TRANSLATION
Muräri Gupta, the twenty-first
branch of the tree of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, was a
storehouse of love of Godhead. His great humility and meekness melted the
heart of Lord Caitanya.
Adi 10:50
pratigraha nähi kare, nä
laya kära dhana
ätma-våtti kari’ kare
kuöumba bharaëa
TRANSLATION
Çréla Muräri
Gupta never accepted charity from friends, nor did he accept money from
anyone. He practiced as a physician and maintained his family with his
earnings.
PURPORT
It should be noted that a gåhastha
(householder) must not make his livelihood by begging from anyone. Every
householder of the higher castes should engage himself in his own occupational
duty as a brähmaëa, kñatriya or vaiçya, but he
should not engage in the service of others, for this is the duty of a çüdra.
One should simply accept whatever he earns by his own profession. The engagements
of a brähmaëa are yajana, yäjana, paöhana, päöhana,
däna and pratigraha. A brähmaëa should be a worshiper of
Viñëu, and he should also instruct others how to worship Him.
A kñatriya can become a landholder and earn his livelihood by levying
taxes or collecting rent from tenants. A vaiçya can accept agriculture
or general trade as an occupational duty. Since Muräri Gupta was born
in a physician’s family (vaidya-vaàça), he practiced as a
physician, and with whatever income he earned he maintained his family.
As stated in Çrémad-Bhägavatam, everyone should try
to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the execution of
his occupational duty. That is the perfection of life. This system is called
daivé-varëäçrama. Muräri Gupta was an ideal
gåhastha, for he was a great devotee of Lord Rämacandra and
Caitanya Mahäprabhu. By practicing as a physician he maintained his
family and at the same time satisfied Lord Caitanya to the best of his
ability. This is the ideal of householder life. (A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. Ädi-lila 10.50. purport.)
Ädi 10.51
cikitsä karena yäre
ha-iyä sadaya
deha-roga bhäva-roga,——dui
tära kñaya
TRANSLATION
As Muräri Gupta treated
his patients, by his mercy both their bodily and spiritual diseases subsided.
PURPORT
Muräri Gupta could treat
both bodily and spiritual disease because he was a physician by profession
and a great devotee of the Lord in terms of spiritual advancement. This
is an example of service to humanity. Everyone should know that there are
two kinds of diseases in human society. One disease, which is called adhyätmika,
or material disease, pertains to the body, but the main disease is spiritual.
The living entity is eternal, but somehow or other, when in contact with
the material energy, he is subjected to the repetition of birth, death,
old age and disease. The physicians of the modern day should learn from
Muräri Gupta. Although modern philanthropic physicians open gigantic
hospitals, there are no hospitals to cure the material disease of the spirit
soul. The Kåñëa consciousness movement has taken up the
mission of curing this disease, but people are not very appreciative because
they do not know what this disease is. A diseased person needs both proper
medicine and a proper diet, and therefore the Kåñëa consciousness
movement supplies materially stricken people with the medicine of the chanting
of the holy name, or the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra,
and the diet of prasäda. There are many hospitals and medical clinics
to cure bodily diseases, but there are no such hospitals to cure the material
disease of the spirit soul. The centers of the Kåñëa
consciousness movement are the only established hospitals that can cure
man of birth, death, old age and disease. (A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. Ädi-lila 10.51. purport.)
"All the devotees worshiped Lord
Caitanya Mahäprabhu in this way, and the Lord remained in ecstasy
for seven praharas, or twenty-one hours. He took this opportunity to show
the devotees that He is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa,
who is the source of all other incarnations, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gétä
(10.8): ahaà sarvasya prabhavo mattaù sarvaà pravartate.
All the different forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or viñëu-tattva,
emanate from the body of Lord Kåñëa. Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu
exposed all the private desires of the devotees, and thus all of them became
fully confident that Lord Caitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
"Some devotees call this exhibition
of ecstasy by the Lord säta-prahariyä bhäva, or “the ecstasy
of twenty-one hours,” and others call it mahäbhäva-prakäça
or mahä-prakäça. There are other descriptions of this
säta-prahariyä bhäva in the Caitanya-bhävagata, Chapter
Nine, which mentions that Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu blessed
a maidservant named Duùkhé with the name Sukhé. He
called for Kholävecä Çrédhara, and showed him His
mahä-prakäça. Then He called for Muräri Gupta and
showed him His feature as Lord Rämacandra. He offered His blessings
to Haridäsa Öhäkura, and at this time He also asked Advaita
Prabhu to explain the Bhagavad-gétä as it is (gétära
satya-päöha) and showed special favor to Mukunda. (A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. Ädi-lila 17.18. purport.)
varäha-äveça
hailä muräri-bhavane
täìra skandhe caòi’
prabhu näcilä aìgane
TRANSLATION
One day Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu felt the ecstasy of the boar incarnation and got up on
the shoulders of Muräri Gupta. Thus they both danced in Muräri
Gupta’s courtyard.
PURPORT
One day Caitanya Mahäprabhu
began to cry out, “Çükara! Çükara!” Thus crying
out for the boar incarnation of the Lord, He assumed His form as the boar
incarnation and got up on the shoulders of Muräri Gupta. He carried
a small gäòu, a small waterpot with a nozzle, and thus He symbolically
picked up the earth from the depths of the ocean, for this is the pastime
of Lord Varäha. (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Sri Chaitanya
Charitamrita. Ädi-lila 17.20. purport.)
Sri Murari Gupta in all humility in his Chaitanya Mangala
presentation of Lord Chaitanya's pastimes first begs for the blessings
of all 'mahabhagavatas'. "Then I can properly sing the glories of the Lord.
I am the lowest of the low, so how can I explain the greatness of Sri Caitanya's
transcendental character? Since I don't know anything, what's the use of
my incoherent words? If, without knowing the highest truths about Lord
Caitanya, I try to say something, I will suffer embarrassment before the
great souls.
Although I am not qualified and full of faults,
I cherish an intense desire to sing about the sweet qualities of Sri Gauranga
Mahaprabhu."
"While living in Navadwip, Sri Murari Gupta had
the opportunity to remian always in the company of Gaurachandra. Who can
describe his greatness? He is known throughout the world as Hanuman. After
crossing the ocean to Lanka, Hanuman burned Ravan's palace to the ground.
Then Hanuman brought Rama the good news about His beloved Sita. He revived
Laksmana by bringing 'visalya-karani' (a medical herb). That same Hanuman
now resides in Nadia as Murari Gupta.
Being highly realised, Murari Gupta knows all truths.
As an eternal associate of the Lord, he is fixed at the lotus feet of Sri
Gauranga Mahaprabhu. He expertly told all of Lord Caitanya's childhood
and boyhood pastimes in his great Sanskrit epic, 'Sri-Krishna-Caitanya-carita-mahakavya',(also
called 'Karcha', dairy.).(Caitanya Mangala. 1994. Mahanidhi Swami, page
4.)
Murari Gupta begged Lord Caitanya (Gauranga) to "please
be merciful, please give me ecstatic love of God!"
"Lord Gauranga said, 'Listen Murari, You have love
for Me. So just serve the 'Parabraman' appearing in the human form, having
the colour of an 'indranila' gem(blue sapphire). He stands most attractively
in His three-fold bening form, carrying a flute in His hand. Worship Srimati
Radharani, the golden comlexioned daughter of King Vrshabhanu. She is the
original energy of the Lord, and Her effulgence defeats the colour of 'gorachana'
(bright yellow).
"Engage yourself in the service of the 'gopis',
and you'll attain the son of Nanda. In 'cintamani-bhumi', Vrindavana-dham,
He sits on a jewelled throne resting upon a gem-studded platform surrounded
by 'kalpa-vrksha' trees. By His inconceivible potency, 'Kama-dhenu' (surabhi-cows)
wander everywhere fulfilling all desires. His glittering bodily effulgence
is known as the formless 'Brahman'. You should know that this is the sweet
truth about Krishna."
'The devotees felt transcendental joy to hear these
talk from Lord Gauranga. I a mood of submission, Murari Gupta requested,
"My lord, I want to see the Lord's form as Raghunatha (Lord Rama)."
Within a second, Murari saw Lord Ramachandra in
His beautiful body the colour of fresh green grass. Sitadevi, Laksmana,
bharata and Satrughna stood around the Lord. Murari rolled on the ground
in astonishment. Gaurasundara pacified him with the touch of His lotus
hand while blessing him. "May you become saturated in love of God. Actually
Murari, you are no one other than Hanuman, and I am the same Lord Rama."
After saying this, the Lord entered the temple."(Caitanya Mangala. Locan
dasa Thakura.; Mahanidhi Swami. 1994. page 134.)
Once Lord Caitanya asked Murari Gupta to recite
some verses he had composed, "For My pleasure, please recite that verse
you composed."
'Murari Gupta cited his book Sri Krishna Caitanya-carita:
"I worship the blessed Lord and master of the three worlds, Sri Ramachandra.
He wears a brilliant crown covered with a strand of jewels whose shining
lights up all directions. His dazzling earings defeat the brilliance of
Sukra and Brhaspati. his beautiful face looks like a pure spotless moon.
"I worship the lotus feet of the master of the
three worlds, Sri Ramachandra, whose charming eyes appear like blossoming
lotus flowers. his red lips look like 'bimba' fruits, and His well-shaped
nose attracts eveyone. His wonderfull smile embarrasses the moonlight."
After hearing these verses, Gaura put His feet
on Murari's head. Then He wrote the name "Ramadasa" on his forehead. Prabhu
said, "Murari, from today on, by My mercy, you'll be known as Ramadasa.
Without Raghunatha, you can't live a moment. Know for certain that I am
that same Lord Raghunath (Rama)."
To the surprise of everyone present, Lord Gauranga
showed His transcendental form as Lord Ramachandra, long with Janaki (Sita),
Laksmana, Hanuman, and other associates. Instantly, Murari fell at the
Lord's feet and praised Gauranga. "All glories to Raghavira. He's the same
as the darling of Sacimata." Then Murari rolled in the dust. Crying in
happiness, he offered more prayers.
Showing mery, Mahaprabhu said, "Murari, you should
worship Me, and forget anything other than 'bhakti'. Although I am your
worshippable Lord Raghunatha, still you should worship the lord of Radha.
Perform 'sankirtan', attentively hear the glories of Radha and Krishna,
and be devoted to Me."(Caitanya Mangala. Locana dasa Thakura.; Mahanidhi
Swami, page 153-154.)
Madhya 11.152
prathame muräri-gupta prabhure
nä miliyä
bähirete paòi’ äche
daëòavat haïä
meeting; bähirete—outside;
paòi’—falling down; äche—was there; daëòavat—falling
flat like a stick; haïä—becoming so.
TRANSLATION
Muräri Gupta at first did
not meet the Lord but rather remained outside the door, falling down like
a stick to offer obeisances.
Madhya 11.153
muräri nä dekhiyä
prabhu kare anveñaëa
muräri la-ite dhäïä
äilä bahu-jana
TRANSLATION
When Lord Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu could not see Muräri amongst the devotees, He inquired
about him. Thereupon many people immediately went to Muräri, running
to take him to the Lord.
Madhya 11.154
tåëa dui-guccha muräri
daçane dhariyä
mahäprabhu äge gelä
dainyädhéna haïä
TRANSLATION
Thus Muräri Gupta, catching
two bunches of straw in his teeth, went before Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu with humility and meekness.
Madhya 11.155
muräri dekhiyä prabhu
äilä milite
päche bhäge muräri,
lägilä kahite
TRANSLATION
Upon seeing Muräri come
to meet Him, Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu went up to
him, but Muräri began to run away and speak as follows.
Madhya 11.156
more nä chuìiha,
prabhu, muïi ta’ pämara
tomära sparça-yogya
nahe päpa kalevara
TRANSLATION
“My Lord, please do not touch
me. I am most abominable and am not fit for You to touch because my body
is sinful.”
Madhya 11.157
prabhu kahe,—muräri, kara
dainya saàvaraëa
tomära dainya dekhi’ mora
vidérëa haya mana
TRANSLATION
The Lord said, “My dear Muräri,
please restrain your unnecessary humility. My mind is disturbed to see
your meekness.”
Madhya 11.158
eta bali’ prabhu täìre
kaila äliìgana
nikaöe vasäïä
kare aìga sammärjana
TRANSLATION
Saying this, the Lord embraced
Muräri and had him sit down by His side. The Lord then began to cleanse
his body with His own hands.
Madhya 11.159-160
äcäryaratna, vidyänidhi,
paëòita gadädhara
gaìgädäsa, hari-bhaööa,
äcärya purandara
pratyeke sabära prabhu kari’
guëa gäna
punaù punaù äliìgiyä
karila sammäna
TRANSLATION
Lord Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu then again and again embraced all the devotees, including
Äcäryaratna, Vidyänidhi, Paëòita Gadädhara,
Gaìgädäsa, Hari Bhaööa and Äcärya
Purandara. The Lord described their good qualities and glorified them again
and again.
Madhya 15.137
muräri-guptere prabhu kari’
äliìgana
täìra bhakti-niñöhä
kahena, çune bhakta-gaëa
TRANSLATION
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
then embraced Muräri Gupta and began to speak about his firm faith
in devotional service. This was heard by all the devotees.
"There was a devotee of Caitanya Mahäprabhu. His name was Muräri Gupta. He was physician to the then Nawab, Muslim Nawab. Now, they were sitting. The Nawab was going some hunting excursion or something like that, but he was Nawab’s physician. He was to accompany him. So they were sitting on the back of the elephant. In the meantime that Muräri Gupta saw one peacock, and as soon as he saw the peacock, the feather, he at once remembered Kåñëa and at once fainted and fall down. This is called älambana. This is called älambana. Älambana means anything to the context, immediately he remembers his Lord and becomes ecstatic. This is the first-class stage of Kåñëa consciousness." (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 17th March 1967. Srimad Bhagavatam lecture 7:7:32-35. San Francisco.)