Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya-lila Chapter 14 Verse 16

SYNONYMS

ei -- this; dekha -- just see; caitanyera -- of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; krpa-maha-bala -- how greatly powerful is the mercy; tara anusandhana -- inquiring about him; vina -- without; karaya -- He makes; sa-phala -- successful.

TRANSLATION

How powerful is the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! Without even inquiring about the King, the Lord made everything successful.

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy is so powerful that it acts automatically. If a person renders loving service to Krsna, it never goes in vain. It is recorded in a spiritual account, and in due time it will fructify. This is confirmed by the Bhagavad-gita (2.40):

nehabhikrama-naso 'sti pratyavayo na vidyate

sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat

"In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has particularly bestowed upon all fallen souls in this age the most potent method of devotional service -- sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the Lord's holy name -- and whoever takes to it through the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is immediately elevated to the transcendental position. As Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32) recommends, yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah.

A student of Krsna consciousness must receive Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy; then his devotional service will quickly succeed. This was the case with King Prataparudra. One has to be noticed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and a little service with sincere efforts will convince the Lord that one is a proper candidate for returning home, back to Godhead. At first Maharaja Prataparudra did not have a chance to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but when the Lord saw that the King was serving Lord Jagannatha as a menial sweeper, the Lord's mercy upon the King became a solid fact. When Maharaja Prataparudra, in the dress of a Vaisnava, was serving the Lord, the Lord did not even inquire who he was. Rather, He had compassion upon him and embraced him.

Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami wants to point out that nothing could compare to the Lord's mercy toward Maharaja Prataparudra; therefore he uses the word dekha ("just see") and caitanyera krpa-mahabala ("how powerful is the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu"). This is also confirmed by Prabodhananda Sarasvati: yat-karunya-kataksa-vaibhava-vatam (Caitanya-candramrta 5). Even a little of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy serves as a great asset for spiritual advancement. Therefore the Krsna consciousness movement must be spread through the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Rupa Gosvami experienced the mercy and magnanimity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he said:

namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te

krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne gaura-tvise namah

[Madhya 19.53]

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya, who is more magnanimous than any other avatara, even Krsna Himself, because He is bestowing freely what no one else has ever given -- pure love of Krsna." Srila Locana dasa Thakura has also sung, parama karuna, pahun dui jana, nitai-gauracandra: "The two brothers Nitai and Gaura are so kind that no one can compare to Them." Similarly, Srila Narottama dasa thakura has sung:

vrajendra-nandana yei, saci-suta haila sei,

balarama ha-ila nitai,

dina-hina yata chila, hari-name uddharila,

ta'ra saksi jagai-madhai

"Just to deliver all the sinful persons of this age by propagating the chanting of the holy name, Lord Krsna and Lord Balarama have advented as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. Jagai and Madhai are evidence of Their success."

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's special mission is the deliverance of all fallen souls in Kali-yuga. Devotees of Krsna must persistently seek the favor and mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to become fit to return home, back to Godhead.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness