Tattva-viveka
Nityananda's Mercy
Prema-bhakti - February 8, 2009 7:27 pm
Yesterday Citta Hari and I had an observance here in our home for Nityananda Trayodasi. While cooking an offering we listened to a lecture by Guru Maharaja from a previous Trayodasi where Guru Maharaja emphasized Nityananda Prabhu's merciful nature and that he gives bhakti without consideration of the qualification of the recipient. To further illustrate this point he cited the example of Srila Prabhupada who gave bhakti to those who had no adhikara for bhakti at all-- he in fact created their adhikara.
After that, during the offering we sang a few songs to honor Nityananda Prabhu, one of which was Thakura Bhaktivinoda's Dalalera Gita (Song of the Broker). There in verse number two he says sraddha-mulye suddha-nama sei hatete bikay, "The pure holy name is being sold in that marketplace for the price of one's faith alone." Then in verse number 3 he says jata bhakta-vrnda basi', adhikari dekhe' nama becche dara kasi', "While the devotees wait in line, Lord Nityananda studies their qualifications and the sells them the name after setting the price they must pay." This seems to be contradictory since we have all heard many times that Nityananda Prabhu gives bhakti to even the most fallen with no regard for their qualification--he even gave the name to those who refused it, like Jagai and Madhai. So my question is: how do we reconcile BVT's expression in this song with Nityananda prabhu's indiscriminate mercy.
Madan Gopal Das - February 8, 2009 7:58 pm
Sri Nityananda Prabhu is indiscriminate in giving the mercy of Krsna nama. But one has to have some qualification to purchase it from his marketplace. Only faith. Nitai the merchant makes no demands for qualification to purchase his goods. He is offering them for free! But if you have no faith, you won't even approach the marketplace. That is the qualification. And if you are standing in line at his marketplace and he is studying your qualification, this means that he knows your heart, and what are the impediments (attachments) to becoming wealthy in faith. The price he asks you to pay depends upon what attachments you need to give up to have that purchasing power of faith. Our only disqualification lies in our hearts. He is always prepared to give to us.
Prema-bhakti - February 8, 2009 8:45 pm
Thanks Madan-gopala. I see what you are saying. If you want the pure name the bhakta-jana need to pay the price of ridding themselves of anarthas and developing strong faith. But I do not agree that one would not approach the marketplace if they don't have faith. The market place is in the center of town and everyone goes there to buy something which is what I understood of being the point of BVT's analogy. Therefore Nityananda can indiscriminately approach anyone and everyone to give out as GM says "free samples" of the holy name to entice buyers. To buy though you need to pay a price although sometimes it seems iNityananda may give everything for free as in the case of Jagai and Madhai. 
Madan Gopal Das - February 8, 2009 10:02 pm
But I do not agree that one would not approach the marketplace if they don't have faith. The market place is in the center of town and everyone goes there to buy something which is what I understood of being the point of BVT's analogy.
True, good point. But, there are all kinds of goods for sale in the center of town and the people go to the marketplace with hopes that their desires will be fulfilled and their problems solved with whatever they purchase there. You never know who you are going to meet there though! That is why Nitai sets up shop in such a place. People are looking to purchase happiness. He is giving out free samples, but how many are going to buy? Jagai and Madhai were approached in Nitai's mercy, but they did not "buy" what he was selling until they exhibited some faith. The preacher, as Nitai exemplifies, will sacrifice everything to give out the mercy, but cannot force it on the people. There has to be some belief (faith) that the product is beneficial. With just an inkling of faith, the ultimate gift is purchased.
Madan Gopal Das - February 9, 2009 12:56 am
There has to be some belief (faith) that the product is beneficial.
And this could be one way in which Nitai is known as indiscriminate in his mercy. By giving his association (sadhu sanga) to everyone, he creates sukriti (wealth), by which anybody gains eligibility for faith. It is like he (the preacher) is begging you to take the product for a very minimal fee, and then sneaking money into your pocket so that you can buy it! I guess that is the closest you can get to forcing someone to take the mercy. Where would we be without such aggressors?
Swami - February 9, 2009 1:05 am
There in verse number two he says sraddha-mulye suddha-nama sei hatete bikay, "The pure holy name is being sold in that marketplace for the price of one's faith alone." Then in verse number 3 he says jata bhakta-vrnda basi', adhikari dekhe' nama becche dara kasi', "While the devotees wait in line, Lord Nityananda studies their qualifications and the sells them the name after setting the price they must pay." This seems to be contradictory since we have all heard many times that Nityananda Prabhu gives bhakti to even the most fallen with no regard for their qualification--he even gave the name to those who refused it, like Jagai and Madhai. So my question is: how do we reconcile BVT's expression in this song with Nityananda prabhu's indiscriminate mercy.
In the song the most merciful Nitaicand is giving the name in different degrees that correspond with the measure of one's faith. If a devotee's' faith is greater, that devotee is blessed to chant more rounds. Thus BVT started a "Nama Hatta," following this idea. In his Nama Hatta he acknowledged different degrees of faith in devotees and authorized/blessed them to chant more or less in proportion to their faith/advancement.