Separation from Srīla Jīva Goswāmī
By Śrīla B. R. Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāja. Translated from a Bengali lecture published in Śrī Gauḍīya Darśan, Volume 2, Issue 6, December 1956.
Today is the disappearance day of Śrīla Jīva Goswāmī Prabhu—the third day of the waxing fortnight. This day draws my attention to the time Śrīla Prabhupād performed his Pastime of undergoing illness. We all felt that Śrīla Prabhupād was an avatār of Śrīla Jīva Goswāmī Prabhu because of the way he perfectly established the dignity of the sampradāya through flawless deliberation on the principles of pure devotion. Śrīla Prabhupād withdrew exactly one fortnight before this day, and we thought that he aimed to withdraw on the day of Śrī Jīva Goswāmī Prabhu’s disappearance.
As there is particular gradation in the rasas between heroes and heroines in this world, so there is also gradation between the rasas of the Lord’s liberated associates: some are immersed in dāsya-rasa (servitorship), some are immersed in audārya-rasa (magnaminity), and some are immersed in mādhurya-rasa (sweetness). Moreover, there is also gradation between [forms of] the Lord and His associates: Kṛṣṇachandra is dhīra-lalita (playful), Rāmachandra is dhīrodātta (noble), Yudhiṣṭhir is dhīra-śānta (steady), and Bhīmasen is dhīroddhata (insolent). Gradation in the characteristics of Āchāryas is also observed: some Āchāryas are vigorous, some Āchāryas are mild, and some Āchāryas are stern—in various ways, they all shine.
Once, a champion scholar, while travelling with the aim of conquering all the directions, came to Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Sanātan in Vṛndāvan. Although Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Sanātan were powerfully learned and brilliant, they did not enter into debate with the scholar and instead, out of natural humility, signed letters admitting defeat. Later, this scholar heard that one of their students, like persons who are averse to the soul, was a great scholar of all the philosophical scriptures, and that if one cannot defeat him, then one has not defeated anyone of importance. The scholar then came to discuss the scriptures with Śrīla Jīva Goswāmī and said, “I have heard that your learning is widely renowned. So, please discuss the scriptures with me or, like your Gurus, sign a letter admitting defeat.”
Jīva Goswāmī said, “Where are these letters of defeat? Let me see them.” The scholar placed the letters in the hand of Jīva Goswāmī, and Jīva Goswāmī Prabhu immediately tore up the letters of this scholar who proudly considered that he had defeated Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Sanātan. Śrīla Jīva Goswāmī could not tolerate anyone trying to defeat Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Sanātan. He considered, “As it is necessary for me to remove the offence of an offender at the feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Sanātan’s supramundane glory, so it is even more necessary for me to use my learning in the proper way—by serving their profound brilliance.” Knowing that only by doing so would there be any genuine good fortune for both of them, Jīva Goswāmī tore up the scholar’s letters of defeat and said to him, “Being unable to understand the greatness of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Sanātan as a result of your misfortune, you have only cheated yourself. I am their unworthy servant. You will be able to appreciate something of how great and how high the position they hold is if you converse with me, and then you will understand the reason why I tore up these letters of defeat. Come, what need is there for delay?”
Their discussion of the scriptures began. Within a short time, the scholar’s illusion was cut away. He was defeated and desired to rectify his mistake. Śrī Jīva Prabhu then said, “If I had not defeated you and glorified them, you would not have understood them. So, I have had to proceed this far. Now, if you want genuine good for yourself, quickly go to them and pray for forgiveness. Being unable to understand their liberality and greatness, you have severely disrespected them.”
What was Śrīla Jīva Prabhu’s conception? To illustrate it, we can explain as follows. A group of dacoits approached a house. When the dacoits wanted the key to the house from the proprietor, the proprietor immediately came out and gave it to them, but when they went to the treasury, they saw that there was a guard. The dacoits said, “Open the door. Look here. The proprietor has given us the key. We will now enter the treasury.”
The guard said, “Where is the key? Let me see.” The dacoits gave him the key. The guard took the key and said, “First, defeat me. Then, enter the treasury.” Thereafter, in an intense fight, the guard defeated them all and protected his master’s honour and wealth.
Everywhere, we see in a similar way the greatness of Śrīla Jīva Goswāmī’s service to the sampradāya, and in the conduct of Śrīla Prabhupād, we have seen the same sort of endeavour to serve the sampradāya and his Gurus. By discussing the philosophies of nyāya, sāṅkhyā, Pātañjali, and so on, Śrī Jīva Prabhu endeavoured to make the world appreciate the wondrous nature of devotion to the Lord. As an Englishman should be taught in English and a Chinaman should be taught in Chinese, so he grasped the teachings of these sampradāyas and endeavoured to make them understand his desired end. Still today, distinguished scholars become fascinated to see the great outcome of Śrī Jīva’s expertise in all the scriptures.
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