There was once a Dravidian [South Indian] brahmana named Rama. He was poor and miserable because of starvation. His body was just a bag of skin and bones. His stomach burned from hunger, and he couldn' t tolerate his severe poverty.
One day he thought, "How can I get free from this misery? In my past life, I must have committed many grievous sins, and now I'm suffering for it. I know I must suffer my lot, but somehow I wish I could mitigate my miseries."
The brahmana knew that only God could change his karma and give him relief. He heard that Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the universe, was residing in Nilacala. So he went to see Him to beg for His mercy.
Again the brahmana thought, "I' m a poor brahmana suffering from starvation. Everyone says that Krishna is very dear to the brahmanas. But due to my offenses, the Lord is ignoring me. Therefore, let me just give up this worthless life."
In due course, the brahmana came to Nilacala and took darsana of Lord Jagannatha. The brahmana prayed:
"My Lord, I'm a poor brahmana, dying of starvation. I have no one but You. Please save me from the misery of poverty and give me wealth." That day the brahmana begged a little food to eat. The next day, he returned to the temple and prayed, "O Lord, this brahmana is suffering terribly and is about to die. Please remove my poverty and give me abundant riches. I beg You to give me the boon of wealth. Otherwise, I'll kill myself right before Your eyes." The brahmana started fasting.
Meanwhile, Lord Gauranga sat peacefully, surrounded by His intimate devotees, joyfully singing the glories of Vrndavana. Suddenly, the Lord, feeling aggrieved within His heart, fell silent. The devotees wondered why the Lord so abruptly became distracted, and fell silent.
Although the brahmana kept fasting for seven days, Lord Jagannatha didn't respond. Severely weakened by fasting, the brahmana decided to drown in the ocean. Standing on the shore, he asked the sea to give him a place.
At that time, a huge person, as tail as a mountain, suddenly emerged from the ocean. The brahmana wondered about the idenftty of that person who had come from inside the ocean.
The brahmana watched that huge man waik out of the ocean and onto the beach, where he assumed an ordinary size.
The brahmana said, "This man must be Lord Jagannatha Himself, because who else could just appear from the middle of the ocean?" Then the brahmana chased that man for some distance along the beach. The man stopped, turned around and said,
"Who are you and where are you going? .Tell me exactly." Brahmana, "I'm weak from fasting for seven days. After seeing you my life is now successful. Tell me frankly who you are; don't deceive me. Otherwise, you'll be responsible for killing a brahamana."
The man said, "Why do you want to know my identity? I am whoever I am. What business is it of yours to know who I am? Anyway, why are you starving to death?"
Brahmana, "I am suffering because of my extreme poverty. I can't maintain my brahminical status. I pass my days and nights without eating anything. My family doesn't care for me. I have no shelter. I. prefer death to life, so I'm committing suicide by starvation."
Hearing the brahmana's plight melted the heart of that great personaiity. The man, "O brahmana. Listen, my name is Vibhisana, and I'm going to see the lotus feet of Lord Jagannatha.
You' re suffering because' of your past sins. Bound by the results of their karma, people in this world suffer or enjoy. They become free from their karma only after experiencing the results, "With loving devotion, go and see the smiling face of Lord Jagannatha. Then you'll never undergo any miseries in future lives." After saying this, Vibhisana started walking toward the temple. The poor brahmana walked behind him.
Meanwhile, Gaurahari, who was sitting among His associates, asked Govinda to see who was standing at the door. Vibhisana was there with. the brahmana. Govinda came back and told Gauranga that two brahmanas were waiting by the door of Tota-Gopinatha's temple. On Gauranga's order, Govinda cordially greeted them and led them inside to meet Lord Caitanya.
One brahmana guest sat beside the Lord, and the poor fasting brahmana remained at a distance. To everyone's surprise, Gauranga affectionately addressed the brahmana sitting beside Him: "After a long time, I'm seeing you again." Mahaprabhu and the brahmana cried profusely. Then the Lord caressed the brahmana with His beautiful hands, and inquired about his well-being. None of Lord Caitanya's associates knew this brahmana; nor did they understand the conversation.
Lord Caitanya said to His friend, the brahmana sitting beside him, "You know that brahmana standing in the back is suffering miserably. He lost all his knowledge due to poverty. As a result, he came here harassing and blaming Lord Jagannatha for his difficulties.
"It is the nature of people to never find fault with themselves. After doing something wrong they blame the Lord. When he suffers from his misdeeds he accuses God, but when he enjoys happiness, he says it's due to his own good qualities.
"That brahmana intendeel to die by fasting for the last seven days. What can Lord Jagannatha, who is dear to the brahmanas, do for him? However, seeing you has removed his poverty. So now give him an ocean of wealth and make him happy."
The friendly brahmana said, "Yes, my Lord. I shall do as You say." After paying obeisances to the Lord, the two brahmanas left.
Lord Caitanya's associates were totally perplexed by this exchange between the Lord and the
brahmanas.
Meanwhile, outside, the poor brahmana inquired of Vibhisana: "You told that sannyasi that you are
King Vibhisana. After paying obeisances to that sannyasi, why did you just leave without visiting the temple of Lord Jagannatha? You promised to obey the order of that sannyasi. Who is that sannyasi anyway? Please tell me.
I'm a poverty-stricken brahmana; don't play any tricks on me."
King Vibhisana said, "Listen, you foolish dull-headed brahmana! You just saw Lord Jagannatha in person directly with your own eyes. Your desire to attain vast wealth has already been fulfilled. Now I'll take you home to Dravida-desh [South India] and give you that wealth."
Hearing this, the brahmana hit his head in anguish. Then he collapsed on the ground, clasping the feet of King Vibhisana.
The brahmana said, "Please take me back to meet Lord Caitanya again. I know I'm an ignorant brahmana, but let's go and see the Lord." Agreeing, Vibhisana brought him back to see Lord Caitanya.
Upon seeing the brahmana pair again, Lord Gauranga said, "Oh, why did you come back?"
Vibhisana, "My Lord, ask the brahmana the reason."
Brahmana, "O respected Gosvami, I am ignorant. Lord, You are the life and soul of innumerable living entities. Actually, You are Lord Jagannatha Himself. I am the lowest and the worst offender. Due to my bad karma, I suffered from poverty, disease and other miseries.
"Because of my impoverished condition, I came to You and asked for the wrong diet. Despite my distress, I don't have any taste for the medicine, because I was attached to the wrong diet. But You are the best doctor; so please give me the correct medicine. I'm dying from the misdeeds of my previous life."
Hearing this confession, Lord Caitanya laughed and said, "Lord Jagannatha did you a favor. Go ahead, now suffer what you deserve, either happiness or distress. Ultimately you will attain the lotus feet of Lord Jagannatha."
After hearing this the brahmana offered dandavats to Lord Gauranga. The devotees chanted, "Hari-bol ! Haribol !"
After receiving the boon, Vibhisana and the poor brahmana left the house in a joyful mood.
Puri Gosvami said, "Prabhu, for our purification, kindly explain what just happened? Everyone' s curious but afraid to ask You. So, taking courage, I asked on behalf of all Your devotees."
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Listen Puri Gosvami, I know that none of you understood what just occurred. That poor brahmana was suffering tremendously while living in South India. Being oppressed by poverty, he came here and harrassed Lord Jagannatha. Seeing his miserable plight, Lord Jagannatha felt sorry for him. By the Lord's arrangement, he met King Vibhisana, who was that brahmana sitting next to Me. King Vibhisana pleased that brahmana by giving him abundant wealth."
The devotees exploded with ecstasy upon hearing this story. The land and sky flooded with Krishna-prerna. Everyone danced jubilantly, chanting, "Hari-bol! Hari-bol! Hari-bol!" Happily, all the devotees embraced one another.
Listen everyone, to the wonderful, all-blissful, transcendental pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus, Locana Dasa concludes the final chapter of Sesa-khanda, and completes his work, Sri Caitanya Mangala.
Source
aitanya.blogspot.com/search/label/Mangala
One day he thought, "How can I get free from this misery? In my past life, I must have committed many grievous sins, and now I'm suffering for it. I know I must suffer my lot, but somehow I wish I could mitigate my miseries."
The brahmana knew that only God could change his karma and give him relief. He heard that Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the universe, was residing in Nilacala. So he went to see Him to beg for His mercy.
Again the brahmana thought, "I' m a poor brahmana suffering from starvation. Everyone says that Krishna is very dear to the brahmanas. But due to my offenses, the Lord is ignoring me. Therefore, let me just give up this worthless life."
In due course, the brahmana came to Nilacala and took darsana of Lord Jagannatha. The brahmana prayed:
"My Lord, I'm a poor brahmana, dying of starvation. I have no one but You. Please save me from the misery of poverty and give me wealth." That day the brahmana begged a little food to eat. The next day, he returned to the temple and prayed, "O Lord, this brahmana is suffering terribly and is about to die. Please remove my poverty and give me abundant riches. I beg You to give me the boon of wealth. Otherwise, I'll kill myself right before Your eyes." The brahmana started fasting.
Meanwhile, Lord Gauranga sat peacefully, surrounded by His intimate devotees, joyfully singing the glories of Vrndavana. Suddenly, the Lord, feeling aggrieved within His heart, fell silent. The devotees wondered why the Lord so abruptly became distracted, and fell silent.
Although the brahmana kept fasting for seven days, Lord Jagannatha didn't respond. Severely weakened by fasting, the brahmana decided to drown in the ocean. Standing on the shore, he asked the sea to give him a place.
At that time, a huge person, as tail as a mountain, suddenly emerged from the ocean. The brahmana wondered about the idenftty of that person who had come from inside the ocean.
The brahmana watched that huge man waik out of the ocean and onto the beach, where he assumed an ordinary size.
The brahmana said, "This man must be Lord Jagannatha Himself, because who else could just appear from the middle of the ocean?" Then the brahmana chased that man for some distance along the beach. The man stopped, turned around and said,
"Who are you and where are you going? .Tell me exactly." Brahmana, "I'm weak from fasting for seven days. After seeing you my life is now successful. Tell me frankly who you are; don't deceive me. Otherwise, you'll be responsible for killing a brahamana."
The man said, "Why do you want to know my identity? I am whoever I am. What business is it of yours to know who I am? Anyway, why are you starving to death?"
Brahmana, "I am suffering because of my extreme poverty. I can't maintain my brahminical status. I pass my days and nights without eating anything. My family doesn't care for me. I have no shelter. I. prefer death to life, so I'm committing suicide by starvation."
Hearing the brahmana's plight melted the heart of that great personaiity. The man, "O brahmana. Listen, my name is Vibhisana, and I'm going to see the lotus feet of Lord Jagannatha.
You' re suffering because' of your past sins. Bound by the results of their karma, people in this world suffer or enjoy. They become free from their karma only after experiencing the results, "With loving devotion, go and see the smiling face of Lord Jagannatha. Then you'll never undergo any miseries in future lives." After saying this, Vibhisana started walking toward the temple. The poor brahmana walked behind him.
Meanwhile, Gaurahari, who was sitting among His associates, asked Govinda to see who was standing at the door. Vibhisana was there with. the brahmana. Govinda came back and told Gauranga that two brahmanas were waiting by the door of Tota-Gopinatha's temple. On Gauranga's order, Govinda cordially greeted them and led them inside to meet Lord Caitanya.
One brahmana guest sat beside the Lord, and the poor fasting brahmana remained at a distance. To everyone's surprise, Gauranga affectionately addressed the brahmana sitting beside Him: "After a long time, I'm seeing you again." Mahaprabhu and the brahmana cried profusely. Then the Lord caressed the brahmana with His beautiful hands, and inquired about his well-being. None of Lord Caitanya's associates knew this brahmana; nor did they understand the conversation.
Lord Caitanya said to His friend, the brahmana sitting beside him, "You know that brahmana standing in the back is suffering miserably. He lost all his knowledge due to poverty. As a result, he came here harassing and blaming Lord Jagannatha for his difficulties.
"It is the nature of people to never find fault with themselves. After doing something wrong they blame the Lord. When he suffers from his misdeeds he accuses God, but when he enjoys happiness, he says it's due to his own good qualities.
"That brahmana intendeel to die by fasting for the last seven days. What can Lord Jagannatha, who is dear to the brahmanas, do for him? However, seeing you has removed his poverty. So now give him an ocean of wealth and make him happy."
The friendly brahmana said, "Yes, my Lord. I shall do as You say." After paying obeisances to the Lord, the two brahmanas left.
Lord Caitanya's associates were totally perplexed by this exchange between the Lord and the
brahmanas.
Meanwhile, outside, the poor brahmana inquired of Vibhisana: "You told that sannyasi that you are
King Vibhisana. After paying obeisances to that sannyasi, why did you just leave without visiting the temple of Lord Jagannatha? You promised to obey the order of that sannyasi. Who is that sannyasi anyway? Please tell me.
I'm a poverty-stricken brahmana; don't play any tricks on me."
King Vibhisana said, "Listen, you foolish dull-headed brahmana! You just saw Lord Jagannatha in person directly with your own eyes. Your desire to attain vast wealth has already been fulfilled. Now I'll take you home to Dravida-desh [South India] and give you that wealth."
Hearing this, the brahmana hit his head in anguish. Then he collapsed on the ground, clasping the feet of King Vibhisana.
The brahmana said, "Please take me back to meet Lord Caitanya again. I know I'm an ignorant brahmana, but let's go and see the Lord." Agreeing, Vibhisana brought him back to see Lord Caitanya.
Upon seeing the brahmana pair again, Lord Gauranga said, "Oh, why did you come back?"
Vibhisana, "My Lord, ask the brahmana the reason."
Brahmana, "O respected Gosvami, I am ignorant. Lord, You are the life and soul of innumerable living entities. Actually, You are Lord Jagannatha Himself. I am the lowest and the worst offender. Due to my bad karma, I suffered from poverty, disease and other miseries.
"Because of my impoverished condition, I came to You and asked for the wrong diet. Despite my distress, I don't have any taste for the medicine, because I was attached to the wrong diet. But You are the best doctor; so please give me the correct medicine. I'm dying from the misdeeds of my previous life."
Hearing this confession, Lord Caitanya laughed and said, "Lord Jagannatha did you a favor. Go ahead, now suffer what you deserve, either happiness or distress. Ultimately you will attain the lotus feet of Lord Jagannatha."
After hearing this the brahmana offered dandavats to Lord Gauranga. The devotees chanted, "Hari-bol ! Haribol !"
After receiving the boon, Vibhisana and the poor brahmana left the house in a joyful mood.
Puri Gosvami said, "Prabhu, for our purification, kindly explain what just happened? Everyone' s curious but afraid to ask You. So, taking courage, I asked on behalf of all Your devotees."
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Listen Puri Gosvami, I know that none of you understood what just occurred. That poor brahmana was suffering tremendously while living in South India. Being oppressed by poverty, he came here and harrassed Lord Jagannatha. Seeing his miserable plight, Lord Jagannatha felt sorry for him. By the Lord's arrangement, he met King Vibhisana, who was that brahmana sitting next to Me. King Vibhisana pleased that brahmana by giving him abundant wealth."
The devotees exploded with ecstasy upon hearing this story. The land and sky flooded with Krishna-prerna. Everyone danced jubilantly, chanting, "Hari-bol! Hari-bol! Hari-bol!" Happily, all the devotees embraced one another.
Listen everyone, to the wonderful, all-blissful, transcendental pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus, Locana Dasa concludes the final chapter of Sesa-khanda, and completes his work, Sri Caitanya Mangala.
Source
aitanya.blogspot.com/search/label/Mangala
No comments:
Post a Comment