Vasudeva Carita

7/29/2019 Vasudeva Carita

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SRI SRI VASUDEVA &

MUKUNDA DATTA THAKUR CARITA

Kavi Karnapur has written in his book, 'Gaura - Ganoddesa - Dipika' - Braje sthitau gayakau tau madhu- kantha - madhu - vratau Mukunda vasudevau tau dattau gauranga - gayakau 'The two singers, whowere previously known as Madhu - kantha and Madhu - Vasudeva, the celebrated singers of SriGauranga.' In the kirtan of Sri Vasudeva Datta Thakur and Sri Mukunda Datta Thakur, Sr Sri Gaura -Nityananda used to personally dance.Sri Mukunda and Vasudeva Datta were born at Cattagram in thevillage of Chanhara, Patiya Thana. Sri Vasudeva was the elder of the two brothers. Vasudeva dattaprabhur bhrtya mahasoy sahasra mukhe yar gun kahile na hoy 'Vasudeva datta, the nineteenth brach ofthe Sri Caitanya tree, was a great personalityand a most confidential devotee of the Lord. One could notdescribe his qualities even with thousands of mouths.'During the Lord Mahaprabhu's return from Ramkeli, at the time of His attempt to go to Vrndavan, He met Srivas Thakur, Sri Vasudeva Datta and SriSivananda Sen at Kumar hatta. Receiving the news that Mahaprabhu had come to there to meethim.Vasudeva Datta is especially dear to the Lord and by His mercy he is acquainted with all of thetruths regarding the supreme science of devotion. He is the well - wisher of the entire universe and isextremely compassionate towards all the living entities. He appreciates the good qualities and virtues of

others, never seeing their faults. His dealings with the Supreme Lord and the Lord's devotees are exactlybefitting his relationships with Them. He is ntoxicated with the mellow of devotional service to SriKrsna Caitanya.Seeing Vasudeva Datta, Sri Gaurasundor took him in His lap and shed tears for a longtime. Vasudeva Datta caught hold of the Lord's lotus feet and cried very loudly. To hear te weeping ofVasudeva Datta, no one, not even dry wood or stone, can restrain his tears. No one can be found tocompare with Vasudeva Datta in the estimation of his wonderful qualities.He is sodear to the Lord thatthe Lord Himself stated, "I belong only to Vasudeva." Again and again, Sri Gaurasundor said, "Thisbody belongs to Vasudeva Datta. Wherever Datta likes to sell me, in that place I am sold. There is noexception to this; it is the simple truth. Whoever receives even a faint touchof his favour, becomes theobject of Krsna's special attention and kindness. I am simply speaking the truth. Hear Me, Oh devotees.This body belongs only to Vasudeva Datta.". Hearing of the Lord's special mercy on Vasudeva, the

assembled Vaisnavas began to cheer: "Hari! Hari!"Every year the devotees from Bengal used to comeand see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Puri during the time of the Ratha - yatra festival. One year, justafter their arrival, the Lord met them and arranged fortheir acomodation. As soon as He saw VasudevaDatta, the older brother of Mukunda Datta, He immediately became very happy, and placing His handon his body, He began to speak, "Although Mukunda is My friend from childhood, I nonetheless takegreater pleasure in seeing you then in seeing him.". Vasudeva replied: "Mukunda got Your lotus feet.That is his transcendental rebirth. Although Mukunda is my junior, he first received Your favor.Consequently he hs become trascendentally senior to me. Besides that, You very much favoredMukunda. Thus he is superior in all good qualities." The Lord said, "For your sake only, I have broughttwo books from South India. The books are kept with Swarup Damodar, and you can get them copied."Hearing this, Vasudeva became very glad.During the period when Lord Jaganath resides at the GundicaMandir, the Lord went there and entered into the garden. Vasudeva sang a different song under each

and every tree, while Mahaprabhu danced in great ecstasy.When the devotees were preparing to returnto Bengal after having spent the four months of the rainy season with Mahaprabhu, He again began topraise His devotees as He bid them farewell. The Lord respectfully told Sivananda Sen, "Take care ofVasudeva Datta very nicely. Vasudeva Datta is very liberal. Everyday, whatever income he receives hespends. He does not keep any balance. Being a householder, he needsto save some money. Because he isnot doing so, it is very difficult for him to maintain his family. Please take care of Vasudeva's familyaffairs. Become his manager and make the proper arrangements."Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu thenembraced Vasudeva Datta and began to speak of his glories as if He had a thousand mouths. WhenMahaprabhu glorified him, Vasudeva immediately became embarrassed and shy. He then submitted

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himself, touching the Lord's lotus feet, "My dear Lord, You incarnate just to deliver all conditionedsouls. I have now one petition, which I wish You would accept. My Lord, You are certainly capable ofdoing whatever you like, and You are indeed merciful. If You so desire You can very easily do whateverYou want. My Lor, my heart breaks to see the sufferings of all conditioned souls; there fore I requestYou to transfer the karma of their sinful lives uponmy head. Let me suffer perpetually in a hellishcondition, accepting all the sinful reactions of all living beings. Please finish their diseased material life."When Sri Caitanya Mahapraby heard Vasudeva Datta's statement, His heart became very soft. Tearsflowed from His eyes, and He began to tremble. In a faltering voice He began to speak as follows, "Suchastatement is not at all astonishing because you are the incarnation of Prahlad Maharaja. It appears thatLord Krsna has bestowed complete mercy upon you. There is no doubt about it. Whatever a puredevotee wants from his master, Lord Krsna doubtlessly grants because He has no duty other thantofulfill the desires of His devotees. If you desire the deliverance of all living entities within the universe,then all of them can be delivered without your undergoing the tribulation of their sinful reactions. Krsnais not incapable, for He has all potencies. Why should He induce you to suffer the sinful reactions ofother living entities? Who's ever welfare you desire immediately becomes a Vaisnava, and Krsna deliversall Vaisnavas from the reactions of their past sinful activities. "I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, Whoburns up to their roots all fruitive activities of those whoare imbued with devotion."(Brahma - Samhita)Because of your honest desire, all living entities within the universe will be delivered, for Krsna does not

have to do anything to deliver all the living entities." In this way, Sri Caitany Mahaprabhu described thegood qualities of His devotees one after the other. He then embraced them and bade them farewell.

Sri Mukunda Datta sakha prabhur samadhyayi

Jahar kirttane nace caitanya - nitai(page 4) is missing now.,to discuss rhetoric with You." Nimairetorted, "Allright. Ask Me any questions you please." Mukunda then began to ask Him the mostdifficult questions in rhetoric but the jall - powerful Nimai gave the correct answer evrytime. Afterrefuting one argument, He would again establish the very same point. Then Nimai told Mukundatorefute His arguments and establish his own conclusions, but Mukunda was unable to do so. Mukundathen began to think how to get free from this embarrassing situation. He didn't have to think long

however, because this Nimai Pandit, Who also resides within the hearts of all living beings, couldunderstand his mind and told him, "Allright Mukunda, you can go home for today. Tomorrow we'llagain deliberate on these points." Mukunda, who was simply glad to geyt his release, replied, "Verywell. Tomorrow we'll meet again." Saying this he took the dust from Nimai's and began to reflect, -

manusyer emata panditya ache kotha

heno sastra nahik abyas nahi yatha

eimota subuddhi krsna bhakta hoy yabe

tileko ihan sanga chariya tobe"Is it possible for an ordinary human being to be so vastly aaccomplished

in learning; even insubjects which he hasn't studied? If such a noble and wise person as this were tobecome a devotee of Krsna then I would not leave his company for the space of even half a moment."SriAdwaita Acarrya, Srivas Pandit, as well as varous other Vaisnavas, all loved very much to hearMukunda's kirtan. He used to go every day to the meeting of Vaisnavas at Adwaita Acarya's house, tosing. The devotees used to roll on the ground in the ecstasy of love, to hear his kirtan, which wasoverflowing with the mellows of devotion. Sri Adwaita Acarya used to take him on his lap and bathehim with his tears. When Sri Iswar Puri came to Navadwipe one time, he also became thoroughlyoverwhelmed with loving sentiments to hear Mukunda's kirtan, and thus everyone could understand himto be the disciplen of Sri Madhavendra Puri. Mahaprabu first revealed His divine rapture at Gaya Dham.

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Returning to His home, He was a completely changed person, continuouly absorbed in ecstatic love forKrsna. Whereas previously He used to spend His time wranling over fine points in grammar and logic,now in even the rules of grammar and verbal roots He saw only the name of Krsna. Receiving this newsthe Vaisnavas came to see Him. All the while crying, "Krsna! Krsna!"He wept as He hugged their necks. Everyone was stunned in amzement and simply stood speechless, butseeing the flood of tears from Lord's eyes and hearing His plaintivecry, they also began to roll on theground, saying, "Krsna!, Krsna!" In the evenings, congregational chanting of the Holy name of Krsnawas held at the house of Srivas Thakur, and this was attended by all of the devotee. Mukunda was thefirst to sing, at which Sri Gaurasundor fainted and fell to the ground in a swoon of love of Krsna. All ofthe devotees became absorbed in ecstatic love and so they spent their time, on into the night. Thereafter,the Lord caught hold of Mukunda and began to say, "Mukunda you are fortunate. I spent so much ofmy time in false pursuit of knowledge. But not achieving the grace of Krsna, my life has beenwasted."One day, in the courtyard of Srivas Thakur's house, where Sri Gaurasundor held his nocturnalschool of kirtan, the Lord revealed Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead to His devotees. Fora period of twenty - one hours, He exhibited His opulences, calling all His devotees to come to Him sothat Hemight bless them with the fulfillment of their most cherished desire. After having called allmostall of His devotees, it was seen that Mukunda was still waiting outside. At that time, Srivas Thakur,feeling compassion for Mukunda, approached Mahaprabhu and asked Him, "You are showeiring Your

mercy today on even the most falen. Why haven't You called Mukunda? Will You not bless him as Youhave blessed us?" Mahaprabhu replied, "That small fry. He doesn't like to talk to Me anyway." Srivas -"What offense has he committed? Sri Gaurasundor - " Mukunda is a hypocrite. He'll never get mymercy. Sometimes he takes a straw in his teeth to show his humility and sometimes he comes with astich to beat those who are inferior to himself."Srivas - "I can'tunderstand what offense has hecommitted?"Sri Gaurasundor - "When he meets with the impersonalists he agrees with their nonsensephilosophy. Then again when he meets the devotees he makes a show of devotion, crying and rolling onthe ground. Those who disrespect My form are as though beating me with sticks. Whereas those whworship My form make Me supremely happy. In any case, those who, taking a straw in their teeth,sometimes come to praise but then again sometimes also come to criticize, they will never get Mymercy."Mukunda,upon hearing this, was heart - broken and said, " I'll not maintain this body any longer.

What is the use of maintaining this body, which is full of offenses." Again Srivas petitioned the Lord onbehalf of Mukunda but the Lord remained adamant. Mukunda pleaded with Srivas Thakur, "Panditji,will He never again show me His mercy?" This time when Srivas spoke to the Lord He replied, "If he isstill in a position to receive My mercy after ten million lifetimes then I will call him." Hearing thisMukunda began to dance in ecstasy, singing, "Ten million lifetimes, only ten million lifetimes, and I'llagain see the Lord of my life." Dancing and dancing he began to roll on the ground in the court - yard.Bhakta Vatsal, Sri Gaurahari, couldn't maintain His facade of false anger any longer, and His heartnbegan to melt, seeing the love of His devotee for Himself. He told Srivas, "Bring Mukunda to Mequickly, his ten million lifetimes have passed. He can see Me now." Srivas told Mukunda, "Mukunda,calm yourself, the Lord is calling you." But Mukunda had lost himself in ecstasy and was simply sayingover and over, "I will see Him again, after ten million births, I will see Him again." His chest had becomesoaked with the tears falling from his eyes. Srivas saw that Mukunda was not externally aware of

anything, having lost himself in the happiness of his heart. This time Srivs caught hold of him and calledout, "Mukunda! Mukunda! Calm down. The Lord is calling you." By the touch of Srivas's hand, thistime Mukunda heard him. "Panditji, what are you saying?" Srivas - "Prabhu is calling you."Mukunda -"With this sinful body how can I go to see the Lord? I have ten million lifetimes of weeping to do beforeI can see Him again." The Lord Who resides in everyone's heart could understand everything and thuscame Himself to call Mukunda, "Mukunda! Come here. Just see My trancendental form!" Srivas caughthold of Mukunda forcibly brought him to the Lord's lotus feet. Mukunda, who was floating in an oceanof tears, simply said, "My Lord. I am a great sinner," and then fell unconscious at the Lord's lotus feet.Regaining consciousness after a short while he began to roll on the ground saying, -

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bhakti na manilu mui er char mukh

dekhilei bhakti - sunya ki paibo sukh

bhishwarup tomar dekhilo Duryodhan

yaha dekhibare bede kore anvesan

dekhiyao sabanse marilo duryodhan

na pailo sukh bhakti sunyer karon

(C.B.)"Because my faith in devotional service is weak, I am simply fit for the rubbish pile. Withoutdevotion what happiness can i ever hope to achieve? Duryodhana was able to see Your universal form,that form which i searched out through all the Vedas. Nevertheless his fate was simply to be annihilatedwith the rest of his family. Thus without deovtion, there is no possiblity of attaining realhappiness."Saying thusly, Mukunda began to weep loudly, then Mahaprabhu lifted him up from the

ground and embracing him said, "I told that you would only be able to see Me again after ten millionlifetimes, but due to your sincere and firm faith, that time has passed in the space of half a moment. Youare the eternal object of My affection. There is no offense on your part. I only behaved with you like thisto educate the people in general. Actually, you are fully embued with devotion. You are My eternalservant, and I eternally dance on your tongue.

amar yemon tumi ballabha ekanta

ei moto hau tore sokal mahanton

jekhane jekhane hoy mor avatar

tathay gayen tumi hoibe amar"As you are My pet favorite, may you become so to all of the great souls.Whenever and wherever I incarnate Myself, there you will be present to sing My glories." Hearing thisbenediction all the assembled devotees called out in ecstasy, "Hari! Hari!"At the time of acceptance ofsannyasa by Mahaprabhu, Mukunda was present and sang on this occasion.

Korilen matro prabhu sannyas grahon

Mukundere agga hoilo korite kirttan

Bol bol boli prabhu arambhilo nrtya

caturdike gaite lagila sab bhrtya

(C.B.)"Just after accepting the order of sannyasa, Mahaprabhu instructed Mukunda to sing, saying,"Chant! Chant!" as He began to dance. In all directions the devotees responded such that the heavensresounded with the holy names."During the time that the Lord lived at Jagannath Puri (Nilacala),Mukunda was also present with Him, and continued to sing to Him. At the time of Ratha - yatra, SriVasudeva Datta, Sri Gopinath and Sri Murari formed one kirtan group which was headed by SriMukunda. Along with Sri Kasiswara Pandit, Mukunda's body was very strong and so he used to hlp

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Kasiswar clear a path during ratha yatra, so that Mahaprobhu could have darsan of Lord Jagannath. SriMukunda Datta Tahkur's disappearane is on the full moon day of the month of Jyoisthi (May - June).

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Vasudeva Carita