Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, he cannot grasp the message of the Six Gosvamis.”
“If somehow all the books in the world were destroyed, leaving only Srimad-Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, the people of this world could still achieve the ultimate goal of life. Even if Srimad-Bhagavatam were lost, leaving only Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, there would be no loss to humanity, for whatever has not been revealed in the Bhagavatam is found in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. The Absolute Truth is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the combined form of Radha and Krsna. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta is His sound incarnation, within which is found the divine mystery of Radharani’s divine status and glories. Therefore, can there be any doubt concerning the supreme status of this transcendental literature?”
As he stood up after ending a lecture in Munger, an earth tremor caused mild flooding of the adjacent Ganga. The water soon receded, after which Srila Sarasvati Thakura said:
“In due course maha-pralaya (devastating floods) will inundate the entire universe. If you attempt to survive by swimming in that deluge, then do not neglect to take hold of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Or if you cannot hold all three, then release Bhagavad-gita. If necessary you may also relinquish Srimad-Bhagavatam, but under no circumstances release your hold on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, for if this one book remains then the flood can do no actual damage, because after it has subsided, the message of sastra can be revived from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta alone, it being the essence of all sastra.”
From Srila Prabhupadera Hari-kathamrta (Vol.1, p.43, also quoted in Shri Chaitanya’s Teachings, p.186):
“There is no other book in the universe like Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is not mere tittle-tattle or an amplified homage. An objective judge will realize that there has not been any book like the Bhagavatam, nor will there be one. This book presents a consideration of gradual evolution, from the increasingly better conceptions of skepticism, atheism, attributelessness, neuterdom, masculinity, sex, consorthood by marriage (svakiya), and lastly paramour love of the gopis (parakiya). Krsna-lila is described in the Tenth Canto. What then was the necessity of composing the preceding nine cantos? In them have been shown the deliberation of these theories, to prepare the ground for introducing the main subject, namely the description of Krsna’s transcendental pastimes with the Vraja-gopis, as given in the “Gopi-gita” and similar sections of the Tenth Canto.
There were many who read Srimad-Bhagavatam before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came into this world, but the only ones who have been able to seize the real import and actual object of the Srimad-Bhagavatam are they who read it after reading Sri Caitanya-caritamrta of Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, one of His chief followers in the line of Sri Rupa Gosvami, in other words, those who have read Srimad-Bhagavatam within Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. The unrefined ease-loving people pretending to be Vaisnnavas (prakrta-sahajiyas) read Srimad- Bhagavatam and mercenary discoursers explain it, yet they only misconstrue and cover the true reading as according to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Their elucidation might please the minds of their hearers, but it merely makes the path to hell more easily accessible for themselves and their admirers.
Srila Prabhupada about Sri Caitanya-caritamrta:
From the Jaladuta Diary, September 1965:
THURSDAY 9
Till 4 o’clock afternoon we have crossed over the Atlantic Ocean for twenty-four hours. The whole day was clear and almost smooth. I am taking my food regularly and got some strength to struggle. There is slight lurching of the ship and I am feeling slight headache also. But I am struggling and the nectarine of life is Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita the source of my all vitality.
FRIDAY
Today the ship is plying very smoothly. I feel today better. But I am feeling separation from Sri Vrindaban and my Lords Sri Govinda, Gopinath, Radha Damodar. The only solace is Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita in which I am tasting the nectarine of Lord Chaitanya’s Leela.
“The asset of this Caitanya-sampradaya about this devotional service is very great. Very great. This Caitanya-caritamrta is also one of them. Yes.” (Lecture on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.66-96 — New York, November 21, 1966).
“So there are two different kinds of Vedic literature. One section is called sruti, originally coming. Just like this Caitanya-caritamrta. This is a book written by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya. It is called smrti. Why? Everything written here is corroborating the Vedic literature. There is nothing, suggestion, “I am a philosopher. I am a speculator. I think this will be like this” Here you’ll see in every step he is quoting from Vedas.” (Lecture on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 22.5 — New York, January 7, 1967).
“So this is the Vaisnava devotee’s temperament, humble and meek. They, although they are always in the exalted position, they never advertise that “I am in exalted position.” He is never puffed up. As you have read it, the author of Caitanya-caritamrta, such a great devotee, who could produce in his ripe old age such nice transcendental literature, which is certified by my Guru Maharaja as the postgraduate study of the devotees…” (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.8 — Montreal, July 2, 1968).
“…It is the, I mean to say, general tendency of a devotee that he always thinks that “I am lower than the lowest. Lower than the lowest.” Purisera kita haite musi se laghistha [Cc. Adi 5.205]. Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami, the author of a literature, Caitanya-caritamrta, unique in the world, he said that “I am lower than the worm in the stool.” Purisera kita haite. Purisa means stool and kita means worms. There are some worms in the stool. So he said that “I am lower than that worm in the stool.” Just see.” (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.13 — Montreal, August 21, 1968).
“We should always be prepared to take instruction from the authorities. We should never think that we have become perfect. Although you are perfect. Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. One should be very humble, meek, and always think that “I am nothing.” Just like the author of Caitanya-caritamrta, such a great, stalwart man, such a great devotee. Nobody has produced such literature as Caitanya-caritamrta. He is presenting himself that “I am lighter than the worm in the stool.” Purisera kita haite musi se laghistha. Purisa means stool and kita means worm. So “I am lower than the worm in the stool. Anyone who takes my name, all his pious activities immediately becomes lost.” In this way he is presenting himself. That does not mean that he’s actually so, but that is the attitude of a devotee. He’s always very meek and humble.” (Lecture — New York, April 16, 1969).
So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu… This is the place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, appearance site of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sridhama Mayapur. So in this place this is the appropriate literature, Sri-caitanya-caritamrta. We may try to discuss during these holy days. Last year some gentleman suggested, after seeing my all literatures, that “You kindly write a translation of Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta.” He thought that this business I can do very nicely. So I took the initiation from this gentleman and began to write. Now it is almost complete. I am now translating Madhya-lila, Twentieth chapter, the discussion, ‘sanatana-siksa.’ So it is estimated that ten volumes like this… [aside:] You think like that? Ten volumes like this, that will complete Caitanya-caritamrta. Caitanya-caritamrta is the postgraduate study of Krsna consciousness. The Bhagavad-gita is the A-B-C-D to entrance, and Srimad-Bhagavatam is the graduate study, and Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta is the postgraduate study of spiritual life. My Guru Maharaja, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, whenever he got some time he used to read Caitanya-caritamrta. And he predicted that the whole world like to read Caitanya-caritamrta, and for this reason they’ll learn Bengali. Therefore, following his footsteps, I have kept the Bengali character and tried to give the literary meaning of each word of the Bengali poem. This is, of course, Sanskrit. This book is full of Sanskrit verses. Some of them are composed by the author himself, Kaviraja Gosvami, and some of them are quoted from various literature, Vedic literature. (Lecture on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.1 — Mayapur, March 1, 1974).
“Caitanya-caritamrta author, such an exalted person, practically the most exalted personality in Gaudiya-Vaisnava… His Caitanya-caritamrta, there is no comparison. It is postgraduate study. So the author of the book, he’s presenting himself, that “My position is lower than the worm in the stool.”” (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.39 — Mayapur, October 19, 1974).
“So study this Caitanya-caritamrta. Now we have got this English edition, very elaborately described, following the footsteps of our Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada. So there is no such edition of Caitanya-caritamrta, very elaborately described. But it can be understood by the advanced student. It can be… And so… Advanced, you can, anyone, you can become advanced. Advanced means at least one should understand that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If you simply understand these two words, that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then you are advanced. It is not very difficult.” (Lecture on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 1.1 — Mayapur, March 25, 1975).
“O the great sadhu, you are…,” although you know he is a great rascal. [laughter] Still, I will have to speak to him. This is the process of preaching. Is that all right? You tell him, “Oh, you are a great sadhu.” Then he will be: “Oh, yes, yes. [laughter] You are right. You are right. What do you want from me? Tell me.” Then you can say, he sadhavah sakalam eva vihaya durad: “What every rascaldom you have learned, please forget. [laughter] Please forget.” “Then what I have to do?” Caitanya-candra-carane kurutanuragam. “You become adhered to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya. That is my… That’s all. So I have brought this Caitanya-caritamrta, seventeen volumes. If you kindly take this…” So they will take. They have got money. And if he reads one line, he’ll be perfect. This should be your process of preaching.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 7.3 — Nairobi, October 29, 1975).
“So the Bhagavad-gita is the science of how to know God. The preliminary science. If you want to know more, then read Srimad-Bhagavatam. And if you are in intense love with God, read Caitanya-caritamrta—how your love for God can be still more intensified. That is Caitanya-caritamrta.” (Civilization and Transcendence, 12: How to Love God).
“Actually, the Caitanya-caritamrta is not intended for the novice, for it is the postgraduate study of spiritual knowledge. Ideally, one begins with the Bhagavad-gita and advances through Srimad-Bhagavatam to the Caitanya-caritamrta. Although all these great scriptures are on the same absolute level, for the sake of comparative study the Caitanya-caritamrta is considered to be on the highest platform. Every verse in it is perfectly composed.” (Introduction to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta).
“Since a devotee writes in service to the Lord, the Lord from within gives him so much intelligence that he sits down near the Lord and goes on writing books. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami confirms that what Vrndavana dasa Thakura wrote was actually spoken by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and he simply repeated it. The same holds true for Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami wrote Sri Caitanya-caritamrta in his old age, in an invalid condition, but it is such a sublime literature that Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja used to say, “The time will come when the people of the world will learn Bengali to read Sri Caitanya-caritamrta.” We are trying to present Sri Caitanya-caritamrta in English and do not know how successful it will be, but if one reads the original Caitanya-caritamrta in Bengali he will relish increasing ecstasy in devotional service.” (Purport to Adi-lila 8.39).
“…In any case, when I had published Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto, in three volumes in India, I thought of going to the U.S.A. By the mercy of His Divine Grace, I was able to come to New York on September 17, 1965. Since then, I have translated many books, including Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Teachings of Lord Caitanya (a summary) and many others. In the meantime, I was induced to translate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and publish it in an elaborate version. In his leisure time in later life, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura would simply read Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. It was his favorite book. He used to say that there would be a time when foreigners would learn the Bengali language to read the Caitanya-caritamrta. The work on this translation began about eighteen months ago. Now, by the grace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, it is finished.” (Antya, Concluding Words).
“It is my wish that devotees of Lord Caitanya all over the world enjoy this translation, and I am glad to express my gratitude to the learned men in the Western countries who are so pleased with my work that they are ordering in advance all my books that will be published in the future. On this occasion, therefore, I request my disciples who are determined to help me in this work to continue their cooperation fully, so that philosophers, scholars, religionists and people in general all over the world will benefit by reading our transcendental literatures, such as Srimad-Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta.” (Antya, Concluding Words).
The concluding verses of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta:
“Sri Caitanya-caritamrta is filled with the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. It invokes all good fortune and destroys everything inauspicious. If one tastes the nectar of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta with faith and love, I become like a bumblebee tasting the honey of transcendental love from his lotus feet.”
“Since this book, Caitanya-caritamrta, is now complete, having been written for the satisfaction of the most opulent Deities Madana-mohanaji and Govindaji, let it be offered at the lotus feet of Sri Krsna Caitanyadeva.” (Antya 20.154-155)
sruyatam sruyatam nityam
giyatam giyatam muda
cintyatam cintyatam bhaktas
caitanya-caritamrtam
O devotees, may the transcendental life and characteristics of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu always be heard chanted and meditated upon with great happiness.
