Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.4
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Mayapur, March 4, 1974

Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

panca-tattva avatirna caitanyera sange panca-tattva lana karena sankirtana range

Translation: “These five tattvas incarnate with Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and thus the Lord executes His sankirtana movement with great pleasure.”

Prabhupada: Tattva, Absolute Truth, I tried to explain last night. Tattva… Krsna has spoken about tattva in the Bhagavad-gita, and in the Srimad-Bhagavatam also there is statement of tattva, vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam [Bhag. 1.2.11]. Tattva, the truth, can be learned from the tattva-vida, one who knows. The Absolute Truth can not be ascertained by imaginative speculation. One has to learn the tattva from the tattva-vit. Therefore the tattva-vid vadanti. Vadanti means they explain, tattva-vit, one who is tattva-vit, he explains. Vadanti tat tattva-vidas tattvam yaj jnanam advayam [Bhag. 1.2.11]. One who knows, he’s not silent. He is to preach, he is to speak. Nowadays it has become a fashion to be mauni-baba, does not speak. So these are, may be very good device for professional business, but so far we are concerned, in the Vedic culture, the tattva-vit must speak. Sravanam kirtanam. The tattva-vit must hear from the authorized person; then he’ll speak. That is nice. Otherwise there is no need of speaking. So those who have not heard from the authorized person, they may make a business by making himself mauni-baba. Tavac ca sobhate murkho yavat kincin na bhasate: “A murkha, a dull rascal, is very beautiful so long he does not speak.” Because as soon as he speaks, then his knowledge, his learning, his capacity, his position, will be immediately exposed. So our parampara line… Prahlada Maharaja has condemned this system, mauni-baba. No. Our system is kirtaniyah sada harih, Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s teaching.

trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. adi 17.31]

And Krsna also confirms this in the Bhagavad-gita: satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha-vratah [Bg. 9.14] That is mahatma, always glorifying the Lord, Supreme Lord Krsna.

So this Krsna consciousness movement means this satatam kirtayanto mam: [Bg. 9.14] twenty-four hours we have to glorify. Krsna is unlimited, God is unlimited. So we have to chant, glorifying His qualities, unlimitedly. Srila Rupa Gosvami says that “How I shall glorify the Lord by chanting His name and pastimes? I have got only one tongue. If I could possess millions of tongues and trillions of ears, then it was possible to glorify the Lord to some extent.” This is our business. You’ll be surprised that my Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura… Sometimes Pandita Madanmohan Mahalabhya (?), a great politician, well-known political leader, he came to see him. So he inquired from my Guru Maharaja, “What are your activities?” So in describing his activities he said that “We have got six magazines, and out of them, one is daily, Nadiya Prakash.” Those who are resident of this place might know. So he was publishing one paper daily, Nadiya Prakash. So Madanmohan Mahalabhya inquired that “You are publishing daily one paper about spiritual subject?” He said, “Yes, why not?” Now, he explained that this universe is only one of the millions universes. This small universe is one of the many, many. Many, many… We get information from the sastra, yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-kotih [Bs. 5.40]. Jagadanda means this universe. And there are kotis, unlimited. In Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s dealing, one devotee, Vasudeva Datta, he pleaded to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, “My dear Lord, You have come, You take away all the inhabitants of this earth, or within this universe, and if You think that they are so much sinful that they cannot be delivered, so You can transfer their sinful resultant action, sinful activities, unto me. I shall suffer.” This is Vaisnava philosophy, that “Let others be delivered, and if they are unfit, sinful, all their sins may be transferred to me.” So Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that “You do not require to take their sinful reaction, but even without your transferring they can be delivered. But this is only one universe.” And He compared that this universe is just like a grain of mustard in the mustard bag. Say, hundred kilos, kg., mustard bag, and there is one mustard seed. So this universe is like that. So many universes are there. So my Guru Maharaja explained that “This universe is only just like a grain of mustard seed among millions and trillions of universes, and in each and every universe there are millions and trillions of planets, and this earthly planet is one of them, and in this planet, the earthly planet, there are so many cities, and in each city there are so many daily papers, and each daily paper has got so many editions. So this is only one-fourth exhibition of God’s creation. If in one city there are so many news, people can read, so from the three-fourth creation of the world, Vaikuntha-jagat, we can give so many news that we can overflood them with news. Unfortunately we have no customer.” That is…

So this is the position. Kirtana. Kirtana, we can glorify the Lord twenty-four hours. Twenty-four hours we have got at our disposal. We have got (not) only twenty-four hours, but unlimited. Ekamsena sthito jagat. This is only one-fourth part manifestation of the whole creation. There is no limit of kirtana. That is unlimited. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instruction is that “Glorify the Lord continuously.” Trnad api sunicena. And as soon as you begin kirtaniyah, real kirtana of Krsna, then you’ll have many enemies. Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally had many enemies. You know that in this spot there was persecution, religious persecution, by the then magistrate, Chand Kazi. His samadhi is still there. So, and we are also experiencing. Our only fault is that we are preaching the sankirtana movement, and there are so many enemies. You see? So that is possible. Even the father become enemy. Prahlada Maharaja, a five-years-old boy, and because he was chanting Hare Krsna mantra, his father became enemy. So you’ll have enemies. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives us, warning us, that trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna: “You just become humbler than the grass.” Just (as) you trample over the grasses, it does not protest. Not only you, so many people are going on the grasses, but they tolerate. So trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. And He has given the example, “tolerant than the trees.” The trees are standing in one place. Scorching heat and cold and rains, they are all suffering, and the people taking their leaves, taking their branches, woods, cutting them, taking fruit, and still, the trees give you shelter. This is the example of tolerance. So trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna, amanina manadena. Everyone in this material world is very much fond of getting honor. Although he’s not honorable, still, he wants to get honor. Although he is unfit, still, he wants. That is the material propensity. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that “You give them honor. Don’t ask for yourself any honor, respect, but others, you give them.” That is the process of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s preaching.

As Prabhodananda Sarasvati has explained,

dante nidhaya trnakam padayor nipatya kaku-satam krtva ca etad aham bravimi he sadhavah sakalam eva vihaya durat caitanya-candra-carane kurutanuraga

He says… This is the process of preaching: “My dear sir, I am falling down on your lotus feet and with folded hands and am flattering you thousand times, and I have taken one grass in my mouth to show my humbleness. So you kindly hear my one word.” “What is that?” He sadhavah, “You are very great sadhu, but you have learned so many things,” he sadhavah sakalam eva vihaya durat. “This is my request, that whatever you have learned, so many things, kindly forget. Kick them out.” “Then what shall I take?” Caitanya-candra-carane kurutanuraga: “Just become a servant on the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is my request.” So we have to preach like that. Just flatter him, but request him that “You forget all these bogus things. Simply take to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Your life will be successful,” as it is… We have already… Tanhara caranasrita, sei bada dhanya: “Anyone who takes shelter at the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he becomes glorified.” Sei bada dhanya.

So our preaching should be like that. The Panca-tattva… Here it is said. We are discussing.

panca-tattva avatirna caitanyera sange panca-tattva lana karena sankirtana range

So Caitanya Mahaprabhu has got His associates. That is confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti he su-medhasah [SB 11.5.32]

This is the method of worshiping the Lord Visnu. Yajna means to worship the Supreme Lord. Yajnaih sankirtanaih prayaih.

varnasramacaravata purusena parah puman visnur aradhyate pumsam nanyat tat-tosa-karanam

This is civilization, varnasrama. One must observe (in) the material world. In the spiritual world, of course, there is no such thing as varnasrama. That is pure identity of the soul. So there is no… So long we are in this material world there must be a scientific division of progress of life. That is Vedic system. Brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa. This is called varnasrama-dharma. I have repeatedly said that people call us Hindu in India. Actually, “Hindu” word is not visible in any Vedic literature. This is the name given by the Arabians to the, this part of the world, on the bank of the Sindhu. From the Sindhu the word “Hindu” has come. So actually, our culture is varnasrama-dharma. Therefore sastra says, varnasramacaravata purusena parah puman. In the varnasrama-dharma, the ultimate goal is to worship Lord Visnu, whose name is Yajna. Out of many names of Lord Visnu, one name is Yajna, Yajna-purusa. So anything performed to satisfy the Supreme Lord, that is called yajna.

So other yajnas are not possible in this age, Kali-yuga, Kali-yuga. The only yajna, this sankirtana movement. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah [SB 11.5.32] If you want to perform yajna and if you are intelligent, su-medhasah… The two words has been used in Vedic literature: su-medhasah and alpa-medhasah. In the Bhagavad-gita this word has been used, alpa-medhasah, tad bhavati alpa-medhasam, in the matter of worshiping the demigods. Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante ’nya-devatah, antavat tu phalam tesam [Bg. 7.20]. If you get some resultant action by worshiping demigod, that is antavat. Just like Hiranyakasipu. He got some benediction from Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma is not ordinary demigod. He’s the… Amongst the demigods he’s the head, pitamaha. So Hiranyakasipu wanted benediction from Lord Brahma to become immortal. So immortality is not possible. So Lord Brahma said that “I am myself not immortal. How can I give you? It is not possible.” So Hiranyakasipu took indirectly, negative way, that “I shall not die this way, I shall not die this way, I shall not die this way,” negative way. So he thought himself to be very intelligent demon. So even that benediction was given, but still, he was killed by Nrsimhadeva. So therefore, antavat tu phalam tesam. Even by tricks or by penance or austerities you take some benedictions from the demigods, even if you are awarded, that is described in the Bhagavad-gita, antavat tu phalam tesam tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam. People want to be satisfied with little benefit, with little benefit. No, that is not our mission. We want the supreme benefit. Supreme benefit is that you are now entangled in the process of birth, death, old age and disease in the material existence. The real benefit is how to save yourself from these four difficulties. As Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, janma mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam. We are embarrassed with so many difficulties, but real difficulty is janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi: birth, death, old age and disease. So this Krsna consciousness movement is to give you ultimate benefit: no more birth, no more death, no more disease, no more old age. Always mind that.

So the greatest benefit. The greatest benefit is… Caitanya Mahaprabhu is offering. Therefore Rupa Gosvami says, namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema pradaya te [Madhya 19.53]. This greatest benefit you can get if you develop your dormant love for Krsna. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita:

janma karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]

That is ultimate goal.

mam upetya kaunteya duhkhalayam asasvatam napnuvanti mahatmanah samsiddhim paramam gatah [Bg. 8.15]

So we have to achieve the highest benefit, go back to home, back to Godhead. So for this purpose, Caitanya Mahaprabhu or Lord Krsna has not only appeared Himself, but with His associates. They are called Panca-tattva. So here it is explained, panca-tattva avatirna caitanyera sange. If you take guru, then there are six tattvas. But Caitanya personally has expanded, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate. When you speak of Bhagavan, brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate. When Bhagavan… Bhagavan means His paraphernalia. Just like when we speak, “Now the king is coming,” it is not that king is alone coming. The king is coming with his minister, with his commander, with his secretaries, with his so many officers. So when we speak of Bhagavan, don’t think He is alone only. No. Panca…, that Panca-tattva. When Bhagavan incarnates, He comes with all the associates, His sakti-tattva, avatara-tattva, prakasa-tattva. Many paraphernalia He comes. So here Caitanya Mahaprabhu, avatirna. Here it is said, panca-tattva avatirna caitanyera sange. Caitanyera-sange… Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself. So He must have His associates. Associates. That is Bhagavan. Just like in the Brahma-samhita it is explained, the beginning of understanding, how Bhagavan lives in the spiritual world

cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambrahma-sevyamanam govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Bs. 5.29]

Govinda is not alone. Govinda is associated with the surabhir abhipalayantam, many millions and thousands of surabhi cows. He tends so many cows. And laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambrahma-sevyamanam. We are flattering one Laksmi, goddess of fortune, but in the spiritual world, laksmi-sahasra-sata, many, many millions, Laksmis, goddess of fortune. Sambrahma-sevyamanam, with great respect. Here we are flattering one Laksmi, goddess of fortune, “Mother, give me some money,” but there the Laksmis are flattering Krsna. That is Krsna’s position. Laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambrahma-sevyamanam govindam adi-purusam.

So Krsna is never alone. Similarly, Caitanya Mahaprabhu is never alone. Narottama dasa Thakura sings, caitanyera sangi gane, nitya-siddha boli mane. Gaurangera, gaurangera sangi gane, nitya-siddha boli mane, sei yaya vrajendra-suta-pasa. That is the explanation of Narottama dasa Thakura. So either Krsna or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whenever They appear, They appear with Their associates. So here Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has appeared with Panca-tattva. Krsna-varnam tvisa-krsnam sangopangastra-parsadam, yajnaih sankirtana. He has appeared, these five tattvas. In our exhibition ground we have first placed these five tattvas: Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Gadadhara Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, and Srivasa Thakura. Nityananda Prabhu is the immediate expansion of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Baladeva-tattva. Baladeva means who gives strength for spiritual advancement. Nayam atma pravacanena labhyo nayam atma balahinena labhyah. These are the Vedic injunctions. So without Baladeva’s or Nityananda’s grace, one cannot make advancement.

ara kabe nitai-canda karuna karibe samsara vasana mora kabe tuccha ha’be

This is the grace of Nityananda Prabhu. Narottama dasa Thakura explains, ara kabe nitai-canda, karuna karibe. Narottama dasa Thakura is aspiring for the day when Nityananda Prabhu will be pleased upon him. Just like Jagai-Madhai was delivered by the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, so we have to pray Nityananda Prabhu. He’s very merciful. He’s so kind, Baladeva, He gives spiritual strength. Then we can approach the Supreme Lord. Therefore we chant “Nitai-Gaura.” This is the process. We cannot change this policy. Panca-tattva must be worshiped; otherwise wherefrom we shall get…? The spiritual master… Nityananda Prabhu is the spiritual master. Or spiritual master is the replica, representation, of Nityananda Prabhu. So when Nityananda Prabhu is pleased, then we become detached from this material attraction.

People, conditioned soul, means they have forgotten Krsna, and they are suffering, that’s a fact. Tri-tapa yantana, adhibhautika. But because they are illusioned, they are thinking, “We are enjoying.” This is called illusion. They are suffering, working day and night like an ass, and still, he’s thinking that he’s very happy. But he does not know that there is a life where there is no such thing as to work hard. Just like Krsna and Krsna’s associates in Vrndavana, they are jolly, tending their cows, getting milk in the village, sufficient food, dancing with the gopis. That is life. No mill, no slaughterhouse, no motorcar. You see? No skyscraper building. Here see. So this is another philosophy, another philosophy: simple life, simple life with Krsna. Simple life we can live still, but we do not agree. If we live simple life, people will criticize, “Oh, this is primitive, primitive. What you have made advancement?” But they have no sense. Anyway… So if we really want relief from this materialistic way of life, then we should take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His sankirtana movement. Then our misunderstanding of existence will be cleansed. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni [Cc. Antya 20.12] And we have created a civilization which is blazing fire, blazing fire. Everyone, all politicians, even ordinary citizens, they are now suffering. The politicians cannot give them enough food. They simply take vote, and the price of foodstuff is increasing. This is a very precarious condition. It is called samsara-davanala, “the blazing fire of material existence.” We may extinguish for the time being, but again… Davanala is used for this purpose. Nobody sets fire, but it takes place. That is called davanala. In the forest nobody goes to set fire, but it takes place by dealings. So when we deal in a different way than Krsna consciousness, then there will be fire immediately. This dealing will produce fire. That has come already. So this is the only remedy, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s process:

harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21]

So here is the statement, panca-tattva lana karena sankirtana range. You take to this movement, chant and dance. All problems will be solved.

Thank you very much. (end)