(8/11) Benefactor's Gift

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Preaching programme, Basirhat, noon programme,
14 December 2020, part 8

I told you all yesterday about the idea of 'poor Narayan'. Narayan can never be poor; neither can a poor man ever become Narayan. People like to give beggars money, calling it 'service to poor Narayan' (daridra Narayana seva; দরিদ্র নারায়ণ সেবা). Every jiva soul is a particle of Lord Krishna. A jiva can never become the Lord, and Lord Narayan can never become poor. Those who speak about serving to 'poor Narayan' are atheists. These are Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur's words, and I only wrote it in Guidance 3 (chapter 'Questions and Answers'). It is not something that I say.

Who in this world can help you the most? Who is the greatest donor?

তব কথামৃতং তপ্তজীবনং
কবিভিরীড়িতং কল্মষাপহম্ ।
শ্রবণমঙ্গলং শ্রীমদাততং
ভুবি গৃণন্তি তে ভূরিদা জনাঃ ॥

tava kathamrtam tapta-jivanam
kavibhir iditam kalmasapaham
sravana-mangalam srimad-atatam
bhuvi grnanti te bhurida janah

'My Dear, bestowing the greatest fortune that is attained after so many births, exalted souls come to this world and live here by singing and spreading Your nectarean glories that are life and soul for those suffering in this material world being devoid of Your divine love; that are the gist of all poets' songs; that are the destroyer of all sins; that benefit anyone who hears them; and that possess universal attraction.'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.14.13)

Do you know who spoke this verse? When King Prataparudra tried to meet with Mahaprabhu, Mahaprabhu refused to meet with him. Why? Because he was a king. Mahaprabhu said, 'I will not meet with a king because people will criticise Me. People will say that I am a sannyasi who runs behind kings, that I do not look at poor people.' When King Prataparudra understood this, he said, 'What will I do with this kingdom then? I will sell everything! I will wear plain clothes and ascetics' earrings and go to live in the forest!' Devotees dissuaded him from this. After that, his son was taken to Mahaprabhu, and Mahaprabhu accepted the boy very affectionately, giving him His mercy. Then, Nityananda Prabhu and other devotees brought Mahaprabhu's cloth to the king. The king put that cloth on a throne and began to worship it. Even then Mahaprabhu's mind did not melt. Next, devotees told King Prataparudra to take up sweeping, the lowest service of sabars (people from a very low caste). So, during the Ratha-yatra festival, King Prataparudra swept the road before the chariots instead of sabars. Although he was the king, he took up the lowest service of sweeping the street. You can remember Srila Narottam Das Thakur also – what service did he do? At first, he cleaned his guru's (Srila Lokanath Goswami's) stool, that is who he got his guru's mercy. It is always necessary to do the lowest service. Serving cows, cleaning stool, cleaning bathrooms. Do not think, 'Oh, I have become a Maharaj, I am a guru, why must I do all this?' Mahaprabhu distributed prasad with His own hand. Who says that you cannot distribute prasad if you are a guru? People tell me, 'He is an acharya, but he does house to house?' What of that? Will I become impure by going house to house? Mahaprabhu Himself went door to door. It is my duty to go to people, door to door. We must always do small service. So, when King Prataparudra agreed to do that lowest service, Nityananda Prabhu taught him this 'tava kathamritam' verse:

তব কথামৃতং তপ্তজীবনং
কবিভিরীড়িতং কল্মষাপহম্ ।
শ্রবণমঙ্গলং শ্রীমদাততং
ভুবি গৃণন্তি তে ভূরিদা জনাঃ ॥

tava kathamrtam tapta-jivanam
kavibhir iditam kalmasapaham
sravana-mangalam srimad-atatam
bhuvi grnanti te bhurida janah

'My Dear, bestowing the greatest fortune that is attained after so many births, exalted souls come to this world and live here by singing and spreading Your nectarean glories that are life and soul for those suffering in this material world being devoid of Your divine love; that are the gist of all poets' songs; that are the destroyer of all sins; that benefit anyone who hears them; and that possess universal attraction.'

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 2.14.13)

He instructed King Prataparudra, 'Dress in a simple dhoti and recite this verse to Mahaprabhu when He goes to the garden to take rest after chanting and dancing.' He did that. When the chariots arrived, Mahaprabhu went to Jagananth's garden and fell there, exhausted. At that time, King Prataparudra came to Him and began to massage His feet, reciting this verse. When this verse entered Mahaprabhu's ears, Mahaprabhu arose and embraced King Prataparudra, crying, 'Bhurida! Bhurida!' 'Bhurida' means the greatest donor, or benefactor.

Who is the greatest donor in this world? Those who donate thousands of rupees? No. [His Divine Grace is distracted by noise in the audience and then continues to speak on another topic.]

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Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Grave Warning
2) Pull of Material Life
3) Awakening Inner Longing
4) Private Service Stays Private
5) Universal Religion
6) On Others' Offences
7) Unburden Yourself
8) Benefactor's Gift
9) Exclusive Path
10) Behind Closed Doors
11) Unbending Stance