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(By Gaurdasi - Summary of the discourse given by Gurudev in Batkulla)


Once early in the morning, little Nimai was running around in the courtyard playing by himself.

“Sachira anginaay gaurachand baidaayi re; Sachira nandoner charone shonar nupur runu-jhunu baje re…” (The moonlike Gaura is dancing in the courtyard of Mother Sachi; the golden anklets around the lotus feet of Mother Sanchi’s darling son are making a sweet runu-jhunu sound ..) 

“Kanak varana raatul charone kanaka nupur, hathe kanak bala golai kanak mala..” (Golden anklet around his golden-complexed pink lotus feet, golden bangles around his arms and a golden necklace adorning his neck….).

In the words of a Vaishnava poet, “It is as if a lump of golden butter is being rolled in the dust..”

Little Nimai was playing like an ordinary child. Just then a passing thief spotted the child wearing valuable golden ornaments and seeing no one else around, picked him up and carried him away on his shoulders. His intention was to take the child to his home and remove his ornaments. The thief held the two soft lotus feet of little Nimai against his chest in case the child would fall off. Aah..! What blessed fortune that this thief was holding in his hands those sacred lotus feet that are the object of meditation of yogis and rishis.

Carrying Nimai the thief kept walking but well into the afternoon he still could not reach his house. Walking all over Navadwip exhausted and tired the thief found himself back exactly where he started from, i.e., in front of the house of Jagannatha Mishra (Nimai’s father). He took Nimai from his shoulders, placed him down and went away. The idea of stealing the gold ornaments was completely forgotten. 

Having touched the Lord’s lotus feet his eyes were streaming with tears.


Tirthankar Brahmana 

One day a wandering brahmin came to Jagannatha Mishra’s house. The brahmin used to visit places of pilgrimage. He would cook his food with his own hands, offer it to Lord Vishnu and then eat it.

Mother Sachi provided all the necessary items for him to cook his meal. After preparing the meal the brahmin sat down to offer it to the Lord. Offering the bhog he shut his eyes in meditation. When he opened his eyes after some time, he saw little Nimai eating the rice and vegetables from the offered plate. 

The brahmin cried, “Alas! Alas!” Hearing his cries Jagannatha Mishra and Sachi devi came rushing to the spot. Picking up naughty little Nimai in her arms Mother Sachi left the room. Jagannatha Mishra apologised profusely and requested the brahmin to cook once again. He assured the man that this time they would keep a strict watch over Nimai.

Cooking his meal for the second time the brahmin again offered it to the Lord and closed his eyes in meditation. When he opened his eyes he once again saw little Nimai eating the offering. Once again he shouted out “Alas! Alas!” Despite Jagannatha Mishra keeping strict watch over his son it was unfathomable how and when he slipped away and went into the brahmin’s room. 

Hearing the commotion Jagannatha Mishra quickly ran to his room. The brahmin said, “It seems that I have to be on fast today! Lord Vishnu has also not partaken the offering.” Jagannatha Mishra said, “If the revered guest of a house goes hungry it is very inauspicious for the host. And how can we have our meals too? Kindly have mercy on us and prepare the offering one more time. I will tie up naughty Nimai and keep him inside.” 

Just then Jagannatha Mishra’s elder son Vishwarupa reached home after school. Hearing all about the incident, he clasped the brahmin’s feet and appealed to him to prepare his food one last time. Vishwarupa said “I will myself keep watch over my brother. Do not worry, my brother will not be able to come here under any circumstances”. With no other option left the brahmana once again cooked and offered the food to Lord Vishnu. 

Vishwarupa took Nimai into a room, locked it and kept a watch over his brother. Soon drowsiness overcame him and he dosed off. Nimai sneaked off again and no one was any the wiser. 

Sitting in meditation after offering the bhog when the brahmin opened his eyes, he was stunned. He exclaimed “Alas! Alas! What have you done?!” This time Nimai replied, “What else can I do? You are offering the bhog to me again and again, how can I not accept it?” Saying this Nimai revealed his four-armed Vishnu form to the fortunate brahmin who saw that little Nimai was not there anymore. He fell at the lotus feet of the Lord in prostration and became unconscious.

Regaining consciousness he saw that little Nimai was standing there. Nimai told him, “Whatever you have seen and heard here, do not tell anybody. You must leave Navadwip today”. The blessed of the blessed brahmin partook the prasad with great respect and joy. Without uttering a word to anyone and with tears of ecstasy streaming down his eyes, he departed. 

 

Pundit Keshav Kashmiri

Nimai’s elder brother, the handsome and learned Vishwarupa suddenly left home and took to monkhood at the age of sixteen. Shattered, the parents somehow survived this heartbreak by holding on to their beloved little Nimai. Nimai became their dearer-than-life wealth and the apple of their eyes.

Nimai started his education in the school of Gangadas Pandit. Observing his extraordinary prowess and keenness to learn his father Jagannatha Mishra became concerned. One day expressing his fear to his wife he said, “Our son Vishwarupa became fully learned in the scriptures at a young age and realised the ephemeral nature of the material world and hence renounced it to become a monk. I fear if Nimai becomes a great scholar he too will do the same. Hence I feel it is better if he remains at home ignorant, without any education.” 

Nimai’s schooling was then stopped. But Nimai did not say anything to his father. However his restless and naughty behaviour increased manifold due to his inner sorrow. Gathering his friends from the neighbourhood he would go to people’s homes and latch the main door from outside; in the darkness of night they would raid banana plantations and cut down the trees etc. His disruptive behaviour only kept increasing. Sometimes he would sit on a heap of used and discarded earthen pots and smear the soot on his face. 

On the advice of the neighbours Nimai was once again admitted in the school. This time also he dedicated himself to his studies with great enthusiasm.

Soon afterwards Nimai’s father passed away leaving mother and son grief stricken. Despite her own sorrow Mother Sachi focussed her attention on raising her young son. Without the disciplining hand of his father and with the indulgence of his mother, Nimai’s precocious behaviour increased even more but his learning did not lessen. 

In due course he was married to Lakshmipriya the daughter of Vallabhacharya. In a very short time Nimai completed his studies and started his own school. His fame as a learned pundit (scholar) spread all over Navadwip. At the time Navadwip was a major centre of learning. It was the residence of many learned and articulate scholars. Scholars from all over the country would come to Navadwip to engage in debates and discussions. 

Around this time there came to Navadwip a renowned scholar by the name of Keshav Kashmiri, with the desire to engage in debate with the local pundits. The pundits told him “We are in no position to debate with you. Nimai Pundit is the best scholar in Navadwip, you go to him”. In the evening Nimai was sitting along with his students by the banks of the Ganga. Keshav Kashmiri went there with the local pundits (who were envious of Nimai), also trailing behind him to watch the fun thinking that now Nimai Pundit would be humbled. 

Receiving him respectfully Nimai asked Keshav Kashmiri to have a seat. Addressing him Nimai said, “We have all gathered here on this charming evening on the bank of the holy Ganga. Would you like to expound on the glories of the Ganga?” Proud of his scholarly prowess Keshav Kashmiri instantaneously composed and recited a hundred verses in praise of the Ganga. Then he asked Nimai Pundit “How do you find my composition”? 

Nimai, now humility personified, respectfully addressed Keshav Kashmiri, “The hymn that you just composed is indeed praiseworthy but just as leprosy can mar the beauty of an otherwise handsome person, in the same way there are a few faults in your composition”. 

Stunned and disbelieving the pundit explained, “Faults?! In my composition? Show me where are the faults!” Nimai recited the verses and pointed out the faults. The world-conquering scholar immediately saw where the faults were in his verses. Incredulous he said to Nimai, “I recited my hymn of hundred verses at the speed of a storm! How did you memorise it all?!” Nimai answered “Just as by the grace of Goddess Saraswati you are a world-conquering scholar, similarly some are Shruti-dhar (those who are able to memorise instantly on hearing once). 

Seeing the great scholar defeated Nimai’s students laughed out. Nimai admonished them. Humbled Keshav Kashmiri, the formidable world-conquering scholar returned home. 

He was specifically blessed by Goddess Saraswati and would get her darshan at times. Sitting in meditation that night, the pundit invoked the Goddess and she appeared to him. He asked her indignantly “Mother! You made me lose to a mere boy?!” The Goddess smiled and replied, “He is no ordinary ‘boy’. He is the Lord of Golok (Krishna), and He is my Lord as well. Do you think I can outshine him? You should not feel any shame in losing to him. Go to Him tomorrow morning and ask for His forgiveness”. The pundit did as instructed by the Goddess. 

The following day when the pundit went to meet him, Nimai said, “Do not disclose to anyone what the goddess told you. Leave this place and go away tomorrow.”

Some years later Pundit Keshav Kashmiri met Sriman Mahaprabhu in Puri Dham (after Nimai had taken sanyas). 

 

 

Nitai Gaur Hari Bol!

Jai Jai Shri Radhey!!