Introduction to chapter 7

This chapter contains descriptions of Viśvarūpa’s acceptance of sannyāsa and Gaurahari’s acceptance of the mood of Dattātreya and instructing His mother on the Absolute Truth while sitting on a pile of rejected clay pots. Śrī Gaura-gopāla expanded His various mischievous childhood pastimes. Nimāi would give up His mischief as soon as He saw His elder brother, Viśvarūpa. Viśvarūpa was renounced since the time of His birth, and He was the abode of all good qualities. Whenever He explained the scriptures, He would establish devotional service as their only purport.

He had no interest in anything other than serving Kṛṣṇa with all of His senses. Although He knew His younger brother was Bāla-gopāla Kṛṣṇa, He did not disclose this confidential fact to anyone. Viśvarūpa always remained intoxicated by discussing topics of Kṛṣṇa and serving Kṛṣṇa in the association of the Vaiṣṇavas. Seeing the entire world was mad after material enjoyment, the seed of envy for Viṣṇu and the Vaiṣṇavas was present in everyone’s heart, and even the reciters of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam were devoid of devotion to Kṛṣṇa, the pure devotees headed by Advaita Ācārya began to cry for the pathetic condition of the living entities. Śrī Viśvarūpa even decided to give up worldly life and considered, “I will no longer see the faces of such people.”

Everyday after taking morning bath in the Ganges Viśvarūpa would go to Advaita Ācārya’s house, where He would explain that devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the essence of all scriptures. Sent by Śacīdevī, the child Nimāi also went daily to the house of Advaita Ācārya to bring His elder brother home for lunch. At that time the devotees practically entered samādhi upon seeing the enchanting beauty of Gaurahari, as it is natural for devotees to be attracted by seeing the form of the Lord. Taking advantage of this incident, the author establishes the devotees’ matchless love for the Supreme Lord by citing the conversation between Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Parīkṣit Mahārāja from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. The spirit soul is the life of the living entity, and Śrī Nandanandana is the Supersoul, or the life of the spirit soul. That is why the gopīs accepted Kṛṣṇa as their life and soul. Although Kṛṣṇa is also the Supersoul of demons like Kaṃsa, they cannot understand this due to their offences. The sweetness of sugar candy is known to all. Although due to the fault of the tongue it may taste bitter to some, the sweetness of the candy is neither lost nor diminished.

Those who are attracted to the supreme sweetness of Śrī Gaurasundara are most fortunate, while those who are not are simply unfortunate. Nevertheless, the sweetness of Śrī Gaurasundara is not diminished. Although Viśvarūpa came home on the order of mother Śacī, He soon returned to the house of Advaita Ācārya. Whenever Viśvarūpa came home, He did not indulge in worldly behavior; rather, He would pass His time sitting in the temple room. When Viśvarūpa heard that His parents were arranging for His marriage, He became most unhappy and after a few days exhibited His pastime of taking sannyāsa. Thus He became renowned in the world as Śrī Śaṅkarāraṇya. The hearts of Śacī and Jagannātha (who were in the transcendental mood of vātsalya-rasa) were greatly pained when Viśvarūpa took sannyāsa, and Gaurasundara, feeling separation for His brother (separation for His pure servant), displayed His pastime of losing consciousness. Due to separation from Viśvarūpa (separation from a devotee), the devotees headed by Advaita Ācārya began to cry. All the friends of Śacī and Jagannātha came to solace them in various ways. Hearing about Viśvarūpa’s acceptance of sannyāsa, the devotees all wanted to go live in the forest.

Advaita Prabhu consoled everyone by saying, “Kṛṣṇacandra will soon manifest before us and mitigate all of our distress. He will perform pastimes that are rare for even Śukadeva and Prahlāda.”

After becoming pacified, Nimāi began to study attentively, and He always remained with His parents.

Although mother Śacī was happy to hear about her son’s wonderful intelligence and knowledge, Jagannātha Miśra was in anxiety because he thought, “Due to His intense study, this son will also realize that this world is temporary and devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the essence of life. Then He will follow the footsteps of His elder brother.”

After a long debate with Śacī, Jagannātha Miśra stopped Nimāi’s studies. Thereafter Nimāi again began to exhibit mischievous pastimes. One day Nimāi sat on a pile of untouchable clay pots.

When mother Śacī told Him not to sit there, Nimāi replied, “How can a foolish person who does not know how to read and write discriminate between purity and impurity? For Me, it is all the same.”

In the mood of Dattātreya, Mahāprabhu continued to instruct His mother, “The consideration of purity and impurity is born from the imagination or mental speculation of mundane people. The Absolute Truth, Lord Viṣṇu, is present everywhere. And wherever the Lord is present is most pure. Those who cannot understand that the Lord is present everywhere simply chase after mental conceptions. The cooking pots of Viṣṇu are never impure, they are always pure. Other ordinary items are purified by their touch. The Lord is never present in a place that is impure, or devoid of devotional service.”

Although Nimāi explained all spiritual topics in the mood of a child, Śacī and other relatives in the mood of vātsalya could not understand those instructions due to the influence of yogamāyā. When Śacīdevī saw that Nimāi would not leave that dirty place, she personally grabbed the child’s hand and took Him for bath.

Thereafter Śacīdevī and others informed Jagannātha Miśra, “Nimāi is feeling most unhappy because He cannot study,” so on everyone’s request Purandara Miśra ordered Nimāi to continue His studies.