Introduction to chapter 6

This chapter describes how Śrī Mahāprabhu sent Rāmāi to explain the truth of His own identity and the news of Nityānanda’s arrival to Advaita; the arrival in Navadvīpa of Advaita and His wife with various ingredients for worship and their secretly staying at the house of Nandana Ācārya in order to test Mahāprabhu; the meeting between Advaita Ācārya and Mahāprabhu, who is the Supersoul and knower of Advaita Ācārya’s secret pastimes; Advaita Ācārya’s darśana of the Lord’s opulences; and the topics of Mahāprabhu disclosing the truth about Himself to Advaita Ācārya.

After completing the Vyāsa-pūjā ceremony at the house of Śrīvāsa, Śrīman Mahāprabhu along with Nityānanda Prabhu and the devotees constantly remained intoxicated by chanting the holy names. One day the Lord sent Rāmāi, the younger brother of Śrīvāsa, to Advaita with the instruction to inform Advaita that the Lord whom He worshiped and prayed to in various ways has now appeared in this world to distribute devotional service. He also instructed Rāmāi to inform Advaita about Nityānanda’s arrival in Navadvīpa and request Advaita to come with His wife and ingredients for worship. Being ordered by Mahāprabhu, Rāmāi happily went to the house of Advaita. Due to the influence of devotional service the omniscient Advaita Prabhu already knew that Rāmāi was coming to Him with Mahāprabhu’s instruction. As soon as Advaita saw Rāmāi, He asked Rāmāi, “Has Mahāprabhu sent you to bring Me?” As Rāmāi requested Advaita to come to Navadvīpa to meet the Lord, Advaita Prabhu became overwhelmed with ecstasy and, pretending to be ignorant, He again asked Rāmāi about the cause of his visit. Rāmāi then explained in detail the instructions of Mahāprabhu and requested Him to come with ingredients for worship. On hearing the words of Rāmāi, Advaita Prabhu became unconscious with ecstasy. After a while, He regained His external consciousness and roared loudly in jubilation. On hearing the news that Mahāprabhu has revealed Himself, Sītādevī, the wife of Advaita, began to shed tears of love along with their son Acyutānanda and their servants.

Once again Advaita asked Rāmāi about the instruction of Mahāprabhu and then informed Rāmāi about His heartfelt desire. Thereafter He collected all the necessary ingredients for worship and departed with His wife to see Mahāprabhu. In order to test Mahāprabhu, He forbade Rāmāi from informing Mahāprabhu about His arrival and instructed Rāmāi to inform the Lord, “He has not come,” and then Advaita secretly hid in the house of Nandana Ācārya. Lord Viśvambhara, who is the Supersoul of everyone, understood the mind of Advaita Ācārya and while sitting on the throne of Lord Viṣṇu He disclosed to everyone the internal mood of Advaita. Lord Nityānanda held an umbrella over the Lord’s head.

Devotees such as Gadādhara began to offer various services to the Lord, and some of them offered Him prayers. In the meantime, Rāmāi came and offered obeisances to Mahāprabhu and informed Him about the resolution of Advaita. Then the Lord again ordered Rāmāi to bring Advaita to Him. Being ordered by Mahāprabhu, Rāmāi again went to the house of Nandana Ācārya to bring Advaita Prabhu and informed Advaita Prabhu about everything that the Lord said. Advaita Prabhu then came with His wife before Mahāprabhu, and while offering obeisances and prayers in ecstasy, He beheld the extraordinarily wonderful opulences of the Lord. When Advaita Ācārya became speechless and stunned by seeing the influence of Mahāprabhu, the most merciful Viśvambhara elaborately described the truth about Himself to Advaita. Thereafter Advaita began to chant the glories of Mahāprabhu’s unparalleled glories and compassion.

Being ordered by the Lord, He washed Mahāprabhu’s lotus feet and worshiped Him with five ingredients. Then Advaita offered His respectful obeisances to Śrī Gaurasundara, who is nondifferent from the son of Nanda Mahārāja, by chanting verses such as namo brahmaṇya-devāya.

Finally, while glorifying Mahāprabhu, Advaita Ācārya concluded that He is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa, He is the reservoir of all incarnations, and He has appeared to inaugurate the saṅkīrtana movement. Then Mahāprabhu instructed Advaita to dance in kīrtana, and Advaita Prabhu became overwhelmed in dancing as all the devotees started an ecstatic kīrtana.

Then Nityānanda and Advaita Prabhu exhibited Their eternal, extraordinary, transcendental love for the service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu by enacting Their pastime of quarreling with each other. On seeing the dancing of Advaita Prabhu, all the Vaiṣṇavas became jubilant. When Advaita Prabhu stopped dancing on the order of Mahāprabhu, the Lord took His garland and put it on Śrī Advaita Prabhu and ordered Him to ask for a benediction. Advaita Prabhu expressed appreciation for His good fortune of being able to see Mahāprabhu and then requested Mahāprabhu to award kṛṣṇa-prema, which is rare for even great personalities like Brahmā, to everyone, including women, śūdras, and fools, with the exception of the vaiṣṇava-aparādhīs who are intoxicated by the pride of education, wealth, and high birth. Śrī Gaurasundara agreed to the request of Advaita. This prayer of Advaita Ācārya later bore abundant fruits. Thereafter Advaita Ācārya continued to live in Navadvīpa with His wife.