(5/7) Heart-Breaking Decision

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Kolkata—Worldwide, 17 January 2021, part 5

Mahaprabhu had actually beforehand given a signal that He wanted to leave Nabadwip and take sannyas. If He had not taken sannyas, Krishna’s desire would not have been fulfilled.

কৃষ্ণবর্ণং ত্বিষাঽকৃষ্ণং সাঙ্গোপাঙ্গাস্ত্রপার্ষদম্ ।
যজ্ঞৈঃ সঙ্কীর্ত্তনপ্রায়ৈর্যজন্তি হি সুমেধসঃ ॥

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah

‘In the Age of Kali, very intelligent people engage in sankirtana-yajna (congregational chanting of the Holy Name) to worship the Supreme Lord who always chants the Name of Krishna, who possesses non-black (golden) lustre, and who is surrounded by His various associates and weapons.’

(Srimad Bhagavatam, 11.5.32)

There is also another sloka in Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita:

শ্রীরাধায়াঃ প্রণয়মহিমা কীদৃশো বানয়ৈবা-
স্বাদ্যো যেনাদ্ভুতমধুরিমা কীদৃশো বা মদীয়ঃ ।
সৌখ্যঞ্চাস্যা মদনুভবতঃ কীদৃশং বেতি লোভা-
ত্তদ্ভাবাঢ্যঃ সমজনি শচীগর্ভসিন্ধৌ হরীন্দুঃ ॥

sri-radhayah pranaya-mahima kidrso vanayaiva-
svadyo yenadbhuta-madhurima kidrso va madiyah
saukhyam chasya mad-anubhavatah kidrsam veti lobhat
tad-bhavadhyah samajani sachigarbha-sindhau harinduh

‘‘What is the glory of Sri Radha’s love? What extraordinary sweetness does She see in Me? What happiness does She feel when She is moved by Me?’ – yearning to taste these three sentiments, the moon Krishna-chandra arose from the ocean of Mother Sachi’s womb.’

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 1.1.6)

‘Why does Radharani cry so much taking My Name? Why does She cry for Me so much? I want to taste and relish this kind of mood!’ – thinking in this way, Krishna comes to this world as Gauranga Mahaprabhu, a combined form of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. If He had not taken sannyas, this desire would not have been fulfilled.

Besides, Mahaprabhu understood, ‘Unless I take sannyas, I cannot preach Krishna consciousness properly. Even if I leave Nabadwip, Nityananda Prabhu is there, He can see to this part. Nityananda Prabhu, Srinivas Pandit and other devotees can take care of Gaura-mandal, and I must go to all the other places. I must go to Vrindavan! I have a job there – the pastimes that I performed before are almost all hidden now, so I must go and show those places to everyone. I must show devotees where Radha Kunda is, where Shyama Kunda is, where My birthplace is, and so on. I must also go to South India…’ So, having taken sannyas, Mahaprabhu visited South India, North India, Vrindavan and all the other important places.

In this way, Mahaprabhu went everywhere establishing the proper conception, and He personally showed us the example how to practise. He Himself practised sannyas life: He slept on the floor (not on a bed), He followed all the rules and regulations, He did everything. When Krishna is in Vrindavan, He plays with His associates in madhurya-rasa, madhurya-lila – when He is in Mathura and Dvaraka, He shows other pastimes; and when He is in Nabadwip Dham as Gauranga Mahaprabhu, He shows His love and affection (Krishna-prema) and preaches humility, tolerance and giving honour to others.

ন ধনং ন জনং ন সুন্দরীং কবিতাং বা জগদীশ কাময়ে ।
মম জন্মনি জন্মনীশ্বরে ভবতাদ্ভক্তিরহৈতুকী ত্বয়ি ॥

na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagadisa kamaye
mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

‘O Supreme Lord (Master of the Universe, Jagadisvara)! I do not desire any wealth (religion, money or material desires), any followers (wife, sons, servants or maidservants) or material knowledge (beautiful poetry). My only prayer is that I may birth after birth have pure devotion to You, devoid of seeking any result.’

(Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 3.20.29)

This is what Mahaprabhu showed all the devotees. Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur describes Mahaprabhu’s decision to take sannyas and what happened in the 26th chapter of Madhya-khanda in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata. You can find it there; everything is described there very nicely.

Sriman Mahaprabhu told Sriman Nityananda Prabhu,

প্রভু বলে,—“শুন নিত্যানন্দ মহাশয় !
তোমারে কহিয়ে নিজ হৃদয় নিশ্চয় ॥

prabhu bale,—“suna nityananda mahasaya!
tomare kahiye nija hrdaya nischaya

The Lord said, ‘Listen, Nityananda Mahasay! I want to tell You something and settle My own heart.’

ভাল সে আইলাঙ আমি জগত তারিতে ।
তারণ নহিল, আমি আইলুঁ সংহারিতে ॥

bhala se ailana ami jagata tarite
tarana nahila, ami ailun samharite

‘I came to deliver this world, but I have not done it. I appears that I have come to destroy them.’

আমা দেখি’ কোথা পাইবেক বন্ধনাশ ।
এক গুণ বন্ধ ছিল—হৈল কোটি-পাশ ॥

ama’ dekhi’ kotha paibeka bandha-nasa
eka guna bandha chhila—haila koti-pasa

‘They were supposed to be freed from material bondage by seeing Me, but they were previously bound by one rope and now they are bound by millions.’

আমারে মারিতে যবে করিলেক মনে ।
তখনেই পড়ি’ গেল অশেষ বন্ধনে ॥

amare marite yabe karileka mane
takhanei padi’ gela asesa bandhane

‘As soon as they decided to beat Me, they were immediately fell in unlimited bondage.’

ভাল লোক তারিতে কারিলুঁ অবতার ।
আপনে করিলুঁ সব জীবের সংহার ॥

bhala loka tarite karilun avatara
apane karilun saba jivera samhara

‘I incarnated to deliver the people of the world, but it appears that I am destroying them.’

দেখ কালি শিখা-সূত্র সব মুড়াইয়া ।
ভিক্ষা করি’ বেড়াইমু সন্ন্যাস করিয়া ॥”

dekha kali sikha-sutra saba mudaiya
bhiksa kari’ bedaimu sannyasa kariya”

‘Soon You will see Me shave My head and give up My brahman thread. I will wander about begging as a sannyasi.’

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 2.26.127–132)

‘I will take sannyas and go begging door to door, “Krsna bala sange chala! Chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, come with Me!” I will go to the houses of even those who want to kill Me – I will come begging to their doors! Seeing My sannyas life, they will have to pay obeisances to Me, so they will not beat Me anymore. Do not be sad that I am taking sannyas. If You want all the fallen souls to be rescued, then You will not forbid Me to do so, You will not stop Me from taking sannyas.’ Nityananda Prabhu replied, ‘Yes, Prabhu, as You wish. Who can stop You?’

স্বতন্ত্র পরমানন্দ তোমার চরিত ।
তুমি যে করিবে, সে-ই হইবে নিশ্চিত ॥

svatantra paramananda tomara charita
tumi ye karibe, se-i haibe nischita

‘You are independent and full of transcendental bliss, therefore whatever You wish to do will certainly be done.’

তথাপিহ কহ সব সেবকের স্থানে ।
কে বা কি বলয়ে তাহা শুনহ আপনে ॥

tathapiha kaha saba sevakera sthane
ke va ki balaye taha sunaha apane

‘Still You may ask Your servants to see what they have to say.’

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 2.26.148–149)

Actually, Nityananda Prabhu knew that Mahaprabhu would take sannyas and leave home, but He always thought about Mahaprabhu’s mother, Sachi Mata. He worried because Vishvarup had already left and now Nimai Vishvambhar was going to leave – how would Sachi Mata bear it? After that, Mukunda also sang many songs, saying, ‘Please do not leave Your mother. Do not take sannyas.’ This is described in the 27th chapter of Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavatam (Madhya-khanda).

জয় জয় বিশ্বম্ভর শ্রীশচী-নন্দন ।
জয় জয় গৌরসিঃহ পতিতপাবন ॥

jaya jaya visvambhara sri-sachi-nandana
jaya jaya gaurasimha patita-pavana

‘All glories to Vishvambhar, Sri Sachinandan! All glories to the Golden Lion, the deliverer of the fallen souls!’

“কোথা যাইবেন প্রভু সন্ন্যাস করিয়া ।
কোথা বা আমরা সব দেখিবাঙ গিয়া ॥

“kotha yaibena prabhu sannyasa kariya
kotha va amara saba dekhibana giya

‘Where will the Lord go after taking sannyas, and where will we go to see Him?’

সন্ন্যাস করিলে গ্রামে না আসিবে আর ।
কোন্ দিকে যায়েন বা করিয়া বিচার ॥”

sannyasa karile grame na asibe ara
kon dike yayena va kariya vichara”

‘If He takes sannyas, He will not return to this village. Who knows in which direction He will decide to go?’

প্রভু বলে,—“তোমরা চিন্তহ কি কারণ ।
তুমি সব যথা, তথা আমি সর্ব্বক্ষণ ॥

prabhu bale,—“tomara chintaha ki karana
tumi saba yatha, tatha ami sarva-ksana

The Lord said, ‘Why are you all worried? Wherever you are, I am always there.’

তোমরা বা ভাব ‘আমি সন্ন্যাস করিয়া ।
চলিবাঙ আমি তোমা’ সবারে ছাড়িয়া ॥’”

tomara va bhava ‘ami sannyasa kariya
chalibana ami toma’ sabare chhadiya’”

‘Do you all think that I will leave you after taking sannyas?’

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 2.27.1, 2.27.3–4, 2.27.7–8)

Mahaprabhu said, ‘I am going to take sannyas, and you are thinking that I will leave you, but this is not so. I will always stay with you. Do not ever think that I will leave you. I will always stay with you in your hearts. Because I want to teach common people I am taking sannyas, but do not think that I am leaving you all.’

Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur also writes what Sachi Mata said when she heard that Mahaprabhu was going to take sannyas:

“না যাইয় না যাইয় বাপ, মায়েরে ছাড়িয়া ।
পাপ জীউ আছে তোর শ্রীমুখ চাহিয়া ॥”

“na yaiya na yaiya bapa, mayere chhadiya
papa jiu achhe tora sri-mukha chahiya”

‘My dear son, do not leave. Do not leave Your mother. This sinful person is surviving only by looking at Your face.’

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 2.27.22)

‘What kind of religion is it to make Your mother miserable?’ Sri Sachi Mata cried so much and tried to dissuade Mahaprabhu in so many ways.

“কমল-নয়ন তোর শ্রীচন্দ্র-বদন ।
অধর সুরঙ্গ, কুন্দ-মুকুতা-দশন ॥
অমিয়া বরিখে যেন সুন্দর বচন ।
না দেখি বাঁচিব কি সে গজেন্দ্র-গমন ॥

“kamala-nayana tora sri-chandra-vadana
adhara suranga, kunda-mukuta-dasana
amiya varikhe yena sundara vachana
na dekhi vanchiba ki se gajendra-gamana

‘How will I survive without seeing Your lotus eyes, Your moonlike face, Your reddish lips, Your pearly teeth resembling kunda flowers, or Your elephant-like gait? And how will I survive without hearing Your words that shower nectar?’

অদ্বৈত-শ্রীবাস-আদি তোর অনুচর ।
নিত্যানন্দ আছে তোর প্রাণের দোসর ॥
পরম বান্ধব গদাধর-আদি-সঙ্গে ।
গৃহে রহি’ সংকীর্ত্তন কর তুমি রঙ্গে ॥

advaita-srivasa-adi tora anuchara
nityananda achhe tora pranera dosara
parama bandhava gadadhara-adi-sange
grhe rahi’ sankirtana kara tumi range

‘Stay at home and happily perform sankirtan in the company of Your followers headed by Advaita and Srivas, Your intimate companion, Nityananda, and Your dear friends (Gadadhar and others).’

ধর্ম্ম বুঝাইতে বাপ, তোর অবতার ।
জননী ছাড়িবা এ কোন্ ধর্ম্মের বিচার ?

dharma bujhaite bapa, tora avatara
janani chhadiba e kon dharmera vichara?

‘You incarnate to preach religious principles, but what kind of religious principle is it to leave Your mother?’

তুমি ধর্ম্ম-ময় যদি জননী ছাড়িবা ।
কেমতে জগতে তুমি ধর্ম্ম বুঝাইবা ?”

tumi dharma-maya yadi janani chhadiba
kemate jagate tumi dharma bujhaiba?”

‘You are the personification of religious principles, yet You will leave Your mother? How then will You teach religious principles in this world?’

প্রেম-শোকে কহে শচী, শুনে বিশ্বম্ভর ।
প্রেমেতে রোধিত কণ্ঠ, না করে উত্তর ॥

prema-soke kahe sachi, sune visvambhara
premete rodhita kantha, na kare uttara

‘Sachi was grief-stricken with love as she spoke. As Vishvambhar listened, His throat became choked, and He was unable to answer.’

“তোমার অগ্রজ আমা’ ছাড়িয়া চলিলা ।
বৈকুণ্ঠে তোমার বাপ গমন করিলা ॥

“tomara agraja ama’ chhadiya chalila
vaikunthe tomara bapa gamana karila

‘Your elder brother has left me, and Your father has gone to Vaikuntha.’

তোমা’ দেখি’ সকল সন্তাপ পাসরিলুঁ ।
তুমি গেলে প্রাণ মুঞি সর্ব্বথা ছাড়িমু ॥”

toma’ dekhi’ sakala santapa pasarilun
tumi gele prana muni sarvatha chhadimu”

‘Yet I forgot all grief by looking at Your face. If You leave me, I will certainly die.’

(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, 2.27.23–31)

She said, ‘Your father has already left for Vaikuntha. If You leave too, how will I be able to stay alone?’ Chandrasekhara Acharya, Mukunda and others also knew about Mahaprabhu’s decision. It is written here that five devotees knew about it: Mahaprabhu’s mother, Gadadhar, Brahmananda, Chandrasekhara and Mukunda. Mahaprabhu told Nityananda Prabhu, ‘Nobody except them knows about it.’

There are so many things written about this pastime in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata. Chapters 26–28 of Madhya-khanda (middle part) describe Mahaprabhu’s sannyas. You can read it, and you will understand it…

Jay Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki jay.

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READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Latest Events
2) Memorable Day In Bamunpara
3) Remembering Mahaprabhu's Sannyas-Lila
4) Ten Days in Shantipur
5) Heart-Breaking Decision
6) Deceitless Dealings
7) Deficiency in Practice