Chaitanya Bhagavata

by Bhumipati Dāsa | 2008 | 1,349,850 words

The Chaitanya Bhagavata 3.8.130, English translation, including a commentary (Gaudiya-bhasya). This text is similair to the Caitanya-caritamrita and narrates the pastimes of Lord Caitanya, proclaimed to be the direct incarnation of Krishna (as Bhagavan) This is verse 130 of Antya-khanda chapter 8—“Mahaprabhu’s Water Sports in Narendra- sarovara”.

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 3.8.130:

অল্প-ভাগ্যে শ্রী-চৈতন্য-গোষ্ঠী নাহি পাই কেবল ভক্তির বশ চৈতন্য-গোসাঞি ॥ ১৩০ ॥

अल्प-भाग्ये श्री-चैतन्य-गोष्ठी नाहि पाइ केवल भक्तिर वश चैतन्य-गोसाञि ॥ १३० ॥

alpa-bhāgye śrī-caitanya-goṣṭhī nāhi pāi kevala bhaktira vaśa caitanya-gosāñi || 130 ||

alpa-bhagye sri-caitanya-gosthi nahi pai kevala bhaktira vasa caitanya-gosani (130)

English translation:

(130) Those who are less fortunate cannot be counted among the associates of Lord Caitanya, who is controlled only by devotion.

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

One is not qualified to be included among the associates of Śrī Caitanya simply on the strength of ordinary piety or advanced moral life.

Accomplishments in extraneous desires, fruitive activities, speculative knowledge, and mystic perfection are examples of insignificant piety. Pure devotional service alone is able to diminish the reactions of such activities, and only then is one able to attain the mercy of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanyadeva.

In his commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra (3.3.50) Śrī Madhvācārya has

quoted the Māṭhara-śruti as follows:

bhaktir evainaṃ nayati bhaktir evainaṃ darśayati bhakti-vaśaḥ puruṣaḥ bhaktir eva bhūyasī

“Only devotional service can lead one to the Personality of Godhead. Only devotional service can help a devotee meet the Supreme Lord face to face. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is attracted by devotional service, and as such the ultimate supremacy of Vedic knowledge rests in knowing the science of devotional service.”

And in Vedānta-sūtra (3.3.54) Śrī Madhvācārya has quoted the following verse:

bhakti-sthaḥ paramo viṣṇus- tathaivaināṃ vaśe nayet tathaiva darśanaṃ yātaḥ pradadyān muktim etayā

“Lord Viṣṇu dwells in devotional service. The Supreme Lord Viṣṇu is controlled only by devotional service. Only through devotional service can one attain His darśana, and only through devotional service does He award one liberation.”

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