atha-thereafter; Pippaladah-Pippalada; samit- panih-with
sacrificial fuel [sacred wood] in hand; bhagavantam—the opulent;
brahmanam-Lord Brahma; upasannah-approached; Bhagavan-O
My Lord; me-unto me; subham—auspicious; kim-what; atra—in
this world; caksasva-please tell; iti-thus.
Thereafter, Pippalada, with sacrificial fuel in hand, approached Lord
Brahma and said, "O My Lord, in this world, please tell me what is the real
auspiciousness?"
Sri Caitanya-caranamrta Bhasva: Commentary of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
Panca-tattvanvitam natva Caitanya-rasa-vigraham
Caitanyopanisad-bhasyam karomyatma-visuddhaye
After offering obeisances unto the Panca-Tattva, I am writing this commentary
on the Caitanya Upanisad, which is the form of the mellow of Lord Caitanya,
for self purification.
This Caitanya Upanisad which is included within the eternal Atharva-Veda,
and which is full of all bliss, has thus far not been manifest due to being
beyond the vision of persons who have become blinded by the influence of
the illusory energy and whose minds are directed towards external matters.
Then, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the moon of Navadvipa, appeared, by the
endeavor of the pure devotees, it became known. According to the authority
of the Srimad-Bhagavatam ( 7.9.38 ), even the sastras are in a covered form
concerning the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya who is to be worshipped in Kali-Yuga
[or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appears in a covered form according to the sastras].
Therefore it is not surprising that, due to misfortune, the fools who are
engaged in karma and jnana have no faith in this connection.
After examining many sastras and performing much worship, Pippalada Muni,
desiring his own welfare, approached the guru, the four faced Lord Brahma
with fuel in hand and asked, "What is best for me?"
(2)
sa
hov€ca bh™ya eva tapas€ / brahmacaryeŠa avad
ramasva mano vaeti
sah-He, Lord Brahma. ha-indeed; uvaca—said; bhuyah-very;
eva-only; tapasa-with austerity; brahmacaryena-and
celibacy; sasvat—always; ramasva-be pleased; manah-the
mind; vasa-control ; iti-thus.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma said, "Always be very pleased with only austerity, celibacy
and control of the mind."
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Lord Brahma said to him: "After spending one year acting for the purification
of mind and body by pure behavior in renunciation, by celibacy, by yoga
practice and austerity, come again".
(3)
sa
tath€ bh™tv€
/ bh™ya enam upasady€ha / bhagavan kalau p€p€c channaƒ
/ praj€ƒ kathaˆ mucyerann iti
sah-he, Pippalada; tatha-so; bhutva-becoming; bhuyah-very;
enam-thus; upasadya-approaching; aha-said; bhagavan-O
my Lord; kalau-in Kali; papat-due to sin; channah-covered;
prajah-people; katham-how; mucyeran-can be liberated;
iti-thus.
TRANSLATION
He, Pippalada, becoming pure in mind, again approached his father and
said: "O my Lord Brahma, in the age of Kali Yuga, people are covered due
to sin. How can they obtain liberation?"
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary.
After practicing purification of the body and mind by celibacy and austerity,
Pippalada again approached his guru and inquired, "In Kali-Yuga, how can
those who are sinful by nature obtain liberation from the material condition?
"
(4)
ko
v€ devat€ / ko v€ mantro br™h…ti
kah-which; vazor; devata-deity; kah—which;
va- or; mantrah-mantra; brohi-Please tell (me); iti-thus.
TRANSLATION
Please tell me which deity or which mantra is worthy of service.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Oh, my Lord, for the living beings whose minds are contaminated by Kali-Yuga,
please tell me which deity or which mantra should be served.
(5)
sa
hov€ca rahasyaˆ te vadiy€mi
/ j€hnav…-t…re navadv…pe golok€khye dh€mni
/ govindo dvi-bhujo gauraƒ sarv€tm€ / mah€-puruo
mah€tm€ / mah€-yog… tri-guŠ€t…taƒ
/ sattva-r™po
bhaktiˆ loke kayat…ti tad ete lok€ bhavanti
sah-he, Lord Brahma; ha-indeed; uvaca-replied; rahasyam-confidential
truth; teunto you; vadisyami-I will tell; jahnavi-tire-on
the bank of the Jahnavi; navadvipe-in Navadvipa; goloka-akhye-
which is known as Goloka; dhamniabode; govindah-Lord Govinda;
dvi-bhujahwith two arms; gaurah-golden complexion; sarva-atma-the
Supersoul; maha-purusah-the greatest Personality; maha-atma;
the Supreme Being; maha-yogi-the greatest yogi; tri-guna-atitah-who
is transcendental to the modes of nature; satva-rupah-the form of
truth; bhaktim-devotional service; loke-in the world; kasyati-will
manifest; iti-thus; tat-that; ete-these; slokah-verses;
bhavanti-are.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma replied, "I will tell you the confidential truth. On the bank
of the Jahnavi, in Navadvipa Dhama, which is known as Goloka, Govinda with
two arms, golden complexion, the Supersoul, the greatest Personality, the
greatest Yogi, the Supreme Being, Who is transcendental to the modes of
nature, and Whose form is truth, will appear to manifest devotional service
( bhakti ) in this world. These verses describe that.
Sri Caitanya caranamrta commentary
In the eleventh canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, (11.5.33-34 ) the state
of being of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya, the savior
of Kali-Yuga is proven.
dhyeyam sada paribhava-ghnam abhista-doham tirhaspadam siva-virinci-nutam
saranyam bhrtyarti-ham pranata-pala bhavabdhi-potam vande maha-purusa te
caranaravindam
O Supreme Person, O Protector of the devotees, I offer my respectful obeisances
unto Your lotus feet which are worthy of being constantly meditated upon,
which destroy misery, yield all desire, which are the abode of all holy
places of pilgrimage, which are praised by Lord Siva and Lord Brahma, which
are the shelter of all, which dispel the distress of the devotees and which
are a boat for crossing over the ocean of material existence.
tyaktva sudustayja-surepsita-rajya-laksmim dharmistha arya-vacasa yad
agad aranyam maya-mrgam dayitayepsitam anvadhavad vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam
"We offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of the Lord, upom
whom one should always meditate. He left his householder life, leaving aside
His eternal consort, whom even the denizens of heaven adore. He went into
the forest to deliver the fallen souls, who are put into illusion by the
material energy." (1)
(6)
eko
devaƒ sarva-r™p… mah€tm€ / gauro rakta-y€malah-veta-r™paƒ
caitany€tm€ sa vai caitanya-aktir / bhakt€k€ro
bhakti-do bhakti-vedyaƒ
ekah-one; devahLord; sarva-rupi-the form of all; maha-atmagreatest
Personality; gaurah-Gaura; rakta-red; syamala-blackish;
sveta-white; rupah- whose form; Caitanya-Caitanya;
atmaHimself; sah-he; vaiindeed; Caitanya-saktih-the
embodiment of the spiritual potency; bhakta-of a devotee; akarah-the
form; bhakti-dah-bestower of devotional service; bhakti-by
devotional service; vedyah-He can be known.
TRANSLATION
The one Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in a variety of transcendental
forms, is also knows as Gaura. He has also appeared in various complexions
such as red, blackish and white. He shall appear in the form of Gaura. He
Himself is Caitanya, the embodiment of cit-sakti. He shall appear in the
form of a devotee, to bestow devotional service to the Lord and He is also
to be known by devotional service.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.8.13), the Lord's characteristics are described
by Gargamuni:
suklo raktas tatha pita idanim Krsnatam gatah
"He has been white, red, and yellow and now (in Dvapara-Yuga), he is blackish."
In Kali-Yuga, He takes the form of a devotee. The confidential truth is
that the Lord has descended with His own abode, Goloka-Dhama, to the supremely
sanctified land of Gauda, in the form of a devotee as Sri Krsna Caitanya
Himself and desiring to deliver love of God, He has exposed the transcen-
dental secret of madhura-rasa which enlivens all the devotees in the material
world, headed by Sathakopa, Ramanuja,V isnuswami, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka,
etc., for the purpose of quickly bestowing auspiciousness unto the living
beings in Kali-Yuga. Bhakti vedyah means that the living entities can know
the Lord by the practice of devotional service and not by the practice of
dry philosophical speculation.
(7)
namo
ved€nta-vedy€ya / kŠ€ya param€tmane
sarva-caitanya-r™p€ya / caitany€ya namo namaƒ
namah-obeisances; vedanta-by vedanta; vedyaya- who
can be known; Krsnaya-unto Krsna; parama- atmane-who is the
Supersoul; sarva—of everything; caitanya-conscious; rupayawhose
form; caitanyaya- -unto Caitanya Mahaprabhu; namah namah-
obeisances again and again.
TRANSLATION
I offer my respectful obeisances unto He who is to be understood by Vedanta,
who is Krsna, the Supersoul, whose form is conscious of everything. Obeisances
again and again unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Even Lord Brahma offers his obeisances unto Sri Caitanya after considering
His unlimited mercy upon Lord Brahma's own Madhva sampradaya.
(8)
ved€nta-vedyaˆ
puruaˆ pur€‰aˆ / caitany€tm€naˆ
viva-yoniˆ mahantam
tam eva viditv€ti-mtyum eti / n€nyaƒ panth€ vidyate
'yan€ya
vedanta-vedyam-who can be known by vedanta; purusam-person;
puranam-the oldest; caitanya-Caitanya; atmanam-Himself;
visva-yonim-the source of the universe; maha-antam-the greatest;
tam-Him; eva-certainly; viditva-upon knowing; ati-
mrtyam-beyond death; eti-one goes; na-not; anyah--another;
pantha-means; vidyate-there is; ayanaya-for going.
TRANSLATION
By knowing Him, who is to be known by Vedanta, who is the oldest personality,
who is Himself, Caitanya, the source of the universe and the greatest, one
can overcome death. There is no other means for going beyond Maya.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Vedanta-vedyam means, he speaks to Pippalada after reflecting upon the
conclusion of all the Vedas. Sri Caitanya, although in the form of a devotee
can be known by vedanta, as being directly Sri Krsna. For the living beings
who have given up the material world, without the shelter of the lotus feet
of Sri Caitanya, there is no other means for entering into the spiritual
world. According to the evidence of Ramanuja, etc., by the mellow of servitorship,
dasya-rasa, there is no direct path. The destination of those who practice
dasya rasa etc., is limited to Vaikuntha. This is apparent in their books,
etc. This is because Sri Caitanya is the source of the universe and the
only teacher in the matter of instructing vraja-rasa.
(9)
sva-n€ma-m™la-mantre‰a
/ sarvaˆ hl€dayati vibhuƒ
sva-His own; nama-name; mula-whose source; mantrena-by
the mantra; sarvam-everything;
TRANSLATION
By the mantra, whose source is His own name, the Lord pleases everything.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Because there may be an incongruity with, "by the mantra whose source
lies in His Form", Bhaktivinode explains that sva nama, His own name, means
the name of Krsna, not the name of Caitanya. Moreover, it can also mean
Hari, but specifically it means Krsna. Vibhuh means the Lord who possesses
all opulence. And sarvam means all moving and non-moving living beings.
(10)
dve
akt… parame / tasya hl€din… / saˆvid eva ca iti
dve-two; sakti-potencies; parame-superior; tasya-His;
hladini-hladini (bliss); samvit-samvit (knowledge); eva-certainly;
ca-and; iti-thus.
TRANSLATION
His superior energies are hladini (bliss), and samvit (knowledge).
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Two energies are acquainted with the Supreme Lord - hladini and samvit.
By hladini is meant, by the manifestation of devotional service (bhakti)
and love of God (prema), He pleases everything. By samvit is meant, by the
manifestation of knowledge of the Absolute Truth which is approved of by
the pure conclusions of the Vedas, He destroys the varieties of religion
and irreligion which are similar to ignorance and darkness within of the
heart of the conditioned soul.
(11)
sa
eva m™la-mantraˆ japati / harir iti kŠa iti r€ma
iti
sah-He, Sri Caitanya; eva-certainly; mula-mantram-the
original mantra; japati-chants; Harih-Hari; iti-thus;
Krsna-Krsna; iti-thus; Ramah-Rama; iti- thus.
TRANSLATION
He chants the original mantra consisting of Hari, Krsna and Rama, in other
words, the Hare Krsna Sri Caitanya Upanisad...
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
The Supreme Lord in the form of Gaura instructs the conditioned souls
by chanting the supremely powerful, original mantra:
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
(12)
harati
hdaya-granthiˆ v€san€-r™pam iti hariƒ.
kiƒ smaraŠe tac ca Šas / tad-ubhaya-melanam iti
kŠaƒ.
ramayati sarvam iti r€ma €nanda-r™paƒ. atra loko
bhavati
harati-He removes; hrdaya-in the heart; granthim-
the knot; vasana-of material desire; rupam—in the form; iti-thus;
Harih-Hari; krsih-the root krs; smarane-by the remembrance;
tat-that; ca-and; nastat-the affix na; ubhaya-of
both; melanam-the union;iti-thus; KrsnahKrsna; ramayati-He
pleases; sarvam-everything; iti-thus;Ramah-Rama; ananda-
rupahthe form of bliss; atra-here; slokah-a verse; bhavati-is.
TRANSLATION
He who removes the knot in the heart in the form of material desire, is
called Hari. The union by the remembrance of the root krs- and the affix
-na, is the hymn of praise-Krsna. He who gives pleasure to everything is
the form of bliss-Rama. Here is such a verse.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
The meanings of the above three names are explained. Hrdaya-Granthi, means
the inclination of the living entity whose factual constitutional position
is to be a servant of Krsna, which takes its form in the desire for other
mundane interests which is produced from the forgetfulness of the service
of the Lord. In this connection, the words of the Vedas and the Srimad-Bhagavatam
are noteworthy:
bhidyante hrdaya-granthis chidyante sarva-samsayah
He severs the knot within the heart and all doubts are cut to pieces.
(Mundaka-Upanisad 2.2.8 and Srimad- Bhagavatam 1.2.21) He who takes away
that knot is Hari. Krsna is to be remembered in His pastimes as the Supreme
Lord, the Lord of Vrindavana, with beauty like a blackish tamala tree, sucking
the breast of Mother Yasoda. This is the conventional meaning, which is
equivalent to another meaning from the statements of the Sandarbhas. Rama
pleases everything. By this mantra is meant, that when the spirit soul gives
up the conditioned state of existence, he attains the state of assisting
in the transcendental Vrindavana pastimes, and the attainment of the Supreme
enjoyment of rasa, etc. Thus, the verse is to be reflected upon in this
way.
(13)
mantro
guhyaƒ paramo / bhakti-vedyaƒ
mantroh-the Hare Krsna Maha-Mantra; guhyah-confidential;
paramah-transcendental; bhakti-by bhakti-yoga; vedyah-can
be known.
TRANSLATION
The Maha-Mantra is confidential, transcendental and can be understood
only by devotional service, (bhakti-yoga).
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
The confidential truth of this mantra can be understood only by those
who have attained the prescribed method and not by those who are adherents
of fruitive work (karma) and philosophical speculation (jnana).
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati
The most perfect occupation for all humankind is what is conducive to
the attainment of devotional service of transcendence to the Supreme Personality
of Godhead. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and undeterred so
that the same shall completely satisfy the self. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.6)
(2)
(14)
n€m€ny
a˜€v-a˜a ca obhan€ni / t€ni nityaˆ
ye japanti dh…r€s /
te vai m€y€m atitaranti / n€nyaƒ paramaˆ-mantraˆ
parama-rahasyaˆ /
nityam
€vartayati
namani-names; astav asta ca-eight plus eight; sobhanani-beautiful;
tani-those names; nityam- regularly; ye-those who;
japanti-chant; dhirah- sober persons; te-they; vai-certainly;
mayamthe illusory energy; atitaranti-cross over; na-not;
anyah- -another means; paramam-transcendental; mantram-
-mantra; parama-rahasyam-the supreme secret; nityam-regularly;
avartayati-one should repeat.
TRANSLATION
These sixteen names are supremely beautified. Those who chant them regularly
are sober persons who are able to cross beyond the illusory energy. There
is no other means. One should repeat this maha-mantra which is the supreme
secret, regularly.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
This mantra's quality of yielding fruits to the devotees is apparent.
By regularly chanting this mantra consisting of sixteen names, the devotees
transcendentally cross beyond the state of being overcome by the illusory,
material energy. There is no other means than this. Even the eternally perfect
souls regularly repeat this mantra for the sake of their own dharma.
(15)
caitanya
eva sa‰karaŠo v€sudevaƒ / parame˜h…
rudraƒ arko bhaspatiƒ /
sarve dev€ƒ sarv€Ši bh™t€ni / sth€var€Ši
car€Ši ca /
yat kiñcit sad-asat-k€raŠaˆ sarvam. tad atra lok€ƒ
Caitanyah-Sri Caitanya; eva-indeed; sankarsanah-
Sankarsana; vasudevah-Vasudeva; paramesthi-the Supersoul;
rudrahRudra (Siva); sakrah-sakra (Indra); brhaspatihBrhaspati;
sarve-all; devah- the demigods; sarvani-all; bhutani-the
living entities; sthavarani-non-moving; carani-moving; ca-and;
yat-which; kincit-anything; sat-eternal; asat-temporary;
karanam-the cause; sarvam-everything; tat-that; atra-herein;
slokah-the verses.
TRANSLATION
Caitanya is Sankarsana, Vasudeva, and the Supersoul. He is the cause of
Rudra (Siva), Sakra (Indra), Brhaspati, all the demigods, all moving and
non-moving entities, and everything which is temporary and external. Herein
are the celebrated verses.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
For the devotees of Sri Caitanya, what need is there for worshipping other
demigods.
(16)
yat
kiñcid asad bhu‰kte / karaˆ tat k€ryam ucyate
yat-that which; kincit-whatever; asattemporary; bhunkte-one
enjoys; ksaramperishable; tat-that; karyam-effect;
ucyate-is called.
TRANSLATION
Whatever one enjoys which is temporary is known as an effect and is perishable.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
This universe is temporary, due to its quality of being an effect.
(17)
sat
k€raŠaˆ paraˆ j…v€s / tad akaram it…ritam
sat-eternal; karanam-the cause; param-beyond; jivah-the
spirit soul; tat-that; aksaram-perishable; iti-thus;
iritam-it is said.
TRANSLATION
It is said that the spirit soul is eternal. He is the cause of that which
is perishable and also beyond that which is perishable.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
The spirit soul is eternal and the cause of that which is perishable.
Due to forgetfulness of his occupational duty because of the influence of
the illusory energy, he imagines himself to be the doer. Therefore, he is
perishable.
(18)
kar€kar€bhy€ˆ
paramaƒ / sa eva puruottamaƒ
caitany€khyaˆ paraˆ tattvaˆ / sarva-k€raŠa-k€raŠam
ksara-from the perishable; aksarabhyam-and imperishable;
paramah-beyond; sah-He; eva- certainly; purusa-uttamah-the
Supreme Person; Caitanya-Caitanya; akhyamis called; param-tattvam-the
Supreme Truth; sarva-karana-karanam-the cause of all causes.
TRANSLATION
He who is beyond that which is perishable and imperishable is the Supreme
Person. The name of the Supreme Truth, the cause of all causes is Sri Caitanya.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
The universe is perishable. The spirit soul is imperishable. The supreme
truth beyond both of these, the cause of all causes is called Caitanya,
whose nature is that of the Supreme Person. By this, the three truths of
Vedanta are confirmed.
(19)
ya
enaˆ rasayati bhajati dhy€yati / sa p€pm€naˆ tarati
sa p™to bhavati,
sa tattvaˆ j€n€ti, sa tarati okaˆ, gatis tasy€ste
n€nyasyeti
yah-one who; enam-this Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rasayati-develops
love for; bhajati-worships; dhyayati-meditates upon; sah-he;
papmanam-sin; tarati-crosses over; sah-he; putah-purified;
bhavati-is; sah-he; tattvam-truth; janatiknows;
sah-he; tarati-overcomes; sokam-lamentation; gatih-
-destination; tasya-of him; aste-there is; na-not;
anyasya-another; iti-thus.
TRANSLATION
Anyone who develops love for Caitanya Mahaprabhu, worships Him or meditates
on Him is freed from sin, becomes purified, understands the Supreme Truth,
and overcomes lamentation. For him, there is no other destination.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
One who is a devotee develops love for Krsna Caitanya. This means he devotes
himself to Sri Caitanya due to his being the bestower of the conjugal mellow
of Vrindavana. Bhajati, or he worships, means that after accepting his own
constitutional position, he renders service. Dhyayati means that he meditates.
He overcomes sin in the form of ignorance. Having overcome that, he is purified
by the spiritual nature. Tattvam means that he understands the truth in
terms of inconceivable oneness and difference between the energy and the
energetic. (acintya bheda-abheda-tattva). And finally he overcomes lamentation.
Thus ends the Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary on the Sri Caitanya Upanisad.
The translation of Sri Caitanya Upanisad given in this issue is from an anonymous
translation by a Sanskrit scholar disciple of Srila Prabhupada, which was
given to the Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula library collection in 1977. The
translation has original roman transliterations of the Sanskrit texts, word
for word synonyms, english translations of the texts and translations of Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura's commentary. There have been three additional separate
translations of the Sri Caitanya Upanisad to date by various ISKCON Gaudiya
Vaishnava Sanskrit scholars.
1) By Sriman Karnamrta dasa, which was published in the middle 1980's as
part of a Vrindavana Gurukula magazine.
2) By His Holiness Rohini Kumar Swami, which was published by the Vaishnava
Research Institute, Berkeley, California in 1984. This translation had original
Deva Nagari type sanskrit verses, word for word synonyms and English translations
plus commentary by His Holiness Rohini Kumara Swami based upon Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura's original Bengali commentary.
3) By Sriman Kusakratha Dasa, which was published as part of a compendium
of Vaishnava texts titled "The Glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu" by the
Krsna Institute, Los Angeles, Ca. in 1984. This edition contained the English
roman transliterations of the original text, word for word synonyms and translations
of the texts. No commentary was translated.
