Introduction to chapter 21

This chapter describes Mahāprabhu’s mood as Baladeva, Mahāprabhu’s chastisement of Devānanda Paṇḍita, and the nondifference of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, tulasī, Gaṅgā, and the devotees from the Lord.

While wandering about Navadvīpa one day, Mahāprabhu came near the house of Maheśvara Viśārada, the father of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. At that time Devānanda Paṇḍita was residing in that area. Devānanda Paṇḍita was a lifelong brahmacārī desirous of liberation and a renowned teacher of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Yet in spite of reciting Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, he was devoid of devotional service because of his misfortune.

While wandering about Navadvīpa, Mahāprabhu came near a tavern and smelled the odor of wine, which awakened His mood as Baladeva. He then expressed a desire to enter that tavern, but since such behavior was not approved by Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, Mahāprabhu refrained from doing so because He was reluctant to act against the desire of His devotees.

Being restrained from entering that tavern, Gaurasundara continued to walk down the main road chanting the names of Hari like a madman, while drunkards from that tavern began to follow Him and also chant the names of Hari.

After mercifully glancing at those drunkards, Śrī Gauracandra went a little further and saw Devānanda Paṇḍita. The Lord then immediately remembered some topics regarding Śrīvāsa. That is, He remembered how Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita went one day to hear Devānanda Paṇḍita’s explanation of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Since Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita’s heart melted as he realized that every syllable of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is full of ecstatic love, transformations of ecstatic love like shedding tears and shivering awakened in him. On seeing those symptoms and on considering that such a display was a disturbance to their studies, the students of Devānanda Paṇḍita threw Śrīvāsa out. Since Devānanda Paṇḍita did not restrain his students from that action, he committed vaiṣṇava-aparādha. Thereafter Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita regained external consciousness and returned home in distress.

On seeing Devānanda, Śrī Gaurasundara remembered the above- mentioned incident. Śrī Caitanyadeva then informed Devānanda Paṇḍita, who had disrespected the devotee bhāgavata, that he was unqualified to study Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. After condemning him in various ways, the Lord praised the glories of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the Vaiṣṇavas. As a result, Devānanda Paṇḍita was embarrassed and returned home.

Since persons who are punished by the chastisement of Śrī Caitanya are also most pious, the author also describes the good fortune of Devānanda Paṇḍita.