Chanting 24/7

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Bengali evening class in Sri Puri Dham
10 July 2018, part 8

Today, we also went to Radha Kanta Math. In that Math, there are Deities of Radha Krishna installed there and in Mahaprabhu's time Their servitor's (pujari's) name was Gopal.

One day, Mahaprabhu was going to the bathroom. What was a bathroom like in those days? What we have here is VIP—there is a bucket, mug, etc. in each room. In those days, you would take water from a well and bring it to a bathroom. So, Gopal saw Mahaprabhu going to the bathroom. How was He going there? He was going with His tongue held out between His teeth. Gopal asked, "Prabhu, is something wrong?" Mahaprabhu did not say anything—if you bite your tongue, how can you say anything? So, Mahaprabhu only made some sound in reply and went to the bathroom.

Having taken bath, etc. Mahaprabhu came out and saw Gopal standing there. Gopal asked him again, "Prabhu, what is wrong? Why did You go with Your tongue between Your teeth? What has happened to You?" Mahaprabhu explained then, "My tongue has become so naughty!"

Do you not sing it in the kirtan about maha-prasad?

sarira avidya-jala jadendriya tahe kala
jive phele visaya-sagare
ta'ra madhye jihva ati lobhamaya sudurmati
ta'ke jeta kathina samsare

"The body is a net of illusion, and the material senses are the enemies; they throw the soul into the ocean of mundanity. Among the senses, the tongue is the most greedy and wicked. It is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world."

What is said here? Durmati (wicked) is bad enough, but su-durmati (extremely wicked) is even worse! The tongue always wants something—walking down the street, you feel like eating a samosa or something...

জিহ্বার লালসে যেই ইতি-উতি ধায় ।
শিশ্নোদরপরায়ণ সে কৃষ্ণ নাহি পায় ॥

jihvara lalase yei iti-uti dhaya
sisnodara-parayana se krsna nahi paya

"Those who go here and there trying to satisfy their tongue, follow their genitals and belly and cannot attain Krishna."

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, 6.227)

So, Mahaprabhu said, "My tongue has become so naughty!" We chant the Holy Name and the next moment start speaking all sorts of nonsense, but Mahaprabhu says, "Even when I go to the bathroom, My tongue wants to chant the Holy Name!" Hearing this, Gopal became very serious and said, "Why are You saying this, Prabhu? You have said Yourself,

কি শয়নে, কি ভোজনে, কিবা জাগরণে ।
অহর্নিশ চিন্ত কৃষ্ণ, বলহ বদনে ॥

ki sayane, ki bhojane, kiba jagarane
aharnisa chinta krsna, balaha vadane

Whether you are sleeping, eating, or resting, always chant the Name of Krishna.

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat, Madhya-khanda, 28.28)

"These are Your words, Prabhu! You say we must do kirtan ahar-nisa—whether we are eating or sleeping—twenty-four hours a day. Amidst those twenty-four hours we also have to go to the bathroom, so if we sit in the bathroom and chant the Holy Name, what offence is there in it? Really, I cannot take mala there, but if I chant with my mouth, what offence is there in it?" Then Mahaprabhu exclaimed, "Gopal, what you are saying is right! From today you are no longer Gopal, from now you will be known as Gopal Guru!"

Devotees: Nitai Gaura Hari bol!

Do you understand? Mahaprabhu accepted it.

— : • : —

{ 2001  |   2002  |   2003  |   2005  |   2009  |   2010  |   2011  |   2012 }
{ 2013  |   2014  |   2015  |   2016  |   2017  |   2018  |   2019  |   2020  |   2021 }

• Download (1 Mb)