Introduction to chapter 11

This chapter describes various subjects like the scholastic pastimes of Nimāi Paṇḍita, Mukunda’s chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa in Advaita’s assembly, Nimāi’s sporting pastimes with Mukunda, the godlessness of Nadia, the arrival of Īśvara Purī in Navadvīpa, his meeting with Advaita Prabhu, his accepting lunch and discussing topics of Kṛṣṇa at Gaura’s house, he teaches his own book, Śrī Kṛṣṇa-līlāmṛta, to Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Nimāi’s comments on that book, and enjoying topics of Kṛṣṇa with Śrī Purīpāda.

Śrī Gauracandra, the husband of Sarasvatī, wandered throughout Navadvīpa with thousands of students while remaining intoxicated from scholastic mellows. Throughout Navadvīpa, no one other than Gaṅgādāsa Paṇḍita could properly understand Nimāi Paṇḍita’s explanations.

According to their mundane mentality, the materialists saw Nimāi Paṇḍita in various ways. The atheists saw Him as Yamarāja personified, the materialists saw Him as Cupid personified, and the learned scholars saw Him as Bṛhaspati personified. Meanwhile, the Vaiṣṇavas eagerly waited with the following hope: “When will the Lord manifest devotional service to Viṣṇu within this world, which is devoid of devotion to Viṣṇu?” Many people came to study in Navadvīpa, which was the main educational center. Many Vaiṣṇava residents of Caṭṭagrāma came and lived in Navadvīpa in order to study and reside on the bank of the Ganges. In the afternoon, all the pure devotees would gather at the assembly of Śrī Advaita. All the Vaiṣṇavas in the assembly of Advaita felt great happiness in their hearts on hearing the glories of Lord Hari chanted by Mukunda, who was dear to all the Vaiṣṇavas. For this reason the Lord

was also very pleased at heart with Mukunda. As soon as Nimāi saw Mukunda, He would challenge him with questions in logic, and both would then engage in loving debate. Nimāi would also challenge other devotees headed by Śrīvāsa. Fearing that Nimāi would challenge them, they would all run away from Him. Having renounced topics not related to Kṛṣṇa, the devotees did not love to hear anything except kṛṣṇa-kathā, and Nimāi did not ask them anything other than questions on logic.

One day Nimāi Paṇḍita was coming on the main road with some students. At that time Mukunda saw Nimāi from a distance and immediately tried to escape from His vision. On the pretext of describing the reason for Mukunda’s behavior, Nimāi narrated His and His devotees’ glories to Govinda, who was His servant and doorkeeper, saying, “I have not yet revealed the topics of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. That is why Mukunda ran away from Me. But he will not do this for long, because I will manifest such pure devotional service and Vaiṣṇava characteristics that even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva will come to My doorstep and roll on the ground.”

Thereafter the author describes the godless atmosphere of Navadvīpa at that time. Although the devotees were always engaged in chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa, the people of Nadia were so averse to Kṛṣṇa and maddened by enjoyable objects like wealth and children that as soon as they heard the chanting of Kṛṣṇa’s names by devotees, particularly the four brothers headed by Śrīvāsa, they ridiculed and teased them. Hearing the blasphemous words from the sinful atheists, the Vaiṣṇavas felt great distress within their hearts and always thought, “When will Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra appear within this world and eradicate the dearth of kīrtana?” When the Vaiṣṇavas informed Śrī Advaita about the criticism and blasphemous words of the atheists, Ācārya Prabhu vowed, “I will soon induce Kṛṣṇa, who gives pleasure to the hearts of the devotees, to manifest here in Navadvīpa.” By the words of Śrī Advaita, the distress of the Vaiṣṇavas was mitigated.

Meanwhile, as Nimāi increased Śacī’s joy by remaining absorbed in the pleasure of study, Śrī Īśvara Purī one day arrived incognito at Śrī Advaita’s house in Navadvīpa. By seeing his wonderful effulgence, Advaita Ācārya understood that Īśvara Purī was a Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī. When Mukunda sang a song about Kṛṣṇa in Advaita’s assembly, the naturally deep ocean of love for Kṛṣṇa in the pure heart of Īśvara Purī overflowed. Thereupon everyone came to know that this devoted sannyāsī was Īśvara Purī.

One day as Śrī Gaurasundara was returning home from teaching, by providence He met Īśvara Purī on the way. The Lord, who is jagad-guru, displayed honor to His devotees by immediately offering obeisances to His servant. Seeing Nimāi’s wonderful effulgence, Īśvara Purī inquired about His identity and the subject of His studies. Nimāi answered all of Īśvara Purī’s inquiries and then respectfully brought him home for lunch. After Śacīdevī cooked and offered foodstuffs to Kṛṣṇa and fed Īśvara Purī, Īśvara Purī began to discuss topics of Kṛṣṇa with Nimāi. While discussing kṛṣṇa-kathā, Īśvara Purī became overwhelmed with love of God. Īśvara Purī stayed in Navadvīpa at the house of Śrī Gopīnātha Ācārya for a few months, and Nimāi regularly went to see him. Seeing the devotion of Gadādhara Paṇḍita, who was renounced from his childhood, Īśvara Purī began to affectionately teach him his book, Śrī Kṛṣṇa-līlāmṛta. Every evening, after studying and teaching, Nimāi went to offer obeisances to Īśvara Purī. One day Īśvara Purī requested Nimāi Paṇḍita to point out the mistakes in his Śrī Kṛṣṇa-līlāmṛta and indicated his desire to correct the mistakes under Nimāi’s guidance. Hearing his words, the Lord condemned mundane scholarship and spoke the following invaluable nectarean words: “First of all, this book is composed by such a pure devotee as Purīpāda, and, moreover, it is full of topics about Kṛṣṇa. Therefore whoever finds faults in this book is certainly an offender. The poetry of a pure devotee, in whatever form it may be, is always pleasing to Kṛṣṇa. There is no doubt about it. The Supreme Lord never sees any grammatical faults in the statements of His devotees, for He is controlled by devotion and He accepts the sentiments of His devotees. A person who finds faults in the statements of a devotee is himself full of faults. No one is so audacious as to find faults in the descriptions of the Supreme Lord by a pure devotee like Purīpāda.” But Īśvara Purī repeatedly requested Nimāi to point out the faults in his book. In this way Īśvara Purī regularly spent an hour or two with Nimāi discussing various subjects. After hearing a verse from Īśvara Purī’s book one day, Nimāi Paṇḍita sportingly said, “The verb in this verse should be parasmaipadī instead of ātmanepadī 11.” Another day, when Nimāi came back, Īśvara Purī said, “The verb that You have not accepted as ātmanepadī, I have accepted as ātmanepadī.” In order to increase the glories and display the victory of His servant, the Lord did not point out any further faults. In this way, after spending some time enjoying educational pastimes with Nimāi, Īśvara Purī left Navadvīpa to continue sanctifying the holy places of India.