Caitanya Caritamrita describes about the leper Vasudeva. There were limitless worms on his body. If a worm would fall out, he would respectfully place it back, thinking that this body belongs to the worm as much as to him. Lord Caitanya understood that this was his mood and He came all the way back to Kurma kshetra and embraced Vasudeva and cured him of his leprosy and gave him a healthy, effulgent body.
Vasudeva was worried, “Now people will see me that I have received such a blessing of the Lord, a miracle was made of my life. What if I become proud? Then my ability to please Krishna will be spoiled. Better I remain a leper at least my service will never be contaminated by false pride.” He was worried because he understood that where there is false pride, we think we are the doer and we are clinging to our positions. If Krishna does not think about you much, He will just let you continue thinking like that. And you will think I am winning. But if Krishna is very kind to you, He will take away the cause of your pride directly or indirectly.
Krishna didn’t want to take away Indra’s position but He wanted to award him an understanding and realization of the real purpose of life. Krishna humiliated him, he was very angry. Indra could not believe what had just happened. He wanted to retaliate so he sent the clouds of universal destruction – Samvartaka clouds, to inundate the land of Vrajbhumi.
“If you have a boil on your body and if somebody squeezes it, it really hurts. If you don’t have a boil on your body you can squeeze that same part and it doesn’t hurt. But if you do have one if somebody even looks on it, it hurts. So where there is pride, it is like that boil filled with that puss.”
– Radhanath Swami
Krsna as a loving father makes sure that there is not a tinge of false pride in His loving devotees. Thank you HHRNSM for this wonderful point
If you have a boil on your body and if somebody squeezes it, it really hurts. If you don’t have a boil on your body you can squeeze that same part and it doesn’t hurt. But if you do have one if somebody even looks on it, it hurts. So where there is pride, it is like that boil filled with that puss.
such a beautiful analogy of boil of pride.. Thanks to Radhanath Swami for teaching such important lesson through such simple analogy.
“where there is pride, it is like that boil filled with that puss.”
Very nicely explained by Radhanath Swam….
This is the standard that Lord Chaitanya is setting through the example of Vasudeva for all those who aspire to become Vaishnavas. Thank you Radhanath Swami for sharing this most inspiring & humbling story.
Pride is like boil filled with puss. It hurts.
One must introspect on this pastime. Maharaj, please bless us that we understand this pastime in its true sense
Pride is something which spoils all our devotion and a person does get to know also. It is very subtle. Thank you so much Radhanath Swami for sharing this understanding.
Only a person like Radhanath Swami Maharaja can describe such an elevated pastime of one of the greatest associates of Lord Chaitanya
Very nice message from Radhanath Swami on false pride which he explained with the wonderful story. False pride is more dangerous than any other offense and one must be very careful about it.
where there is false pride, we think we are the doer and we are clinging to our positions. If Krishna does not think about you much, He will just let you continue thinking like that. And you will think I am winning. But if Krishna is very kind to you, He will take away the cause of your pride directly or indirectly. “wonderful realization”
It is great to read how humble Vasudeva is in this pastime. We should aspire for such humility. Thanks to Radhanath Maharaj for such a wonderful article.
wow.. such a beautiful story of Vasudev. So much to learn. Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting concept “If Krishna does not think about you much, He will just let you continue thinking like that. But if Krishna is very kind to you, He will take away the cause of your pride directly or indirectly.”
Powerful lesson drawn from the story by Radhanath Swami, Krishna does not tolerates pride and false ego is like a boil with puss. We have practically seen Radhanath Swami taking humble position and free from false ego, which has been real inspiration for all of us.Thank you very much for sharing this wisdom.
What a beautiful analogy given by Radhanath Swami about the boil and the puss, we sometimes feel the same.
Big disease, very difficult to detect, even a begger is proud of a penny.
Pride being subtler that intelligence, very difficult to overcome by mere intellectual understanding. We need guides like Radhanath Swami for the same.
Ys
Lord Chaitanya never forgets His devotee in any circumstance.
The analogy of boil used by Radhanath Swami for driving this point of pride is so graphical. Thanks for sharing the same.
Such a wonderful analogy. By detecting pride in this way inside us we can work upon it to improve ourselves
“Krishna didn’t want to take away Indra’s position but He wanted to award him an understanding and realization of the real purpose of life ” Lord always teach us through every lesson what is purpose of life ? and how to live life accordingly?. Very beautifully explained by Radhanath Swami. Thank you for shearing.
Wonderful analogy given by Radhanath Swami a boil filled with puss to pride in our hearts.
What an amaizing pastime.
Maharaj, please bless us so that we have the understanding of being true vaishnava
As said… Pride comes before a fall. This pastime is such a high standard shown by Vasudeva Pr. Lord cannot tolerate having any pride in the heart of his devotees and it is very vital to always remain humble servant to counteract this subtle enemy. Many thanks for posting this inspiring pastime.
Great to read “if Krishna is very kind to you, He will take away the cause of your pride directly or indirectly.”
Radhanath Swami has highlighted very subtle quality of a Vaishnava. Vasudeva carried such an attitude of sharing his body with worms. This shows the detachment of great devotees from their bodies. Selflessness is a very attractive quality to the Lord and in reciprocation Lord came back all the way to Kurma Kshetra to cure his dear devotee. This pastime is very inspiring as it shows how Lord protects and provides for his devotees without being asked for and how a devotee in any condition of life can remember and serve God.
Radhanath swami says that the more one makes spiritual advancement, the more one feels humble. The more one’s spirituality is superficial, he thinks he is great
What a heart melting story…….the article is so beautifully written. Thanks Swamiji for your constant guidance…….
Although directly Lord bestowed His mercy upon the devotee personally, the devotee was very careful to not fall prey to the false pride. This is the nature of a great devotee.. he never considers himself very special!!!
Heart touching pastime of Vasudeva…..! Epitome of Humility……….! Thank you Maharaj for inspirations….!
very nice lesson by H.H. Radhanath swami Maharaj
Radhanath Swami – his lecture on the Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes are uncomparable in their Supremely sublime insights and inspires a huge wave of devotion for Lord.
Radhanath Swami lectures on Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes and Lord Krishna’s pastimes are nectar to the ears and heart. Brings us back on track almost instantly