The Sovereign Who Served the Lord

A powerful king's humble service invokes the mercy of Lord Caitanya

Taken from Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.

About five hundred years ago, the Indian province of Orissa was ruled by a great king named Pratāparudra. Mahārāja Pratāparudra was a sincere devotee of Kṛṣṅa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he worshiped Him in the form of the Jagannātha Deity, at the great Jagannātha temple in Purī. One day the king heard that a famous Kṛṣṅa conscious saint, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, had come to live in Purī. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was an avatar (an incarnation of God) and Mahārāja Pratāparudra was very eager to talk with Him. However, Lord Caitanya had adopted the role of a monk (sannyāsī) to teach pure devotion to Kṛṣṅa, and He strictly followed the injunctions forbidding a sannyāsī to meet people absorbed in material affairs. Therefore, He was reluctant to meet such a worldly person as Mahārāja Pratāparudra.

When the king found out that Lord Caitanya had come to Purī, he called the scholar Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to his palace. "I have heard that a great personality has come from Bengal and is staying at your home," the king explained. "I have also heard that He is very merciful. Please do me the favor of arranging an interview with Him."

The Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "All that you have heard is true, but the interview will be very difficult to arrange. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is in the renounced order. Consequently, He is very detached from worldly affairs. He stays in solitary places—even in dreams He would not grant an interview to a king. Still, in spite of these things, I would try to arrange a meeting with Him, but He has just left to tour South India."

On hearing this, the king asked, "Why did you let Him leave? Why didn't you fall at His feet and keep Him here?"

"Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṅa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He is completely independent," answered the Bhaṭṭācārya. "I tried very hard to keep Him here, but I could not."

"You are the most learned and experienced man I know," the king said. "Since you accept Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as Kṛṣṅa, then I also accept Him as Kṛṣṅa. When He returns, I wish to see Him just once—to make my eyes perfect."

When the Lord at last returned to Purī, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya humbly informed Him, "Mahārāja Pratāparudra is very anxious to meet You. He wanted me to ask You if You would see him."

As soon as He heard this proposal, Lord Caitanya covered His ears with His hands and said, "My dear Bhaṭṭācārya, why are you making such an undesirable request? I am in the renounced order of life, and for Me to meet a king is just as dangerous as meeting a woman. To meet either would be just like drinking poison." Sorrowfully, the Lord said, "For a person seriously desiring to cross the ocean of material miseries and obtain the Lord's mercy, seeing either a materialist or a lusty woman is more abominable than drinking poison."

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya replied, "My dear Lord, what you have said is correct, but this king is not ordinary. He is a great devotee and servant of Lord Jagannātha."

"Although the king is certainly a great devotee," said Lord Caitanya, "as a sannyāsī I must still consider him a venomous snake. Bhaṭṭācārya, if you continue to speak like this you will never see Me here again." Afraid of further angering the Lord, the Bhaṭṭācārya returned home and began to meditate on the matter.

Meanwhile, Mahārāja Pratāparudra, who had gone to his capital city of Kataka, sent a letter to the Bhaṭṭācārya begging him to get the Lord's consent for a meeting. The Bhaṭṭācārya wrote the king that Lord Caitanya had not given His permission. The king immediately wrote another letter: "Please appeal to all the devotees associated with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to submit my petition at the lotus feet of the Lord. By the mercy of the devotees, one can attain the shelter of the Lord's lotus feet. If Lord Caitanya does not show mercy to me, I shall give up my kingdom, become a mendicant, and beg from door to door."

This letter disturbed Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. He met with all the devotees and described the king's wishes, showing the letter to all of them. Everyone was astonished that Mahārāja Pratāparudra had so much devotion for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. One devotee said, "The Lord will never consent to meet the king, and if we ask Him to do so, He will feel very unhappy."

"We shall go once again to the Lord," the Bhaṭṭācārya suggested, "but we shall not request Him to meet the king. Rather, we shall simply describe the good behavior of the king." Having reached a decision, they all went to the place where Lord Caitanya was staying. When the Lord saw them, He said, "Why have you all come here?" Although they had intended to speak, they could not utter a word. "I see that you want to say something," said Caitanya Mahāprabhu, "but you do not speak. What is the reason?"

Nityānanda Prabhu, the Lord's closest associate, answered, "We want to tell You something, but we are afraid to speak on such a delicate matter. Nevertheless, we must inform You that unless he sees You, the king of Orissa will become a beggar. It is the nature of an attached man to give up his life if he does not attain his desired object." Knowing the king's seriousness, the devotees were trying to save him from suicide. Nityānanda Prabhu then suggested, "There is a way by which You need not meet the king, but which would enable him to continue living. If You would mercifully send one of Your garments to him, he would remain alive, hoping to see You sometime in the future."

Lord Caitanya agreed to this proposal, and Nityānanda Prabhu then obtained a garment used by Him and delivered it to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, who sent it to the king. When the king received the old cloth, he began to worship it exactly as he would have worshiped the Lord directly.

Soon, Mahārāja Pratāparudra came to Jagannātha Purī from Kataka, along with his band of secretaries, ministers, and military officers. Also with him was one of his governors, Rāmānanda Rāya. Rāmānanda had met Lord Caitanya on the Lord's tour of South India, and they had become close friends. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had asked Rāmānanda Rāya to resign his post and join Him at Jagannātha Purī so that they could talk together every day about the activities of Lord Kṛṣṅa and share their understanding. When Rāmānanda Rāya arrived in Jagannātha Purī, he hurried with great anticipation to see Lord Caitanya. After they greeted each other, he said to the Lord, "I informed Mahārāja Pratāparudra of Your order. I said, 'Your majesty, I cannot continue my political activities. I desire only to stay at the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kindly give me permission.' Upon hearing Your name, he immediately rose from his throne and embraced me. My dear Lord, as soon as the king heard Your holy name, he was overwhelmed by great ecstatic love. He granted me a full salary as a pension, and requested me to engage in Your service without anxiety. Then he humbly said, 'Because I am most fallen and abominable, I am unfit to receive an interview with the Lord. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṅa Himself, and service to Him makes life successful. He is very merciful, and I hope that he will allow me an interview in one of my future lives.' My Lord," said Rāmānanda Rāya, "I don't think I have even a fraction of Mahārāja Pratāparudra's ecstatic love for You."

"My dear Rāmānanda," the Lord replied, "you are the foremost of Kṛṣṅa's devotees, and whoever serves you is blessed by Kṛṣṅa. The king has shown so much devotion for you that Kṛṣṅa will certainly accept him."

In the days that followed, the Lord enjoyed the company of Rāmānanda Rāya, talking with him about Lord Kṛṣṅa and His pastimes. While they were absorbed in these conversations, Mahārāja Pratāparudra called for Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. The king made him sit on an elegant chair and offered him respectful greetings. Then he began lamenting, "Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has descended just to deliver all kinds of sinful, lowborn persons. But has Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu incarnated to deliver all kinds of sinners except a king named Pratāparudra? If Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is determined to avoid me," cried the king, "then I am determined to give up my life."

The Bhaṭṭācārya was astonished at the king's strength of purpose. He thought such determination to be impossible for a worldly man. Mahārāja Pratāparudra continued, "If I do not receive Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy, both my body and my kingdom are useless."

At last, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, "My dear king, don't worry. Your firm determination will surely inspire Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to bestow His mercy upon you. Only pure love can attract the Supreme Lord, and since your love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very deep, He will undoubtedly be merciful to you."

The Bhaṭṭācārya felt great compassion for the king and wanted to help him as much as he could. He blessed the king that he might receive the mercy of the Lord by making this suggestion: "There is one way to see Lord Caitanya directly. On the day of the Ratha-yātrā festival, He will dance before the Deity in great ecstatic love. Afterward He will enter the Guṅḍicā garden. At that time you should go there alone, in plain dress, and read the five chapters from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam about Kṛṣṅa's dancing with the gopīs [cowherd girls]. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will be in a mood of ecstatic love, and He will embrace you, knowing you to be a pure devotee. Do not worry: the Lord has already changed His mind about you due to Rāmānanda Rāya's description of your pure love for Him." After thus encouraging the king, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya returned home. In the days that followed, Rāmānanda Rāya would remind the Lord of the king's desire to see Him. Using expert diplomacy, Rāmānanda Rāya gradually softened the Lord's heart.

"My Lord," Rāmānanda Rāya said, "You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You have nothing to fear from anyone."

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu objected, "I am not the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I am just an ordinary human being, and I fear public opinion. As soon as the general public finds a little fault in a sannyāsī, they advertise it like wildfire. A black spot of ink on a white cloth cannot be hidden; it is always very prominent." (Actually, of course, Lord Caitanya was the Supreme Personality of Godhead and couldn't be harmed in the least by public opinion. Yet He knew that if people found any discrepancy in His behavior—such as associating with a worldly-minded king—their criticism would hamper His mission of preaching Kṛṣṅa consciousness.)

"My dear Lord, You have delivered so many sinful people. King Pratāparudra is actually the Lord's servant and devotee."

"There may be much milk in a big pot," Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, "but if it is contaminated by one drop of liquor, it is untouchable. The king certainly possesses many good qualities, but simply by taking the title of 'King,' he has infected everything. However, if you are still very eager for Me to meet the king, please bring his son to Me first. The Vedas say the son represents the father. So meeting Mahārāja Pratāparudra's son would be just as good as meeting the king himself."

Rāmānanda Rāya then went to tell the king about his talk with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and following the Lord's order, he brought back the king's son to see Him. The young prince's blackish complexion, large lotus eyes, yellow garments, and jeweled ornaments reminded everyone of Lord Kṛṣṅa.

"Here is a great devotee," Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "for anyone who sees him remembers the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṅa. Just by sending Me this boy, the king has put Me very much in his debt." Seeing all this, the devotees praised the boy for his great spiritual fortune. Rāmānanda took him back to the king's palace. The king was very glad to hear of his son's experience, and when he embraced him, he also felt ecstatic love—just as if he had touched Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu directly.

At last the day came for Lord Jagannātha's annual Ratha-yātrā festival. After bathing early in the morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Lord Jagannātha transferred from His throne to the car, while musicians created a tumult and thousands looked on. Although King Pratāparudra was the exalted owner of the royal throne, he wanted to do some menial service for Lord Jagannātha. Therefore, he personally swept the road with a gold-handled broom and sprinkled the road with sandalwood-scented water. Seeing the king sweeping the street and sprinkling it with water, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy.

As the huge cars moved along the road toward the Guṅḍicā temple, the devotees danced and chanted Hare Kṛṣṅa with great enthusiasm. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu divided the devotees into seven parties, with two drums in each group. Mahārāja Pratāparudra was astonished by the saṅkīrtana (congregational chanting of the Lord's holy names). All the devotees chanted the holy names in great ecstasy, with tears falling from their eyes, and Lord Caitanya wandered through all seven groups chanting, "Hari! Hari!" Raising His arms, He shouted, "All glories to Lord Jagannātha!"

King Pratāparudra could hardly believe his eyes when he saw Lord Caitanya appear simultaneously in all seven saṅkīrtana groups. The king became stunned with ecstatic love. Although the Lord had previously rebuffed the king, He now showered His favor upon him by revealing His mystic power.

Although the other devotees could not see the Lord appearing in seven places, they were also overwhelmed with transcendental ecstasy just to see His dancing. Everyone was dancing and chanting, and the sound echoed all around as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and wandered through the crowd.

When the servants of Lord Jagannātha had pulled the cars as far as the Guṅḍicā garden, they stopped, and all the devotees offered the Deities some simple food they had prepared. The king with his queens, the ministers, and all other residents of Jagannātha Purī offered preparations to the Lord, and a large crowd gathered to watch.

At that time Lord Caitanya stopped His dancing and went into the garden to rest. The Lord was covered with perspiration, and He enjoyed the cool, fragrant breezes in the garden. All the devotees who were chanting and dancing with Him also went there and rested under each and every tree.

While Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was resting in ecstasy, Mahārāja Pratāparudra entered the garden. Following Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's instructions, the king had replaced his royal garments with the simple clothes of a devotee. He was so humble that he first offered respects with folded hands to all the devotees in the garden. Then, taking courage, he fell down and touched the lotus feet of the Lord. Then the king started to recite the verses about Kṛṣṅa's dancing with the gopīs. When Lord Caitanya heard these verses, He was pleased beyond limit and said again and again, "Go on reciting! Go on reciting!"

Then Mahārāja Pratāparudra recited a very special verse:

My Lord, the nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those who are always aggrieved in this material world. These narrations are transmitted by exalted personalities who can eradicate all sinful reactions. Whoever hears these narrations attains all good fortune. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and they are filled with spiritual power. Those who spread the message of Godhead are certainly the most munificent welfare workers (Bhag. 10.31.9).

As soon as the king recited this verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced him and cried, "You are the most munificent! You are the most munificent!" The Lord rose in ecstatic love and embraced the king, exclaiming, "You have given me invaluable gems, but I have nothing to give you in return!" Saying this, the Lord began to recite the same verse again and again. Both the king and Lord Caitanya were trembling, and tears were flowing from their eyes. Finally the Lord asked, "Who are you? You have done so much for Me. All of a sudden you have come here and made Me drink the nectar of Lord Kṛṣṅa's pastimes."

The king replied, "My Lord, I am most obedient to You. It is my ambition that You accept me as the servant of Your servants." Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu displayed some of His divine opulences to the king, but forbade him to disclose these secrets to anyone. Although Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu knew who the king was, He pretended not to know.

Seeing that the king had received the Lord's special mercy, the devotees became blissful and praised his good fortune. After submissively offering prayers to the devotees and obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the king left the garden.

In this way, Mahārāja Pratāparudra received the mercy of Lord Caitanya. Ordinarily, the king would not have had a chance to meet the Lord, but when the Lord saw that he was serving Lord Jagannātha as a menial sweeper, He bestowed His full mercy upon him. In the years that followed, Mahārāja Pratāparudra had many more opportunities to render service to Lord Jagannātha, and he maintained his humble attitude in spite of his wealth and power. Even to this day, Mahārāja Pratāparudra's descendants remember his example. At the Ratha-yātrā festival each year, the present king of Orissa takes a gold-handled broom and sweeps the road in front of Lord Jagannātha's car.