Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrita

CC Antya 6 Summary

CC Antya 6.1: With the ropes of His causeless mercy, Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu employed a trick to deliver Raghunatha dasa Gosvami from the blind well of contemptible family life. He made Raghunatha dasa Gosvami one of His personal associates, placing him under the charge of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami. I offer my obeisances unto Him.

CC Antya 6.2: All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityananda! All glories to Sri Advaita Acarya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

CC Antya 6.3: Thus Lord Gauracandra performed various pastimes with His associates at Jagannatha Puri in varieties of transcendental pleasure.

CC Antya 6.4: Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt pangs of separation from Krishna, He did not manifest His feelings externally, for He feared the unhappiness of His devotees.

CC Antya 6.5: The transformations undergone by the Lord when He manifested severe unhappiness due to separation from Krishna cannot be described.

CC Antya 6.6: When the Lord acutely felt pangs of separation from Krishna, only Sri Ramananda Raya's talks about Krishna and the sweet songs of Svarupa Damodara kept Him alive.

CC Antya 6.7: Because the Lord associated with various devotees during the day, His mind was somewhat diverted, but at night the pangs of separation from Krishna increased very rapidly.

CC Antya 6.8: Two people -- Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami -- stayed with the Lord to pacify Him by reciting various verses about Krishna's pastimes and by singing appropriate songs for His satisfaction.

CC Antya 6.9: Previously, when Lord Krishna was personally present, Subala, one of His cowherd boyfriends, gave Him happiness when He felt separation from Radharani. Similarly, Ramananda Raya helped give happiness to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.10: Previously, when Srimati Radharani felt the pangs of separation from Krishna, Her constant companion Lalita kept Her alive by helping Her in many ways. Similarly, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt Radharani's emotions, Svarupa Damodara Gosvami helped Him maintain His life.

CC Antya 6.11: To describe the fortunate position of Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami is extremely difficult. They were renowned as intimately confidential friends of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.12: The Lord thus enjoyed His life with His devotees. O devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, now hear how Raghunatha dasa Gosvami met the Lord.

CC Antya 6.13: When Raghunatha dasa, during his family life, went to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Santipura, the Lord gave him worthy instructions by His causeless mercy.

CC Antya 6.14: Instead of becoming a so-called renunciant, Raghunatha dasa, following the instructions of the Lord, returned home and played exactly like a pounds-and-shillings man.

CC Antya 6.15: Raghunatha dasa was inwardly completely renounced, even in family life, but he did not express his renunciation externally. Instead, he acted just like an ordinary businessman. Seeing this, his father and mother were satisfied.

CC Antya 6.16: When he received a message that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had returned from Mathura City, Raghunatha dasa endeavored to go to the lotus feet of the Lord.

CC Antya 6.17: At that time there was a Muslim official collecting the taxes of Saptagrama.

CC Antya 6.18: When Hiranya dasa, Raghunatha dasa's uncle, made an agreement with the government to collect taxes, the Muslim caudhuri, or tax collector, having lost his position, became extremely envious of him.

CC Antya 6.19: Hiranya dasa was collecting 2,000,000 coins and therefore should have delivered 1,500,000 to the government. Instead, he was giving only 1,200,000, thus making an extra profit of 300,000 coins. Seeing this, the Muslim caudhuri, who was a Turk, became his rival.

CC Antya 6.20: After sending a confidential account to the government treasury, the caudhuri brought the minister in charge. The caudhuri came, wanting to arrest Hiranya dasa, but Hiranya dasa had left home. Therefore the caudhuri arrested Raghunatha dasa.

CC Antya 6.21: Every day, the Muslim would chastise Raghunatha dasa and tell him, "Bring your father and his elder brother. Otherwise you will be punished."

CC Antya 6.22: The caudhuri wanted to beat him, but as soon as he saw Raghunatha's face, his mind changed, and he could not beat him.

CC Antya 6.23: Indeed, the caudhuri was afraid of Raghunatha dasa because Raghunatha dasa belonged to the kayastha community. Although the caudhuri would chastise him with oral vibrations, he was afraid to beat him.

CC Antya 6.24: While this was going on, Raghunatha dasa thought of a tricky method of escape. Thus he humbly submitted this plea at the feet of the Muslim caudhuri.

CC Antya 6.25: "My dear sir, my father and his elder brother are your brothers. All brothers always fight about something.

CC Antya 6.26: "Sometimes brothers fight among themselves, and sometimes they have very friendly dealings. There is no certainty when such changes will take place. Thus I am sure that although today you are fighting, tomorrow you three brothers will be sitting together in peace.

CC Antya 6.27: "Just as I am my father's son, so I am also yours. I am your dependent, and you are my maintainer.

CC Antya 6.28: "For a maintainer to punish the person he maintains is not good. You are expert in all the scriptures. Indeed, you are like a living saint."

CC Antya 6.29: When the Muslim heard Raghunatha dasa's appealing voice, his heart softened. He began to cry, and tears glided down his beard.

CC Antya 6.30: The Muslim caudhuri told Raghunatha dasa, "You are my son from this day on. Today, by some means, I shall have you released."

CC Antya 6.31: After informing the minister, the caudhuri released Raghunatha dasa and then began to speak to him with great affection.

CC Antya 6.32: "Your father's elder brother is less intelligent," he said. "He enjoys 800,000 coins, but since I am also a shareholder, he should give some portion of it to me.

CC Antya 6.33: "Now you go arrange a meeting between me and your uncle. Let him do whatever he thinks best. I shall completely depend on his decision."

CC Antya 6.34: Raghunatha dasa arranged a meeting between his uncle and the caudhuri. The matter was settled, and everything was peaceful.

CC Antya 6.35: In this way Raghunatha dasa passed one year exactly like a first-class business manager, but the next year he again decided to leave home.

CC Antya 6.36: He got up alone one night and left, but his father caught him in a distant place and brought him back.

CC Antya 6.37: This became almost a daily affair. Raghunatha would run away from home, and his father would again bring him back. Then Raghunatha dasa's mother spoke to his father as follows.

CC Antya 6.38: "Our son has become mad," she said. "Just keep him by binding him with ropes." His father, being very unhappy, replied to her as follows.

CC Antya 6.39: "Raghunatha dasa, our son, has opulences like Indra, the heavenly King, and his wife is as beautiful as an angel. Yet all this could not tie down his mind.

CC Antya 6.40: "How then could we keep this boy home by binding him with ropes? It is not possible even for one's father to nullify the reactions of one's past activities.

CC Antya 6.41: "Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has fully bestowed His mercy on him. Who can keep home such a madman of Caitanyacandra?"

CC Antya 6.42: Then Raghunatha dasa considered something in his mind, and the next day he went to Nityananda Gosani.

CC Antya 6.43: In the village of Panihati, Raghunatha dasa obtained an interview with Nityananda Prabhu, who was accompanied by many kirtana performers, servants and others.

CC Antya 6.44: Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges, Lord Nityananda seemed as effulgent as hundreds of thousands of rising suns.

CC Antya 6.45: Many devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influence of Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa was astonished.

CC Antya 6.46: Raghunatha dasa offered his obeisances by falling prostrate at a distant place, and the servant of Nityananda Prabhu pointed out, "There is Raghunatha dasa, offering You obeisances."

CC Antya 6.47: Hearing this, Lord Nityananda Prabhu said, "You are a thief. Now you have come to see Me. Come here, come here. Today I shall punish you!"

CC Antya 6.48: The Lord called him, but Raghunatha dasa did not go near the Lord. Then the Lord forcibly caught him and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunatha dasa's head.

CC Antya 6.49: Lord Nityananda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He spoke to Raghunatha dasa as follows.

CC Antya 6.50: "You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a distant place. Now that I have captured you, I shall punish you.

CC Antya 6.51: "Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice." Hearing this, Raghunatha dasa was greatly pleased.

CC Antya 6.52: Raghunatha dasa immediately sent his own men to the village to purchase all kinds of eatables and bring them back.

CC Antya 6.53: Raghunatha dasa brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk, sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and other eatables and placed them all around.

CC Antya 6.54: As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brahmanas and other gentlemen began to arrive. Thus there were innumerable people.

CC Antya 6.55: Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunatha dasa arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round earthen pots.

CC Antya 6.56: He also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these pots a brahmana began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lord Nityananda.

CC Antya 6.57: In one place, chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots. Then half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas.

CC Antya 6.58: The other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana known as canpa-kala. Then sugar, clarified butter and camphor were added.

CC Antya 6.59: After Nityananda Prabhu had changed His cloth for a new one and sat on a raised platform, the brahmana brought before Him the seven huge pots.

CC Antya 6.60: On that platform, all the most important associates of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as well as other important men, sat down in a circle around the Lord.

CC Antya 6.61: Among them were Ramadasa, Sundarananda, Gadadhara dasa, Murari, Kamalakara, Sadasiva and Purandara.

CC Antya 6.62: Dhananjaya, Jagadisa, Paramesvara dasa, Mahesa, Gauridasa and Hoda Krishnadasa were also there.

CC Antya 6.63: Similarly, Uddharana Datta Thakura and many other personal associates of the Lord sat on the raised platform with Nityananda Prabhu. No one could count them all.

CC Antya 6.64: Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brahmanas and priests went there. Lord Nityananda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with Him.

CC Antya 6.65: Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk, and in the other chipped rice with yogurt.

CC Antya 6.66: All the other people sat in groups around the platform. No one could count how many people there were.

CC Antya 6.67: Each and every one of them was supplied two earthen pots -- one of chipped rice soaked in yogurt and the other of chipped rice soaked in condensed milk.

CC Antya 6.68: Some of the brahmanas, not having gotten a place on the platform, went to the bank of the Ganges with their two earthen pots and soaked their chipped rice there.

CC Antya 6.69: Others, who could not get a place even on the bank of the Ganges, got down into the water and began eating their two kinds of chipped rice.

CC Antya 6.70: Thus some sat on the platform, some at the base of the platform, and some on the bank of the Ganges, and they were all supplied two pots each by the twenty men who distributed the food.

CC Antya 6.71: At that time, Raghava Pandita arrived there. Seeing the situation, he began to laugh in great surprise.

CC Antya 6.72: He brought many kinds of food cooked in ghee and offered to the Lord. This prasadam he first placed before Lord Nityananda and then distributed among the devotees.

CC Antya 6.73: Raghava Pandita said to Lord Nityananda, "For You, Sir, I have already offered food to the Deity, but You are engaged in a festival here, and so the food is lying there untouched."

CC Antya 6.74: Lord Nityananda replied, "Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night.

CC Antya 6.75: "I belong to a community of cowherd boys, and therefore I generally have many cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we eat together in a picnic like this by the sandy bank of the river."

CC Antya 6.76: Lord Nityananda made Raghava Pandita sit down and had two pots delivered to him also. There were two kinds of chipped rice soaked in them.

CC Antya 6.77: When chipped rice had been served to everyone, Lord Nityananda Prabhu, in meditation, brought Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.78: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived, Lord Nityananda Prabhu stood up. They then saw how the others were enjoying the chipped rice with yogurt and condensed milk.

CC Antya 6.79: From each and every pot, Lord Nityananda Prabhu took one morsel of chipped rice and pushed it into the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as a joke.

CC Antya 6.80: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, also smiling, took a morsel of food, pushed it into the mouth of Nityananda and laughed as He made Lord Nityananda eat it.

CC Antya 6.81: In this way Lord Nityananda was walking through all the groups of eaters, and all the Vaishnavas standing there were seeing the fun.

CC Antya 6.82: No one could understand what Nityananda Prabhu was doing as He walked about. Some, however, who were very fortunate, could see that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also present.

CC Antya 6.83: Then Nityananda Prabhu smiled and sat down. On His right side He kept four pots of chipped rice that had not been made from boiled paddy.

CC Antya 6.84: Lord Nityananda offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu a place and had Him sit down. Then together the two brothers began eating chipped rice.

CC Antya 6.85: Seeing Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu eating with Him, Lord Nityananda Prabhu became very happy and exhibited varieties of ecstatic love.

CC Antya 6.86: Lord Nityananda Prabhu ordered, "All of you eat, chanting the holy name of Hari." Immediately the holy names "Hari, Hari" resounded, filling the entire universe.

CC Antya 6.87: When all the Vaishnavas were chanting the holy names "Hari, Hari" and eating, they remembered how Krishna and Balarama ate with Their companions the cowherd boys on the bank of the Yamuna.

CC Antya 6.88: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are extremely merciful and liberal. It was Raghunatha dasa's good fortune that They accepted all these dealings.

CC Antya 6.89: Who can understand the influence and mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu? He is so powerful that He induced Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to come eat chipped rice on the bank of the Ganges.

CC Antya 6.90: All the confidential devotees who were cowherd boys, headed by Sri Ramadasa, were absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganges to be the bank of the Yamuna.

CC Antya 6.91: When the shopkeepers of many other villages heard about the festival, they arrived there to sell chipped rice, yogurt, sweetmeats and bananas.

CC Antya 6.92: As they came, bringing all kinds of food, Raghunatha dasa purchased it all. He gave them the price for their goods and later fed them the very same food.

CC Antya 6.93: Anyone who came to see how these funny things were going on was also fed chipped rice, yogurt and bananas.

CC Antya 6.94: After Lord Nityananda Prabhu finished eating, He washed His hands and mouth and gave Raghunatha dasa the food remaining in the four pots.

CC Antya 6.95: There was food remaining in the three other big pots of Lord Nityananda, and a brahmana distributed it to all the devotees, giving a morsel to each.

CC Antya 6.96: Then a brahmana brought a flower garland, placed the garland on Nityananda Prabhu's neck and smeared sandalwood pulp all over His body.

CC Antya 6.97: When a servant brought betel nuts and offered them to Lord Nityananda, the Lord smiled and chewed them.

CC Antya 6.98: With His own hands Lord Nityananda Prabhu distributed to all the devotees whatever flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and betel nuts remained.

CC Antya 6.99: After receiving the remnants of food left by Lord Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa, who was greatly happy, ate some and distributed the rest among his own associates.

CC Antya 6.100: Thus I have described the pastimes of Lord Nityananda Prabhu in relation to the celebrated festival of chipped rice and yogurt.

CC Antya 6.101: Nityananda Prabhu rested for the day, and when the day ended He went to the temple of Raghava Pandita and began congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

CC Antya 6.102: Lord Nityananda Prabhu first influenced all the devotees to dance, and finally He Himself began dancing, thus inundating the entire world in ecstatic love.

CC Antya 6.103: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was observing the dancing of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Nityananda Prabhu could see this, but the others could not.

CC Antya 6.104: The dancing of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, like the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, cannot be compared to anything within these three worlds.

CC Antya 6.105: No one can properly describe the sweetness of Lord Nityananda's dancing. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally comes to see it.

CC Antya 6.106: After the dancing and after Lord Nityananda had rested, Raghava Pandita submitted his request that the Lord take supper.

CC Antya 6.107: Lord Nityananda Prabhu sat down for supper with His personal associates and made a sitting place on His right side for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.108: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came there and sat down at His place. Seeing this, Raghava Pandita felt increasing happiness.

CC Antya 6.109: Raghava Pandita brought the prasadam before the two brothers and thereafter distributed prasadam to all the other Vaishnavas.

CC Antya 6.110: There were varieties of cakes, sweet rice and fine cooked rice that surpassed the taste of nectar. There were also varieties of vegetables.

CC Antya 6.111: The food prepared and offered to the Deity by Raghava Pandita was like the essence of nectar. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came there again and again to eat such prasadam.

CC Antya 6.112: When Raghava Pandita offered the food to the Deity after cooking, he would make a separate offering for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.113: Every day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would eat at the house of Raghava Pandita. Sometimes He would give Raghava Pandita the opportunity to see Him.

CC Antya 6.114: Raghava Pandita would bring and distribute prasadam to the two brothers, feeding Them with great attention. They ate everything, and therefore there were no remnants left.

CC Antya 6.115: He brought so many presentations that no one could know them perfectly. Indeed, it was a fact that the supreme mother, Radharani, personally cooked in the house of Raghava Pandita.

CC Antya 6.116: Srimati Radharani received from Durvasa Muni the benediction that whatever She cooked would be sweeter than nectar. That is the special feature of Her cooking.

CC Antya 6.117: Aromatic and pleasing to see, the food was the essence of all sweetness. Thus the two brothers, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu, ate it with great satisfaction.

CC Antya 6.118: All the devotees present requested Raghunatha dasa to sit down and take prasadam, but Raghava Pandita told them, "He will take prasadam later."

CC Antya 6.119: All the devotees took prasadam, filling themselves to the brim. Thereafter, chanting the holy name of Hari, they stood up and washed their hands and mouths.

CC Antya 6.120: After eating, the two brothers washed Their hands and mouths. Then Raghava Pandita brought flower garlands and sandalwood pulp and decorated Them.

CC Antya 6.121: Raghava Pandita offered Them betel nuts and worshiped Their lotus feet. He also distributed betel nuts, flower garlands and sandalwood pulp to the devotees.

CC Antya 6.122: Raghava Pandita, being very merciful toward Raghunatha dasa, offered him the dishes with the remnants of food left by the two brothers.

CC Antya 6.123: He said, "Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has eaten this food. If you take His remnants, you will be released from the bondage of your family."

CC Antya 6.124: The Supreme Personality of Godhead always resides either in the heart or in the home of a devotee. This fact is sometimes hidden and sometimes manifest, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully independent.

CC Antya 6.125: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervasive, and therefore He resides everywhere. Anyone who doubts this will be annihilated.

CC Antya 6.126: In the morning, after taking His bath in the Ganges, Nityananda Prabhu sat down with His associates beneath the same tree under which He had previously sat.

CC Antya 6.127: Raghunatha dasa went there and worshiped Lord Nityananda's lotus feet. Through Raghava Pandita, he submitted his desire.

CC Antya 6.128: "I am the lowest of men, the most sinful, fallen and condemned. Nevertheless, I desire to attain shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.129: "Like a dwarf who wants to catch the moon, I have tried my best many times, but I have never been successful.

CC Antya 6.130: "Every time I tried to go away and give up my home relationships, my father and mother unfortunately kept me bound.

CC Antya 6.131: "No one can attain the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu without Your mercy, but if You are merciful, even the lowest of men can attain shelter at His lotus feet.

CC Antya 6.132: "Although I am unfit and greatly afraid to submit this plea, I nevertheless request You, Sir, to be especially merciful toward me by granting me shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.133: "Placing Your feet on my head, give me the benediction that I may achieve the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu without difficulty. I pray for this benediction."

CC Antya 6.134: After hearing this appeal by Raghunatha dasa, Lord Nityananda Prabhu smiled and told all the devotees, "Raghunatha dasa's standard of material happiness is equal to that of Indra, the King of heaven.

CC Antya 6.135: "Because of the mercy bestowed upon him by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Raghunatha dasa, although situated in such material happiness, does not like it at all. Therefore let every one of you be merciful toward him and give him the benediction that he may very soon attain shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.136: "One who experiences the fragrance of the lotus feet of Lord Krishna does not value even the standard of happiness available in Brahmaloka, the topmost planet. And what to speak of heavenly happiness?

CC Antya 6.137: "'Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is offered sublime, poetic prayers by those trying to attain His favor. Thus He is known as Uttamasloka. Being very eager to gain the association of Lord Krishna, King Bharata, although in the prime of youth, gave up his very attractive wife, affectionate children, most beloved friends and opulent kingdom, exactly as one gives up stool after excreting it.'"

CC Antya 6.138: Then Lord Nityananda Prabhu called Raghunatha dasa near Him, placed His lotus feet upon Raghunatha dasa's head and began to speak.

CC Antya 6.139: "My dear Raghunatha dasa," He said, "since you arranged the feast on the bank of the Ganges, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came here just to show you His mercy.

CC Antya 6.140: "By His causeless mercy He ate the chipped rice and milk. Then, after seeing the dancing of the devotees at night, He took His supper.

CC Antya 6.141: "Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Gaurahari, came here personally to deliver you. Now rest assured that all the impediments meant for your bondage are gone.

CC Antya 6.142: "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will accept you and place you under the charge of His secretary, Svarupa Damodara. You will thus become one of the most confidential internal servants and will attain shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.143: "Being assured of all this, return to your own home. Very soon, without impediments, you will attain shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu."

CC Antya 6.144: Lord Nityananda had Raghunatha dasa blessed by all the devotees, and Raghunatha dasa offered his respects to their lotus feet.

CC Antya 6.145: After taking leave of Lord Nityananda Prabhu and then all the other Vaishnavas, Sri Raghunatha dasa consulted secretly with Raghava Pandita.

CC Antya 6.146: After consulting with Raghava Pandita, he secretly delivered one hundred gold coins and about seven tolas of gold into the hand of Nityananda Prabhu's treasurer.

CC Antya 6.147: Raghunatha dasa admonished the treasurer, "Do not speak about this to Lord Nityananda Prabhu now, but when He returns home, kindly inform Him about this presentation."

CC Antya 6.148: Thereupon, Raghava Pandita took Raghunatha dasa to his home. After inducing him to see the Deity, he gave Raghunatha dasa a garland and sandalwood pulp.

CC Antya 6.149: He gave Raghunatha dasa a large quantity of prasadam to eat on his way home. Then Raghunatha dasa again spoke to Raghava Pandita.

CC Antya 6.150: "I want to give money," he said, "just to worship the lotus feet of all the great devotees, servants and subservants of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

CC Antya 6.151: "As you think fit, give twenty, fifteen, twelve, ten or five coins to each of them."

CC Antya 6.152: Raghunatha dasa drew up an account of the amount to be given and submitted it to Raghava Pandita, who then made up a list showing how much money was to be paid to each and every devotee.

CC Antya 6.153: With great humility, Raghunatha dasa placed one hundred gold coins and about two tolas of gold before Raghava Pandita for all the other devotees.

CC Antya 6.154: After taking dust from the feet of Raghava Pandita, Raghunatha dasa returned to his home, feeling greatly obligated to Lord Nityananda Prabhu because of having received His merciful benediction.

CC Antya 6.155: From that day on, he did not go into the interior section of the house. Instead, he would sleep on the Durga-mandapa [the place where mother Durga was worshiped].

CC Antya 6.156: There, however, the watchmen alertly kept guard. Raghunatha dasa was thinking of various means by which to escape their vigilance.

CC Antya 6.157: At that time, all the devotees of Bengal were going to Jagannatha Puri to see Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.158: Raghunatha dasa could not accompany them, for they were so famous that he would have been caught immediately.

CC Antya 6.159-160: Thus Raghunatha dasa thought deeply about how to escape, and one night while he was sleeping on the Durga-mandapa, the priest Yadunandana Acarya entered the house when only four dandas remained until the end of the night.

CC Antya 6.161: Yadunandana Acarya was the priest and spiritual master of Raghunatha dasa. Although born in a brahmana family, he had accepted the mercy of Vasudeva Datta.

CC Antya 6.162: Yadunandana Acarya had been officially initiated by Advaita Acarya. Thus he considered Lord Caitanya his life and soul.

CC Antya 6.163: When Yadunandana Acarya entered the house of Raghunatha dasa and stood in the courtyard, Raghunatha dasa went there and fell down to offer his obeisances.

CC Antya 6.164: One of Yadunandana Acarya's disciples had been worshiping the Deity but had left that service. Yadunandana Acarya wanted Raghunatha dasa to induce the disciple to take up that service again.

CC Antya 6.165: Yadunandana Acarya requested Raghunatha dasa, "Please induce the brahmana to resume the service, for there is no other brahmana to do it."

CC Antya 6.166: After saying this, Yadunandana Acarya took Raghunatha dasa with him and went out. By that time all the watchmen were deeply asleep because it was the end of the night.

CC Antya 6.167: East of the house of Raghunatha dasa was the house of Yadunandana Acarya. Yadunandana Acarya and Raghunatha dasa talked together as they went toward that house.

CC Antya 6.168: Halfway along the path, Raghunatha dasa submitted at the lotus feet of his spiritual master, "I shall go to the home of that brahmana, induce him to return, and send him to your home.

CC Antya 6.169: "You may go home without anxiety. Following your order, I shall persuade the brahmana." On this plea, after asking permission, Raghunatha dasa decided to go away.

CC Antya 6.170: Raghunatha dasa thought, "This is the greatest opportunity to go away because this time there are no servants or watchmen with me."

CC Antya 6.171: Thinking in this way, he quickly proceeded toward the east. Sometimes he turned around and looked back, but no one was following him.

CC Antya 6.172: Thinking of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu, he left the general path and proceeded with great haste on the one not generally used.

CC Antya 6.173: Giving up the general path from village to village, he passed through the jungles, thinking with heart and soul about the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.174: He walked about thirty miles in one day, and in the evening he took rest in the cowshed of a milkman.

CC Antya 6.175: When the milkman saw that Raghunatha dasa was fasting, he gave him some milk. Raghunatha dasa drank the milk and lay down to rest there for the night.

CC Antya 6.176: At the house of Raghunatha dasa, the servant and watchman, not seeing him there, immediately went to inquire about him from his spiritual master, Yadunandana Acarya.

CC Antya 6.177: Yadunandana Acarya said, "He has already asked my permission and returned home." Thus there arose a tumultuous sound, as everyone cried, "Now Raghunatha has gone away!"

CC Antya 6.178: Raghunatha dasa's father said, "Now all the devotees from Bengal have gone to Jagannatha Puri to see Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.179: "Raghunatha dasa has fled with them. Ten men should immediately go catch him and bring him back."

CC Antya 6.180: Raghunatha dasa's father wrote a letter to Sivananda Sena, asking him with great humility, "Please return my son."

CC Antya 6.181: In Jhankara, the ten men caught up with the group of Vaishnavas going to Nilacala.

CC Antya 6.182: After delivering the letter, the men inquired from Sivananda Sena about Raghunatha dasa, but Sivananda Sena replied, "He did not come here."

CC Antya 6.183: The ten men returned home, and Raghunatha dasa's father and mother were filled with anxiety.

CC Antya 6.184: Raghunatha dasa, who had been resting at the milkman's house, got up early in the morning. Instead of going to the east, he turned his face south and proceeded.

CC Antya 6.185: He crossed Chatrabhoga, but instead of going on the general path, he proceeded on the path that went from village to village.

CC Antya 6.186: Not caring about eating, he traveled all day. Hunger was not an impediment, for his mind was concentrated upon obtaining shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.187: Sometimes he chewed fried grains, sometimes he cooked, and sometimes he drank milk. In this way he kept his life and soul together with whatever was available wherever he went.

CC Antya 6.188: He reached Jagannatha Puri in twelve days but could eat only for three days on the way.

CC Antya 6.189: When Raghunatha dasa met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord was sitting with His companions, headed by Svarupa Damodara.

CC Antya 6.190: Staying at a distant place in the courtyard, he fell down to offer obeisances. Then Mukunda Datta said, "Here is Raghunatha."

CC Antya 6.191: As soon as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard these words, He immediately welcomed Raghunatha dasa. "Come here," He said. Raghunatha dasa then clasped the lotus feet of the Lord, but the Lord stood up and embraced him out of His causeless mercy.

CC Antya 6.192: Raghunatha dasa offered prayers at the lotus feet of all the devotees, headed by Svarupa Damodara Gosvami. Seeing the special mercy Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had bestowed upon Raghunatha dasa, they embraced him also.

CC Antya 6.193: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "The mercy of Lord Krishna is stronger than anything else. Therefore the Lord has delivered you from the ditch of materialistic life, which is like a hole into which people pass stool."

CC Antya 6.194: Raghunatha dasa answered within his mind, "I do not know who Krishna is. I simply know that Your mercy, O my Lord, has saved me from my family life."

CC Antya 6.195: The Lord continued, "Your father and his elder brother are both related as brothers to My grandfather, Nilambara Cakravarti. Therefore I consider them My grandfathers.

CC Antya 6.196: "Since your father and his elder brother are younger brothers of Nilambara Cakravarti, I may joke about them in this way.

CC Antya 6.197: "My dear Raghunatha dasa, your father and his elder brother are just like worms in stool in the ditch of material enjoyment, for the great disease of the poison of material enjoyment is what they consider happiness.

CC Antya 6.198: "Although your father and uncle are charitable to brahmanas and greatly help them, they are nevertheless not pure Vaishnavas. However, they are almost like Vaishnavas.

CC Antya 6.199: "Those who are attached to materialistic life and are blind to spiritual life must act in such a way that they are bound to repeated birth and death by the actions and reactions of their activities.

CC Antya 6.200: "By His own free will, Lord Krishna has delivered you from such a condemned materialistic life. Therefore the glories of Lord Krishna's causeless mercy cannot be expressed."

CC Antya 6.201: Seeing Raghunatha dasa skinny and dirty because of having traveled for twelve days and fasted, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His heart melting due to causeless mercy, spoke to Svarupa Damodara.

CC Antya 6.202: "My dear Svarupa," He said, "I entrust this Raghunatha dasa to you. Please accept him as your son or servant.

CC Antya 6.203: "There are now three Raghunathas among My associates. From this day forward, this Raghunatha should be known as the Raghu of Svarupa Damodara."

CC Antya 6.204: Saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu grasped the hand of Raghunatha dasa and entrusted him to the hands of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.

CC Antya 6.205: Svarupa Damodara Gosvami accepted Raghunatha dasa, saying, "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whatever You order is accepted." He then embraced Raghunatha dasa again.

CC Antya 6.206: I cannot properly express the affection of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for His devotees. Being merciful toward Raghunatha dasa, the Lord spoke as follows to Govinda.

CC Antya 6.207: "On the way, Raghunatha dasa has fasted and undergone hardships for many days. Therefore, take good care of him for some days so that he may eat to his satisfaction."

CC Antya 6.208: Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Raghunatha dasa, "Go bathe in the sea. Then see Lord Jagannatha in the temple and return here to take your meal."

CC Antya 6.209: After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu got up and went to perform His midday duties, and Raghunatha met all the devotees present.

CC Antya 6.210: Having seen the causeless mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu upon Raghunatha dasa, all the devotees, struck with wonder, praised his good fortune.

CC Antya 6.211: Raghunatha dasa took his bath in the sea and saw Lord Jagannatha. Then he returned to Govinda, the personal servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.212: Govinda offered him a plate with the remnants of food left by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Raghunatha dasa accepted the prasadam with great happiness.

CC Antya 6.213: Raghunatha dasa stayed under the care of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, and Govinda supplied him remnants of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's food for five days.

CC Antya 6.214: Beginning from the sixth day, Raghunatha dasa would stand at the gate known as Simha-dvara to beg alms after the pushpa-anjali ceremony, in which flowers were offered to the Lord.

CC Antya 6.215: After finishing their prescribed duties, the many servants of Lord Jagannatha, who are known as vishayis, return home at night.

CC Antya 6.216: If they see a Vaishnava standing at the Simha-dvara begging alms, out of mercy they arrange with the shopkeepers to give him something to eat.

CC Antya 6.217: Thus it is a custom for all time that a devotee who has no other means of support stands at the Simha-dvara gate to receive alms from the servants.

CC Antya 6.218: A completely dependent Vaishnava thus chants the holy name of the Lord all day and sees Lord Jagannatha with full freedom.

CC Antya 6.219: It is a custom for some Vaishnavas to beg from the charity booths and eat whatever they obtain, whereas others stand at night at the Simha-dvara gate, begging alms from the servants.

CC Antya 6.220: Renunciation is the basic principle sustaining the lives of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's devotees. Seeing this renunciation, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is extremely satisfied.

CC Antya 6.221: Govinda said to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Raghunatha dasa no longer takes prasadam here. Now he stands at the Simha-dvara, where he begs some alms to eat."

CC Antya 6.222: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard this, He was greatly satisfied. "Raghunatha dasa has done well," He said. "He has acted suitably for a person in the renounced order.

CC Antya 6.223: "A person in the renounced order should always chant the holy name of the Lord. He should beg some alms to eat, and he should sustain his life in this way.

CC Antya 6.224: "A vairagi [a person in the renounced order] should not depend on others. If he does so, he will be unsuccessful, and he will be neglected by Krishna.

CC Antya 6.225: "If a renunciant is eager for his tongue to taste different foods, his spiritual life will be lost, and he will be subservient to the tastes of his tongue.

CC Antya 6.226: "The duty of a person in the renounced order is to chant the Hare Krishna mantra always. He should satisfy his belly with whatever vegetables, leaves, fruits and roots are available.

CC Antya 6.227: "One who is subservient to the tongue and who thus goes here and there, devoted to the genitals and the belly, cannot attain Krishna."

CC Antya 6.228: The next day, Raghunatha dasa inquired at the lotus feet of Svarupa Damodara about his duty.

CC Antya 6.229: "I do not know why I have given up household life," he said. "What is my duty? Kindly give me instructions."

CC Antya 6.230: Raghunatha dasa never even spoke a word before the Lord. Instead, he informed the Lord of his desires through Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Govinda.

CC Antya 6.231: The next day, Svarupa Damodara Gosvami submitted to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "Raghunatha dasa has this to say at Your lotus feet.

CC Antya 6.232: "'I do not know my duty or the goal of my life. Therefore, please personally give me instructions from Your transcendental mouth.'"

CC Antya 6.233: Smiling, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Raghunatha dasa, "I have already appointed Svarupa Damodara Gosvami as your instructor.

CC Antya 6.234: "You may learn from him what your duty is and how to discharge it. I do not know as much as he.

CC Antya 6.235: "Nevertheless, if you want to take instructions from Me with faith and love, you may ascertain your duties from the following words.

CC Antya 6.236: "Do not talk like people in general or hear what they say. You should not eat very palatable food, nor should you dress very nicely.

CC Antya 6.237: "Do not expect honor, but offer all respect to others. Always chant the holy name of Lord Krishna, and within your mind render service to Radha and Krishna in Vrindavana.

CC Antya 6.238: "I have briefly given you My instructions. Now you will get all details about them from Svarupa Damodara.

CC Antya 6.239: "One who thinks himself lower than grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord."

CC Antya 6.240: Having heard this, Raghunatha dasa offered prayers at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the Lord, out of great mercy, embraced him.

CC Antya 6.241: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again entrusted him to Svarupa Damodara. Thus Raghunatha dasa rendered very confidential service with Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.

CC Antya 6.242: At this time, all the devotees from Bengal arrived, and, as previously, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu met them with great feeling.

CC Antya 6.243: As He had previously done, He cleansed the Gundica temple and held a picnic feast in the garden with the devotees.

CC Antya 6.244: The Lord again danced with the devotees during the Ratha-yatra festival. Seeing this, Raghunatha dasa was struck with wonder.

CC Antya 6.245: When Raghunatha dasa met all the devotees, Advaita Acarya showed him great mercy.

CC Antya 6.246: He also met Sivananda Sena, who informed him, "Your father sent ten men to take you away.

CC Antya 6.247: "He wrote me a letter asking me to send you back, but when those ten men received no information about you, they returned home from Jhankara."

CC Antya 6.248: When all the devotees from Bengal returned home after staying at Jagannatha Puri for four months, Raghunatha dasa's father heard about their arrival and therefore sent a man to Sivananda Sena.

CC Antya 6.249: That man inquired from Sivananda Sena, "Did you see anyone in the renounced order at the residence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu?

CC Antya 6.250: "That person is Raghunatha dasa, the son of Govardhana Majumadara. Did you meet him in Nilacala?"

CC Antya 6.251: Sivananda Sena replied, "Yes, sir. Raghunatha dasa is with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and is a very famous man. Who does not know him?

CC Antya 6.252: "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has placed him under the charge of Svarupa Damodara. Raghunatha dasa has become just like the life of all the Lord's devotees.

CC Antya 6.253: "He chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra all day and night. He never gives up the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, not even for a moment.

CC Antya 6.254: "He is in the supreme order of renounced life. Indeed, he does not care about eating or dressing. Somehow or other he eats and maintains his life.

CC Antya 6.255: "After ten dandas [four hours] of the night have passed and Raghunatha dasa has seen the performance of pushpanjali, he stands at the Simha-dvara gate to beg some alms to eat.

CC Antya 6.256: "He eats if someone gives him something to eat. Sometimes he fasts, and sometimes he chews fried grains."

CC Antya 6.257: After hearing this, the messenger returned to Govardhana Majumadara and informed him all about Raghunatha dasa.

CC Antya 6.258: Hearing the description of Raghunatha dasa's behavior in the renounced order, his father and mother were very unhappy. Therefore they decided to send Raghunatha some men with goods for his comfort.

CC Antya 6.259: Raghunatha dasa's father immediately sent four hundred coins, two servants and one brahmana to Sivananda Sena.

CC Antya 6.260: Sivananda Sena informed them, "You cannot go to Jagannatha Puri directly. When I go there, you may accompany me.

CC Antya 6.261: "Now go home. When all of us go, I shall take all of you with me."

CC Antya 6.262: Describing this incident, the great poet Sri Kavi-karnapura has written extensively about the glorious activities of Raghunatha dasa in his Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka.

CC Antya 6.263: "Raghunatha dasa is a disciple of Yadunandana Acarya, who is very gentle and is extremely dear to Vasudeva Datta, a resident of Kancanapalli. Because of Raghunatha dasa's transcendental qualities, he is always more dear than life for all of us devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Since he has been favored by the abundant mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he is always pleasing. Vividly providing a superior example for the renounced order, this very dear follower of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami is the ocean of renunciation. Who among the residents of Nilacala [Jagannatha Puri] does not know him very well?

CC Antya 6.264: "Because he is very pleasing to all the devotees, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami easily became like the fertile earth of good fortune in which it was suitable for the seed of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be sown. At the same time that the seed was sown, it grew into a matchless tree of the love of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and produced fruit."

CC Antya 6.265: In these verses, the great poet Kavi-karnapura gives the same information that Sivananda Sena conveyed to the messenger from Raghunatha dasa's father.

CC Antya 6.266: The next year, when Sivananda Sena was going to Jagannatha Puri as usual, the servants and the brahmana, who was a cook, went with him.

CC Antya 6.267: The servants and brahmana brought four hundred coins to Jagannatha Puri, and there they met Raghunatha dasa.

CC Antya 6.268: Raghunatha dasa did not accept the money and men sent by his father. Therefore the brahmana and one of the servants stayed there with the money.

CC Antya 6.269: At that time, Raghunatha dasa began inviting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his house with great attention for two days every month.

CC Antya 6.270: The cost for these two occasions was 640 kaudis. Therefore he would take that much from the servant and the brahmana.

CC Antya 6.271: Raghunatha dasa continued to invite Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this way for two years, but at the end of the second year he stopped.

CC Antya 6.272: When Raghunatha dasa neglected to invite Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for two consecutive months, the Lord, the son of Saci, questioned Svarupa Damodara.

CC Antya 6.273: The Lord asked, "Why has Raghunatha dasa stopped inviting Me?"Svarupa Damodara replied, "He must have reconsidered something in his mind.

CC Antya 6.274: "'I invite Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by accepting goods from materialistic people. I know that the Lord's mind is not satisfied by this.

CC Antya 6.275: "'My consciousness is impure because I accept all these goods from people who are interested only in pounds, shillings and pence. Therefore by this kind of invitation I get only some material reputation.

CC Antya 6.276: "'At my request Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepts the invitations because He knows that a foolish person like me would be unhappy if He did not accept them.'

CC Antya 6.277: "Considering all these points," Svarupa Damodara concluded, "he has stopped inviting You." Hearing this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled and spoke as follows.

CC Antya 6.278: "When one eats food offered by a materialistic man, one's mind becomes contaminated, and when the mind is contaminated, one is unable to think of Krishna properly.

CC Antya 6.279: "When one accepts an invitation from a person contaminated by the material mode of passion, the person who offers the food and the person who accepts it are both mentally contaminated.

CC Antya 6.280: "Because of Raghunatha dasa's eagerness, I accepted his invitation for many days. It is very good that Raghunatha dasa, knowing this, has now automatically given up this practice."

CC Antya 6.281: After some days, Raghunatha dasa gave up standing near the Simha-dvara gate and instead began eating by begging alms from a booth for free distribution of food.

CC Antya 6.282: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard this news from Govinda, He inquired from Svarupa Damodara, "Why does Raghunatha dasa no longer stand at the Simha-dvara gate to beg alms?"

CC Antya 6.283: Svarupa Damodara replied, "Raghunatha dasa felt unhappy standing at the Simha-dvara. Therefore he is now going at midday to beg alms from the charity booth."

CC Antya 6.284: Hearing this news, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "He has done very well by no longer standing at the Simha-dvara gate. Such begging of alms resembles the behavior of a prostitute.

CC Antya 6.285: "'Here is a person coming near. He will give me something. This person gave me something last night. Now another person is coming near. He may give me something. The person who just passed did not give me anything, but another person will come, and he will give me something.' Thus a person in the renounced order gives up his neutrality and depends on the charity of this person or that. Thinking in this way, he adopts the occupation of a prostitute.

CC Antya 6.286: "If one goes to the booth where free food is distributed and fills his belly with whatever he obtains, there is no chance of further unwanted talk, and one can very peacefully chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra."

CC Antya 6.287: After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again bestowed His mercy upon Raghunatha dasa by giving him a stone from Govardhana Hill and a garland of small conchshells.

CC Antya 6.288: Previously, when Sankarananda Sarasvati had returned from Vrindavana, he had brought the stone from Govardhana Hill and also the garland of conchshells.

CC Antya 6.289: He presented Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with these two items -- the garland of conchshells and the stone from Govardhana Hill.

CC Antya 6.290: Upon receiving these two uncommon items, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was extremely happy. While chanting, He would put the garland around His neck.

CC Antya 6.291: The Lord would put the stone to His heart or sometimes to His eyes. Sometimes He would smell it with His nose and sometimes place it on His head.

CC Antya 6.292: The stone from Govardhana was always moist with tears from His eyes. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would say, "This stone is directly the body of Lord Krishna."

CC Antya 6.293: For three years He kept the stone and garland. Then, greatly satisfied by the behavior of Raghunatha dasa, the Lord delivered both of them to him.

CC Antya 6.294: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Raghunatha dasa, "This stone is the transcendental form of Lord Krishna. Worship the stone with great eagerness."

CC Antya 6.295: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "Worship this stone in the mode of goodness like a perfect brahmana, for by such worship you will surely attain ecstatic love of Krishna without delay.

CC Antya 6.296: "For such worship, one needs a jug of water and a few flowers from a tulasi tree. This is worship in complete goodness when performed in complete purity.

CC Antya 6.297: "With faith and love, you should offer eight soft tulasi flowers, each with two tulasi leaves, one on each side of each flower."

CC Antya 6.298: After thus advising him how to worship, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally offered Raghunatha dasa the govardhana-sila with His transcendental hand. As advised by the Lord, Raghunatha dasa worshiped the sila in great transcendental jubilation.

CC Antya 6.299: Svarupa Damodara gave Raghunatha dasa two cloths, each about six inches long, a wooden platform and a jug in which to keep water.

CC Antya 6.300: Thus Raghunatha dasa began worshiping the stone from Govardhana, and as he worshiped he saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja, directly in the stone.

CC Antya 6.301: Thinking of how he had received the govardhana-sila directly from the hands of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Raghunatha dasa was always overflooded with ecstatic love.

CC Antya 6.302: The amount of transcendental bliss that Raghunatha dasa enjoyed simply by offering water and tulasi is impossible to achieve even if one worships the Deity with sixteen kinds of paraphernalia.

CC Antya 6.303: After Raghunatha dasa had thus worshiped the govardhana-sila for some time, Svarupa Damodara one day spoke to him as follows.

CC Antya 6.304: "Offer the Govardhana stone eight kaudis worth of the first-class sweetmeats known as khaja and sandesa. If you offer them with faith and love, they will be just like nectar."

CC Antya 6.305: Raghunatha dasa then began offering the costly sweetmeats known as khaja, which Govinda, following the order of Svarupa Damodara, would supply.

CC Antya 6.306: When Raghunatha dasa received from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu the stone and the garland of conchshells, he could understand the Lord's intention. Thus he thought as follows.

CC Antya 6.307: "By offering me the govardhana-sila, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has offered me a place near Govardhana Hill, and by offering me the garland of conchshells, He has offered me shelter at the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani."

CC Antya 6.308: Raghunatha dasa's transcendental bliss was boundless. Forgetting everything external, he served the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with his body and mind.

CC Antya 6.309: Who could list the unlimited transcendental attributes of Raghunatha dasa? His strict regulative principles were exactly like lines on a stone.

CC Antya 6.310: Raghunatha dasa spent more than twenty-two hours out of every twenty-four chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and remembering the lotus feet of the Lord. He ate and slept for less than an hour and a half, and on some days that also was impossible.

CC Antya 6.311: Topics concerning his renunciation are wonderful. Throughout his life he never allowed his tongue sense gratification.

CC Antya 6.312: He never touched anything to wear except a small torn cloth and a patchwork wrapper. Thus he very rigidly executed the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.313: Whatever he ate was only to keep his body and soul together, and when he ate he would reproach himself thus.

CC Antya 6.314: "'If one's heart has been cleansed by perfect knowledge and one has understood Krishna, the Supreme Brahman, he then gains everything. Why should such a person act like a debauchee by trying to maintain his material body very carefully?'"

CC Antya 6.315: Lord Jagannatha's prasadam is sold by shopkeepers, and that which is not sold decomposes after two or three days.

CC Antya 6.316: All the decomposed food is thrown before the cows from Tailanga at the Simha-dvara gate. Because of its rotten odor, even the cows cannot eat it.

CC Antya 6.317: At night Raghunatha dasa would collect that decomposed rice, bring it home and wash it with ample water.

CC Antya 6.318: Then he ate the hard inner portion of the rice with salt.

CC Antya 6.319: One day Svarupa Damodara saw the activities of Raghunatha dasa. Thus he smiled and asked for a small portion of that food and ate it.

CC Antya 6.320: Svarupa Damodara said, "You eat such nectar every day, but you never offer it to us. What is your character?"

CC Antya 6.321: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu heard news of this from the mouth of Govinda, He went there the next day and spoke as follows.

CC Antya 6.322: "What nice things are you eating? Why don't you give anything to Me?" Saying this, He forcibly took a morsel and began to eat.

CC Antya 6.323: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taking another morsel of food, Svarupa Damodara caught Him by the hand and said, "It is not fit for You." Thus he forcibly took the food away.

CC Antya 6.324: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Of course, every day I eat varieties of prasadam, but I have never tasted such nice prasadam as that which Raghunatha is eating."

CC Antya 6.325: Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed many pastimes at Jagannatha Puri. Seeing the severe penances performed by Raghunatha dasa in the renounced order, the Lord was greatly satisfied.

CC Antya 6.326: In his poem known as the Gauranga-stava-kalpavriksha, Raghunatha dasa has described his personal deliverance.

CC Antya 6.327: "Although I am a fallen soul, the lowest of men, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered me from the blazing forest fire of great material opulence by His mercy. He handed me over in great pleasure to Svarupa Damodara, His personal associate. The Lord also gave me the garland of small conchshells that He wore on His chest and a stone from Govardhana Hill, although they were very dear to Him. That same Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu awakens within my heart and makes me mad after Him."

CC Antya 6.328: Thus I have described the meeting of Raghunatha dasa with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Anyone who hears about this incident attains the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

CC Antya 6.329: Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Krishnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, following in their footsteps.

Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness