Chapter 4 - Gaura-tattva

The Evidence From Śruti for Lord Caitanya

4.1

mahān-prabhur vai puruṣaḥ sattvasyeṣa pravarttakaḥ
surnimalām imaṃ śāntīmīśāno jyotiravyaḥ

The Personality of Godhead, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is brilliantly effulgent and imperishable like molten gold. He is the Supreme Controller. He controls the mode of goodness and through saokīrtana bestows spiritual intelligence on the living beings. In the guise of a sannyāsī, He is the source of spiritual purity and of liberation. He is therefore known as "Mahāprabhu". (Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 3.12)

4.2

yadā paśyaḥ paśyate rukma-varṇaṃ
kartāram īśaṃ puruṣaṃ brahma-yonim
tadā vidyān puṇya-pāpe vidhūya
nirañjanaḥ paramaṃ sāmyam upaiti

When one realizes the golden form of Lord Gaurāṅga, who is the ultimate actor and the source of the Supreme Brahman, he attains the highest knowledge. He transcends both pious and impious activities, becomes free from worldly bondage, and enters the divine abode of the Lord. (Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.3)

Evidence From Bhāgavatam for Lord Caitanya

4.3

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṃ tviṣākṛṣṇaṃ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saokīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ

In the age of Kalī, Kṛṣṇa appears in a golden form, chanting the two syllables kṛṣ-ṇa. He descends along with His weapons, limbs, śaktis, and eternal confidential associates. Those with intelligence worship Him with the saokīrtana yajña. (Bhāg. 11.5.32)

4.4

'kṛṣṇa' ei dui varṇa sadā yaora mukhe
athavā, kṛṣṇake tioho varṇe nija sukhe.
kṛṣṇa-varṇa-śabdera artha dui ta pramāṇa
kṛṣṇa vinu tāora mukhe nāhi āise āna.
deha-kāntye haya teoho akṛṣṇa-varaṇa
akṛṣṇa-varaṇe kahe pīta-varaṇa.

The two syllables kṛṣ-ṇa are always in His mouth, or He always describes Kṛṣṇa with great pleasure. These are two meanings of the words "kṛṣṇa varṇa." Indeed, nothing but Kṛṣṇa issues from His mouth. If someone tries to describe Him as blackish, the next adjective, tviṣākṛṣṇam, immediately restricts him. His complexion is certainly not blackish. Indeed, His not being blackish indicates a golden complexion. (Cc. Ādi 3.54,55,57)

4.5

āsan varṇās trayo hy asya gṛhṇato 'nuyugaṃ tanūḥ
śuklo raktas tathā pīta idānīṃ kṛṣṇatāṃ gataḥ

This boy, Kṛṣṇa, has three other colors: white; red, and yellow, as He appears in different ages. Now, in this Dvāpara-yuga, he has appeared in a transcendental blackish color. (Bhāg. 10.8.13)

4.6

śukla-rakta-kṛṣṇa-pīta krame cāri varṇa
cāri varṇa dhari' kṛṣṇa karena yuga-dharma

In the Satya, Treta, Dvāpara, and Kalī yugas, Kṛṣṇa accepts four different colors: white, red, black, and yellow respectively. These are the colors of the different incarnations in different millenniums. (Cc. Madhya 20.330)

4.7

itthaṃ nṛ-tiryag-ṛṣi-deva-jhaṣāvatārair
lokān vibhāvayasi haṃsi jagat-pratīpān
dharmaṃ mahā-puruṣa pāsi yugānuvṛttaṃ
channaḥ kalau yad abhavas tri-yugo 'tha sa tvam

[Prahlāda said] O Kṛṣṇa, in this way You appear in various incarnations: as a human being, an animal, a great saint, a demigod, a fish, or a tortoise, thus maintaining the entire creation in different planetary systems. In this way, according to the age, You protect the principles of religion, but, O Mahāprabhu, in the age of Kalī, You do not assert Yourself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because Your incarnation is hidden in the age of Kalī You are known as Triyuga, or the Lord who manifests His supremacy in only three ages. (Bhāg. 7.9.38)

Evidence From Mahābhārāta for Śrī Caitanya

4.8

suvarṇa-varṇo hemāṅgo varāṅgaś-candanāṅgadī
sannyāsa-kṛcchamaḥ śānto niṣṭhā-śānti-parāyaṇaḥ

When Kṛṣṇa appears as Lord Gaurāṅga, in His early pastimes His complexion is golden (suvarṇa-varṇa), His limbs are the color of molten white gold (hemāṅga), His body is extremely beautiful (varāṅgaś), and He is decorated with sandalwood pulp (candanāṅgadī).

Śrī Caitanya accepts sannyāsa (sannyāsa-kṛt), and shows equanimity (śama). He is peaceful (śānta). His mind is always fixed on Kṛṣṇa, and thus He is niṣṭha, or fixed, in performing the great sacrifice of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. He silences the non-devotees and impersonalists who are opposed to the service of the Lord, by promoting the cause of devotion. Thus He distributes real peace. He is therefore an abode of the highest spiritual peace and devotion. (Mahābhārāta, Dān-dharma ch.149)

Evidence of the Purāṇas for Lord Caitanya

4.9

aham eva kvacid brahman sannyāsāśramam āśritaḥ
hari-bhaktiṃ grāhayāmi kalau pāpa-hatān narān

[The Supreme Lord said to Vyāsadeva] O learned brāhmaṇa, sometimes I accepted the renounced order of life to induce the fallen people of the age of Kalī to accept devotional service to the Lord. (Cc. Ādi 3.83)

4.10

aham eva dvija-śreṣṭha nityaṃ pracchana-vigrahaḥ
bhagavad-bhakta-rūpena lokān rakṣāmi sarvadā

O best of the brāhmaṇas. My disguised form is eternal. In this way, with My own form hidden from ordinary sight I take the form of a devotee and appear among the people in general in order to establish and protect religious principles. (Adi Purāṇa)

The Version of the Gosvāmīs

4.11

antaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ bahir-gauraṃ darśitāṅgādi-vaibhavam
kalau saokīrtanadyaiḥ smaḥ kṛṣṇa-caitanyam-āśritāḥ

I take shelter of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is Kṛṣṇa Himself, thinking of Himself. He is internally Kṛṣṇa blackish but externally, he appears in golden complexion. In this age of Kalī, Kṛṣṇa appears as Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, simultaneously manifesting His eternal associates, opulences, expansions, and incarnations. In this way, he preaches the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness by performing saokīrtana. (Tattva-sandarbha 2)

Śrī Gaurāṅga is the Source of all Avatāras

4.12

śutiyā ācchinu kṣīra-sāgara-bhitare
mora nidra bhāṅga haila nāḍāra huokāre

[While sitting on the altar of Viṣṇu in the house of Śrīvasa, Lord Caitanya said] Lying within the ocean of milk, My transcendental slumber broke, as I awoke to hear the loud cries of My devotees, thus I [Lord Viṣṇu] have come [as Lord Caitanya]. (Cb. Madhya 22.16)

4.13

sei kṛṣṇa avatārī vrajendra-kumāra
āpane caitanya-rūpe kaila avatāra.
ataeva caitanya gosañi paratattva-sīmā
tāore kṣīroda-śāyī kahi, ki tāora mahimā
sei ta' bhaktera vākya nahe vyabhicārī
sakala sambhave tṃṅte, yāte avatārī.
avatārīra dehe saba avatārera sthiti
keho kona-mate kahe, yemana yāra mati.

That same Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the fountainhead of all avatāras is the son of the king of Vrāja. He has descended personally [as Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu]. Therefore Lord Caitanya is the Supreme Absolute Truth. To call Him Kṣīrodakaṣāyī Viṣṇu does not add to His glory, but such words from the lips of a sincere devotee cannot be false. All possibilities abide in Him because He is the primeval Lord. All other incarnations are potentially situated in the original body of the primeval Lord. Thus according to one's opinion one may address Him as any one of the avatāras. (Cc. Ādi 2.109-112)

Śrī Gaurāṅga is Unattainable by Worldly Knowledge

4.14

bhāgavata, bhārata-śāstra, āgama, purāṇa
caitanya-kṛṣṇa-avatāre prakaṭa pramāṇa.
pratyakṣe dekhaha nānā prakaṭa prabhāva
alaukika karma, alaukika anubhāva.
dekhiyā nā dekhe yata abhaktera gaṇa
ulūke nā dekhe yena sūryera kiraṇa

Śrīmad-bhāgavatam, Mahābhārāta, the Purāṇas, and other Vedic literature all give evidence to prove that Lord Caitanya is the avatāra of Kṛṣṇa. Also, one can directly see Lord Caitanya's manifest influence in His uncommon deeds and uncommon Kṛṣṇa conscious realization, but faithless unbelievers do not see what is clearly evident, just as owls do not see the rays of the sun. (Cc. Ādi 3.84-86)

Lord Caitanya's sixfold Nature

4.15

sakala vaiṣṇava, śuna kari' eka-mana
caitanya-kṛṣṇera śāstra-mata-nirūpaṇa.
kṛṣṇa, guru, bhakta, śakti avatāra, prakāśa
kṛṣṇa ei chaya-rūpe karena vilāsa

I advise all my Vaiṣṇava readers to read and hear with rapt attention this narration of the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya as inculcated in the revealed scriptures. Lord Kṛṣṇa enjoys His pastimes by manifesting Himself as the spiritual masters (guru), His devotees (bhakta), His diverse energies (śakti), His incarnations (avatāras) and His full expansions (prakāśa). (Cc. Ādi 1.31,32)

Śrī Gaurāṅga is the Supreme Truth

4.16

yad advaitaṃ brahmopaniṣadi tad apy asya tanu-bhā
ya ātmāntaryāmī puruṣa iti so 'syāṃśa-vibhavaḥ
ṣaḍ-aiśvaryaiḥ pūrṇo ya iha bhagavān sa svayam ayaṃ
na caitanyāt kṛṣṇāj jagati para-tattvaṃ param iha

What the Upaniṣads describe as the impersonal absolute is but the effulgence of His (Śrī Caitanya's) body. The Lord who is known as the Supersoul is but His localized expansion. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa Himself, full in six opulences. He is the Absolute Truth, one without second. There is no truth superior to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (Cc. Ādi 1.3)

Lord Caitanya is the Jagad-guru

4.17

caudda bhuvanera guru caitanya-gosāñi
tāora guru anya, ei kona śāstre nāi

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the jagad-guru, the spiritual master of the fourteen worlds. No other guru can compare with Him. (Cc. Ādi 12.16)

Lord Gaurāṅga is the Best of all

4.18

saundarye kāma-koṭiḥ sakala-jana samahlādane candrakoṭir
vātsalye māṭṛkoṭis tridaśaviṭapināṃ koṭir audarya-sāre
gāmbhirye 'mbodhi-koṭir madhurimaṇi sudhā-kṣīra-māddhavihvika-kotir
gaurodevaḥ sa jīyāt praṇaya-rasapade darśitāścarya-koṭiḥ

Caitanya Mahāprabhu is lovelier than millions of cupids. He is mellower than millions of moons, dearer than millions of mothers, kinder than millions of wish-fulfilling trees, deeper than millions of oceans, and sweeter than millions of nectarean drinks. All glories to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Lord, who displays millions of amazing sentiments of madhurya-bhakti, the most exalted mellow of pure love of Godhead. (Caitanya Candrāmṛta 101)

Gaurāṅga's Tattva, Nāma, Rūpa, and Līlā

4.19

namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

His nature (tattva) is that He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. His name (nāma) is Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. His form (rūpa) is golden. His quality (gūna) is that He is the most magnanimous of all incarnations. His pastime (līlā) is to distribute the highest love of Godhead kṛṣṇa-prema. I offer my obeisances unto that most generous Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (Cc. Madhya 19.53)

Gaurāṅga Delivers All by Distributing Nāma

4.20

saokīrtana-pravartaka śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya
saokīrtana-yajñe tāore bhaje, sei dhanya.
sei ta' sumedhā, āra kubuddhi saṃsāra
sarva-yajña haite kṛṣṇa-nāma-yajña sāra

Caitanya Mahāprabhu inaugurated the saokīrtana movement. One who worships Him through saokīrtana is fortunate indeed. Such a person is truly intelligent, whereas others, who have but a poor fund of knowledge, must endure the cycle of repeated birth and death. Of all sacrificial performances, the chanting of the Lord's holy name is the most sublime. (Cc. Ādi 3.77,78)

Gaurāṅga is the Giver of Kṛṣṇa-prema

4.21

uchalila prema-vanyā caudike veḍāya
strī, vṛddha, bālaka, yuvā, sabare ḍuvāya.
saj-jana, dur-jana, paṅgu, jada, andha-gaṇa
prema-vanyāya ḍubāila jagatera jana

The flood of love of Godhead distributed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu swelled in all directions. Young men, old men, women, and children were all immersed in that inundation. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement begun by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will inundate the entire world and drown everyone, whether one be a gentleman, rogue, lame, invalid, or blind. (Cc. Ādi 7.25,26)

4.22

pātrāpātra-vicāra nāhi, nāhi sthānāsthāna
yei yāṅha pāya, tāoha kare prema-dāna
luṭiyā, khāiyā, diyā, bhāṇḍāra ujāḍe
āścarya bhāṇḍāra, prema śata-guṇa bāḍe

In distributing love of Godhead, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates did not consider who was fit and who was unfit, nor where such distribution should or should not take place. They made no such conditions. Rather, wherever they got the opportunity, the members of the Pañca-tattva distributed love of Godhead. Although they plundered the storehouse of love of Godhead, ate and distributed its contents, there was no scarcity, for this wonderful storehouse is so complete that as the love is distributed, the supply increases hundreds of times. (Cc. Ādi 7.23,24)

Who Cheat Themselves out of Love of God

4.23

māyāvādī, karma-niṣṭha kutārkika-gaṇa
nindaka, pāṣaṇḍī, yata paḍuyā adhama
sei saba mahādakṣa dhāṣṃ palāila
sei vanyā tā-sabāre chuṅite nārila

The impersonalists, fruitive workers, false logicians, blasphemers, non-devotees, and lowest of the student community are very expert in avoiding the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Therefore the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu cannot reach them. (Cc. Ādi 7.29,30)

One can Know the Conclusion of Scripture

by Śrī Gaurāṅga's Mercy

4.24

śrī-caitanya-prabhuṃ vande bālo 'pi yad-anugrahāt
taren nānā-mata-grāha-vyāptaṃ siddhānta-sāgaram

I offer my obeisances unto Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by whose mercy even an ignorant child can swim across the ocean of conclusive truth, which is filled with the crocodiles of various theories. (Cc. Ādi 2.1)

4.25

hṛdaye dharaye ye caitanya-nityānanda
e-saba siddhānte sei pāibe ānanda.
e saba siddhānta haya āmrera pallava
bhakta-gaṇa-kokilera sarvadā vallabha.
abhakta-uṣṭrera ithe nā haya praveśa
tabe citte haya mora ānanda-viśeṣa.

[Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī says] Anyone who has captured Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu within his heart becomes blissful by hearing all these transcendental conclusions. These conclusions are like the newly grown twigs of a mango tree in that they are always pleasing to the devotees, who in this way resemble cuckoos. The camel-like non-devotees, however, cannot enter into these topics, and therefore there is special jubilation within my heart. (Cc. Ādi 4.233-235)

Lord Gaurāṅga's Preaching Pastimes

4.26

sannyāsī panḍita-gaṇera karite garva nāśa
nīca-śūdra-dvārā karena dharmera prakāśa.
'bhakti', ' prema', 'tattva' kahe rāye kari' 'vaktā'
āpani pradyumna-miśra-saha haya 'śrotā'.
haridāsa-dvārā nāma-māhātmya-prakāśa
sanātana-dvārā bhakti-siddhānta-vilāsa.
śrī-rūpa-dvārā vrajera prema-rasa-līlā
ke bujhite pāre gambhīra caitanyera khelā?

To vanquish the false pride of so-called sannyāsīs and learned scholars, He spread real religious principles, even through a śudra. Lord Caitanya preached about devotional service, ecstatic love, and the Absolute Truth by making Rāmānanda Rāya, a gṛhastha from a low family, the speaker. Then the Lord, an exalted brāhmaṇa sannyāsī, and Pradyumna Miśra, the purified brāhmaṇa, both heard from Rāmānanda Rāya. The Lord exhibited the glories of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa through Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who was born in a Muslim family. Similarly, He exhibited the essence of devotional service through Sanātana Gosvāmī, who was almost converted to Islam. The Lord also fully exhibited the ecstatic love and transcendental pastimes of Vṛndāvana through Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Considering all this, who can understand the deep plans of Caitanya Mahāprabhu? (Cc. Antya 5.84-87)

4.27

vraje ye vihare pūrve kṛṣṇa-balarāma
koṭī-sūrya-candra jini doohāra nija-dhāma.
sei dui jagatere ha-iyā sadaya
gauḍadeśe pūrva-śaile karila udaya.
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya āra prabhu nityānanda
yāohāra prakāśe sarva jagat ānanda.
sūrya-candra hare yaiche saba andhakāra
vastu prakāśiyā kare dharmera prācāra.
ei mata dui bhāi jivera ajñāna-
tamo-nāśa kari' kaila tattva-vastu-dāna.
yāohāra prasāde ei tamo haya nāśa
tamo nāśa kari' kare tattvera prakāśa.
sūrya candra bāhirera tamaū se vināśe
bahir-vastu ghaṭa-paṭa-ādi se prakāśe.
dui bhāi hṛdayera kṣāli' andhakāra
dui bhāgavata-saṅge karāna sākṣātkara.

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, who formerly appeared in Vṛndāvana and who were millions of times more effulgent than the sun and moon, have arisen over the eastern horizon of Gauḍa-deśa, being compassionate on the fallen state of the world. The appearance of Śrī Caitanya and Nityānanda has surcharged the world with happiness. As the sun and moon drive away darkness and reveal the nature of everything, these two brothers dissipate the darkness of the living beings ignorance and enlighten them with knowledge of the Absolute Truth. By the grace of Śrī Caitanya and Nityānanda, all darkness is removed and the truth is brought to light. The sun and moon dissipate the darkness of the external world and thus reveal material reality, but these two brothers dissipate the darkness of the inner core of the heart, and thus help one to meet the two kinds of Bhāgavatas. (Cc. Ādi 1.85-89,95,97,98)

Śrī Gaurāṅga's Example and Precept

4.28

hare-kṛṣṇety uccaiḥ sphurita-rasano nāmagaṇanā-
kṛta-granthi-śreṇī-subhaga-kaṭi-sūtrojjvala-karaḥ
viśālākṣo dīrghārgala-yugala-khelāñcita-bhujaḥ
sa caitanyaḥ kiṃ me punarapi dṛśor yāsyati padam

Caitanya Mahāprabhu chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra in a loud voice. The holy name dances on His tongue as He counts His recitations with His effulgent hands. His eyes are large and His long arms, which bend when He performs His pastimes, reach down to His knees. When will he again be visible before me? (Stava-mālā 5 Rūpa Gosvāmī)

Gaurāṅga's Principle and Ultimate Goals

4.29

ei vāñchā yaiche kṛṣṇa-prākaṭya-kāraṇa
asura-saṃhāra ānuṣaṅga prayojana.
ei mata caitanya-kṛṣṇa pūrṇa bhagavān
yuga-dharma-pravartana nahe tāora kāma.
kona kāraṇe yabe haila avatāre mana
yuga-dharma-kāla haila se kāle milana.
dui hetu avatari' lañā bhakta-gaṇa
āpane āsvāde prema-nāma-saokīrtana.
sei dvāre ācaṇḍāle kīrtana sañcāre
nāma-prema-mala gāothi' parāila saṃsāre.
ei-mata bhakta-bhāva kari' aṅgīkāra
āpani ācari' bhakti karila pracāra.

Just as Kṛṣṇa appeared in order to manifest His Vṛndāvana pastimes and His suppression of demons was incidental in the same way promulgating the dharma for the age is an incidental reason for Lord Caitanya's appearance. When He desired to appear for another reason, the time for promulgating the religion of the age also arose. Thus with two intentions, the Lord appeared with His devotees and tasted the nectar of prema along with the congregational chanting of the holy name. He spread saokīrtana even among untouchables. He wove a wreath of the holy name and prema with which He garlanded the entire world. In this way, assuming the sentiment of a devotee, He preached devotional service while practicing it Himself. (Cc. Ādi 4.36-41)

Śrī Gaurāṅga is Like a Lion

4.30

caitanya-siṃhera nava-dvīpe avatāra
siṃha-grīva, siṃha-vīrya, siṃhera huokāra
sei siṃha vasuk jīvera hṛdaya-kandare
kalmaṣa-dvirada nāśe yāohāra huokāre

Thus the lion-like Caitanya Mahāprabhu has appeared in Navadvīpa-dhāma. He has the shoulders of a lion, the powers of a lion, and the loud voice of a lion. May that lion be seated in the core of the heart of every living being and with His resounding roar, may He drive away their elephantine vices. (Cc. Ādi 3.30,31)

Śrī Gaurāṅga's Eternal Reason for Appearing

4.31

anarpita-carīṃ cirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasāṃ sva-bhakti-śriyam
hariḥ puraṭa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandīpitaḥ
sadā hṛdaya-kandare sphuratu vaḥ śacī-nandana

May that Lord who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacīdevī be transcendentally situated in the inner-most chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold He has appeared in the age of Kalī by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation ever offered before the most sublime and radiant spiritual knowledge of the mellow taste of His service. (Cc. Ādi 1.4)

Lord Gaurāṅga's Confidential Reason for Appearing

4.32

śrī-rādhāyāḥ praṇaya-mahimā kīdṛśo vānayaivā-
svādyo yenādbhūta-madhurimā kīdṛśo vā madīyaḥ
saukhyam cāsya mad-anubhavataḥ kīdṛśam veti lobhāt
tad-bhāvāḍhyaḥ samajani śacī-garbha-sindau harīnduḥ

Desiring to understand the glory of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī's love, the wonderful qualities in Him that she alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness she feels when she realizes the sweetness of His love, Lord Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appears from the womb of Śacīdevī as the moon appears from the ocean. (Cc. Ādi 1.6)

Internally He has the Mood of Śrī Rādhā,

Externally He Preaches the Holy Name

4.33

sei rādhāra bhāva lañā caitanyāvatāra
yuga-dharma nāma-prema kaila paracāra

Lord Caitanya appeared with the sentiments of Śrī Rādhā. He preached the dharma of this age, the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, and pure love of Godhead (Kṛṣṇa-prema). (Cc. Ādi 4.220)

The Pastimes of Śrī Caitanya are Eternal

4.34

adyāpiha caitanya ei saba līlā kare
yā'ra bhāgye thāke se dekhaye nirantare

As yet, no one can completely see the opulences of all the pastimes Lord Caitanya performed, because they are without limit in time and space. They are unlimited and eternal. (Cb. Madhya 23.513)

Materialistic and Demonic Persons are Envious of Śrī Gaurāṅga

4.35

pūrve yaiche jarāsandha-ādi rāja-gaṇa
veda-dharma kari' kare viṣṇura pūjana
kṛṣṇa nāhi māne, tāte daitya kari' māni
caitanya nā mānile taiche daitya tāre jāni
hena kṛpāmaya caitanya nā bhaje yei jana
sarvottama ha-ileo tāre asure gaṇana

Formerly, even kings like Jarāsandha strictly followed the Vedic rituals, thus worshiping Lord Viṣṇu. One who does not accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead is certainly a demon. Similarly, one who does not accept Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa, the same Supreme Lord, is also considered a demon. One who does not show respect to this merciful Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu or does not worship Him, should be considered a demon, even if that person is very exalted in human society. (Cc. Ādi 8.8,9,12)

Gaurāṅga is not the Enjoyer of the Rasa Dance

4.36

ei mata cāpalya karena sabā sane
sabe strīmātra nā dekhena dṛṣṭikāṇe
"strī" hena nā prabhu ei avatāre
śravaṇe o nā karilā vidita saṃsāre
ata eva yata mahā-mahima sakale
"gaurāṅga nāgara" hena stava nāhi bale

The Lord was apt to indulge in indiscriminate, merciful behavior towards all, except that He never looked at a woman, even by a sidelong glance. It is known to all the world that He did not even allow the name of a woman to enter His ear. Those who are His real devotees, therefore, never address Śrī Gaurāṅga as "Gaurāṅga-nāgarī," or the enjoyer of women. Although all forms of praise are applicable to the Lord, the wise sing only what is in accordance with His nature. (Cb. 15.28-31)

The Glories of the Mercy of Gaura-Nitāi

4.37

caitanya-nityānande nāhi esaba vicāra
nāma laite prema dena, bahe aśrudhāra
svatantra īśvara prabhu atyanta udāra
tāore nā bhajile kabhu nā haya nistāra

If one only chants with some slight faith the holy names of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda, very quickly he is cleansed of all offenses. Thus, as soon as he chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, he feels the ecstasy of love of Godhead. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the independent Supreme Personality of Godhead is greatly magnanimous. Unless one worships Him, one can never liberated. (Cc. Ādi 8.31,32)

The Position of Those who Cheat Themselves

out of Lord Gaurāṅga's Mercy

4.38

caitanyāvatāre vahe premāmṛta-vanyā
saba jīva preme bhāse, pṛthivī haila dhanyā.
e-vanyāya ye nā bhāse, sei jīva chāra
koṭi-kalpe kabhu tāra nāhika nistāra

There is now a flood of the eternal nectar of love of God because of the incarnation of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. All living entities are floating in that flood. The entire world is now thankful to the Lord. Whoever does not float in this inundation is most condemned. Such a person cannot be delivered for millions of lifetimes of Lord Brahmā. (Cc. Antya 3.254, 255)

4.39

avatāra sāra, gaura-avatāra
kena nā bhajili tā're
kari' nīre vāsa, gela nā piyāsa
āpana karama phere
kaṇṭakera taru ,sadāi sevili amṛta pāibara
āśe prema kalpataru (śrī) Gaurāṅga āmāra
tāhāre bhāvili viṣe
saurabhera āśe, palāśa śuñkili,
nāsāte paśila kīṭa
ikṣudaṇḍa bhāvi' kāṭha cuṣili
kemane paibi miṭha
hāra baliyā, galāya parili,
śamana-kiokara-sāpa
śītala baliyā āguna pohali,
pāili bajara-tāpa
saṃsāra bhajili, (śrī) Gaurāṅga bhulili,
nā śunili sādhura kathā
iha-para-kāla, du'kāla khoyāli,
khāili āpana māthā

Śrī Gaurāṅga is the essence of all avatāras. Why didn't I worship Him? It is as if I was surrounded by water and dying of thirst but I denied myself a drink. I chewed the thorns on the tree of worldly life and took the blood that flowed through my mouth to be nectar. When I was offered the nectarean fruits of love of Godhead distributed by Lord Gaurāṅga, however, I turned them away, thinking them to be poison. Wishing to smell perfume I sniffed at what I thought was the fragrant flower of material enjoyment. Alas, that flower was odorless like the palāśa flower. When I tried to sniff its illusory aroma a bee flew up my nose and stung me. Thinking material life to be as sweet as sugarcane, I tried to taste its nectar. Instead, as I sucked I found it juiceless and dry. In this way, all my attempts at enjoyment proved false.

Admitting defeat, wasted, and worn out, I await the snake of death. Declaring it to be cool and soothing, I have embraced the fire of material life, only to suffer intense miseries, as if struck by lightning. Worshiping family and material life I forgot Gaurāṅga and didn't listen to the words of the saints. Now, in my final days I realize that I am twice dead, for not only am I casting off this mortal body, but I am dead while living, having wasted my life in material indulgence (Mahājana-gīti).

Gaurāṅga Appears as His Holy Name and as His Deity

4.40

āra dui janma ei saokīrtanārambhe
haiba tomāra putra āmi avilambe
mora arcā-mūrti mātā, tumi se dharaṇī
jihvārūpā tumi mātā, nāmera jananī
ei dui janma mora saokīrtanārambhe
dui ṭhañi tora putra rahu avilambe

[Lord Caitanya told Śacī] Birth after birth you are My mother. Again, in this birth, I have come to begin the saokīrtana movement, and so I have become your son. My appearance in this world is twofold: I appear as the arca-mūrtī and as the holy name. In this way I appear upon the tongue in the form of sound, and as the Deity made from the elements drawn from the earth. In both these forms I am worshiped, and in these two features I have appeared in order to spread the saokīrtana movement. (Cb. Madhya 27.47)

Gaurāṅga's Teachings in a Nutshell.

4.41

ārādhyo bhagvān brajeśa-tanayas-tad-dhāma vṛndāvanaṃ
ramyā kācid-upāsanā vraja-vadhū-vargeṇa yā kalpitā
śrīmad-bhāgavataṃ pramāṇam-amalaṃ premā pumartho mahān
śrī caitanya mahāprabhur-matam-idaṃ tatrādaro naḥ paraḥ

It is the conclusive opinion of Lord Caitanya that Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is Vrajendra-nandana, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, the topmost worshipable Deity; Vṛndāvana-dhāma which is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa and is nondifferent from Him is the highest worshipable abode; the gopīs are the highest example of the worship of Śrī Kṛṣṇa; Śrīmad-bhāgavatam is the spotless evidence for knowing the absolute truth; kṛṣṇa-prema is the fifth and highest goal of life. These are the teachings of Śrī Caitanya in a nutshell. (Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura)

Thus ends the Fourth Jewel of the Gauḍīya Kaṇṭhahāra, entitled Gaura-tattva