting such nice association of the Lord; mercy.
kautuke kahite āisena miśra-sthāne
śuni’ miśra tarje garje sadambha-vacane
People came to complain to Jagannātha Miśra for amusement, but he became upset and angrily replied. (Cb. Ādi 6.87)
“niravadhi e vyabhāra karaye sabāre
bhāla-mate gaṅgā-snāna nā deya karibāre
“This boy behaves like this everyday. He doesn’t allow anyone to peacefully take bath in Gaṅgā. (Cb. Ādi 6.88)
ei jhāṅṭa yāṅa tā’ra śāsti karibāre”
sabe rākhileha keha rākhite nā pāre
“I’m going to punish Him right now!” Although they all tried to pacify Jagannātha Miśra, they were unable. (Cb. Ādi 6.89)
krodha kari’ yakhana calilā miśra-vara
jānilā gaurāṅga sarva-bhūtera īśvara
The Supreme Controller of everyone and everything, Śri Gaurāṅga, knew that Śri Miśra was looking for Him in a state of rage. (Cb. Ādi 6.90)
gaṅgā-jale keli kare śrī-gaurasundara
sarva-bālakera madhye ati manohara
Lord Śri Gaurasundara continued His wonderful water sports. Amongst all the boys, He was the most charming. (Cb. Ādi 6.91)
kumārikā sabe bole,—“śuna viśvambhara!
miśra āilena ei, palāha satvara
The young maidens took pity on Nimāi and said, “Listen Viśvambhara, your angry father is coming in this direction. Escape right now!” (Cb. Ādi 6.92)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: The girls said, “Your father is coming, Viśvambhara. Run away!”
śiśu-gaṇa-saṅge prabhu yāya dharibāre
palāila brāhmaṇa-kumārī saba ḍare
Śrī Miśra searched for Nimāi playing amongst His friends, while all the brāhmaṇa maidens ran away in fear. (Cb. Ādi 6.93)
sabāre śikhāya miśra-stāne kahibāra
“snāne nāhi āisena tomāra kumara
sei pathe gelā ghara paḍiyā śuniyā
āmarāo āchi ei tāhāra lāgiyā”
Nimāi had already instructed His friends that when His father enquired about His whereabouts they should say, “Your son did not come for His bath with us. He went back home after class. In fact, we ourselves are waiting for Him.” (Cb. Ādi 6.94-95)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: You should say like that when father will come and enquire where is Nimāi, you say ‘He has not come here to gaṅgā-ghāṭa; he went home directly from the school.’ [Laughs]. Such mischievous.
śikhāiyā āra pathe prabhu gelā ghara
gaṅgā-ghāṭe āsiyā mililā miśra-vara
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Saying in this way, Nimāi went home by another way just as His father, Jagannātha Miśra, came to gaṅgā-ghāṭa. (Cb. Ādi 6.96)
āsiyā gaṅgāra ghāṭe cāri-dike cāhe
śiśu-gaṇa-madhye putre dekhite nā pāye
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Coming to gaṅgā-ghāṭa, Jagannātha Miśra looked all around but couldn’t find where is Nimāi. He is not here; what complain [then]? (Cb. Ādi 6.97) [Laughs].
miśra jijñāsena,—“viśvambhara kati gelā?”
śiśu-gaṇa bole,—“āji snāne nā āilā
sei pathe gelā ghara paḍiyā śuniyā
sabhe āchi ei tā’ra apekṣā kariyā
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Śrī Miśra enquired, “Where is Viśvambhara?” All the other boys said, “Today He didn’t come here, to gaṅgā-ghāṭa. From the school He went home. We are all waiting for Him. He has not come here.” (Cb. Ādi 6.98-99)
cāri-dike cāhe miśra hāte bāḍi laiyā
tarja-garja kare baḍa lāg nā pāiyā
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Jagannātha Miśra was very angry; holding a stick in his hand, looking around: where is Nimāi? Out of anger, roaring. (Cb. Ādi 6.100)
kautuke yāhārā nivedana kailā giyā
sei saba vipra punaḥ bolaye āsiyā
“bhaya pāi’ viśvambhara palāilā ghare
ghare cala tumi, kichu bola pāche tā’re
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Those brāhmaṇas [who had earlier made complaints against Nimāi just for some fun, now came to Śrī Miśra and] said, "Viśvambhara ran home out of fear. You go home and find Him there. (Cb. Ādi 6.101-102)
āra-bāra āsi’ yadi cañcalatā kare
āmarāi dhari’ diba tomāra gocare
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: “If He comes back here again and creates mischief, then we will catch Him and take Him to you. (Cb. Ādi 6.103)
kautuke se kathā kahilāṅa tomā’ sthāne
tomā’ bai bhāgyavān nāhi tribhuvane
"All those complaints we made about Nimāi at your residence were simply out of fun. Actually, your good fortune is unmatched in all the three worlds. (Cb. Ādi 6.104)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Yes. You are so fortunate, Jagannātha Miśra.
se hena nandana yā’ra gṛha-mājhe thāke
ki karite pāre tā’re kṣudhā-tṛṣā-śoke?
“Nimāi is such a pleasing son that the members of His family could never be touched by hunger, thirst, sorrow or other material sufferings. (Cb. Ādi 6.105)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: No; the Lord is there.
tumi se sevilā satya prabhura caraṇa
tā’ra mahābhāgya,—yā’ra e-hena nandana
“Your son is the Supreme Eternal Lord; you are truly very fortunate to be able to serve His lotus feet. (Cb. Ādi 6.106)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: …and to have such a son.
koṭi aparādha yadi viśvambhara kare
tabu tā’re thuibāṅa hṛdaya-upare”
“We will always keep Viśvambhara’s memory in our hearts, even if He commits countless offences.” (Cb. Ādi 6.107)
janme-janme kṛṣṇa-bhakta ei-saba jana
e saba uttama-buddhi ihāra kāraṇa
The personalities of Nadiā were eternal devotees and associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. For this reason, they were endowed with the superior intelligence that is required to render transcendental devotional service to the Lord. (Cb. Ādi 6.108)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Otherwise, how the Lord plays with them, how they could take part in the Lord’s pastimes. [They’re] eternal associates of the Lord. Life after life, they are all dear devotees of Kṛṣṇa.
ataeva prabhu nija-sevaka sahite
nānā krīḍā kare, keha nā pāre bujhite
Thus, the Supreme Lord performed various transcendental pastimes with His intimate servitors in Nadiā; a mundane person cannot understand such activities of the Lord. (Cb. Ādi 6.109)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: How can the mundane persons understand?
miśra bole,—“seha putra tomā’ sabākāra
yadi aparādha laha,—śapatha āmāra”
Śrī Miśra said, “Nimāi is a son to all of you. If you should be disturbed by His offences, then I am bound to you by oath. I beg your forgiveness.” (Cb. Ādi 6.110)
tā’sabāra saṅge miśra kari’ kolākuli
gṛhe āilena miśra hai’ kutūhalī
Śrī Miśra warmly embraced everyone and returned home feeling greatly satisfied. (Cb. Ādi 6.111)
āra-pathe ghare gelā prabhu-viśvambhara
hāthete mohana puṅthi, yena śaśadhara
The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Viśvambhara had gone home by another road. Shining brightly like the moon, He carried beautiful books in His hands. (Cb. Ādi 6.112)
likhana-kālira bindu śobhe gaura aṅge
campake lāgila yena cāri-dike bhṛṅge
Blotches of writing ink on different parts of Nimāi’s body appeared like decorations on His golden complexion. It looked as though a sweet smelling golden campaka flower had attracted a swarm of black bumblebees. (Cb. Ādi 6.113)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: …bumblebees. Looked like that.
“jananī!” baliyā prabhu lāgilā ḍākite
“taila deha’ more, yāi sināna karite”
Lord Nimāi called out "Mother, give me oil, I want to go for my bath.” (Cb. Ādi 6.114)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: [Laughs]. I will go and take bath.
putrera vacana śuni’ śacī haraṣita
kichui nā dekhe aṅge snānera carita
Mother Śacī’s heart gladdened. She could not detect any sign that Nimāi had taken a bath. (Cb. Ādi 6.115)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: No. No sign at all. Nimāi is coming back directly from school and they are complaining Nimāi is doing such mischievous activities. What is this?
taila diyā śacīdevī mane-mane gaṇe’
“bālikārā ki balila, kibā dvija-gaṇe
likhana-kālira bindu āche saba aṅge
sei vastra paridhāna, sei puṅthi saṅge”
Giving Nimāi the oil, Śacīdevī thought, “What did the brāhmaṇas and the young maidens say about Nimāi? His whole body is spotted with ink blotches. He has the same clothes on that He wore to school.” (Cb. Ādi 6.116-117)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: So, how is it [possible]?
kṣaṇeke āilā jagannātha miśra-vara
miśre dekhi’ kolete uṭhilā viśvambhara
Jagannātha Miśra arrived home at that moment and Viśvambhara climbed up on his lap. (Cb. Ādi 6.118) [Laughter]
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Yes, affection. Affection.
sei āliṅgane miśra bāhya nāhi jāne
ānande pūrṇita hailā putra-daraśane
Śrī Miśra lost all external, mundane perception in the Lord’s loving embrace; he bubbled over with happiness at the sight of his son. (Cb. Ādi 6.119)
miśra dekhe sarva-aṅga dhūlāya vyāpita
snāna-cihna nā dekhiyā hailā vismita
Śrī Miśra saw that Nimāi was covered with dust and there were no signs of His having taken a bath — Śrī Miśra was truly amazed. (Cb. Ādi 6.120)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: How [do] they complain?
miśra bole,—“viśvambhara, ki buddhi tomāra?
lokere nā deha’ kene snāna karibāra?
Śrī Miśra said, “Viśvambhara, what sort of intelligent boy are you — you do not allow people to take their baths in peace? (Cb. Ādi 6.121)
viṣṇu-pūjā-sajja kene kara apahāra?
‘viṣṇu’ kariyāo bhaya nāhika tomāra?”
“Why do you steal and disturb the arrangements people make for worshiping Lord Viṣṇu? You know who Lord Viṣṇu is, so why do you act like this without any fear?” (Cb. Ādi 6.122)
prabhu bole,—“āji āmi nāhi yāi snāne
āmāra saṁhati-gaṇa gela āguyāne
“Today, I have not yet gone for my bath. All my friends have gone ahead of Me,” replied Nimāi. (Cb. Ādi 6.123)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: [Laughs].
sakala lokere tārā kare avyabhāra
nā geleo sabe doṣa kahena āmāra
“All these people are behaving improperly towards Me. Although I have not been near them, they falsely accuse Me of being at fault. (Cb. Ādi 6.124)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Falsely accuse.
nā geleo yadi doṣa kahena āmāra
satya tabe kariba sabāre avyabhāra”
“If they continue to find fault and falsely accuse me, then I will actually misbehave and create trouble for them.” (Cb. Ādi 6.125)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: [Laughs].
eta bali’ hāsi’ prabhu yā’na gaṅgā-snāne
punaḥ sei mililena śiśu-gaṇa-sane
The Lord smiled and left for the Gaṅgā where He met again with all His friends. (Cb. Ādi 6.126)
viśvambhara dekhi’ sabe āliṅgana kari’
hāsaye sakala śiśu śuniñā cāturī
sabei praśaṁse,—“bhāla nimāi catura
bhāla eḍāilā āji māraṇa pracura!”
Nimāi’s friends embraced Him and laughed merrily when they heard His witty story. They all praised Him saying, “You were very clever, Nimāi. You nicely saved yourself from a good beating today.” (Cb. Ādi 6.127-128) [Laughter].
jala-keli kare prabhu saba-śiśu-sane
hethā śacī-jagannātha mane-mane gaṇe’
Nimāi was once again engrossed in water sports with His friends, while back in the house Śacīmātā and Śrī Miśra seriously considered certain points. (Cb. Ādi 6.129)
“ye ye kahilena kathā, seha mithyā nahe
tabe kene snāna-cihna kichu nāhi dehe?
“All the complaints brought against Nimāi were certainly not lies, yet there was no indication that Nimāi had taken a bath. (Cb. Ādi 6.130)
sei-mata aṅge dhūlā, sei-mata veśa!
sei puṅthi, sei vastra, sei-mata keśa!
“Everything was just as it should be. His body was covered with dust, He was dressed in the same clothes and they were dry. His hair was also dry and he had His books. (Cb. Ādi 6.131)
e bujhi manuṣya nahe śri-viśvambhara!
māyā-rūpe kṛṣṇa vā janmilā mora ghara!
“I think our Viśvambhara is not an ordinary person,” said Śrī Miśra. “Perhaps the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, by His internal potency, has appeared in our house as our son. (Cb. Ādi 6.132)
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Jagannātha Miśra was thinking like that and actually Kṛṣṇa had taken birth. Because of His yoga-māyā potency, he couldn’t understand.
kon mahāpuruṣa vā,—kichui nā jāni”
hena-mate cintite āilā dvija-maṇi
“Or perhaps Nimāi is some great saintly personality. I am at a loss to know.” Śrī Miśra, the jewel-like brāhmaṇa, pondered the matter seriously. (Cb. Ādi 6.133)
putra-daraśanānande ghucila vicāra
snehe pūrṇa hailā doṅhe, kichu nāhi āra
Śrī Jagannātha Miśra and Śacīmātā felt so happy to see their son that all their cogitations vanished. Their hearts filled with tender affection for Nimāi and nothing else mattered to them. (Cb. Ādi 6.134)
yei dui-prahara prabhu yāya paḍibāre
sei dui yuga hai’ thāke se doṅhāre
Both of them felt their son's absence intensely; Nimāi's two hours study at school seemed like two yugas to His parents. (Cb. Ādi 6.135)
koṭi-rūpe koṭi-mukhe vede yadi kaya
tabu e-doṅhāra bhāgyera nāhi samuccaya
If the Vedas were to describe the great fortune of Śacīmātā and Śrī Miśra in a countless variety of ways and with innumerable mouths, that fortune would remain inconceivable. (Cb. Ādi 6.136)
śacī-jagannātha-pāye rahu namaskāra
ananta-brahmāṇḍa-nātha putra rūpe yāṅra
I offer countless obeisances at the lotus feet of Śacīmātā and Śrī Miśra who received the Supreme Lord and controller of the limitless cosmic manifestation as their son. (Cb. Ādi 6.137)
ei-mata krīḍā kare vaikuṇṭhera rāya
bujhite nā pāre keha tāṅhāna māyāya
The Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, Lord Viśvambhara, performed wonderful pastimes in a pleasing manner. No one could fully grasp the truth of these transcendental activities by the influence of the Supreme Lord's spiritual energy. (Cb. Ādi 6.138)
śrī kṛṣṇa-caitanya nityānanda-cānda jāna
vṛndāvana dāsa tachu pada-yuge gāna
I, Vṛndāvana Dāsa, offer this humble song at the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Śrī Nityānanda Candra Prabhu, who are my life and soul. (Cb. Ādi 6.139)
____________________
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: So, these are such nice, sweet and nectarean pastimes of the Lord. The Lord descends here in this material world and manifests such nice, transcendental pastimes. Why?
Devotee: To attract the fallen souls.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Because this will be recorded; this will be heard and chanted. This is like the ocean of līlā. Līlā-pravāha, the flow of līlā, transcendental pastimes of the Lord, ocean-like; one should drown in that ocean. Drown; yes. Then you will be free from all of your material sufferings, afflictions; from three tāpas. Yes. This is a very good boat for you — these transcendental stories, līlā-kahānī of the Lord. This is a very good boat for you to cross this dreadful ocean of materialistic existence. No other boat is available. This is the only boat available for you. You cannot solve your problems, here in the material world, by earning abundant money. Do you understand? By acquiring knowledge, you cannot solve your material problems. You can very easily solve these problems if you hear these transcendental, sweet, nectarean pastimes of the Lord. If you can drown yourself in this ocean-like flow of nectarean līlā of the Lord. Do you understand?
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.70.39), it is said:
jīvasya yaḥ saṁsarato vimokṣaṇaṁ
na jānato ’nartha-vahāc charīrataḥ
līlāvatāraiḥ sva-yaśaḥ pradīpakaṁ
prājvālayat tvā tam ahaṁ prapadye
Nārada Muni says to Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā, “O Lord! The jīvas in the material world have been revolving in this cycle of birth and death, undergoing lakhs of species of life, from one body to another body, but they don’t know how they will be free from this bodily bondage. They don’t know. O Lord! Please, You descend, manifest Your transcendental līlās here and enkindle that lamp, Your transcendental fame-like lamp. I am completely surrendered unto You.”
This jīva in the material world, bound up very tightly — the material bondage is very strong and tight — is drowning. He has been drowning in this dreadful ocean of materialistic existence from time immemorial. He doesn’t know how he will be free from such drowning, free from such suffering; how to cross this dreadful material ocean. He doesn’t know. Yes. Do you understand? The conditioned soul is in great danger. If someone is conscious, not careless, he understands he is in great danger; but how to overcome this danger, he doesn’t know. He doesn’t know.
This material body, nasty body gives so much trouble, so much suffering, so much disease. Then there is urge of the senses: feeling hunger, thirst, tiredness. The material body, nasty body [is] vyādhi-mandiram. The material body is filled with so many diseases. Do you understand? It is vyādhi-mandiram: it’s filled with so many diseases. Yes. If there wouldn’t have been this body, then no need of eating, sleeping, defending, mating, dying, taking rest. Yes; no need. There would have been no need of material attachment towards one’s wife, sons, daughters. It’s a delusion. What is the means now; the way how to free oneself from this material bondage?
Therefore, suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ (Bg. 5.29) — the Lord, who is the well-wishing friend of every living entity, descends here in this material world with His own abode, dhāma, His associates and manifests transcendental līlās. We should hear this līlā-kahānī: very pleasing, nectarean, sweet; relishing [which] contaminations there in our heart will be purified, cleansed off [and] we will develop pure consciousness, complete Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Our eyes will be opened; we will be having transcendental vision. Thereby, we can see the beautiful form of Śyāmasundara, His līlās, and also see the path leading to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. We have to thread the path.
One may say, “O yes, Rāmacandra came in tretā-yuga, Kṛṣṇa came in dvāpara-yuga, Gaurasundara came five-hundred years ago [and] They manifested līlās. We are in the twentieth century; what līlā of Bhagavān is here now? What avatāra is here now? But you should understand, all the līlās are ever fresh and new. It never gets old. It’s all recorded in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Vedic literatures. The devotees, sādhus hear and chant, speak, preach and you have to hear it from the lips of a dear devotee. Now also you will find: nāma-avatāra. Nāma-avatāra is there. The Lord has taken the avatāra of His holy name. Do you understand? Kali-kāle nāma-rūpe kṛṣṇa-avatāra (Cc. Ādi 17.22) — in Kali-yuga, Kṛṣṇa has incarnated Himself in the form of His holy name. Also, in the Tenth Canto…
[Break]
…suffering jīvas of this material world. Do you understand? Thereby, He is lighting the lamp in this dense darkness of ignorance, illusionary world. He has manifested Himself in these forms: in the form of His holy name, in the form of His vigraha. Yes, you see. So, completely surrender yourself unto His lotus feet; hear His transcendental līlā-kahānī. All your material problems will be solved; your material bondage will be cut off, the hard knot will be very easily cut off.
kuto ’śivaṁ tvac-caraṇāmbujāsavaṁ
mahan-manasto mukha-niḥsṛtaṁ kvacit
pibanti ye karṇa-puṭair alaṁ prabho
dehaṁ-bhṛtāṁ deha-kṛd-asmṛti-cchidam
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.83.3)
When Lord Kṛṣṇa asked Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, those who are His very dear friends, “How are you?”, Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja says, “O Lord! Those who are daily hearing Your nectarean pastimes from the mouths of Your dear devotees, they are not in the dense darkness of ignorance. Their ignorance is immediately dispelled, and the nectarean mellow emanating from Your lotus feet… The nectarean līlā-kahānī is like nectarean honey emanating from Your lotus feet. Those who drink it through their ears, where is inauspiciousness for them? No inauspiciousness. All auspicious; no inauspiciousness is there. How will it be possible? No possibility is there.”
So, the conditioned soul, jīva, has been suffering here, [is] put into dangerous situations; but if someone is fortunate and gets a chance to taste this sweet honey, nectar emanating from the lotus feet of the Lord in the form of His nectarean pastimes, all his inauspiciousness is immediately destroyed; gone. O Kṛṣṇa! The nectar emanating from Your lotus feet, the nectar emanating from Your holy name, the nectar emanating from Your transcendental form, the nectar emanating from Your transcendental pastimes — all are nectar; all are nectar. What attraction is there! Like magnetic attraction; like a magnet attracts a piece of iron. Yes. The devotee knows it; a non-devotee doesn’t know it. One who is a devotee, he knows it, what magnetic attraction is there. Yes.
If someone sees such beautiful form of Yours, O Kṛṣṇa — kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobhaṁ [Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā 5.30]: Your beauty excels that of crores of Cupids — how is it that he will get up and go away? So many; all vacant, all gone away. How is it, Acyutānanda? One who sees such attractive, beautiful form of Kṛṣṇa, Śyāmasundara, how will it be that he will get up and go away? Impossible, impossible, impossible. Impossible. No, no, no, no. [One] who is chanting Your holy name…
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
So nice, so nectarean. Śyāma nāme ki madhu āche — what sweet honey is there in the name of Śyāma; my tongue doesn’t want to leave it! So, one who is chanting His holy name in the beads, how is it that he will keep it and go away? But you are going away — “Hre hre! [imitates inattentive, hurried chanting] I have finished. Calo! Let us go.” You are not relishing the sweet honey emanating from the holy name. We don’t want [to] [stop]. We want to relish it constantly, constantly, constantly. But what to do, we are so unfortunate, rascal, we can’t relish it. Therefore, we feel [dry]; put our chanting beads and go away.
So, this is a very nice boat: this līlā-kahānī, the transcendental līlās of the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa. This is a nice boat to ferry across this dreadful ocean of materialistic existence. Yes. This should be heard. One should drown Himself in this ocean-like līlās. One should hear the nectarean pastimes of the Supreme Lord from the pure lips of a vaiṣṇava. If someone is fortunate and hears, his drowsiness will immediately go away. Where is drowsiness, bābā, sleepiness, Acyutānanda? No sleep will come. Why sleepiness is coming to you? Rascal. So enlivening; so enlivening, so enchanting, so attractive, so relishing. Isn’t it? Why do you feel drowsiness, sleepiness? Rascal. Hog, hog, hog; wants to taste stool, not nectar. If you give a very nice, sweet, ripe banana to a hog, “Agh! Thew! [spitting sound.] What nasty thing you gave me?” If you give him stool, “Oh, very nice!” [Laughs]. Like a hog. Such nectarean, sweet pastimes; a hog cannot taste it. Therefore, he feels drowsiness, sleepiness.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.85.59) says:
śrī-sūta uvāca
ya idam anuśṛṇoti śrāvayed vā murāreś
caritam amṛta-kīrter varṇitaṁ vyāsa-putraiḥ
jagad-agha-bhid alaṁ tad-bhakta-sat-karṇa-pūraṁ
bhagavati kṛta-citto yāti tat-kṣema-dhāma
Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī says to the ṛṣis headed by Śaunaka, what Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrated before Parīkṣit Mahārāja, “O munis, ṛṣis, maharṣis! Such transcendental, nectarean pastimes of Kṛṣṇa: one who hears, one who speaks, makes others hear... It’s so nice, so sweet, so nectarean; it’s like an ornament for the ear. Yes, a very nice ornament for the ear. One who hears and repeats the same thing to others, he becomes fearless. As a result, in the long run or eventually, he will go back home, back to Godhead, approach the lotus feet of the Lord.”
Nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā (Śb. 1.2.18) — [one] [who] daily, as a rule, comes and hears such sweet, nectarean pastimes of the Lord from the lips of a bhakta-bhāgavata, he is very fortunate. Whatever burning sensation he feels here in this material world, immediately that fire is extinguished; he gets peace. One who is hearing and also giving opportunity to others to hear, they are doing such benefit to others. Do you understand? This is really humanitarian work; really humanitarian work. Yes; benefits.
This is not the newspaper news; this is not a topic of politics; this is the topic of relating to sense gratification. This is kṛṣṇa-kathā; such nectarean. One who hears and makes others hear, they all become glorified. This is a topic of politics, science, drama, novel or mundane literature. If you hear these topics of politics, science, drama, mundane literature, you feel tired. You will feel tired; the consequence is unlimited suffering. There is no nectarean relishment. But if you hear such ever fresh and new, nectarean, sweet pastimes of the Lord: the more you hear, the more you develop greed for it, the more you get peace and bliss. Yes. You will drown yourself in the flood of transcendental blissfulness. Such is the result. Do you follow?
This way, you’ll be able to do away with all sufferings, afflictions, pollutions of the material world. Such transcendental pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa, it will dispel the darkness prevailing in the heart. The lamp of knowledge will be enkindled there in the heart and outside, all your material problems are solved. The place where daily bhāgavata-kathā is spoken and heard, that whole place: every dust, the dirt, the earth, everything becomes purified. Yes. The contamination prevailing in the heart immediately becomes destroyed because it is not a topic of politics, it is not a political party’s manifesto: Congress party or Communist party or Janatā party or BJP party; the politicians, with loudspeakers, they speak. If you hear that, then you will develop some malice in your heart; you will develop enviousness. Then you will put up quarrel with others. You will be put into unlimited suffering, moroseness, disappointment, unhappiness.
But if you hear bhāgavata-kathā, kṛṣṇa-kathā, gaura-kathā, your heart will be purified and you’ll relish such sweet, nectarean mellow emanating from it. The more you hear, the more you relish, the more you feel peace and bliss. Understand? This is such nectarean pastime, ever fresh and new. Ever fresh and new; never becomes old. Such is the kṛṣṇa-kathā, gaura-kathā.
So, nectarean gaura-kathā kī jaya!
patitapāvana sacīnandana gaurāṅga kī jaya!
samaveta gaura-bhakta-vṛnda kī jaya!
gaura premānande hari hari bol!
Devotee: Śrīla Gurudeva kī jaya!
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja:
Caitanya-caritāmṛta kathā kī jaya!
Those who are drinking this nectar kī jaya!
[Laughter]
[Break]
Devotee: You asked who is able to drink it.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: No, you didn’t drink it?
Devotee: Well, my belly is so full with māyā that there was no space.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: No space.
Devotee: No space.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: No space. You can’t drink, huh? [Laughs]. Such a fool, unfortunate you are.
Devotee: We fill up our bellies with māyā and then there’s no place for this nectarean [hari-kathā].
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Oh! No hunger, no thirst for it.
Devotee: Such foolish, unfortunate souls.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: No hunger, no thirst for it. Hunger and thirst for stool. Acyutānanda, isn’t it? Stool.
[Pause]
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Govinda! Naughty boy!
Devotee: [Laughs]. He comes and steals your mercy.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Steals.
Devotee: …learn stealing from Kṛṣṇa?
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Because that propensity is in Kṛṣṇa, so it with you; with children: stealing propensity.
Devotee: But this is a very intelligent child because he comes and steals the right thing — he comes and steals the mercy.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: His mother says, “Go and snatch it.” [Laughter].
Devotee: Oh, I understand. Very intelligent.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Such nice, nectarean, sweet pastimes. So, if you hear and could relish it, you will forget everything – your own existence. You will forget your hunger, thirst, the urges of the senses, all suffering; everything you will forget. Yes. That means you are not in the material world; immediately you are elevated to the transcendental world. Yes, such is [His] kathā. Isn’t it?
Devotee: Yes. When we…
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Most scorching heat, the sun is here; it’s so hot, but you don’t feel so. Your body has become immune to this scorching heat of the sun. Isn’t it?
Devotee: Yes, Gurudeva.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: No more material body. Isn’t it?
Devotee: Yes, Gurudeva.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: No more material body; it’s a transcendental body. So much nectar we have drunk. [Laughs]. Such wonderful transformation is there. It is such kathā. So, the Lord comes here, descends here, manifests His pastimes; so He leaves here such stories, līlā, His name, His fame, His pastimes, nectarean līlā-kahānī, His form, His deity form, devotees. These are all His merciful līlā; paraphernalia of His mercy, kṛpā-apādāna, He leaves here for us. Yes.
Devotee: So actually, His līlās are always going on because His devotees are always there.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Yes! It’s said, adya ’pi sei līlā kare gaura-rāya, kona kona bhāgyavān dekhibāre pāya — Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu’s līlā is still going on; one who is fortunate, one who has the vision, only he can see. Otherwise who can see? One who is fortunate, one who has such vision, he sees how that same līlā is going on; gaura-līlā. Adya ’pi sei līlā kare gaura-rāya, kona kona bhāgyavān dekhibāre pāya. Bhāgyavān, fortunate; he can see. One who is endowed with that vision, he can see how Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu’s līlā is going on. Yes. But you are blind; you cannot see. So, have that vision and you can see. Isn’t it? Hare Kṛṣṇa!
Devotee: Hare Kṛṣṇa! Śrīla Gurudeva kī jaya!
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swāmī Mahārāja: Śrīla Prabhupādajī Mahārāja kī jaya!
[End]
hari he
hena duṣṭa karma nāi, jaha āmi kari nāi
sahasra sahasra-bāra hori
sei saba-karma-phala, peye avasara bala
āmāya piśiche jantropari
gati nāhi dekhi āra, kānde hari anibāra
tomāra agrete ebe āmi
ja’ tomāra haya mane, daṇḍa deo akiñcane
tumi mora daṇḍa-dhara swāmī
kleśa-bhoga bhāgye jata, bhoga mora hao tata
kintu eka mama nivedana
je je daśā bhoga āmi, āmāke nā chāḍo swāmī
bhaktivinodera prāṇa-dhana
[Heno Duṣṭa Karma Nāi (Yāmuna Bhāvāvalī, Song 9), Gītamālā]
āmāra jīvana, sadā pāpe rata,
nāhika puṇyera leṣa
parere udvega, diyāchi je kata,
diyāchi jīvere kleśa
nija sukha lāgi’, pāpe nāhi ḍari,
dayā-hīna swārtha-para
para-sukhe duḥkhī, sadā mithya-bhāṣī,
para-duḥkha sukha-kara
aśeṣa kāmanā, hṛdi mājhe mora,
krodhī, dambha-parāyana
mada-matta sadā, viṣaye mohita,
hiṁsā-garva vibhūṣana
nidrālasya hata, sukārye virata,
akārye udyogī āmi
pratiṣṭha lāgiyā, śāṭhya-ācaraṇa,
lobha-hata sadā kāmī
e hena durjana, saj-jana-varjita,
aparādhi nirantara
śubha-kārya-śūnya, sadānartha-manāḥ,
nānā duḥkhe jara jara
vārdhakye ekhana, upāya-vihīna,
tā’te dīna akiñcana
bhakativinoda, prabhura caraṇe,
kare duḥkha nivedana
[Āmāra Jīvana (Dainya Song 4), Śaraṇāgati]
tīrtha-phala sādhu-sanga, sādhu-sange antaraṅga,
śrī-kṛṣṇa-bhajana manohara
jathā sādhu, tathā tīrtha, sthira korī nija citta,
sādhu-sanga koro nirantara
[Mana Tumi Tīrthe Sadā Rata (Song 14): Text 3, Kalyāṇā Kalpataru]