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Rai Ramananda
Bhakfisiddhanfa Sarasvafi Thakura
Infroducfion
Duiing ilc advcni ol Sii Claiianya, ilc dcaiil ol puic ilcism in Souil India was
no lcss ilan ilai in ilc Noiil, duc io ilc naiiow scciaiianism and iigid casic
iulcs. To dclivci ilc pcoplc ol ilc Souil liom ilosc suicidal picjudiccs and
supcisiiiions, ilc Loid piocccdcd wiil onc Kalia Kiislnadas on His jouincy io ilc
Souil. Hc saw Alvainail ai lialmaigiii, Kuima Dcva ai Kuimaclalam ncai
Clicacolc in Vizag disiiici, wlcic Hc gavc dclivciancc io a lialmin namcd Kuima
and a lialmin lcpci namcd Vasudcva. Tlc Loid saw Nisimla Dcva ai
Simlaclalam in ilc samc disiiici. Hc mci Rai Ramananda, ilc ilcn Govcinoi ol
Vidyanagai, on ilc banl ol ilc Godavaii, and lad a long plilosoplical discouisc
wiil lim on ilc summum bonum ol luman cxisicncc and ilc mcans ol aiiaining
ilc samc. Tlis lamous discouisc ilc biiglicsi scll-luminous guiding siai in ilc
liimamcni ol Vaislnava Plilosoply, las bccn cicinaly slining in ilc Claiianya
Claiiiamiiia.
Wlcn ilc Loid lcli Puii loi ilc Souil, Saivablauma llaiiaclaiya lad cniicaicd
Him io mcci Rai Ramananda on His way. Alici visiiing many sliincs ai dillcicni
placcs, Hc icaclcd ilc banls ol ilc Godavaii wlicl icmindcd Him ol ilc Yamuna,
and ilc woodlands on ilc banls icmindcd Him ol Viindavana. Hc ciosscd ilc
iivci, bailcd and ilcn sai ai a sloii disiancc liom ilc "Goslpada Glai" ai Kovui
(Wcsi Godavaii Disiiici). Wlilc Hc was occupicd in claniing ilc Holy Namc ol
Sii Kislna, Rai Ramananda aiiivcd in a liiici aiicndcd by many musicians and
lialmins, loi ccicmonial bail. Sii Claiianya Dcva, ai liisi sigli lncw lim io bc
Rai Ramananda. Hc longcd io mcci lim bui clcclcd His cagcincss. Rai
Ramananda alici lis bail camc up io Him, and was lillcd wiil a gicai wondci as
lc loold ai His Pcison Wlicl was slining lilc a lundicd suns. Hc aliglicd liom
lis liiici and lcll piosiiaic bcloic Him. Sii Claiianya Dcva siood up and said, "Risc
and clani Sii Kiislna's Namc". Hc was cagcily longing io cmbiaccc lim yci
aslcd, "Aii ilou Rai Ramananda'" Tlc icply was "Ycs, I am ilai slavc, a vilc
Sudia." Tlc Loid cmbiaccd lim and boil sai on ilc giound in ilc cxubciancc ol
sponiancous ouibuisi ol Picma. loil ol ilcm, ovcicomc wiil puic lovc, bcgan io
pcispiic, wccp, iicmblc wiil ilcii laii sianding on cnd, and boil uiicicd
'Kiislna', Kiislna' in ccsiaiic joy.
Tlc lialmin aiicndanis ol Rai Ramananda wcic amazcd ai ilc sigli and ilougli,
"Tlis Sannyasi is lilc lialman Himscll and yci Hc wccps cmbiacing a Sudia! Tlis
Rai Ramananda, a gicai digniiaiy, is a piolound sclolai and ol a naiuialy giavc
dcmcanoui, and yci lc las bccn iianspoiicd wiil dcligli by ilc ioucl ol ilc
Sannyasi!" On sccing ilc siiangcis, ilc Loid clcclcd Himscll. Wlcn boil ol
ilcm icgaincd ilcii composuic, ilc Loid said smilingly, "I lcaid ol you liom
Saivablauma llaiiaclaiya and lc insiiucicd Mc io mcci you. Ii is wcll ilai I
could mcci you so casily." Rai icplicd, "Tlc gicai Pandii is plcascd io own mc as
lis lumblc scivani and is always on ilc lool-oui io do mc good. Ii is duc io lis
mcicy ilai I scc You. My lilc is, indccd, blcsscd ioday. You aic giacious io ioucl
ilis vilc Sudia, wlicl piovcs Youi mcicy and ilai ol Saivablauma io ilis mosi
unwoiily pcison. You aic ilc Supicmc Loid Naiayan Himscll and I am bui a
scivani ol ilc ling, a woidly pcison and a vilc Sudia. You did noi lcai ilc
injunciions ol ilc Vcdas in ioucling mc. Tlc Vcdas loibid You cvcn io lool ai mc.
Youi mcicy on mc malcs You pciloim a loibiddcn aci. You aic Godlcad Himscll.
Wlo lnows Youi ways' You aic Mcicy Pcisonilicd. You lavc comc lcic io dclivci
mc. O! Savioui ol ilc lallcn, sucl is ilc labii ol ilc Gicai, ilai Hc dcviaics liom
His pail io dclivci ilc lallcn. "O Loid, ilc Sainis cvci visii ilc lomcs ol woildly
pcoplc io lclp ilcm aclicvc ilcii cicinal good. Tlcic is no oilci puiposc in ii'.
Tlc lcaiis ol ilc lialmins and ilc oilci aiicndanis numbciing a ilousand lavc
bccn mclicd by Youi daisan. All ol ilcm aic slouiingTlc Loid icplicd, "You aic
ilc gicaicsi ol ilc dcvoiccs, a Malablagavaia. Ii is youi sigli ilai mclicd ilc
lcaiis ol all; wlai io spcal ol ilc oilcis, I Myscll, a Mayavadi Sannyasi am siccpcd
in ilc Lovc ol Kiislna ai youi ioucl. Knowing ilai My lcaii i ioo laid io b c
mclicd, Saivablauma adviscd mc io mcci you".
Wlilc ilcy wcic piaising cacl oilci and cnjoying ilc dcliglilul company, a
Vaislnava Vcdic lialmin camc, bowcd unio ilc Loid and bcsougli Him io acccpi
ilc alms ol lood and icsidcncc ai lis lousc. Tlc Loid acccpicd ilc inviiaiion
lnowing lim io bc a Vaislnava, and ilcn iuining io Ramananda and said, "I lccl a
gicai plcasuic io lcai ialls on Sii Kiislna liom youi lips. I lopc io mcci you
again". Rai icplicd, "You lavc comc io savc ilc sinncis. lui my wiclcd lcaii alonc
las noi bccn puiilicd by Youi sigli. May I piay loi Youi siay loi a lcw days loi
puiging my lcaii ol all sins'" Rai Ramananda ilcn madc lis bow and wcndcd lis
way wiil ilc gicaicsi icluciancc. Tlc Loid bciool Himscll io ilc lousc ol ilc
lialmin and ilc cvcning appioaclcd in ilc midsi ol His anxiciy.
Tlc Loid was cnxiously waiiing wlcn Rai Ramananda appcaicd wiil a scivani. Hc
bowcd io ilc Loid ad was icccivcd in His cxbiacc. Tlc Two now iciiicd io ilc
scclusion ol piivacy and bcgan io convcisc on Sadlya (ilc Goal) and Sadlana (ilc
Mcans). Tlc Loid icqucsicd Rai io icciic ilc icxis ol ilc Sasiias on Sadlya and
Sadlana duiics ol Vainasiam. Tlc Vislnu Puian says 'Piopiiiaic ilc Supicmc Loid
Vislnu by lollowing ilc picsciibcd duiics ol youi social ianl and liincss. Tlcic is
no oilci mcans ol plcasing Him. Tlc Loid said, "Tlis is oll ilc poini, icll Mc
somciling moic advanccd." Rai answcicd, "Tlc acmc ol Sadlana is io ollci
aciions and ilc liuiis ilcicol io Sii Kiislna. 'O son ol Kunii! conscciaic io Mc
wlaicvci you do, bc ii caiing, pciloiming ilc loma ccicmony, oi aci ol claiiiy oi
ausiciiiy'." Tlc Loid icjccicd ilis vicw also and aslcd Rai io ciic moic advanccd
slolas. Rai icplicd "Tlc liglcsi dcvoiion icquiics onc io givc up ilc duiics
cnjoincd by ilc Sciipiuics. 'Hc is ilc gicaicsi ol sainis oi loly , wlo, lnowing lull
wcll ilc mciiis and dcmciiis ol icligious duiics, woislips Mc by giving up ilc
Vcdic duiics, alilougl ilcy wcic oidaincd by Mc.' 'Talc iclugc in Mc alonc, giving
up ilc Vcdic duiics alilougl ilcy wcic oidaincd by Mc.' 'Talc iclugc in Mc alonc,
giving up all socio-icligious piaciiccs; you will lavc no causc ol giicl; I will dclivci
you liom all sins'." Tlis was also objccicd io by ilc Loid, as ilis ioo did noi ioucl
ilc issuc. Somc oilci liglci mcans slould bc ciicd. To ilis, Rai addcd ilai laiil
mixcd wiil ilc lnowlcdgc ol ilc lialman is ilc only mcans io aiiain ilc goal.
lialmins piaciising dcvoiion wiil ilc lnowlcdgc ol iclaiionslip bccomc
Vaislnavas. 'A lialman-icaliscd soul is scll-dcliglicd, posscsscs calm and
cquiiablc vision and iicais cqually all, ligl oi low, iicl oi pooi, duc io lis cxiia-
mundanc vision, and docs noi giicvc noi long loi anyiling mundanc. Lsiablislcd
in lialman, lc giadually aiiains iiuc dcvoiion io Myscll." Tlc Loid was noi
saiislicd wiil ilis, iclling Rai Ramananda ilai ilis was also ouisidc ilc issuc, and
icqucsicd lim io ciic moic advanccd mcilods. Rai answcicd, "Puic dcvoiion
unobsiiucicd by ilc monisiic absiiaci lnowlcdgc is ilc liglcsi loim ol woislip. A
pcison submiiiing uncondiiionally ai ilc Divinc Icci ol Sii Kislna is a iiuc
dcvoicc. 'Tlc Supicmc Loid Sii Kiislna is laid io bc won ovci in ilis univcisc, yci
Hc is icaliscd and aiiaincd by ilosc wlo, abandoning ilc qucsi ol cmpiiic
lnowlcdgc oi lnowlcdgc ol Absiiaci lialman, submii io His Divinc Icci, siay ai
loly placcs sanciilicd by Sadlus, lisicn io icciials ol His Lcclas by puic dcvoiccs
and livc up io ilcm wiil body, mind and soul'." On lcaiing ilis ilc Loid icplicd,
"Ii is good; bui liglci siagcs may bc siaicd". Rai answcicd, "Tlc liglcsi loim ol
iiuc dcvoiion is Picma-llalii oi Loving Dcvoiion io Sii Kiislna and ciicd lis
own vciscs: Iood and diinl aic iclislcd so long as ilcic aic lungci and iliisi.
Similaily, wiil ilc piogicss ol dcvoiional apiiiudc, ilc dcvoicc dcliglis in
woislipping lis lcaii's Dailing Sii Kiislna, noi in muliilaiious iiiualisiic
loimaliiics bui in iiuc lovc alonc.' Scaicl oui a lcaii inspiicd wiil Lovc loi Sii
Kiislna and il cvci you mcci sucl a onc, win lim ovci, by aidcni longing, ilougl
ii cannoi bc aiiaincd by good dccds iliougl millions ol livcs'. Tlc Loid wanicd
lim io piocccd siill liglci. To ilis, Rai icplicd ilai ilc Lovc as ilai ol a scivani ol
Sii Kiislna is ilc liglcsi dcviiion and ciicd vciscs in suppoii ol lis vicw ilus:
"Wlcn lisicning only io ilc Holy Namcs ol ilc Loid puiilics all Jiva-souls, wlai
ilcn is lcli unaiiaincd by ilosc wlo aciually scivc His Holy Icci'. Wlcn slall I
lavc ilc good loiiunc ol dcclaiing myscll io bc Tly cicinal scivani, bcing liccd
liom all scllisl dcsiics by Tly unccasing laiillul scivicc'' "Good, bui ilcic aic
mcilods dccpci siill. lc plcascd io mcniion ilcm", said ilc Loid. Rai icplicd,
"Lovc as ilai ol a liicnd is ilc liglcsi loim ol dcvoiion," and in ilis conncciion lc
iclaicd ilc gloiy ol ilc liicndslip ol ilc cow-boys: "Tlc cow-boys ol Viaja lad ilc
good loiiunc io join in ilc Pasiimcs ol Sii Kiislna Wlo appcais io ilc Jnanis as
culminaiion ol lcliciiy in ilc lialman, io His scivanis as ilc Supicmc Objcci ol
woislip and io dcludcd pcisons, as mcic Human Clild". Tlc Loid said, "Tlis is
good, bui say somciling liglci siill." Rai coniinuing said ilai ilc liglcsi
dcvoiion is paicnial allcciion loi ilc Loid, and icciicd ilc lollowing passagcs: 'O
lialmin! wlai ligl class mciiioiious dccds did Nanda pciloim; and wlai did ilc
blcsscd Yasoda do ilai slc was loiiunaic io sucllc Sii Kiislna, ilc Divinc Clild'
Tlc bliss ilai Yasoda dciivcd liom lci Divinc Clild was ncvci gaincd by lialma
oi Siva oi cvcn by Lalslmi ilougl Slc is always claspcd io His bosom'". Tlc Loid
said, "Tlis is good no doubi; bc plcascd io siaic siill liglci lunciions." Rai icplicd,
"Tlc liglcsi loim ol dcvoiion os conjugal Lovc loi ilc Supicmc Loid Sii
Kiislna," and ciicd ilc lollowing slolas, "Wlai io spcal ol oilci womcn, noi cvcn
Lalslmi Hciscll, Wlo is lcld in closc cmbiacc io His bosom, noi ilc cclcsiial
nympls, ilougl blooming and odoious lilc ilc loius, wcic giaccd wiil ilc lavoui
wlicl ilc Supicmc Loid Sii Kiislna slowcd io ilc Gopis ol Viindavana wlcn in
ilc Rasa-dancc Hc claspcd ilcii nccls wiil His Aims.' 'In ilc Rasa-dancc, Madana-
Molan Himscll, clad in ycllow iobcs, wcaiing gailands ol wild llowcis and a
pcipciual swcci smilc, appcaicd, all on a suddcn, in ilc midsi ol ilc Gopis wlo
wcic bcwailing His scpaiaiion'.
"Many aic ilc mcans ol aiiaining io Sii Kiislna, and ilcic aic dcgiccs ol sucl
aiiainmcni," said Rai. Hc luiilci addcd and dcsciibcd ilai ilc livc 'Rasas' appcai
in an asccnding oidci ol cxccllcncc. Tlc clicl claiaciciisiic and qualiiy ol cacl
'Rasa' aiiain maiuiiiy and aic incoipoiaicd in ilc ncxi. Tlus Sania Rasa aiiains
pcilcciion in Dasya, Dasya in Sallya, Sallya in Vaisalya and all loui in Madluia;
jusi as ilc piopciiics ol ilc loui clcmcnis viz. cilci, aii, liic ad waici, incicasing
in an asccnding oidci, aic linally lound all in ilc lilil clcmcni, ilc caiil. Tlc
aiiainmcni ol Sii Kiislna icsulis liom Picma, and Siimad llagavaiam says ilai Sii
Kiislna submiis io ilc Tiansccndcnial Picma.'O Gopis!' says Sii Kiislna,
'dcvoiion io Mc is ilc vciy Ncciai io a Jiva. Tlc Lovc yc lavc in Mc is ilc only
causc ilai yc lavc aiiaincd unio Mc'. 'Sii Kiislna's piomisc icmains liim loi all
iimc. Hc always givcs a iciuin ol oui woislip cxacily in ilc loim in wlicl ii is
ollcicd'. lui Hc cannoi icpay ilc ollci ol Picma ol ilc damscls ol Viaja io ilc lull,
and so Hc icmains a dcbioi io ilcii Lovc. Tiuc, Sii Kiislna is ilc liglcsi iypc ol
lcauiy and Giacc, yci ilc company ol ilc laii millmaids ol Viaja siill luiilci
cnlanccs His splcndoui and claim. Tlou Sii Kiislna is ilc csscncc ol all bcauiy,
yci Hc slincs moic bcauiilul in ilc midsi ol ilc bcaming giils ol Viaja, cvcn as ilc
cmciald sci amidsi goldcn-colouicd gcms.' Alici lisicning io ilcsc wiil iapiuic,
ilc Loid icmailcd, "Tlis, indccd is ilc cxiicmc poini ol dcvoiion, bui plcasc icll
Mc il ilcic bc anyiling bcyond ii." Rai was lillcd wiil gicai asionislmcni. Hc said
ilai lc did noi lnow ii bcloic il ilcic was anybody on ilc lacc ol ilc caiil wlo
could cnquiic bcyond ilis. Hc answcicd, "Ol all linds ol Picma, Sii Radla's Lovc
loi Sii Kiislna is icpuicd as ilc liglcsi and cvci incicasing - so say ilc Sasiias."
Tlc Loid was plcascd io lcai ilc piaisc ol Sii Radla liom Rai and said, "Go on
singing. I am dcliglicd io lcai youi woids. A wondcilul siicam ol ncciai is
llowing liom youi lips." Tlc Loid, acccpiing Madluia Rasa as ilc liglcsi loim ol
dcvoiion, aslcd Rai io dcsciibc ilc Tiansccndcnial Lovc ol Sii Radla.
Rai ilcn dcsciibcd ilc ical Ioims ol Sii Kiislna and Sii Radla, and ilc clicl
lcaiuics ol Rasa and Picma. Hc icciicd a son ol lis own composiiion dilaiing on
ilc Lovc ol Sii Radla loi Sii Kiislna. Ai lasi lc said ilai ilc Lccla ol Sii Radla-
Kiislna can only bc icaliscd by submiiiing complcicly io ilc Sallis, ilc dcaicsi
lcmalc aiicndanis ol Sii Radla-Kiislna in Tlcii sccici bowci. In piaciising cacl ol
ilc livc 'Rasas' ol Sania, Dasya, Sallya, Vaisalya and Madluia, ilc dcvoicc is io do
so by suiicndciing limscll complcicly io ilc piimc voiaiics ol cacl Rasa. Tlus, loi
cxamplc, onc wlo is a naiuial voiaiy ol Sania Rasa is io piaciisc lis dcvoiion io Sii
Kiislna as a lollowci ol Gou (Cow), Vciia (Canc), Vislana (Hoin), Vcnu (Iluic)
ol Viaja, wlo aic ilc piimc voiaiics ol ilai Rasa. So, in Dasya Rasa onc las io
lollow Raliala, Paiiala, Cliiiala; in Sallya Rasa, Siidama-sudama-Vasudama; in
Vaisalya Rasa, Nanda-Yasoda and oilcis; and in Madluia Rasa, Sii Radla and Hci
youillul millmaids ol Viaja. Il, on ilc oilci land, onc considcis limscll oi
lciscll io bc Nanda-Yasoda, oi Siidama-Sudama, oi Viaja-Salli, oi Sii Radla
Hciscll, lc is donc loi, and, insicad ol gciiing ilc cicinal scivicc ol Sii Kiislna,
gocs io cicinal pcidiiion. Tlcsc naiuial sciving piopcnsiiics appcai sponiancously
in ilc lcaii ol ilosc wlo submii ilcmsclvcs io ilc cicinal guidancc ol ilc
icspcciivc voiaiics in Viaja.
Sii Claiianya Malapiablu appcaicd in ilc iolc ol a Woild-Tcaclci. Hc dclivcicd
His mcssagc ol Divinc Lovc iliougl ilc lips ol His lavoiiic, Rai Ramananda; loi
'wlocvci is wcll-vciscd in ilc innci piinciplcs ol ilc Supicmc Loid Sii Kiislna, is
ilc Guiu (Woild-Tcaclci), bc lc a Sannyasi, oi a Giilasila in Asiam oi a
lialmin oi a Sudia by biiil'. Tlc Loid gavc io ilc woild a numbci ol valuablc
insiiuciions in ilc loim ol a dialoguc bciwccn Himscll and Rai Ramananda. Tlcy
coniain in csscncc ilc icaclings ol Sii Gauiasundaia. In ilis lamous dialoguc,
icpioduccd bclow, Sii Gauiasundaia wlo is ilc Occan ol all Rasas acis ilc paii ol
an cnquiici io icccivc ilcm liom ilc lips ol Iai Ramananda, cvcn as ilc occan
icccivcs again ilc slowci liom ilc clouds wlicl ii scnds io ilc sly iliougl
cvapoiaiion.
Q. 1. Wlicl is ilc liglcsi ol all lnowlcdgc'
Ans. Loving dcvoiion io Sii Kiislna is ilc liglcsi lnowlcdgc.
Q.2. Wlai is ilc liglcsi gloiy ol a Jiva'
Ans. To bc icpuicd as ilc iiuc dcvoicc ol Sii Kiislna.
Q.3. Wlai is counicd as ilc gicaicsi wcalil among luman posscssions'
Ans. Hc is ilc wcalilicsi wlo las Lovc loi Sii Radla-Kiislna.
Q.+. Wlai is ilc lcavicsi ol all soiiows'
Ans. Tlcic is no gicaici soiiow ilan scpaiaiion liom a dcvoicc ol Sii Kiislna.
Q.5. Wlo slould bc considcicd as iiuly libciaicd'
Ans. Hc is ilc loicmosi ol ilc libciaicd wlo lovc Sii Kiislna wlolc-lcaiicdly.
Q.6. Wlicl is ilc mosi naiuial song ol a Jiva'
Ans. Tlai wlicl spcals ol ilc Tiansccndcnial Amoious Spoiis ol Sii Radla-
Kiislna is ilc cicinal
naiuial song ol ilc jiva.
Q.7. Wlai is ilc liglcsi good loi ilc Jivas'
Ans. Tlcic is no liglci good ilan ilc associaiion ol a dcvoicc ol Sii Kiislna.
Q.S. Wlai is ii ilai all slould consianily icmcmbci'
Ans. Tlc only ilings io bc icmcmbcicd aic ilc Namcs, Ioims, Aiiiibuics,
Associaics and
Amoious Spoiis ol Sii Radla-Kiislna.
Q.9. Wlai is ilc liglcsi objcci ol mcdiiaiion loi a Jiva'
Ans. Tlc Supicmc Objcci ol mcdiiaiion is ilc Loius Icci ol Sii Radla-Kiislna.
Q.10 Wlcic slould onc livc, lcaving all bclind'
Ans. Ii is in ilc Gloiious Land ol Viindavana wlcic ilc Tiansccndcnial 'Rasa-
Lccla' is cicinally
going on.
Q.11 Wlicl is ilc swccicsi loi ilc cais io lcai'
Ans. Tlc Lovc-Spoiis ol Sii Radla-Kiislna aic ilc swccicsi and ilc mosi iclisling
io ilc cais
ol a Jiva.
Q.12 Wlai is ilc liglcsi objcci ol woislip'
Ans. Tlc liglcsi Objcci ol woislip is ilc Holy Namc ol ilc mosi adoiablc Divinc
Couplc,
Sii Radla-Kiislna.
Q.13 Wlai aic ilc icspcciivc dcsiinaiions ol ilc Salvaiionisis and ilc
Llcvaiionisis'
Ans. Tlc Salvaiionisis aiiain ilc bodics ol incii bcings sucl as sioncs cic. and ilc
Llcvaiionisis, cclcsiial bodics in lcavcn. Jusi as ilc loolisl ciow wlicl las no iasic
ol iclisl sucls ilc biiici Nimba-liuii, wlilc ilc cocloo wlicl is appicciaiivc ol
llavouis lccds on ilc mango-blossoms, so ilc unloiiunaic lollowci ol ilc pail ol
gnosiicism clcws diy wisdom wlilc ilc loiiunaic dcvoicc qualls ilc ncciai ol
Lovc loi Sii Kiislna.
Tlc Loid spcni icn days lappily wiil Rai Ramananda in swcci discouisc aboui Sii
Kiislna. Onc day, ilc Rai said, "O Loid! bc plcascd io icmovc my doubi as io wly
I saw You liisi as a Sannyasi and now You appcai as 'Syama-Gopa' (Kiislna, ilc
Cowlcid) cnvclopcd by ilc lusiic ol a Goldcn Iiguic bcloic You wiil a Iluic in
Hand and Lycs cvci licllc'" Tlc Loid said, "O Rai, dccp is youi Lovc loi Sii
Kiislna. Sucl is ilc cllcci ol ical Lovc,ilai, wlcn ilc iiuc dcvoicc casis lis glancc
upon any objcci ilai appcais animaic oi inanimaic io a condiiioncd soul, lc sccs
Sii Kiislna manilcsiing in and iliougl cvciy sucl objcci. Tlc objcci gazcd ai may
bc animaic oi inanimaic io a condiiioncd Jiva, bui a iiuc dcvoicc docs noi scc iis
naiuial oi ouiwaid loim subjcci io oui cxpciimcni icnding io ilc giaiilicaiion ol
oui gioss and subilc scnscs, bui sccs lis adoicd Dciiy in cvciyiling and cvciy sucl
objcci in lis Dciiy. 'Hc is ilc liglcsi ol dcvcoiccs wlo bclolds ilc Loid ol lis
adoiaiion in cvciy objcci and cvciy sucl objcci in lis adoicd Loid'". lui ilc Rai
said, "Loid, lcavc Tlou Tly iiicls. Conccal noi Tly Tiuc Ioim liom mc. Having
ialcn on Tlyscll ilc Lovc and lcauiy ol Sii Radla, Tlou lasi dcsccndcd in ilis
woild as Sii Kiislna Claiianya in oidci io iasic Hci Lovc loi Tlcc; bui
incidcnially, Tlou lasi lillcd ilc wlolc univcisc wiil ilai Lovc." Tlcn ilc Loid
slowcd lim His ical Ioim in wlicl wcic blcndcd inio Onc ilc 'Rasa-Raj'
(Kiislna, ilc Piincc ol Rasa) and 'Mala-llava' (ilc Supicmc Lmoiion).
Foreword
Tlis biocluic is noi io bc considcicd as a lagiological aiicmpi naiiaiion ol ilc
livcs and lcgcnds ol ilc sainis] bui an cndcavoi loi inculcaiing ilc pioccduic ol
lollowing ilc lilc ol a iiansccndcnial dcvoicc wlo lad a iloiouglly pcculiai mood
ol scivicc ol ilc Absoluic, unlnown io ilc viiiaicd mundanc aimosplcic.
Rcadcis, wlo aic puzzlcd wiil ilc pioblcm ol linding oui ilc soluiion ol ilis
cplcmcial lilc, ilc anicccdcnis and ilc conscqucnccs ol wlicl aic noi sioicd up,
aic icspccilully soliciicd io go iliougl ilcsc pagcs, noi wiil a clallcnging mood
bui wiil an appioacling apiiiudc, io bc acquainicd wiil ilc undiscovcicd iiacl ol
dcvoiion. A submissivc and aiicniivc audicncing will suicly laciliiaic
compiclcnsion ol ilc iiansccndcnial pioccduic, aiding onc's jouincy io lis
liilciio uncxploicd ' iiansccndcncc.
Tlc Absoluic musi noi bc obligcd comc undci liniiudinal cxaminaiion by oui
pooi scnscs. So ilc cpisicmology will cxplain loi a iloiougl submission insicad ol
cxlibiiing a lliclciing icndcncy ol slallow vcisaiiliiy.
Tlc lumblc and lccblc cniicaiy ol an insignilicani inloimani may bc lound usclul
io iis appiovci, wlicl will lully icpay lis undciialing.
Tlc loving ilanls ol ilc wiiici aic duc io Piolcssoi Nisli Kania Sanyal, M.A., wlo
las lindly lclpcd lim in going iliougl ilc piools.
lHAKTI SIDDHANTA SARASWATI
SRI GAUDIYA MATH, MADRAS
Chapfer 1
The Lord And His BeIoved
( Viewed by Empiricisfs )
Ioui ccniuiics ago, aboui ilc ycai 1512 A.D., ilc wcsicin banl ol ilc Godavaii ai
Kovvui, on ilc mosi mcmoiablc day in ilc Hisioiy ol ilc woild, wiincsscd a
icmailablc maicl ol a band ol Vcdic lialmanas claniing maniiams, aiicndcd
wiil a pciloiming conccii ol numcious Indian musical insiiumcnis playing bcloic
ilc pioccssion in Siaic ol ilc Govcinoi ol Godavaii Piovincc ol ilc Lmpiic ol ilc
Ganga dynasiy ol Uilal. Tlis pompous pioccssion was mcani as ilc
accompanimcni loi a ccicmonial bail in ilc sacicd Godavaii wlosc sanciiiy is
wcll csiablislcd liom iimc immcmoiial.
Tlc bailci was a no lcss conspicuous cniiiy ilan ilc Govcinoi ol ilc migliy
Lmpcioi ol Oiissa, Sii Piaiapaiudia Dcva ilc gicaicsi Rulci ol ilc lamous Ganga
Dynasiy wlosc mcmbcis boic ilc pioud dcsignaiion ol ilc Gajapaiis oi Loids ol
Llcplanis.
Tlc spcciaclc visualizcd ilc laci ilai ilc occasion was inicndcd loi sccling an
acccssion ol Viiiuc and piciy by a gicai Luminaiy ol ilc Impciial Iiimamcni wlo
cvidcnily wanicd io populaiizc limscll io bc a icligious pcisonagc guiding ilc
icins ol ilc adminisiiaiion ol a gicai King.
Jusi bcloic ilc paiiy was appioacling ilc loly bailing glai ol Gospada opposiic
io Koiilingam ai Rajmundiy, an Ascciic was obscivcd io cioss ilc iivci liom ilc
opposiic banl io Pusllaiam oi Gospada. Tlc vciy dcsiic ol laving an abluiion in
ilc sacicd siicam loiiunaicly biougli Onc Wlo is ilc objcci ol ilc cicinal scivicc
ol all unalloycd souls. Tlc unboundcd mcicy ilai was liddcn undci ilc gaib ol
ilc ascciic was slowing unusual apiiiudc io mcci a man ol an appaicnily dillcicni
calibci posscsscd ol all ioyal giandcui quiic in coniiavcniion io condiiions ol lilc
inviicd by a sannyasin wlo dcsciicd all caiilly lopcs ol laving any aid liom busy
scciions ol mundanc mcddlcis.
Tlis unusual mcciing ol ilosc iwo cxiicmcs, as would sccmingly appcai bcloic ilc
public cyc, will noi icconcilc ilc conlliciing ilouglis ol an oidinaiy obscivci.
Tlis spoi wiil iis mosi piccious iiansccndcnial associaiion las ai lasi bccn
iccovcicd liom ilc dungcon ol loigcilulncss oi oblivion by 6nc ol ilcii lumblc
scivanis alici ilc lapsc ol loiiy dccadcs. Naiuially ilc picscni day obscivcis will
lool loiwaid io ascciiain ilc dciails icgaiding wlai lcd ilc public io ilc
picscivaiion ol ilc mcmoiy ol ilc said incidcni. Wly was ilc mcndicani busy io
mcci a man ol iuling posiiion and wlai lcd ilc ablcsi lcad ol ilc adminisiiaiion io
comc in closc ioucl wiil an unlnown liguic void ol all woildly ambiiion'
Tlc Govcinoi lad cvciyiling io do wiil ilc ascciic wlo also in lis iuin was
iiavclling iliougloui ilc lcngil and bicadil ol India in scaicl ol ilc Masici and
His comiadcs. loil ol ilcm lound cacl oilci in ilc siaic wlicl iccalls ilc
sliuiimaniiam ol ilc Mundala as il dva sapuina sayuja, cic.
Gcnilc icadcis! Pciclancc you may noi bc ablc io icsisi ilc naiuial impulsc io
inquiic aboui ilc couplc. To icspond io ilc call ol cnquiiy, wc aic luinisling ilc
accouni wlicl las a lisioiical bcaiing.
Tlis ascciic was no oilci ilan Sii Kiislna-Claiianya, idcniical wiil Sii Kiislna
wiil His Consoii laislabanavi. Tlc piincipal objcci, ilc obscivcd ol all obscivcis,
was no oilci ilan Rai Ramananda, idcniical wiil ilc sciving maid lnown as Salli
Vislalla ol liaja-Lccla. Tlc damscl ol liaja camc io scivc lci Loid and Consoii
undci ilc gaib ol cxlibiiing an casy lucid cxposiiion ol ilc iiansccndcnial
manilcsiivc plasc io ilc icacl ol loiiunaic souls. Tlc Supicmc Loid--ilc
Iouniainlcad ol ilc Picdominaiing Aspcci ol ilc Tiansccndcnial Rcgion--
assumcd ilc plasc ol a sciviioi, sccling as il lis Loid wiil all aidoi, as wcll as
icady io picl up His old liicnd, io laciliiaic an casy acccss io ilc solving ol an
iniiicaic pioblcm ol cicinal lilc ol lcliciious lnowlcdgc ol ilc iiansccndcncc in
plcnomcna.
Tlc immancncc ol boil madc ilc dcvoiccs alonc io conccivc ilcm by ilcii
sccming lcaiuics ol iiansccndcncc. Tlcii mcciing discloscd lacis wlicl wcic a
scalcd bool io ilc liailiics ol luman mcnialiiy. So ilc mcmoiy ol ilis placc would
bc adcquaicly immoiializcd by iccollcciing ilc gicaicsi boon ollcicd io ilc scaicl
ol ciciniiy.
Tlc naiiviiy ol oui lcio is allcgcd io bc lcnipui in ilc Disiiici ol Puii wlcic lis
linsmcn aic siill iiaccd as Cloudluiy Paiianayalas. Hc was dcsccndcd in ilc
Kaian casic, wlicl is a mixcd casic ol vaislya and sudia as Manava Dlaima
Slasiia would icll us in dcsciibing ilc mixcd apasladas. His lailci's namc was
llavananda Rai, wlo lad loui oilci sons. Onc ol ilc sons, Gopinail, was
cmploycd in ilc scivicc ol ilc ling, bui was lound guiliy ol cmbczzling somc
amouni ol ilc ioyal iicasuiy wlicl pcnalizcd lis lilc by ilc dccision ol ilc piincc.
King Piaiapaiudia, considciing ilc dclaulici a bioilci ol Ramananda, gianicd
mcicy in spaiing lis lilc; wlcicas, ilc Supicmc Loid cxlibiicd His dillidcncc io
giani lim mcicy by His dcvoicc, ilc King. Anoilci bioilci ol lis namcd
Vaninail, uscd io scivc laiillully ilc Supicmc Loid in vaiious ways, sucl as in
convcying malapiasadam, cic.
Rai Ramananda was in ilc cadic ol ilc liglcsi scivicc ol ilc icalm and lc lad io
aci as ilc Govcinoi ol Lasi and Wcsi Godavaii, bcing a laiillul and iiusiwoiily
scivicc-loldci ol ilc Lmpcioi ol Oiissa wlo lad cxicndcd lis piovincc io ilc
noiil banl ol ilc iivci Kiislna. Higlcsi iclcicncc was givcn ol Sii Ramananda by
Vasudcva Saibablauma llaiiaclaiyya, ilc ilcn ciudiic piolcssoi ol monisiic
Vcdania oi Clinmaiiavada. His dcvoiional aciiviiics iogcilci wiil lis wiiiings
caincd loi lim ilc lamc ol ilc gicaicsi poci ol ilc iimc. Tlis iiaii ol claiacici was
uncquallcd as wcll as lis mainicnancc ol cilical vicws was no lcss.
Tlc Supicmc Loid was luiiying up io mcci lim in His jouincy io ilc Souil and
was vciy cagci io lavc lis uniquc company ol puic liglcsi dcvoiion. Rai
Ramananda ai ilc samc iimc also clciislcd an unlnown lopc ol coming in ioucl
wiil ilc all-loving iiansccndcnial cniiiy Sii Kiislna. So Tlcy wcic uniicd in ilc
iic ol lovc wlicl las a sciving apiiiudc loi ilc onc goal--ilc allila-iasamiiia-
muiiy.
Rai's cxccllcni woil, Sii Jagannail-ballava-naialam, was bcing wiiiicn wiil ilc
slill ol a icpuicd ilcioiician, and laici on ilis diama aiiiacicd ilc aiicniion ol ilc
Supicmc Loid in His manilcsiing dcvoiional iiiuals. Tlc siylc is so vciy simplc
ilai a liiilc lnowlcdgc ol giammai can lclp ilc icadcis ol any oilci languagcs
oiiginaicd liom Sansliii in lollowing ilc samc.
Sincc lis mcciing wiil ilc Supicmc Loid ai Kovvui, Rai Ramananda siiicily
lollowcd ilc counscl ol lis Masici. Hc paiicd wiil lis cxalicd posiiion and
iciuining io Puii awaiicd loi ilc Supicmc Loid in oidci io scivc Him as a
companion. Duiing lis pciiod ol iciiicmcni liom ilc scivicc ol ilc cmpcioi Rai
Ramananda livcd ai ilc Jagannail lallava Gaidcn in ilc iown ol Puii wlcic lc
was busily cngagcd in ilc piaciiccs ol ilc iiansccndcnial sciviccs ol all ilosc giils
wlom lc considcicd io bc idcniical wiil ilc damscls ol liaja.
Tlc blind pcdanis could noi disccin lis posiiion as a iiuc piaciical dcvoicc in lis
swaiupa oi iiansccndcnial absoluic posiiion wlcn lc sinccicly poscd as an cicinal
sciving maid ol ilc paiaplcinalia ol ilc Picdominaicd Tiansccndcnial Aspcci ol
ilc Absoluic. Tlc oidinaiy cycs cannoi possibly iiansccnd ilc woildly
plcnomcna; so ilcii vision is ncvci piosclyiizcd by spiiiiual acquisiiion. Tlc
oidinaiy biain cannoi possibly disiinguisl bciwccn ilc mundanc and ilc spiiiiual
plancs. Tlcii paiiiculai anglc ol vision cannoi convincc ilcm ol ilc iiansccndcnial
planc wlcic no scnsuous cnjoymcni is lcasiblc. Tlc oidinaiy sigli ol an cmpiiicisi
can ncvci bc cxpccicd io subsciibc io paia-vidya wlcn ilcii lunds aic iiuly lacling
in iiansccndcnial iicasuics. Hc was and is olicn conluscd as a man wlo was
indulging in lis scnscs loi lis cnjoymcni by lusilul aniliopomoiplisis.
lui ilc iiuc posiiion ol ilc lcaii ol oui lcio was noi obscivcd by sucl pcoplc in
ilc iiuc ligli ol a dcvoicc. A iiuc dcvoicc las no oilci ambiiion io cnjoy ilc
liailiics ol Naiuic. Hc is cvci cngagcd in ilc scivicc ol ilc Masici's comiadc
wiiloui any aiicmpi io lavc a slaic in ilc Loid's acquisiiion. Hc las bccn
acccpicd by ilc Supicmc Loid as His bcsi liicnd; and, noi only as a liicnd, bui as
an cicinal liicnd in ilc company ol Sii Kiislna and His Consoii. Ii is siaicd by ilc
biogiaplci ol ilc Supicmc Loid ilai ilc swcci composiiion ol ilc songs ol Rai
Ramananda acicd as picdominaiing ovci ilc iiansccndcnial mcnialiiy ol ilc
Masici. His bool loimcd onc ol ilc livc ilai occupicd ilc cngagcmcni ol ilc
Supicmc Loid. Hc las lcli somc songs in ilc Malilili languagc wlicl mucl
aiiiacicd ilc lovc ol lis Loid. And ilcsc songs aic ilc liglcsi spccimcns ol
dclincaiions ol iiansccndcnial lovc. His inicgiiiy and sincciiiy wcic lully
subsianiiaicd ai ilc occasion ol ilc mcciing ol Piadyumna Mis lia wlo was aslcd
by ilc Supicmc Loid Sii Kiislna-Claiianya io lcain ilc cluc ol iiuc dcvoiion liom
ilc dcnizcn ol ilc Jagannail lallava Gaidcn wlo was lully occupicd wiil ilc
iiansccndcnial lovc ol liaja. Tlc Supicmc Loid compaicd lis icnunciaiing
dcmcanoi wiil ilai ol ilc idcal abncgaiion ol ilc Goswamis Sii Rupa and Sii
Sanaiana wlo lavc slown io ilc woild conduci icacling ilc acmc ol dcsciiing
plailoim.
His iimc can bc salcly admiiicd liom ilc ciglil dccadc ol ilc liliccnil ccniuiy io
ilc succccding louiil dccadc ol ilc Cliisiian cia. Hc gicaily cxciicd limscll in
sccuiing ilc lavoi ol ilc Supicmc Loid iowaids ilc cmpcioi ol Oiissa wlo was in
iciiiioiial posscssion ol Andlia. Tlc King allowcd lim io icmain in ilc Gaidcn ol
Jagannail lallava and gianicd lim suiiablc pcnsion duiing lis lilciimc. Hc was
onc ol ilc iwo consiani companions ol ilc Loid and was ilc bcsi liicnd ol
Damodai Swaiup Goswami. Hc was iicaicd in icvcicniial cyc by ilc piopci
lollowings ol ilc Supicmc Loid, viz., Sii Raglunail Das Goswami and oilcis. Hc
was also ilc bosom liicnd ol Sii Rupa and Sii Sanaiana.
Tlc scivani's sioiy is noi complcic unlcss ilc Masici's accouni is givcn ai lcasi in a
biicl compass in oidci io avoid a paiiial vicw ol coiiclaiion ol boil. So ilc
Masici's advcni bcloic Ramananda slould cnliglicn ilc accouni. In ilc liisi placc
wc aic io naiiaic ilc picvious aciiviiics ol ilc Supicmc Loid wlo was lovcd by onc
and all, by wlomsocvci Hc mci. lui ilc Loid lad a pcculiai alliniiy loi oui lcio.
Ii las bccn iold ol ilc Supicmc Loid ilai Hc assumcd ilc plailoim ol a woild-
icaclci loi ilc uplcaval ol ilc coniaminaicd mcnialiiy ol ilc apailciic bound
souls wlo piclciicd io lavc a icmpoial lilc in ilc cluiclcs ol iimc and spacc io
accommodaic maiici.
Woildly pcisons aic no doubi busy wiil ilc lisioiiciiy ol ilc Masici and Rai
Ramananda, so ilai ilcy may gci lold ol ilc aciiviiics ol ilc icligious icaclci in
ilc cadic ol oilci sucl insiiuciing picaclcis. To saiisly ilcii cuiiosiiy as wcll as io
lclp ilcm in ilcii advancc iowaids non-mundanc planc ilc Lilc ol ilc Supicmc
Loid may bc slciclcd in ilc lollowing lincs:
Sii Kiislna-Claiianya was boin ai Sii Mayapui in ilc Disiiici ol Nadia compiiscd
in ilc Piovincc ol lcngal in India. Sii Mayapui is siiuaicd on ilc casicin banl ol
ilc sacicd siicam ol ilc Gangcs. Hc was boin on ilc 1Sil ol Icbiuaiy in ilc ycai
1+S6 A.D. ai ilc iimc wlcn ilcic occuiicd a lunai cclipsc in ilc caily cvcning. In
accoidancc wiil ilc cusiom ol ilc Indo-Aiyans ilc pcoplc wcic sccling alici
accumulaiing viiiucs and cxpiaiing ilcii sins on ilc occasion. Tlcy wcic singing
ilc Namc ol pcisonal Godlcad Vislnu insicad ol indulging in an absiiaci idca ol
Him, void ol all nomcnclaiuics.
Sii Kiislna-Claiianya wanicd io dispcl ilc ciioncous idcas ol pcoplc wlo aic busy
io iaigci ilc cniiiy ol Godlcad inio an impcisonaliiy. To givc iclicl liom sucl
doubis Sii Claiianya's advcni inio ilis woild las goi ilc inconccivablc iiacc ol His
paicnis. His lailci was lnown as Jagannail Mislia wlo migiaicd liom Syllci in
Assam io sacicd Nadia, waslcd by ilc sanciilying siicam, ilc ccnici ol lcaining ai
ilai iimc bui siubboinly avcisc io Godly associaiions. Oncc ilis placc lad bccn
ilc scai ol ilc capiial ol ilc lings ol lcngal.
His moilci Sacli Dcvi lad scvcial dauglicis boin bcloic ilc advcni ol ilc
Supicmc Loid, wlo lad dicd in ilcii inlancy, and lad a son bcloic slc could gci
Sii Claiianya as lci boy. Sii Claiianya's cldci bioilci icnounccd ilc company ol
lis linsmcn by assuming ilc gaib ol a sannyasin undci ilc lclp ol Advaiia-
Aclaiyya ol Slaniipui, wlicl is also a iown in ilc Disiiici ol Nadia. Siivas Pandii
was an cldcily ciiizcn ol Nabadwip, closc nciglboi ol Jagannail Mislia and a, man
ol dcvoui naiuic.
Tlc paicnis ol Sii Claiianya icgaidcd ii as a gicai lavoi ol ilc Supicmc Loid in
laving Him as ilc Loving Dailing ol all ilcii ambiiion. Sii Claiianya in His caily
lilc lad His dillcicni Namcs--Nimai, Gauianga, Vislwamblai, cic. Hc was lound
io spcal ilc liglcsi plilosoply ol ilc impcisonal naiuic wlcn lc was an inlani.
Hc inculcaicd ilc vicws ol ilc panilcisis in dismissing puiiiy and diii wlcn Hc
bciool Himscll io playing wiil icjccicd caiilcn pois in ilc unclcan iclusc lcap as
wcll as ialing caiil insicad ol swccimcais ollcicd by His moilci. Tlc boy lcaid
wiil iapi aiicniion ilc admoniiions ol His moilci io ilc cllcci ilai in ilc
manilcsiivc woild cvciyiling las iis piopiiciy and ilcy nccd noi bc classcd in ilc
samc caicgoiy as ilc impcisonalisis vicw ilcm ignoiing ilc spccial uiiliiy ol
paiiiculai ilings adapiablc as ingicdicnis ol ilc dcvoiccs.
In ilc manilcsiivc iiansccndcncc iimc, spacc and ilc cniiiics nccd noi bc conluscd
wiil ilc impcisonal vaguc idcas ol blanl spacc wlicl is void ol all cicinal
aiiiibuics. Tlougl ilc impcisonal conccpiion is dciivcd liom ilc biiici limiicd
cxpciicncc ol ilc icmpoial aciiviiics and iiansloimaiions, scnsaiion ol misciics,
inadcquacics and oilci unsuiiablc cxpciicnccs, yci ii is a lasiy conclusion ilai
summaiily icjccis ilc manilcsiivc sigli oui ol iis piclcicncc loi ilc void ol all
aiiiibuiions.
His linsmcn obscivcd many supcinaiuial lcais in Him ilougl Hc was ilcn a mcic
boy busy wiil His clildisl aciiviiics. Hc losi His lailci in His inlancy. lui ilis
docs noi givc Him any oppoiiuniiy ol ncglcciing His siudics. His lailci and
maicinal giandlailci wcic boil piolcssois and mcn ol lcaining. Wiilin a sloii
iimc Hc piclcd up vcisaiilc lnowlcdgc along wiil His iiaining in ilc Sansliii
languagc.
Hc lad io accosi a lcaincd pandii wlo was sccling ilc lamc ol a "Conqucioi" ol
ilc ilcn lcaincd mcn. Tlougl Vislwamblai was landlcd in a ncglcciing way by
ilai Clampion ol lcaining, ilc laiici was compcllcd io submii io ilc lcaining ol
ilc young giammai-pandii. Tlis incidcni gavc Nimai Pandii ilc liglcsi plailoim
among ilc ciudiic sclolais ol ilc ilcn ccnici ol lcaining.
Vislwamblai was maiiicd in His Laily Lilc, ilougl Hc was noi boin in an opulcni
lamily. Alici ilc dcmisc ol His lailci Hc wanicd io sccl loi adcquaic moncy io
mainiain His lamily by His pcdagogic aciiviiics. So Hc wcni io ilc Lasicin paiis ol
lcngal io sccuic ncccssaiy wcalil. On lis iciuin liom ilc loicign land Hc lound
ilai His Wilc was no longci living io cnjoy His iicasuics ilus biougli liom
abioad. So Hc icsoiicd io maiiying a sccond iimc ai ilc insinuaiions ol His
iclaiivcs and cspccially ol His moilci wlo icquiicd io bc loolcd alici by ilc
spousc ol lci son. Tlc liisi wilc was lnown by ilc namc ol Lalslmipiiya and ilc
sccond was Vislnupiiya.
Tlc piaciicc ol ollciing pinda loi onc's dcpaiicd lailci was in voguc and Hc
submiiicd io sucl convcniional mcilod ol ilc sociciy in ialing a jouincy io Gaya
wlcic Hc mci Iswaia Puii, a mcndicani dcvoicc ol ilc Madlva Sclool. Hc
submiiicd io ilc sagc wlo was icpuicd disciplc ol ilc wcll-lnown Madlavcndia
Puii.
Tlis iniiiaiion iuincd ilc iablcs loi mundanc aspiiaiions io ilc lovc ol All-loving
Absoluic Kiislna. Tlc iiansccndcnial opciaiion ol iniiiaiion gavc Him io lnow
ilai ilc Tiansccndcnial Woid Kiislna is ilc lullcsi cniiiy ol ilc widcsi
compiclcnsion ol Godlcad. So ilc cxploiiaiions ol ilc giammaiians, in wiangling
woids in ilc laslion ol Panini, wiil dillcicni mcanings icndcd io onc goal -
Kiislna - wlcn ilc cnjoying aiiiiudc by mundanc scnscs is wiillcld. Dillcicni
woids ol dillcicni languagcs lavc goi disiinciivc and conicnding impicssions as
bciwccn onc anoilci. Hc camc io ilc conclusion ilai ilc Absoluic las no
dcviaiion and Hc can only bc lad iliougl diicciing ilc auial aciiviiy io
iiansccndcncc and immancncc.
Tlis iiansccndcnial sound is cogcni cnougl io icgulaic ilc iccciving insiiumcni
ol conccpiion ol mundanc lnowlcdgc wlicl las a disiinciivc lcaiuic liom ilc
Absoluic non-lliclciing vaiiciics.
Hc was lound io clani ilc Namc ol Kiislna nigli and day wiiloui any ccssaiion
on His iciuin io Nadia. Tlc pupils wlo uscd io gci ilcii coacling liom Nimai
Pandii could noi any longci avail ilc oppoiiuniiy ol aggiandizing ilcmsclvcs wiil
ilc lnowlcdgc ol Sansliii giammai, as ilcy lound ilcii Tcaclci was absoibcd in
ilc lovc ol Kiislna. Tlc pupils appioaclcd Nimai Pandii io inducc ilcii piolcssoi
io icacl ilcm giammai as bcloic. lui Nimai Pandii would noi ai all submii io ilc
advicc ol Gangadas, His icaclci, io pay His aiicniion io ilc cniicaiics ol ilc
siudcnis ol Nadia. Hc was busy wiil inculcaiing ilc iiansccndcnial mcssagc io all
His liicnds. Advaiia, Siivas and Tlalui Haiidas, all wcic cxpcciing Nimai io ialc
up ilc causc ol puic ilcism by His mailcd unusual ialcnis, and by ilis His
convcision Nimai Pandii piovcd ilc objcci ol ilcii uncnding joy and ccsiasy. All
ol ilcm, wlo lad goi a ilcisiic icndcncy, now lound in Him ilcii only lcadci.
Tlc laima-landins and pcisons wlo indulgcd in jnana-landa and oilci dcnizcns
ol ilc iown siood againsi ilc ncw piopaganda ol ilcism lcadcd by Vislwamblai.
Tlcy could noi win ovci ilis paiiy by ilcii ialcnis and aigumcnis. Tlcy wcic lully
conlidcni ol ilc unusual mciiis ol Sii Claiianya. So ilcy could noi lind ilcii way
io pui a clccl io ilc volcanic aciiviiics ol ilis band ol woilcis. Iinding no oilci
mcasuics loi impcding ilcii couisc ilcy icsoiicd io ilc Iouzdai (Magisiiaic) ol
ilc iown io clasiisc ilc ncw icligious paiiy wlo lad bccomc a nuisancc and
disiuibcis ol ilcii pcacc by ilcii slouiing ol ilc Namc ol Kiislna. Tlc loim ol ilc
icligious piopagaiion ol Nimai lcld ilai uiiciing ilc Namc would biing all
laciliiics ol sciving Kiislna cvcn bciici ilan woislipping singly wlicl is noi
annoying io ilc nciglbois and is non-inicilciing wiil ilc wlims ol ilc mob.
Tlc non-Hindu communiiy ol ilc iown lcadcd by ilc Molammcdan Kazi
commcnccd io ollci opposiiion in vaiious ways. Tlc pcisonaliiy ol Vislwamblai
aiiiacicd aiicniion ol many ciiizcns wlo oiganizcd a vciy laigc paiiy io accosi ilc
Kazi loi lis inicilcicncc in ilcii paiiiculai icligious aciiviiics. Tlis was succcsslul
and ilc piopaganda wcni on wiil all piopiiciy. Misclicvous pcoplc wcic on ilc
lool-oui loi impcding ilc numciical cxpansion ol ilc lollowing ol Vislwamblai
by insiigaiing iwo naugliy iuibulcni bialmana iobbcis. Tlc ccmcniing policy and
assuianccs ol Nimai piosclyiizcd ilcii vicious conduci inio icligious lilc, ilougl
Nimai's co-woilcis wcic iouglly landlcd. Tlc lollowing ol Vislwamblai mci ai
ilc picmiscs ol Siivas wlcic ilcy lcld ilcii icligious congicgaiion. Somc naugliy
opponcnis ilougli ii lii io lavc somc diiiy aiiiclcs placcd againsi ilc dooiway ol
ilc lousc ol Siivas io slow ilcii indignani aiiiiudc. Tlis was also pacilicd by
Vislwamblai ialing no sicps loi puiiing a siop i o sucl misclicvous dccds.
Cciiain Hindus ol lcnoilcisiic culiuic wanicd io annoy Sii Claiianya. On a
paiiiculai occasion ii so lappcncd ilai a lcw siudcnis ol ilc communiiy
appioaclcd Nimai Pandii as Hc was claniing ilc namcs ol ilc consoiis ol
Kiislna. Tlcy wcic opposcd io Kiislna-blalii and wcic spccially avcisc io icvcic
and ollci ilcii sciviccs io Kiislna-blalias, considciing ilcmsclvcs io bc on a pai
wiil ilcm. Tlis causcd Sii Kiislna Claiianya io clasiisc ilcm wiil a cudgcl, ilis
cniagcd ilc communiiy ol ilosc losiilc ailcisis. Tlc aciivc opponcnis ol ilc
ilcisiic piopaganda now madc up ilcii minds io dispcisc ilc associaiion ol ilc
dcvoiccs by a sciics ol disiuibanccs. Nimai paiicnily obscivcd all ilis and aiiivcd
ai ilc conclusion ilai Hc would noi bc in a posiiion io conlci a gicaici boon on
His nciglbois unlcss Hc icnounccd ilcii sociciy. Tlosc naugliy lcllows, iliougl
ilcii ignoiancc lad obscivcd ilai Nimai bcing a co-slaici ol ilcii icligious
communiiy lad dcviaicd liom ilc cusiomaiy couisc and was pioving losiilc io
ilcii communiiy. So ilcy wcic icsolvcd io aci in ilc coniiaiy way simply io
discouiagc His icligious culiuic and woil ol piopaganda.
Nimai iool duc noic ol ilc siiuaiion and ilougli ilai ii would bc wisc io lcavc
ilcm alonc in ilcii cxploiis by assuming Vcdic mcndicancy wlicl all aic
accusiomcd io icvcic and io wlicl ilcy accoid ilcii csiccmcd adoiaiion. Ai ilc
closing ol His iwcniy-lilil ycai Hc wcni io Kaiwa, now a sub-divisional iown in
ilc Disiiici ol luidwan in lcngal, iwcniy-loui milcs liom Sii Mayapui, wiil a lcw
sclcci liicnds wiil ilc objcci ol loimally giving up loi good ilc lilc ol a
louscloldci.
Jusi alici ilis clangc Hc was lound io bc diawn io Viindavan wlcic Hc could
mcci Kiislna and His associaics, ilc only ambiiion ol all iiuc souls wlo aic
icpcllcd by ilc opiimisiic couisc ol ilc woildly pcoplc. His companions did noi
allow Him io lasicn diiccily io ilc localiiy ol Mailuia, bui divciicd Him liom His
couisc by a loax in lccping wiil His cxclusivc mood. Tlcy managcd io conduci
Him io Saniipui wlcic Hc lad io mcci many ol His liicnds ol Nadia, wlo wcic
anxious io lavc a lasi sigli ol Him on ilc occasion ol His dcpaiiuic liom ilcii
midsi, including Sacli Dcvi and ilc blalias.
On ilc cvc ol His dcpaiiuic liom Nadia Hc addicsscd His wilc and moilci and all
liicnds io ilc cllcci ilai Hc was lcaving ilcii sociciy in His scaicl loi Kiislna and
ilc vciy aci would givc ilcm a bciici oppoiiuniiy ol culiuiing ilc labii ol scaicl
alici Kiislna. Tlc dcsciiion was a boon io all ol ilcm and ilcy slould paii wiil
Him in all goodwill.
Iiom Slaniipui Hc iool ilc iiacl on ilc casi banl ol ilc Gangcs, passing iliougl
Vaialanagai, Calcuiia, Aiisaia, Claiiiabloga and oilci villagcs bcloic Hc cnicicd
Oiissa. Hc visiicd Gopinail ai Rcmuna in ilc Disiiici ol lalasoic, wlcic His
giand-picccpioi Madlavcndia Puii lad ilc piivilcgc ol iccciving ilc spccial mcicy
ol ilc Loid Wlo puiloincd onc ol ilc pois lull ol picpaiaiion ol iliclcncd mill
and iicc boilcd in ilc samc wlicl lad bccn ollcicd io Himscll by ilc olliciaiing
piicsi, and picscnicd ii io Madlavcndia Puii loi lis usc. Hc wcni on io Jajpui and
visiicd Salsli Gopala in Cuiiacl. Hc icaclcd Puii by way ol lluvancswai.
Ai Puii Sii Claiianya mci Vasudcv Saibablauma wlo was a piolcssoi ol
impcisonal Vcdaniism and many oilci blalias. Alici ilc convcision ol
Saibablauma io ilcism all ol ilcm iccommcndcd Him io mcci Rai Ramananda in
His pilgiimagc io ilc Souil. Hc was now bcni upon siiicily adlciing io ilc iulcs
ol ilc lilc ol a icclusc and would noi cvcn admii ilc cmpcioi ol Oiissa io
appioacl Him. lcloic His mcciing wiil Rai Ramananda Hc lad visiicd ilc Sliinc
ol Alalnail ai lialma-giii, Kuimadcva ai Kuimaclalam ncai Clicacolc in ilc
modcin Disiiici ol Ganjam, wlcic Hc cngagcd Himscll in picacling Kiislna-
blalii.
Spcnding a lcw days wiil Ramananda on Kiislna iopics Sii Claiianya in His
piogicss iliougl ilc Souil visiicd Mangalgiii in Guniui, Alobilam in Kainul and
Tiiupaii in Cliiiui Disiiicis. Hc visiicd almosi all ilc sliincs ol Tamil couniiy. Hc
lad bccn io Conjivciam, Sii Rangam, Maduia, Sliyali, Kumbalonam, Tanjoic and
saw scvcial sliincs in ilc Tinncvclly Disiiici and in ilc Tiavancoic Siaic wlcic Hc
saw Janaidana and Anania Padmanabla, Adilcslava and Kanya Kumaii bcloic Hc
visiicd Payoslni and ilc Wcsicin-coasi sliincs.
Ai Sii Rangam Hc livcd loi loui monils in ilc lousc ol a Sii vaislnava, wlo lad
migiaicd io ilai placc, namcd Vcnlaia llaiia, wiil wlom Hc lad a compaiaiivc
discussion ol ilc piinciplcs ol majcsiy (aislvaiya) and mcllow aiiiaciion
(madluiya). Ii icsulicd in ilc convcision ol lis bioilci Piabodlananda, a iiidandi
sannyasin, and lis son Gopala llaiia wlo iuincd oui io bc onc ol ilc six piincipal
disciplcs ai Viindavan. Ai Tiiuvaiiai Hc piclcd up ilc Iilil Clapici ol lialma
Samliia wlicl boic icsiimony io ilc liglcsi cxccllcncc ol Kiislna and His
pasiimcs iogcilci wiil a nicc dclincaiion ol ilc divcisc conccpiion ol ilc
lailcnoilcisis, Hc visiicd scvcial placcs on ilc Wcsicin coasi including Sliingcii,
Udipi, Todii, Golaina, cic. Ai Udipi Hc was misundcisiood as a mayavadi
sannyasin, i.c., as bcing a icclusc ol ilc impcisonal sclool; bui ilcisiic discouiscs
iuincd ilc iablcs againsi ilc loldcis ol ilis wiong vicw. Ii was siaicd by ilc oilci
sidc ilai ilc pioccduic ol liuiiivc woil would lcad io salvaiion. lui Hc csiablislcd
blalii io bc boil ilc mcans and ilc cnd ol all aciiviiics, wlicl could noi bc
dcnicd by ilc succcssois ol ilc Madlva Sclool. Hc appiovcd ilcii dociiinc ilai
ilc objcci ol woislip and ilc louniainlcad ol all dillcicni aspccis ol Vislnu is
Kiislna, ilc all-cmbiacing icsoii ol all iasas and wlo is ilc picsiding dciiy ol ilc
Madlva Sclool.
Hc wcni io Kolalpui and visiicd oilci placcs on His way bacl io Puiusoiiam
Kslciia (Puii), including Pandlaipui wlcic His cldci bioilci Vislwaiupa, lnown
as Swami Sanlaiaianya, lcli His body on ilc banl ol ilc iivci llima.
On iciuining io Puii Hc mci His loimci comiadcs ol Nadia, including Tlalui
Haiidas and Damodai Swaiup. Hc icjoincd Ramananda Rai and Vasudav
Saivablauma and His Uilal lollowcis. Pcoplc liom Nadia wcni io Puii io lavc a
sigli ol ilc Supicmc Loid Wlo iciuincd iliilci alici visiiing all ilc sliincs ol ilc
Souil, including Lasi and Wcsi coasi, and alici mcciing all ilc ilcn icligious
lcads.
Hc now slowcd ilc pcoplc by His acis low io scivc Jagadisla in dillcicni
capaciiics, c.g., diawing ilc Cais wiil samliiian in congicgaiions. Hc was now
plcascd io giani His pcimission io scc Him liisi io ilc son ol ilc cmpcioi and laici
on io ilc cmpcioi limscll. Pcoplc liom Nadia uscd io mcci Him cvciy ycai duiing
ilc iimc ol ilc Cai Icsiival and cnjoycd His Picscncc by siiicily lollowing ilc
diciaics ol icligion ol lovc. Sii Kiislna-Claiianya lad always a dcicsiaiion loi
mayavada--ilai plasc ol panilcism in wlicl ilc cicinal scivicc is piaciically
dcnicd and pcdaniic aspcisions aic lound io picdominaic ovci ilc aspccis ol
iiansccndcnial manilcsiivc Tiuil.
Tlc Supicmc Loid was noi pcimiiicd by His dcvoiccs io piocccd io Viindavan,
lcsi Hc would noi iciuin. Tlc Loid acccdcd io ilc appiclcnsion in cuibing His
Jouincy liom Malda (Old Gauda), a noiilcin disiiici ol ilc samc namc in lcngal,
as pci counscls ol His admiicis. Hc was dcicimincd io piocccd io Viindavan and
ilis iimc Hc would acccpi only onc companion loi His jouincy io ilc
Noiilwcsicin piovincc, iliougl wild icgions ol loicsis. Alici ciossing ovci ilc
loicsi iiacls and mcciing ilc lciocious animals by associaiing Himsdl wiil ilcm
by claniing ilc iiansccndcnial Namcs Hc icaclcd lcnaics and mci somc iwo oi
ilicc admiicis ilcic bcloic, Hc would jouincy loi Allalabad wlcic Hc mci Sii
Rupa Goswami, onc ol ilc iwin siais ol ilc adminisiiaiion ol lcngal wlo Hc
iaugli all aboui blalii--oi ilc pioccduic low io sccuic Kiislna picma oi ilc linal
goal ol all ambiiions. Iiom Allalabad Hc visiicd all ilc viciniiics ol Viindavan
wlcic Kiislna cnacicd His blouma lila, io cnliglicn ilosc liccd souls wlo wcic
cniiilcd io lavc ilc samc and siaycd ilcic loi somc monils. Hc iciiaccd His
looisicps io Allalabad via Soion alici clalling oui ilc Gangcs iouic io mcci
Sanaian Goswami wlo lad cscapcd liom ilc piison ol ilc ilcn King ol lcngal as
ilc King could noi spaic Sanaiana loi lis sciviccs loi icligious puiposcs. Ai
lcnaias Hc iaugli Sanaiana all aboui ilc sambandla jnanam (i.c., ilc
iiansccndcnial iclaiion ol ilc cicinal manilcsiaiions).
Hc paid a sloii visii io Kuiulslciia and somc oilci placcs wlicl aic noi
spccilically noicd in His biogiaply, bcloic Hc again iciuincd io Puii.
Hc iool vigoious mcasuics in icspcci ol His lollowings wlo wcic lound io go
asiiay liom His insiiuciions, c.g., ilc icncgadc pscudo-Haiidas and oilcis.
Iiom His iliiiy-scvcnil ycai io ilc closc ol His lila Hc did noi pcimii ouisidcis io
pciiuib Him in His spiiiiual aciiviiics cxccpi ilai His iniimaic lollowings lad ilc
piivilcgc ol sciving Him in lis Kiislla-loving apiiiudc. Somciimcs pcoplc
obscivcd Him in lull cnilcasmic iiancc. Somciimcs Hc was obscivcd io iun inio
ilc waicis ol ilc lay considciing iis biinc io bc ilc spiiiiual waici ol ilc Yamuna
wlcic Kiislna uscd io play. l'n all lis Spiiiiual Aciiviiics ilc lollowcis lavc lcaini
ilai scpaiaiion ol ilc consoii is csiimaicd as lclping ilc spiiiiual culiuic and noi
ilc cnjoying associaiion ol ilc Absoluic wlicl cannoi malc any piogicss.
His Disappcaiancc is iiaccd io His amalgamaiion wiil Gopinail ai Toia in Puii.
Somc aic ol opinion ilai Hc mcigcd inio Jagadisla ai ilc Gundicla in
Sundaiaclal. Ioolisl and unsciupulous mcn lavc suimiscd ilai His body was
mixcd in waicis ol ilc lay, bui in ilai casc ilc dasling wavc migli lavc iciuincd
Him io ilc sloic. Tlcic aic dillcicni spuiious sioiics wlicl go io slow ilai His
disappcaiancc camc aboui by ilc aciiviiics ol His opponcnis. lui ilc dcvoiccs aic
conlidcni ol His cicinal and spiiiiual body bcing inscpaiablc liom ilc ownci as Hc
is noi io bc csiimaicd in ilc ligli ol an incainaiion oi condiiioncd soul lilc ilc
picaclci wlo las io pay ilc dcbi io Naiuic.
In laci Hc was idcniical wiil ilc All-lovc laving no mundanc iclcicncc io signily
His cniiiy in paiiiculai iimc and spacc, ilougl Hc did noi slow io dcludc ilc,
apailciic and iupiuious vicws ol a non-loving calibci. Tlis is a sloii naiiaiivc ol
ilc Supicmc Loid and Rai Ramananda as gaugcd by mundanc spcciaiois lnown as
lagiolaicis wlo scaicl aboui ilc accounis ol lciocs.
Chapfer 2
The Lord And His BeIoved
(Viewed By Devofees)
Wc lavc suivcycd in ilc lasi Clapici ilc sccming conccpiion ol woildly pcoplc
aboui Rai Ramanana. Now wc aic io cnliglicn ilosc wlo aic inicicsicd in ilc
csoiciic aspcci ol ilc dcvoicc. Savanis ol ilc spiiiiual manilcsiaiions do noi
coiioboiaic ilc vicw ol ilc oidinaiy obscivci ol mundanc plcnomcna.
Conccpiion is caiiicd boil in woildly plcnomcna as wcll as in iiansccndcnial
manilcsiivc aspccis. A siiicici cauiion may noi bc ncglccicd in disiinguisling ilc
iwo dillcicni plancs so as io icscuc ilc iiuc vicw liom conlusion.
Rai Ramananda was lai liom subsciibing io ilc conccpiion ol a panilcisi. Iiom
wlai 'lc lad discloscd aboui ilc soluiion ol ilc manilcsiivc absoluic bcloic Sii
Kiislna-Claiianya, wc comc io lnow ilai Kiislna is ilc louniainlcad ol all
sounds, all aspccis ol sigli, ilc cicaioi ol spiiiual and mundanc icpicscniaiions,
ilc vciy ccnici ol all scnsuous aciiviiics and ilc objcci ol all manilcsiivc
plcnomcna. Hc is ilc cllicicni and maiciial causc ol cvciy manilcsiaiion and all
noumcna. Inliniic poicncics aic inlcicni in Him, and ilc poicncics aic sci io woil
by bcing cmanaicd liom ilc solc louniainlcad. Hc is ilc csscncc and llavoi ol all
smclling aciiviiy ol an cnjoyci. Hc is ilc iclisling and iasiclul cniiiy ol all aciivc
woilcis wlo aic a paii and paiccl ol ilc subsiiaium and dclcgaicd powcis.
Tlc scniicni cicaiion is noiling bui a wiappci ol ilc iiansccndcnial scnscs
inlcicni in all spiiiiual aioms lnown as jivas. Tlcy aic adapiablc as picdominaicd
agcnis ol ilc picdominaiing aspcci ol Kiisbna. Kiislna is Himscll svayam-iupa;
and oilci icpicscniaiivc aspccis ol ilc cicinal louniainlcad aic His non-
disiinciivc manilcsiaiions io lclp ilc aiomic spiiiiual paiis ol His boidciland
poicncy, viz., ilc jivas.
Tlcic aic livc siagcs wlicl aic lnown as acmc ol sponiancous lunciion iowaids
ilc All-lovc by His loving agcnis. So wc do noi lind any iiiualisiic pciloimancc by
Ramananda, ilougl ilcic was ilc sccming lcaiuic ol abluiion in ilc waicis ol ilc
Godavaii accompanicd by lis laimi councilois wlo wcic busy in iiying io inducc
lim io submii io ilc convcniional cusioms ol ilc liuii-scclcis. His convcisaiions
wiil ilc Supicmc Loid disclosc ilc laci ol lis lai-oll siiuaiion liom ilc conccpiion
ol ilc iiiualisis oi ilc dcsigns ol ilc inicllcciual pcdanis pionc io suicidal
commission. Tlc disclosuic ol ilc iiansccndcnial manilcsiaiion iliougl ilc lips
ol an cicinal dcvoicc was calculaicd by ilc lollowing ol Sii Kiislna-Claiianya as
ilc pioncci publicaiion ol ilc iiansccndcnial Tiuil in vaiious aspcci. So ilc
mcsscngci slould noi bc misundcisiood by sciuiinizing mcicly lis ouiwaid
appcaiancc. A dcvoicc is ncvci iccognizcd by lis sccming lcaiuic and condiiion.
Tlc Supicmc Loid las iaugli us by His scll-composcd vcisc wlicl iuns ilus -
nanam vpro na ca nara-patr nap vasyo na suro
nanam varn na ca grna-patr no vana-stno yatr va
hntu proyan nhnIa-paramanana-purnamrtabncr
gop-bnartun paa-hamaIayor asa-asanuasan
"I am noi a bialmana, noi a lsaiiiya, noi a vaislya, noi a sudia; nciilci am I a
bialmacaii, a giilasia, noi a vanapiasia oi sannyasi, bui I am ilc cicinal scivani ol
ilc scivani ol ilc scivani ol ilc biilliani, unlimiicd, mosi blisslul, complcic
cmpoiium ol ncciai Wlo is ilc mainiainci ol ilc gopics."
Tlc Supicmc Tcaclci poscd Himscll as ilc audicncc ol ilc spcalci ol
iiansccndcnial Tiuil as a mcic Inquiici. Tlc adamaniinc mcnialiiy could noi
casily submii io ilc cnliglicnmcni by ilc cicinal obscivci in lis dclincaiion ol ilc
cicinal laci. An unalloycd obscivaiion ol ilc soul slould noi bc coniaminaicd in
any way io dciciminc limscll as bcing idcniical wiil ilc ovci-soul. lui an cicinal
sciviioi vicws cvciy manilcsiaiion ciilci io bc idcniical wiil ilc objcci ol lis
dcvoiion oi iiaccs ilc cicinal iclaiionslip wiil ilc Samc.
Tlc ouiwaid mcciing ol Sii Claiianya wiil Ramananda was quiic dcccpiivc io ilc
oidinaiy spcciaioi, spccially ilc dissimilai combinaiion ol ilc iwo, onc bcing a
mcndicani and ilc oilci slowing alliniiy loi woildly allaiis. Unlcss ilc spcciaioi
is lamiliai wiil ilc lccn insigli io pcnciiaic inio ilc lcaiis ol boil ol ilcm lc is
noi cxpccicd io disccin ilc aciual subjcciiviiy and ilcii ical goal. Il ilc spcciaioi
is cducaicd in ilc linc ol ilc salvaiionisis lc would ncccssaiily bc conluscd in
ascciiaining ilc compaiibiliiy ol ilc iwo. In lis csiimaiion ilc Mcndicani slould
noi slow sucl alliniiy loi a man in powci busy wiil lis pompous aiicmpis in
sccuiing populaiiiy and musi lall as a iiuc icligious man. Ramananda was lai liom
ilc mislcading conccpiions ol an cnjoying impcisonalisi.
Tlc dcvoiccs aic noi piopcily sccn by ilc non-dcvoiccs wlo lavc goi a wiong
cducaiion and misconccpiion. A non-dcvoicc olicn ilinls limscll quiic
convcisani wiil all ilc plascs ol mundanc cxisicncc. And ilis unicliablc
conlidcncc in limscll malcs lim a pcdani and dcal io ilc inculcaiion ol a
dcvoicc's icmpci. So lc cannoi paiiicipaic in ilc samc vicw wiil a dcvoicc. Tlc
dillcicncc bciwccn a dcvoicc and ilc lollowing ol ilc sclool ol impcisonalisis can
bc iiaccd by ilc biluicaic vicw ol ilc loimci's paiiiculaiizing ilc inicicsi ol scll
wiil ilai ol ilc lazy considciaiion ol appaicnily conicnding impicssions ol ilc
laiici. Tlc dcvoicc is busy wiil lis pcison and ilc Pcisonaliiy ol ilc Absoluic.
Wlcicas an impcisonalisi is lound io conccniiaic lis conlliciing conccpiions io an
imaginaiy uniiy. His synilciic mcilod in many cascs lcads lim io dcspaii.
Ramananda lad onc objcci in vicw and lis objcci was Kiislna and His sciviccs in
oidci io plcasc Him. Tlc oidinaiy cyc will considci lim io iun alici dillcicni aims
io saiisly lis scnscs; bui lc lad only onc dciciminaiion io lullil. Sii Kiislna-
Claiianya and His lollowing could dciciminc lis iiuc posiiion as iiuc dcvoicc,
mcani loi lis cicinal sciviccs io Kiislna.
"Tlougl Kiislna was obscivcd by ilc wicsilcis as ilc bcsi clampion lilc ilc
ilundci, by ilc pcoplc as ilc ling ol mcn, by ilc ladics as ilc aiiiaciing ccnici ol
lovc, by ilc cowlcids as ilcii ncai Rclaiivc, by ilc wiong-doing clicliains as ilcii
clasiisci, by ilc paicnis as ilcii Only Clild, by ilc Lmpcioi ( Kamsa ) ol lloja as
Dcsiiuciion Incainaic, by ilc lools as Inliniiy, by ilc Yogins as ilc Iinal Objcci
and by ilc liislnis as ilcii Guaidians, ilc cicinal bioilcis (laladcv and Kiislna)
wcni up io ilc plailoim ol Kamsa." Tlougl Kiislna was obscivcd as Maisya,
Kuima, Vaiala, Niisimla, Vamana, Tlicc Ramas, luddla and Kalli, and lialma,
Vislnu and Malcslvaia, and Vasudcva, Samlaislana, Piadyumna and Aniiudla,
Manvaniaiavaiaia, Yugavaiaia, Avcslavaiaia, and as ilc Insiiucioi oi Lcadci, and
lialman and Paiamaiman by dillcicni siglis, Hc was ilc only objcci ol dcvoiion
ol Ramananda as consoii. Wlcn ilc Absoluic is consoii, ilc iccipiocal siiuaiion ol
ilc sciviioi can casily bc ascc iiaincd as sciving-maid. Wlcn ilai objcci is
cicinally scivcd by ilc sciving maid wlo las jusi aiiaincd iowaids Him, lci
cicinal agc las no vaiiaiion in ilc iolling iound ol iimc. Tlc vciy bcauiy and coloi
ol ilc cicinal scivci is cxacily dovc-iailing ilc puiposc ol ilc objcci and ilc
cicinal gaimcnis ol ilc paii aic no longci slui oll bcloic ilc lollowing ol
Ramananda.
Tlc cicinal Namc, Ioim, Coloi, Abodc, Gaimcnis, Mcnialiiy, Ingicdicnis ol
scivicc and cvciyiling connccicd ilcicwiil aic visiblc io a iiuc dcvoic wlo aspiics
io lavc a similai siiuaiion io lollow lis oi lci lcadci. A lazy sigli will dciciminc
lim in ilc lisioiiciiy ol lciocs, locaic lim in a paiiiculai piovincc, and givc lim
as ilc loldci ol a paiiiculai siiuaiion. lui a dcvoicc las liiilc io bc iaugli in ilcsc
lincs io ascciiain ilc absoluic wlcicabouis ol Ramananda. A dcvoicc lnows
Ramananda's giovc on ilc banl ol ilc Spiiiiual Siicam Yamuna and paiiiculai
lclplul Pasiimcs icndcicd io Kiislna.
Chapfer 3
Their Conversafion
(For The Beginners)
Tlc iiiualisis wcic amazcd io lind ilai ilc mcndicani, coming in coniaci wiil a
pcison ol lowci casi ilougl ol ligl posiiion, slowcd sucl aidcni lovc wlicl was
noi usual. Tlc Supicmc Loid ilanlcd His loiiunc and wcni on io say ilai Hc was
clciisling an cxiiaoidinaiy dcsiic io mcci lim cvci sincc lis iiansccndcnial
sciving mood lad bccn spolcn io Him by ilc ciudiic sclolai Saivablouma. In
icsponsc io ilc mcndicani's quciics, Ramananda iold lim ilai lis icvcicd
Saivablouma las conlidcncc in lim and lis wcll-wisling las madc lim loiiunaic
io lavc His picscncc, and slouicd "I am an unsccablc, uniouclablc, so quiic
unwoiily ol You; bui ii is ilc unpicccdcnicd mcicy ol Saivablouma ilai las
poscd You io cxicnd Youi lovc io an unwoiily objcci lilc mc. I am a slavc ol my
woildly masici, wlcicas You aic cxlibiiing Youi loiding poicncy ol ilc
louniainlcad. You aic dcbaiicd by ilc injunciions ol ilc Vcdas io scc mc and io
ioucl mc and cnjoincd io dcspisc mc, wlicl You lavc ignoicd, as You ai c lindly
bcni upon cxicnding Youi Mcicy io mc wlicl is noi appiovcd by ilc sociciy ol
culiuicd pcoplc. lui I scc, You do noi caic loi ilcsc. I am quiic woiily ol laving
Youi lavoi as Youi wonicd gcnciosiiy lound io lcavc mc up and ilis las causcd
You io inquiic aboui mc and biougli You lcic. I am accompanicd by icns ol
lundicds ol bialmanas wlo aic all obscivcd now slowing ilcii mclicd mcnialiiy
and aic lound io clani ilc Namc ol Haii. A moiial bcing can ncvci bc cxpccicd io
display sucl sympioms ol Godlcad."
Sii Claiianya, ovcijoycd by ilc iall ol Ramananda, addicsscd lim as ilc bcsi ol
ilc gcncious lcaiicd liglcsi class ol dcvoiccs. "Tlc convcision io mcllowncss ol
ilc lcaiis ol youi dcpcndcnis is duc io youi dcvoiional aciiviiy alonc. I Myscll, an
illusionisi and mcndicani, am piosclyiiscd as a dcvoicc by youi ioucl.
Saivablouma, lnowing lull wcll My adamaniinc mcnialiiy, las cniicaicd you io
icciily Mc and io solicn My Hcaii."
Ramananda said io Malapiablu, sccing Him inviicd io dinc ai ilc lousc ol a
bialmana and His siiong dcsiic io mcci lim again in conncciion wiil Kiislna-
iopics, "I am noi saiislicd wiil Youi mcic sigli bui wani io bc icgulaicd by Youi
iiansccndcnial woids! I slould icquiic io clcansc my lcaii by Youi divinc
associaiion loi a wccl oi so." Tlougl ilc iwo cicinal liicnds lad no dcsiic io paii
wiil cacl oilci siill ilcy wcic compcllcd io dciacl ilcmsclvcs wiil a vicw io mcci
again iowaids ilc cvcning.
Wlcn ilcy mci again in ilc cvcning, ilc dialoguc on Kiislna-iopics wcni on. Tlc
Loid inquiicd, "Kindly ciic ilc vcisc ilai dcals wiil ilc goal ol oui aciiviiics."
Ramananda answcicd by ciiing ilc vcisc ol Vislnu Puiana, "Scivicc io Vislnu is
icndcicd by pciloiming ilc icspcciivc duiics ol an individual. Vislnu is plcascd by
ilc aciual lollowing ol iiiualisiic duiics by a pcison ol lis paiiiculai siaius and ol
lis paiiiculai condiiion in ilc loui-lold classilicaiion ol sociciy. Wiiloui siicling
io ilc duiics ol onc's icspcciivc occupaiion and condiiion, ilcic is no oilci way io
plcasc Vislnu."
In Rcply io Ramananda's siaicmcni ilc Loid did noi admii lis pioposiiion, bui
iold lim io malc luiilci piogicss in clucidaiing ilc iopic moic vividly. "Tlc
sccming siglis ol mundanc icpicscniaiions aic noi in conloimiiy wiil ilc aciual
dcmonsiiaiion ol ilings. Tlc iiiualisiic pciloimanccs aic bui cxoiciic aiicmpis in
wlicl ilc csoiciic plasc is simply ignoicd.
Having bccn discouiagcd in lis voluniaiy ciiing ol ilc bcginnci's diicciion,
Ramananda addcd ilai pcoplc would bc pioliicd by suiicndciing ilc liuiiivc
icsulis ol ilcii pciloimanccs io Kiislna and ilai ilis would scivc ilc puiposc ol
all oui aciions. Hc quoicd a vcisc liom ilc llagavad Giia wlicl was iold io
Aijuna by lis Picccpioi Kiislna, "Suiicndci cvciy iling io Mc as io wlaicvci you
wani io do, wlaicvci you wani io cai, wlaicvci you wani io ollci Mc in youi
iiiualisiic pciloimanccs, wlaicvci you aic io bcsiow io oilcis and wlaicvci
piivaiions you wani io piaciicc."
A man ol liuiiivc aciions always icnds io woil loi limscll and io monopolizc ilc
liuiis ol lis dccds dcpiiving all oilcis loi lis own pcisonal gain. Il ilcsc aciions
aic donc wiil a mundanc iclcicncc, ilc posiiion ol ilc scll is noi iiuly dcicimincd
as ii las iclcicncc io ilc cxoiciic planc only. Tlc mcnialiiy is lilcly io clangc iis
diicciion il ilis las iclcicncc io a wiincss.
Wiil icgaid io ilis, ilc Loid said ilai a simplc wiincss in ilc slapc ol Vislnu
would noi do, as ilis las a mundanc iclaiiviiy. So ilc objcci ol ollciing las also
mundanc iclaiiviiy. Tlc ollcici las lis locaiion in mundanc iclaiiviiy and in
mundanc pciislablc icmpoial aciiviiics and cannoi possibly claim io scivc ilc
cicinal all-blisslul lnowlcdgc Vislnu. Tlc luman scopc is icsiiicicd moic io
limiicd cilical considciaiions, wlcicas ilc Conccpiion ol ilc Iull nccd noi bc
icsiiicicd in ilai linc; so ilis is bui an cxoiciic cnicipiisc. Hc wanicd lim io
clucidaic ilc maiici luiilci.
Ramananda again ialing up ilc ilicad said ilai ilc sojouinci ol Tlcism slould
lcavc oll lis mundanc alliniiy and ilis will biing ilc dcsiicd icsuli. Hc cullcd a
slola liom ilc clcvcnil and anoilci liom ilc liisi canio ol ilc llagavaiam in
oidci io amcnd lis vicws io lavc a liglci plailoim in lis discouisc: Kiislna said,
"Hc las aiiaincd ilc liglcsi lcvcl wlo can scvci lis conncciion liom woildly
viiiuc and sin as diciaicd by Mc io amclioiaic lis aciiviiy in oidci io scivc Mc."
Again in ilc Giia, Kiislna said io Aijuna, "I call upon you io icly on Mc lcaving
asidc all soiis ol viiiuous aciiviiics, cvcn so you will bc iclicvcd liom ilc cllccis ol
sin and will noi lavc io icpcni loi doing so."
Pcisons wlo cngagc ilcmsclvcs in cndcavois loi ilcii own gain, Ramananda
classilicd inio ilicc division, viz., (1) cnjoymcni by noi inicilciing wiil oilcis will
lcad onc io scivc ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad indiiccily; (2) suiicndciing all ilc
liuiis ol oui dccds io ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad; (3)aiicmpiing io scivc Kiislna
lcaving asidc wlaicvci is dciiimcnial oi luciaiivc io us wiiloui sccling loi any
oilci advaniagc liom any oilci quaiicis.
Tlc liisi las no mcniion ol scivicc bui an aclnowlcdgcmcni ol ilc Pcisonaliiy ol
Godlcad. Tlc sccond las goi iclcicncc io ilc scivicc ol Godlcad along wiil oui
dccds and nccds, i.c., mixcd-up scivicc. And ilc iliid is ilc piclcicncc ol ilc
scivicc wiiloui maling any aiicmpi ol mixing ilai wiil mundanc plcnomcna. In
ilcsc ilicc ilc woilci oi non-woilci las diicci oi indiicci iclcicncc as iccipicni.
So ilc iclcicncc ol ilc icmpoial planc is an associaicd lacioi, ilc qucsiion ol
ciciniiy bcing ignoicd. lui as ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is noi iiglily
dcicimincd, unalloycd laima wiil csoiciic iclcicncc las goi somc piopiiciy.
Tlc Loid now aslcd lim io lcavc oll ilc cxoiciic sidc and uigcd loi a bciici lcvcl
ol ilc appioacling cniiiy loi liglci dcsiiabiliiy. Ramananda wcni on io say ilai
dcvoiion slould bc aiicndcd noi wiil a blind cyc bui wiil an csoiciic iclcicncc ol
lnowlcdgc ol ilc unaduliciaicd. In suppoii ol lis siaicmcni lc cullcd a slola liom
ilc cigliccnil clapici ol ilc Giia, "Wlcn a pcison is sci licc liom limiicd cniiiics,
lc is lound io bc in an undisiuibcd mood wlcic no wani is lcli, nciilci any
passionaic dcsiic io aggiandizc limscll; in ilai casc lc sccs cqualiiy in ilc
plcnomcnal woild and ilcicby avails ilc oppoiiuniiy ol liglci siandaid ol
dcvoiion. Tlis las also a iclaiivc posiiion ol ncgaiion ol ilc inicinal pciislablc
plcnomcna along wiil a compaiaiivc siiuaiion ol disiuibancc and pcacc. Tlis las
a iinciuic ol dcvoiion mixcd up wiil ilc csoiciic iclcicncc ol plcnomcna.
So ilc Loid was obscivcd io icll lim again io go on wiil poiniing oui a liglci
plasc, dcciding ilis also io bc an ouiwaid dcmonsiiaiion ol dcvoiion. Along wiil
ilc diicciion ol ilc Loid, Ramananda wcni on io add ilai dcvoiion wlicl is licc
liom all soiis ol csoiciic lnowlcdgc is considcicd as a vciy ligl loim ol dcvoiion;
and, in csiablisling sucl unalloycd dcvoiion, lc ciicd a passagc liom ilc
louiiccnil clapici ol ilc Tcnil Slandla ol ilc llagavaiam: "Lmpiiic lnowlcdgc
slould bc iloiouglly icjccicd considciing iis cplcmcial icsuli, and spccially as
ilc Wlolc Tiuil can ncvci bc lad by sucl aiicmpi in oui plcnomcnal scopc. Wc
slould lollow by ilc ilicc mcdiums ol body, mind and ionguc, and audicncc
wlaicvci is passcd liom ilc lips ol an cxpcii in dcvoiion conccining ilc
iiansccndcnial naiiaiivcs, wlaicvci bc oui posiiion. Tlc unclallcnging mood in
cxcicising oui auial icccivci pcimiis us io cioss ovci ilc insuimouniablc aliiiudc
ol ignoiancc by piaciicing a submissivc a piiiudc."
Ol all ilcsc livc piogicssivc iclcicnccs ol ilc dcsiiabiliiy ol appioacling and
sciving ilc Pcisonaliiy ol God lcad ilc Loid admiiicd ilc non-cmpiiic lilil
assciiion wlicl is licc liom all soiis ol loicign conccpiion mixcd up wiil ilc
aciiviiy ol animaiion. Tlc abovc convcisaiion las bccn summcd up wlcn ilc Loid
spolc aboui llalii io Sii Rupa Goswami ai Allalabad. Tlcsc dillcicni siagcs icnd
io awaid dlaima, aiila, lama and molsla wlicl aic noi considcicd covciablc ol
ilc unalloycd soul wlo las ilc innaic qualiiy ol ciciniiy, lnowlcdgc and bliss
combincd. ly undciialing all iiicgulai aiicmpis wc aic liusiiaicd io lavc a
viiiuous and lcliciious lilc as ilc inlani conccpiion ol icligion las givcn
icmpciamcnis io mcn ol icligious icmpci. Tlcy wcic dcnicd io lavc ilc lull vicw
ol unaduliciaicd lovc io ilc Absoluic as ilc csscniial cicinal qualiiy ol ilc soul.
Tlc wiong conglomciaiion ol oui ciioncous suppoii wiil ilc iiuc lunciion ol ilc
unalloycd soul is noi piclciablc in judging ilc com paiaiivc mciiis ol alloycd
dcvoiion.
Pcoplc aic olicn dazzlcd wiil ilc ligli ol viiiuc and moialiiy, wlcn ilcy considci
ilc dcsiiabiliiy ol ilcii aciiviiy in laving scnsuous cnjoymcnis as aliiuisis by ilcii
picdilcciivc mood. Tlc considciaiion ol ilc liglcsi bcnclii would lcad ilcm io
lcsiiaic in icgaid io ilc adopiion ol clcvaiing oi sciiing ilcmsclvcs licc liom ilc
disiuibcd aimosplcic. Tlc liuiiivc icsulis aic bui icmpoial alluicmcnis; wlcicas
dcsciiion ol ilc samc by dispclling all ignoiancc duc io plcnomcna was
considcicd io bc cllicacious in dismissing ilc icmpoial manilcsiaiions. So ilc Loid
gavc His linal dccision ol aiiaining unalloycd dcvoiion by ilc mcilod ol diiving
oui all passionaic mixiuic ol ilc aciivc woilcis as wcll as passivc indolcni
mcdiiaiois. Dciciminaiion ol scll slould noi bc lixcd in any ol ilc conccpiion ol
plysical oi asiial cniiiy, and ilc objcci ol dcvoiion slould noi bc icsiiicicd in any
cxoiciic oi csoiciic plcnomcna. Tlc uniiing iic bciwccn ilc lovci and ilc lovcd
slould in no casc bc a icmpoial onc, a blind onc and an iniciiupicd onc.
Tiansccndcnial lovc is lull manilcsiaiion ol ccsiaiic cxpansion void ol all
discicpancics and dcloimiiics ol ilc mundanc plcnomcna. Wc will bc simply
bcwiiclcd by lollowing ilc iwo icmpiaiions ol planiasmagoiia wlicl will cvci
dcpiivc us liom laving a pccp inio ilc only lunciion ol blisslul dcvoiional
lnowlcdgc. Tlc piicc ollcicd io us in loving dcvoiion las no compaiison wiil ilc
lccblc and dying icsulis ol laima and jnanam wlicl, wlcn compaicd wiil blalii,
will piovc ilcii luiiliiy and woiillcssncss il ilcii icspcciivc inicnsiiy oi magniiudc
is biougli bcloic us. Tlc ciioncous dciciminaiion ol oui scll las gaincd loi us ilc
iwo dcgiadcd aiiiaciing iiacls wlicl puzzlc us in ilc iiuc sclcciion. So ilc Loid
wanicd liom ilc dcvoicc ilai lc slould boldly spcal oui ilc Tiuil loi ilc
guidancc ol ilc iiuc inquiicis.
Chapfer +
Their Conversafion
(For The Advanced)
Tlc cnliglicning lymns ol Clandyogya lavc impicsscd us ilai lc wlo can
suipass all conccpiions ol limiiaiion lnowing ilc indcsiiuciiblc Pcisonaliiy ol ilc
Absoluic, is alonc noi a liipana bui is a bialmana. So ilc Supicmc Loid aslcd
Ramananda io cxplain lis lnowlcdgc ol iiansccndcncc in oidci io slalc oll ilc
populai ciipplcd vicw ol ascciiaining lim by ilc ouiwaid plasc. Wc lavc
suivcycd ilc dillcicni aspccis ol lnowlcdgc ilai aic commonly lnown io pcoplc
wlo diaw ilcii dccision oui ol ilcii picscni lnowlcdgc dciivcd iliougl ilc
mcdium ol scnscs.
Tlc compaiaiivc mciiis ol pious scclcis ol viiiuc againsi ilc lallcn cicaiuics wlo
lavc cnianglcd ilcmsclvcs in sinlul acis, lavc bccn dclincaicd as ilc sicpping-
sionc ol ilc siaiicasc ol Rcligion. Tlc sccond sicp is lnown as mainiainci ol ilc
ncuiialiiy ol viiiuc and sin, piaciiiionci ol ilc ncuiial plasc ol disiinciivc
icmpoial spccilicaiion in dismissal ol manilcsiaiion, and linally ilc icjccioi ol ilc
ilicc aspccis ol obscivci, obscivaiion and obscivcd againsi ilc cnjoying mood ol
ilc icligionisi. Tlc iliid sicp inculcaics ilc pioccss ol dcvoiion as ilc mcdium
licc liom ilc indiicci mcilod ol ncgaiion ol icmpoiaiy plcnomcna. Tlcn comcs
ilc louiil sicp wlcic ilc ambiiious liuiis iaigcicd by clcvaiionisis and
salvaiionisis aic noi iiaccablc. Tlc supicmc icaclci admiis ilc claim ol loving
dcvoiion againsi ilc non-loving subsiiaium ol cloudcd and uncloudcd gains wlicl
aic in oilci woids iupiuious and void ol lovc. Wc dcal lcic wiil ilc dillcicni
pcispcciivc plascs ol dcvoiional lovc wlicl las vciy liiilc io do wiil ilc synilciic
siiuaiion ol ilc numcious slaicloldcis.
Tlc objcci ol dcvoiion las no co-slaici io dissuadc ilc ambiiion ol a iiuc iaigcioi.
Tlc unalloycd licc soul las an innaic volcanic aciiviiy lnown as lovc loi ilc onc
objcci and lc is ncvci io bc cxpccicd io picl up anyiling loi lis own wlicl would
iousc up jcalousy ol biids ol ilc samc lcailci, bui io aclicvc ilc only succcss ol
vcsiing all inicicsis liom ilcii conicnding aciiviiics io ilc onc. Tlis onc is noi io
bc supposcd io discouiagc any lovcd wiil lis paiiiculai plasc ol loving scivicc.
To dciciminc ilc objcci ol cicinal lovc by ilc cicinal iiuc sciviioi, no loicign
clcmcni is io bc icniaiivcly iniioduccd io lavc a disiiaciion liom ilc Absoluic
Tiuil. Lovc may bc cllccicd in ilc livc succcssivcly dillcicni siagcs by ilc lovci io
ilc lovcd. Tlc vciy cmbodimcni ol lovc las ilc solc cniiiy ol inviiing ilc cicinal
lovcd iliougl ilcii livc dillcicni iaiis innaic in ilcm. Wlcncvci lovc is aiicmpicd
liom a lowci lcvcl ii las a ncccssaiy iingc ol icvcicncc. Lovc is ilc piincipal cniiiy
ol uniiing iic bciwccn ilc iwo. In mundanc plcnomcna lovc is dcsciibcd as
cplcmcial and non-cicinal. lui wlcn ilc lovci and ilc lovcd aic boil cicinally
iccipiocaicd, sucl lovc is noi io bc conluscd wiil oui picscni cxpciicncc ol
dcnominaiing ilc mundanc lovc. Tlc subilc gascous loim, wlcn condcnscd, is
liquclicd in ilc languagc ol ilc scicniisi, and ilc liquid in iis iuin is solidilicd in
ilc giadual dcvclopmcni. Iiom iiansccndcnial non-iclaiiviiy lovc is iiaccd io
clangc iis subilc loim, ia ling ilc slapc ol unalloycd loving scivicc io loving
liicndslip and ilcn io conlidcniial loving liicndslip. Tlc lovc bccomcs puici io
conccniiaic iiscll io ilc lilial objcci and icaclcs ilc acmc in ilc objcci ol consoii.
Tlc ionc is noi clangcd, bui ilc magniiudc ol scivicc is augmcnicd giadually sicp
by sicp.
Ramananda, in dcsciibing ilc loving naiuic ol dcvoiion, ciicd a vcisc composcd by
lim wlicl slowcd ilc giadual incicasc ol lcliciiy in ilings wlicl aic caiablc and
diinlablc as pci ilc dcgicc and quaniiiy ol lungci and iliisi. Tlis las analogy io
adding moic saucc io oui sciving mood ol iiuc lovc, wlicl biings moic
cnilusiasm. Ramananda wcni on io ciic anoilci vcisc wlicl was also lis
composiiion wlicl puipoiicd io disclosc ilc laci ilai no lucl aiising oui ol oui
aciion could bc compaicd wiil ilc inicnsc apiiiudc loi laving a scivicc io Kiislna
and ilis is ilc cxclangcd valuc io sccuic in iciuin loi ilc iipc and soli iclisling
qualiiy ol Kiislna's dcvoiion and ilis slould bc sccuicd ai all cosis wlcn ii could
bc lad. Sucl a disposiiion is incompaiablc, wiil caincd loiiuncs. Tlis is spolcn ol
as ilc basc ol picma blalii.
To ilis ilc Supicmc Loid cxpicsscd His appioval and aslcd lim io clucidaic
luiilci. Scivicc wiil loving icmpci las goi a conspicuous aspcci as disiinci liom
ilc mcic basc. In ilis woild wc inviic ilc objccis io scivc us and wc lavc goi ilc
innci inclinaiion ol appioving ilc adapiabiliiy ol bcing scivcd by oilcis, as wc aic
quiic unaccusiomcd io lind oui ilc All-lovc Wlo las conccalcd Himscll liom us
iliougl oui scnsuous aciiviiics. So Rama-nanda cxlibiicd ilc glaiing plasc ol ilc
puic scivicc io ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as ilc mosi inicicsiing piccc ol
lunciion ol ilc soul. Tlc soul, now lying in a doimani condiiion, las dclcgaicd
powcis io ilc mind in oidci io ialc ovci ilc claigc ol mcddling wiil ilc cxicinal
woild by loiding ii ovci mundanc cniiiics. lui ilc icmpoial aciiviiy can lavc ilc
pcimancni lunciion il ilc loving apiiiudc is diiccicd iowaids ilc All-lovc Wlo is
ilc onc wiiloui a sccond. As icgaids ilc aspccis ilcy will bc dcali laici on along
wiil oui amclioiaiing lunciion s ol lovc. To suppoii lis siaicmcni Ramananda
cullcd a passagc ol ilc llagavaiam (9 Sl., 16 cl., 16 sl.) iogcilci wiil a passagc
liom ilc lymns ol Yamunaclaiya, "Noiling icmains unavailablc by ilc sciviiois
wlo aic puiilicd by ilc auial icccpiion ol ilc iiansccndcnial Namc ol ilc vciy
cniiiy ol lolincss". Alavandai, in lis lyiics, gavc vcni io ilc cxpicssion, "Wlcn
will ilai day comc wlcn I will bc in a posiiion io plcasc my Masici, considciing
myscll as an cicinal unswciving slavc, laving dispcllcd all soiis ol dcsigns by my
innaic sciving mood consianily."
Tlc Supicmc Loid appiovcd ilis vcision ol unalloycd scivicc and soliciicd luiilci
piogicssivc clucidaiion. Ramananda's answci was io iaigci conlidcniial scivicc ol a
liicnd io ilc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad bcing ilc liglcsi aim ol a dcvoicc. Tlc
qucsiion ol ncuiialiiy is amplilicd in conccining ilc inicgial Absoluic and ilc
inliniicsimal poicncy in ilc samc linc. In suppoii ol lis siaicmcni Ramananda
cullcd a passagc liom ilc icnil slanda ol ilc llagavaiam (12il Clapici, 11il
slola) wlicl ian io disclosc ilc compaiaiivc siiuaiion ol ilc uncxpccicd loiiunc
ilai is icccivcd by ilc cowlcid-liicnds ol Kiislna wlicl lavc cxccllcd ilai ol ilc
oidinaiy sciviiois ol ilc Absoluic, ilc objcci ol ilc iiansccndcnial ccsiaiic lcliciiy
icalizcd by ilc sojouincis ol ilc iiaci ol lnowlcdgc.
Tlc Supicmc Loid was slowing His appioval wlcn Hc lcaid ol ilc conlidcniial
loving scivicc supciioi io mcnial scivicc liom ilc lips ol Ramananda. Wlcn ilc
noimal siagc is cxcccdcd ii was appiovcd noi wiil iolciaiion bui wiil dcliniic and
posiiivc assciiion. lui ilc Supicmc Loid said, "Tlc conlidcniial scivicc is no
doubi bciici ilan ilai ol ilc scivicc-loldcis. Siill you aic io advancc a liiilc moic."
So Ramananda lad io disclosc lis lcaii moic in spcaling oui lilial lovc loi
Kiislna wlicl is liglci and noblci ilan ilc conlidcniial liicndslip. To bcai
icsiimony io lis assciiion lc cullcd iwo moic vciscs liom ilc icnil clapici ol ilc
icnil slandla ol ilc llagavaiam, "Tlc gloiy aclicvcd by ilc paicnis in sciving
ilc Absoluic Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad cxlibiicd ilc iwo incidcnis ol compaiaiivc
loiiunc ol ilc paicnis. Wlai lcd Nanda and Yasoda io avail ilc paicnial siiuaiion
ol ilc Son-God and wlai wcic ilc incidcnis ilai lcd ilc unpaiallclcd lucl ol
Yasoda wlicl induccd ilc Son-God io sucl lci bicasi '" Tlc loiiunc ilai was noi
availablc io ilc loui-laccd lialma, livc-laccd Siva, ilc gcnciaiing and ilc
dcsiioying cniiiy ol ilc Absoluic, noi io His spousc Lalsmi wlo las sucl
unpicccdcnicd lavoi, was icccivcd by ilc mill-maid liom ilc dispcnsci ol
libciaiion. Tlc Supicmc Loid appiovcd ilis disclosuic wiil gicai sympaily, bui
aslcd lim io piocccd io ilc climax.
Ramananda in icsponsc io His quciy gavc oui ilai lovc ol consoii picdominaics
ovci all oilci aspccis ol dcvoiion. Hc icciicd iwo vciscs liom ilc icnil slandla ol
ilc llagavaiam io cspousc ilc gloiious posiiion ol ilc millmaids wlo aic ilc bcsi
ol His subscivicnis.
Tlc lovc loi ilc consoii cxccls ilai ol all loving sciviiois oi loving paicnis. Tlc
inicnsiiy ol alliniiy is ilc gicaicsi in ilc mill-maids sciving ilcii consoii. Tlc
ccsiaiic displays ilai aic lound in ladics iowaids ilcii lusbands, ilc icmpoial bui
inccssani lovc ol ilc goddcsscs iowaids ilcii gods, ilc siiongcsi alliniiy ol ilc
Lalsmis iowaids Naiayana, cannoi bc compaicd wiil ilc ccsiaiic cnilusiasm ilai
was cnjoycd by ilc mill-maids ai ilc iasa pasiimc wlcn cvciy onc ol ilcm wcic in
ilc aims ol cacl ol vaiicgaicd cniiiics ol Kiislna. Wlcn ilc Gopis wcic casi inio
ilc dcpils ol ilc occan ol giicl by ilc conspicuous abscncc ol Sii Kiislna, Hc
suddcnly appcaicd bcloic ilcm wiil a smiling lacc wcaiing ilc ycllow appaicl,
gailandcd wiil llowcis. His bcauiilul appcaiancc was so ovciwlclmingly aiiiaciivc
ilai ilc mosi sublimc bcauiy complcicly vanquislcd ilc vciy cniiiy ol acsilciic
culiuic.
Tlc combinaiion ol lasya, adbluia, laiuna iasas addcd io ilc dclicious iasic ol
madluiya wlicl could noi bc compaicd wiil any oilci icpicscniaiion ol ilc lind.
Tlcic aic vaiious mcans by wlicl ilc sciviccs ol Kiislna aic aiiaincd and ilcsc
vaiicgaicd aspccis can bc judgcd wiil ilcii icspcciivc mciiis. A sciviioi is io sclcci,
by lis picdilcciion, ilc acmc ol ilc lunciion ol lis soul. lui ilcic is a disiinciivc
iclcicncc ol compaiaiivc siudy il wc aic noi guidcd by a dcliniic piinciplc. A
compaiaiivc sciuiinizaiion would cciiainly givc us io lnow ilc addiiional
qualiiics, as wc lind in cxamining cilci, cic., augmcnicd by succcssivc addiiional
aiiiibuics and icacl ilc climax wiil ilc associaiion ol ilc livc in ilc solid
icpicscniaiion. Tlc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad can only bc lad io acccpi oui
unalloycd loving scivicc iliougl lovc alonc and noi by icvcicniial pioccduic. Sii
Kiislna bcing ilc vciy louniain-lcad ol all icsoiis ol iasa, Hc is cvci picpaicd io
wclcomc cvciy sci viioi wlocvci lc and wlaicvci lis sciving pioccduic may bc.
lui il ilc objcci is disioiicd lilc oui conlusing Jcloval wiil Molocl and Molocl
wiil Jcloval, wc would cciiainly miss ilc lindly lcclings ol Kiislna. Tlis
conccpiion in sciuiinizing ouisclvcs will lcad us asiiay liom ilc iiuc objcci. Oui
cicinal lunciions and aciiviiics il misdiiccicd will givc us iioublcs and il wc lall io
dciciminc Kiislna, Wlo is ilc solc aiiiacioi ol ilc unalloycd cniiiics ol souls, wc
will cciiainly miss io appiclcnd ilc pioccss inculcaicd by Ramananda. Oui wiong
and ciioncous piomulgaiion will ncvci cnablc us io gci ilc bcsi bcnclii ilai can bc
lad by us il wc lail io singlc oui loving icnoi io Kiislna againsi Dlaima, aiila,
lama and molsla, i.c., by oui limiicd piopcnsiiy ol limiicd clcvaiion and
salvaiion.
Ramananda, bcing luiilci aslcd io subjoin ilc lullcsi iccipiociiy ol madluiya
iasa, advanccd io dclincaic ilc counici iccipiocal moiciy ol ilc wlolc by lixing
ilc objcci in Sii Radlila. Tlc liglcsi sicp ol dcvoiion is displaycd io scivc ilc
Paii and io uiilizc ilc lull indcpcndcncc ol ilc sciviioi io cspousc ilc causc ol ilc
picdominaiing aspcci ol ilc counici-wlolc by associaiing oncscll in Hci company.
Ramanananda was lound io dcsciibc ilc siiuaiion ol ilc paiaplcinalia and ilc
iiansccndcnial duiics congcnial io conlidcniial scivicc ol aiicnding maids ol Sii
Radlila wlicl complcicd ilc lull naiiaiion ol ilc manilcsiivc posiiion ol amoious
Paii.
Chapfer 5
ConcIusion
In analyzing ilc naiiaiivc wc lind ilai wc lavc goi an ouiwaid siiuciuic apaii
liom ilc plysical sigli ol ilings. Wc lavc goi an innci siiuaiion as disiinguislcd
liom ilc cniiic conicmplaiivc planc wlcic mcdiiaiing cniiiics aic sci apaii liom
us. A loldci ol ilc plysical body and ownci ol ilc conicmplaiing spiiii las goi a
common louniainlcad Wlo oi Wlicl is assciicd as ilc ownci ol ilc iwo
posscssions and ilis piopiicioi loims a paii ol ilc spiiiiual wlolc wiil Wlom ilc
pcison is lully associaicd. Tlc spiiiiual iic bciwccn ilc inicgial spiiii and liaciions
is iouglly lnown as "mcdiiaiion". Tlis mcdiiaiion ai ilc vciy sigli piovcs io lavc
iclcicncc io plysical and mcnial qualiiics. loil ilcsc qualiiics aic sliliablc. So ilc
lacioi ol iimc puis ilcm inio dillcicni clambcis and ilis locaiion is icsiiicicd io
liniiudinal inadcquacics. Il ilc spiiii is dciaclcd liom ilc inicgci, ilc associaiing
iic will bc obscivcd io bc "mcdiiaiion"; so ilc puipoii ol mcdiiaiion is lampcicd
by il c coniaminaiion ol a dillcicni clcmcni wlicl is lnown as maiici, bcing
opposiic io ilc spiiiiual bcaiing. Tlc vciy picamblc ol ilc llagavaia sclool gocs
io signily ilc lunciion ol ilc spiiii as mcdiiaiion. Il ilis is judgcd in ilc oidinaiy
cyc wc gci ilc posiiion ol ilc "doci" isolaicd and joincd by a iic oi dccd wlicl is
an insiiumcnial. Wlcn lovc acis as mcdium bciwccn All-lovc and Lovc, all ilc
dillcicni aspccis ol blalii aic includcd in ilc woid dlyanam, oi mcdiiaiion in
woildly languagc. Tlc unalloycd cniiiy will dispcl all loicign maiicis ilai aic
includcd as aiiiibuics io suii ilc iclaiiviiy ol an cnjoyci and an cnjoycd. Tlc puic
unaduliciaicd spiiiiual aiicmpi ol an unalloycd spiiii slould in no casc bc
conluscd wiil ilc icmpoial associaiion ol maiciial plcnomcna wlcilci gioss oi
subilc.
Ramananda bclongcd io ilc llagavaia sclool, so all lis aciiviiics wcic puic and
insiiuciivc, il ilcy wcic piopcily lollowcd. Tlc woid "lollowing" slould noi bc
conluscd wiil inadcquaic oi impiopci iclaiiviiics ol oui cnjoying mood, wlicl aic
bui dclcciivc. Tlc sccming lcaiuics ol ilings slould noi picdominaic ovci oui
wcal icasonings. Il wc indulgc in sucl lccblc ciiiicism, wc would lail io lavc ilc
lull conccpiion ol ilc objcci ol mcdiiaiion. Tlc objcci las bccn dcsciibcd as
"Kiislna" oi 'Slyama", "lluc llacl" oi "Dail" i.c. void ol all maiciial colois. Tlc
lasiy sigli will dcici us io cspy ilc accuiaic conccpiion. Oui biiici cxpciicncc ol
iclaiiviiy will icll us io laving ilc uppci land io gci iid ol ilc inadcquacy and will
insiigaic oui common scnsc io claim idcniiiy wiil ilc Wlolc insicad ol laving
liim dciciminaiion io siicl io oui ical posiiion. In oidci io gci iid ol posing as an
inicgci, wlicl is bui a icniaiivc adumbiaiion ol dcpiiving ouisclvcs liom ilc
absoluic posiiion, Kiislna's mcicy was lully displaycd in Ramananda; so lc was
consianily busy wiil ilc gicaicsi pcilcciion ol cicinal blisslul lnowlcdgc. His
cniiiy las bccn analyzcd by lis dccds as iloiouglly associaicd wiil ilc unalloycd
spiiiiual manilcsiaiions. Tlougl lis dccds aic noi appiovcd by ilc cnjoying mood
ol obscivcis, siill a lccn pcnciiaiion and longci sigli would suicly lclp ilc pcoplc
io lcain ilc Absoluic Tiuil liom lis pasiimcs. Tlc Supicmc Loid scni Piadyumna
Mislia, a bialmana, io picl up somc insiiuciions so as io lcad lim io pcilcciion.
Tlc lcainci was conluscd io scc Ramananda busy wiil ilc sciving ol dancing giils,
paying no aiicniion io lim. Tlc sccming lcaiuics did noi aiiiaci lim io accuiaicly
obscivc ilc divinc spiiiiual dccds ol ilc losi. Tlc Supicmc Loid gavc lim io
undcisiand io lavc paiicncc io pcnciiaic inio ilc Rcal Absoluic loi wlicl cvciy
soul is mcani io cquip limscll loi ilc cicinal and iiansccndcnial jouincy.
Ramananda's iiaii ol claiacici is painicd by ilc Supicmc Loid in cqualiiy wiil Sii
Rupa and Sii Sanaiana wlo playcd ilc paii ol modcl ascciics. Ramananda lad no
alliniiy ol cnjoying ilc woild, bui lc was always on ilc lool-oui ol icndciing
scivicc io Sii Kiislna by inducing ilc sciving-maids loi unalloycd amoious
puiposcs pciiaining io ilc cicinal pasiimcs. Silly obscivaiions aic olicn lound io
misundcisiand ilc wlolc iling, and ilcy aic obscivcd io ialc ilc lowcsi lcvcl ol
non-cilical piinciplcs.
Ramananda's Maiilili song las discloscd siaiiling pasiimcs wlicl aic laidly io
comc undci ilc iaiionalisiic scopc ol mundanc ilinlcis. And ilis was lully
paiiicipaicd in by ilc Supicmc Loid in ilc company ol His iniimaic liicnds. His
own vcisc, "Pida bliina valala luia laiublil" is ilc lull paiadc ol spccdy loving
scivicc io Kiislna, insicad ol submiiiing io passionaic lcais.
Tlc Supicmc Loid las luinislcd ilc liglcsi icsiimonial ol ilc spiiiiual lilc in
Ramananda. Tlc Supicmc Loid spcni His lasi days in ilc closc companionslip ol
ilis piclcd-up sciving icmpci wiil His mosi conlidcniial associaics. His diama
scivcd as onc ol ilc consiani companions ol ilc Supicmc Loid's diicci scivicc io
Kiislna. Ramananda was iccognizcd as onc ol ilc loui mulia puiuslas ol ilc iimc
ol ilc Supicmc Loid and lc was cciiilicd io bc ilc only liicnd wlo lad no cqual
among ilc blalias Hc mci in ilc Souil. lui alas! ilc liglcsi plailoim ol a dcvoicc
is olicn ialcn advaniagc ol by ilc gicaicsi scoundicls and ilcicby ilc piovidcniial
will is caiiicd lully by picvcniing iniclligcni pcdanis io lavc acccss io ilc cicinal
woild wlcic lnowlcdgc is inliniiy and bliss is inccssani. Hc was noi an insiiucioi
io icacl mcicly low io gci iid ol ilis mundanc bondagc bui scivcd as an advancc-
guidc ol cicinally unlciicicd libciaicd souls in ilcii inccssani unalloycd scivicc ol
ilc pasiimcs ol Kiislna, wlo lavc no conncciion wiil oi iclcicncc io ilc
mundanc iclaiivc scivicc ol ilc Loid.
The Ramanada Samvad Of Sri Chaifanya Charifamrifa
ly Kisna das Kaviiaj Goswami
1. Sii Caiianya Malapiablu, also lnown as Gauianga, is ilc icscivoii ol all
conclusivc lnowlcdgc in dcvoiional scivicc. Hc cmpowcicd Sii Ramananda Rai,
wlo may bc lilcncd io a cloud ol dcvoiional scivicc. Tlis cloud was lillcd wiil ilc
conclusivc puipoiis ol dcvoiional scivicc and was cmpowcicd by ilc occan io
spicad ilis waici ovci ilc sca. Sii Caiianya Malapiablu limscll was ilc occan ol
lnowlcdgc ol puic dcvoiional scivicc.
2. All gloiics io Loid Sii Caiianya Malapiablu! All gloiics io Loid Niiyananda
Piablu! All gloiics io Advaiia Acaiya! And all gloiics io all ilc dcvoiccs ol Sii
Caiianya Malapiablu!
3. Accoiding io His picvious piogiam, Loid Sii Caiianya Malapiablu wcni
loiwaid on His ioui and alici somc days aiiivcd ai ilc placc ol pilgiimagc lnown
as Jiyad-nisimla.
+. Alici sccing ilc Dciiy Loid Nisimla in ilc icmplc, Sii Caiianya Malapiablu
ollcicd His icspccilul obcisanccs by lalling llai. Tlcn in ccsiaiic lovc, Hc
pciloimcd vaiious danccs, clanicd and ollcicd piaycis.
5. "All gloiics io Nisimladcva! All gloiics io Nisimladcva, wlo is ilc Loid ol
Piallada Malaiaja and, lilc ilc loncybcc, is always cngagcd in bclolding ilc
loius lilc lacc ol ilc goddcss ol loiiunc."
6. "Alilougl vciy lciocious, ilc lioncss is vciy lind io lci cubs. Similaily,
alilougl vciy lciocious io nondcvoiccs lilc Hiianyalasipu, Loid Niisimladcva is
vciy, vciy soli and lind io dcvoiccs lilc Piallada Malaiaja."
7. In ilis way Loid Sii Caiianya Malapiablu icciicd dillcicni vciscs liom ilc
sasiia. Tlc piicsi ol Loid Nisimladcva ilcn biougli gailands and ilc icmnanis ol
ilc Loid's lood and ollcicd ilcm io Sii Caiianya Malapiablu.
S. As usual, a bialmana ollcicd Sii Caiianya Malapiablu an inviiaiion. Tlc Loid
passcd ilc nigli in ilc icmplc and ilcn commcnccd His ioui again.
9. Tlc ncxi moining in ilc gicai ccsiacy ol lovc, Loid Sii Caiianya Malapiablu
siaiicd on His ioui wiil no lnowlcdgc ol ilc piopci diicciion, and Hc coniinucd
all day and nigli.
10. As picviously, Sii Caiianya Malapiablu convciicd io Vaisnavism many pcoplc
Hc mci on ilc ioad. Alici somc days, ilc Loid icaclcd ilc banls ol ilc iivci
Godavaii.
11. Wlcn Hc saw ilc iivci Godavaii, ilc Loid icmcmbcicd ilc iivci Yamuna, and
wlcn Hc saw ilc loicsi on ilc banls ol ilc iivci, Hc icmcmbcicd Sii Vindavan-
dlama.
12. Alici pciloiming His usual claniing and dancing loi somc iimc in ilis loicsi,
ilc Loid ciosscd ilc iivci and iool His bail on ilc banl.
13. alici bailing in ilc iivci, ilc Loid wallcd a liiilc disiancc liom ilc bailing
placc and cngagcd in claniing ilc loly namc ol Kisna.
1+. Ai ilai iimc, accompanicd by ilc sounds ol music, Ramananda Rai camc ilcic
mounicd on a palanquin io ialc lis bail.
15. Many bialmanas lollowing Vcdic piinciplcs, accompanicd Ramananda Rai.
Accoiding io ilc Vcdic iiiuals, Ramananda Rai iool lis bail and ollcicd oblaiions
io lis loiclailcis.
16. Sii Caiianya Malapiablu could undcisiand ilai ilc pcison wlo lad comc io
bail in ilc iivci was Ramananda Rai. Tlc Loid wanicd so mucl io mcci lim ilai
His mind immcdiaicly bcgan iunning alici lim.
17. Alilougl Sii Caiianya Malapiablu was iunning alici lim mcnially, Hc
paiicnily icmaincd siiiing. Ramananda Rai, sccing ilc wondcilul sannyasi, ilcn
camc io scc Him.
1S. Siila Ramananda Rai ilcn saw Sii Caiianya Malapiablu as biilliani as a
lundicd suns. Tlc Loid was covcicd by a sallion gaimcni. Hc was laigc in body
and vciy siiongly buili, and His cycs wcic lilc loius pcials.
19. Wlcn Ramananda Rai saw ilc wondcilul sannyasi, lc was siiucl wiil wondci.
Hc wcni io Him and immcdiaicly ollcicd lis icspccilul obcisanccs, lalling down
llai lilc a iod.
20. Tlc Loid siood up and aslcd Ramananda Rai io aiisc and clani ilc
loly namc ol Kisna. Indccd, Sii Caiianya Malapialu was vciy cagci io cmbiacc
lim.
21. Sii Caiianya Malapiablu ilcn inquiicd wlcilci lc was Ramananda Rai, and
lc icplicd, "Ycs, I am Youi vciy low scivani, and I bclong io ilc sudia
communiiy."
22. Sii Caiianya Malapiablu ilcn cmbiaccd Sii Ramananda Rai vciy liimly.
Indccd, boil ilc masici and ilc scivani almosi losi consciousncss duc io ccsiaiic
lovc.
23. Tlcii naiuial lovc loi onc anoilci was awalcncd in ilcm boil, and ilcy boil
cmbiaccd and lcll down on ilc giound.
2+. Wlcn ilcy cmbiaccd onc anoilci, ccsiaiic sympioms-paialysis, pcispiiaiion,
icais, slivciing, palpiiaiions and palcncss-appcaicd. Tlc woid "Kisna" camc liom
ilcii mouils laliciingly.
25. Wlcn ilc sicicoiypcd, iiiualisiic bialmanas wlo wcic lollowing ilc Vcdic
piinciplcs saw ilis ccsiaiic manilcsiaiion ol lovc, ilcy wcic siiucl wiil wondci.
All ilcsc bialmanas bcgan io icllcci as lollows.
26. Tlcsc bialmanas bcgan io ilinl, "Wc can scc ilai ilis sannyasi las a lisici
lilc ilc cllulgcncc ol lialman, bui low is ii Hc is ciying upon cmbiacing a sudia,
a mcmbci ol ilc louiil casic in ilc social oidci'"
27. Tlcy ilougli, "Tlis Ramananda Rai is ilc Govcinoi ol Madias, a liglly
lcaincd and giavc pcison, a mala-pandiia, bui upon ioucling ilis sannyasi lc las
bccomc icsilcss lilc a madman."
2S. Wlilc ilc bialmanas wcic ilinling in ilis way aboui ilc aciiviiics ol Sii
Caiianya Malapiablu and Ramananda Rai, Sii Caiianya Malapiably saw ilc
bialmanas and icsiiaincd His iiansccndcnial cmoiions.
29. Wlcn ilcy icgaincd ilcii saniiy, ilcy boil sai down, and Sii Caiianya
Malapiablu bcgan io smilc and spcal as lollows.
30. "Saivalbauma llaiiacaiya las spolcn ol youi good qualiiics, and lc las madc
a gicai cndcavoi io convincc Mc io mcci you.
31. "Indccd, I lavc comc lcic jusi io mcci you. Ii is vciy good ilai cvcn wiiloui
maling an clloii I lavc goiicn youi inicivicw lcic".
32. Ramananda Rai icplicd, "Saivalbauma llaiiacaiya ilinls ol mc as lis scivani.
Lvcn in my abscncc lc is vciy caiclul io do mc good.
33. "ly lis mcicy I lavc icccivcd Youi inicivcw lcic. Conscqucnily I considci ilai
ioday I lavc bccomc a succcsslul luman bcing.
3+. "I can scc ilai You lavc bcsiowcd spccial mcicy upon Saivablauma
llaiiacaiya. Tlcicloic You lavc iouclcd mc, alilougl I am uniouclablc. Tlis is
duc only io lis lovc loi You.
35. "You aic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Naiayana Himscll, and I am
only a govcinmcni scivani inicicsicd in maiciialisiic aciiviiics. indccd, I am ilc
lowcsi amongsi mcn ol ilc louiil casic.
36. "You do noi lcai ilc Vcdic injunciions siaiing ilai You slould noi associaic
wiil a sudia. You wcic noi conicmpiuous ol my ioucl, alilougl in ilc Vcdas You
aic loibiddcn io associaic wiil sudias.
37. "You aic ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad Himscll; ilcicloic no onc can
undcisiand Youi puiposc. ly Youi mcicy, You aic ioucling mc, alilougl ilis is
noi sanciioncd by ilc Vcdas.
3S. "You lavc comc lcic spccilically io dclivci mc. You aic so mcicilul ilai You
alonc can dclivci all lallcn souls.
39. "Ii is ilc gcncial piaciicc ol all sainily pcoplc io dclivci ilc lallcn. Tlcicloic
ilcy go io pcoplc's louscs, alilougl ilcy lavc no pcisonal busincss ilcic.
+0. "My dcai Loid, somciimcs gicai sainily pcisons go io ilc lomcs ol
louscloldcis, alilougl ilcsc louscloldcis aic gcncially low-mindcd. Wlcn a
sainily pcison visiis ilcii lomcs, onc can undcisiand ilai ii is loi no oilci
puiposc ilan io bcnclii ilc louscloldcis.'
+1. "Along wiil mc ilcic aic aboui a ilousand mcn-including ilc bialmanas-and
all ol ilcm appcai io lavc lad ilcii lcaiis mclicd simply by sccing You.
+2. "I lcai cvciyonc claniing ilc loly namc ol Kisna. Lvciyonc's body is iliillcd
wiil ccsiasy, and ilcic aic icais in cvciyonc's cycs.
+3. "My dcai sii, accoiding io Youi bodily lcaiuics and Youi bclavioui, You aic
ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Sucl bclavioui and lcaiuics aic impossiblc
loi oidinaiy living bcings, loi ilcy cannoi posscss sucl iiansccndcnial qualiiics."
++. Tlc Loid icplicd io Ramananda Raya: "Sii, you aic ilc bcsi ol ilc iopmosi
dcvoiccs; ilcicloic upon sccing you cvciyonc's lcaii las mclicd.
+5. "Alilougl I am a Mayavadi sannyasi, a nondcvoicc, I am also lloaiing in ilc
occan ol lovc ol Kisna simply by ioucling you. And wlai io spcal ol oilcis'
+6. "Knowing ilis, in oidci io icciily My lcaii, wlicl is vciy laid, Saivablauma
llaiiacaiya aslcd Mc io mcci you."
+7. In ilis way cacl ol ilcm piaiscd ilc qualiiics ol ilc oilci, and boil ol ilcm
wcic plcascd io scc onc anoilci.
+S. Ai ilis iimc, onc bialmana Vaisnava, lollowing ilc Vcdic piinciplcs, camc and
ollcicd obcisanccs. Hc lcll llai bcloic Sii Caiianya Malapiablu and inviicd Him
loi luncl.
+9. Loid Sii Caiianya Malapiablu acccpicd ilc bialmana's inviiaiion lnowing
lim io bc a dcvoicc, and sliglily smiling, spolc as lollows io Ramananda Rai.
50. "I wisl io lcai liom you aboui Loid Kisna. Indccd, My mind is inclincd io
dcsiic ilis; ilcicloic I wisl io scc you again."
51. Ramananda Rai icplicd, "My Loid, alilougl You lavc comc io coiicci mc, a
lallcn soul, my mind is noi yci puiilicd simply by sccing You. Plcasc siay loi livc
oi scvcn days and lindly clcansc my polluicd mind. Alici ilai mucl iimc, my
mind will cciiainly bc puic."
53. Alilougl nciilci could iolciaic ilc oilci's scpaiaiion, Ramananda Rai
noncilclcss ollcicd lis obcisanccs io Loid Sii Caiianya Malapiabju and dcpaiicd.
5+. Loid Sii Caiianya Malapiablu ilcn wcni io ilc lousc ol ilc bialmana wlo
lad inviicd Him and iool His luncl ilcic. Wlcn ilc cvcning ol ilai day aiiivcd,
boil Ramananda Rai and ilc Loid wcic cagci io mcci onc anoilci again.
55. Alici linisling His cvcning bail, Sii Caiianya Malapiablu sai down and
waiicd loi Ramananda Rai io comc. Tlcn Ramananda Rai, accompanicd by onc
scivani, canc io mcci lim.
56. Ramananda Rai appioaclcd Loid Sii Caiianya and ollcicd lis icspccilul
obcisanccs, and ilc Loid cmbiaccd lim. Tlcn ilcy noil bcgan io discuss Kisna in
a sccludcd placc.
57. Sii Caiianya Malapiablu oidcicd Ramananda Rai io icciic a vcisc liom ilc
icvcalcd sciipiuics conccining ilc uliimaic goal ol lilc. Ramananda icplicd ilai il
onc cxccuics ilc picsciibcd duiics ol lis social posiiion, lc awalcns lis oiiginal
Kisna consciousncss.
5S. "Tlc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, Loid Visnu, is woislipcd by ilc piopci
cxccuiion ol picsciiblcd duiics in ilc sysicm ol vcina and asiama. Tlcic is no
oilci way io saiisly ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad. Onc musi bc siiuaicd in
ilc insiiiuiion ol ilc loui vainas and asiamas.
59. Tlc Loid icplicd, "Tlis is cxicinal. You lad bciici icll Mc ol somc oilci
mcans." Ramananda icplicd, "To ollci ilc icsulis ol onc's aciiviiics io Kisna is ilc
csscncc ol all pcilcciion."
60. Ramananda Rai coniinucd, "'O son ol Kunii, all ilai you do, all ilai you cai,
all ilai you ollci and givc away, as wcll as all ausiciicics ilai you may pciloim,
slould bc donc as an ollciing unio Mc.'"
61. "Tlis is also cxicinal," Sii Caiianya Malapiablu said. "Plcasc piocccd and
spcal luiilci on ilis maiici." Ramananda Rai icplicd, "To givc up onc's
occupaiional duiics in ilc vainasiama is ilc csscncc ol pcilcciion."
62. Ramananda Rai coniinucd,"'Occupaiional duiics aic dcsciibcd in ilc icligious
sciipiuics. Il onc analyzcs ilcm, bc can lully undcisiand ilcii qualiiics and laulis
and ilcn givc ilcm up complcicly io icndci scivicc unio ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy
ol Godlcad. sucl a pcison is considcicd a liisi-class man.'
63. "As siaicd in sciipiuic (lg.lS.66): 'Alici giving up all linds ol icligious and
occupaiional duiics, il you comc io mc, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, and
ialc slclici, I will givc you pioicciion liom all ol lilc's sinlul icaciions. do noi
woiiy.'"
6+. Alici lcaiing Ramananda Rai spcal in ilis way, Loid Sii Caiianya Malapiablu
said, "Go alcad and say somciling moic." Ramananda Rai ilcn icplicd,
"Dcvoiional scivicc mixcd wiil cmpiiic lnowlcdgc is ilc csscncc ol pcilcciion."
65. Ramananda Rai coniinucd, "Accoiding io llagavad-giia: "Onc wlo is ilus
iiansccndcnially siiuaicd ai oncc icalizcs ilc Supicmc lialman and bccomcs lully
joylul. Hc ncvci lamcnis noi dcsiics io lavc anyiling; lc is cqually disposcd io
cvciy living cniiiy. In ilai siaic lc aiiains puic dcvoiional scivicc unio Mc.'"
66. Alici lcaiing ilis, ilc Loid, as usual, icjccicd ii, considciing ii io bc cxicinal
dcvoiional scivicc. Hc again aslcd Ramananda Rai io spcal luiilci, and
Ramananda Rai icplicd, "Puic dcvoiional scivicc wiiloui any ioucl ol spcculaiivc
lnowlcdgc is ilc csscncc ol pcilcciion."
67. Ramananda Rai coniinucd, "Loid lialma said, 'My dcai Loid, ilosc dcvoiccs
wlo lavc iliown away ilc impcisonal conccpiion ol ilc Absoluic Tiuil and lavc
ilcicloc abandoncd discussing cmpiiic plilosoplical iiuils slould lcai liom scll-
icalizcd dcvoiccs aboui youi loly namc, loim, pasiimcs and qualiiics. Tlcy slould
complcicly lollow ilc piinciplcs ol dcvoiionasl scivicc and icmain licc liom illicii
scx, gambling, inioxicaiion an animal slauglici. Suiicndciing ilcmsclvcs lully
wiil body, woids and mind, ilcy can livc in any asiama oi social siaius. Indccd,
You aic conqucicd by sucl pcisons, alilougl You aic always unconquciablc.'"
6S. Ai ilis poini, sii Caiianya Malapiablu icplicd, "Tlis is all iigli, bui siill you
can spcal moic on ilc subjcci." Ramananda Rai ilcn icplicd, "Lxsiaiic lovc loi ilc
Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad is ilc csscncc ol all pcilcciion."
69. Ramananda Rai coniinucd, "As long as ilcic is lungci and iliisi, caiing and
diinling malc onc lccl vciy lappy. Wlcn ilc Loid is woislipcd wiil puic lovc,
iiansccndcnial bliss is awalcncd in ilc lcaii ol ilc dcvoicc.'
70. "Puic dcvoiional scivicc in Kisna consciousncss cannoi bc lad cvcn by pious
aciiviiy in lundicds and ilousands ol livcs. Ii can bc aiiaincd only by paying onc
piicc-ilai is, inicnsc giccd io obiain ii. Il ii is availablc somcwlcic, onc musi
puiclasc ii wiiloui dclay.'"
71. Hcaiing up io ilc poini ol sponiancous lovc, ilc Loid said, "Tlis is all iigli,
bui il you lnow moic, plcasc icll Mc." In icply, Ramananda Rai said,
"Sponiancous loving scivicc in sciviiudc-as cxclangcd by masici and scivani-is
ilc liglcsi pcilcciion.
72. "'A man bccomcs puiilicd simply by lcaiing ilc loly namc ol ilc Supicmc
Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, wlosc loius lcci cicaic ilc loly placcs ol pilgiimagc.
Tlcicloic wlai icmains io bc aiiaincd by ilosc wlo lavc bccomc His scivanis''
73."'ly sciving You consianily, onc is liccd liom all maiciial dcsiics and is
complcicly pacilicd. Wlcn slall wc cngagc as Youi pcimancni cicinal scivanis and
always lccl joylul io lavc sucl a pcilcci masici''"
7+. Hcaiing ilis liom Ramananda Rai, ilc Loid again icqucsicd lim io go a sicp
luiilci. In icply, Ramananda Rai said, "Loving scivicc io Kisna icndcicd in
liaiciniiy is ilc liglcsi pcilcciion.
75. "'Tlosc wlo aic cngagcd in scll-icalizaiion, appicciaiing ilc lialman
cllulgcncc ol ilc Loid, and ilosc cngagcd in dcvoiional scivicc, acccpiing ilc
Supicmcn Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad as masici, as wcll as ilosc wlo aic undci ilc
cluiclcs ol maya, ilinling ilc Loid an oidinaiy pcison, cannnoi undcisiand ilai
cciiain cxalicd pcisonaliiics - alici accumulaiing volumcs ol pious aciiviiics-aic
now playing wiil ilc Loid in liicndslip as cowlcid boys.'"
76. Tlc Loid said, "Tlis siaicmcni is vciy good, bui plcasc piocccd cvcn luiilci."
Ramananda iai ilcn icplicd, "Loving scivicc io ilc Loid in ilc paicnial
iclaiionslip is ilc liglcsi pcilcciional siaic."
77. Ramananda Rai coniinucd:"'O bialmana, wlai pious aciiviiics did Nanda
Malaiaja pciloim by wlicl lgc icccivcd ilc supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
Kisna as lis son, and wlai pious aciiviiics did moilci Yasoda pciloin ilai madc
ilc Absoluic Supicmc Pcisonalii ol Godlcad Kisna call lci moilci and sucl lci
bicasis/'
7S. "'Tlc lavoi moilci Yasoda obiaincd liom Sii Kisna, ilc bcsiowci ol libciaiion,
was ncvci obiaincd cvcn by Loid lialma oi Loid Siva, noi cvcn by ilc goddcss ol
loiiunc, wlo always icmains on ilc clcsi ol ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad
Visnu.'"
79. Tlc Loid said, "Youi siaicmcnis aic cciiainly gciiing bciici and bciici onc alici
ilc oilci, bui suipassing all ol ilcm is anoilci iiansccndcnial mcllow, and you
can spcal ol ilai as ilc mosi sublimc." Ramananda Rai ilcn icplicd "Conjugal
aiiaclmcni loi Kisna is ilc iopmosi posiiion in lovc ol Godlcad.
S0. "'Wlcn Loid sii Kisna was dancing wiil ilc gopis in ilc iasa-lila, ilc gopis
wcic cmbiaccd by ilc aims ol ilc Loid. Tlis iiansccndcnial lavoi was ncvci
bcsiowcd upon ilc goddcss loi loiiunc oi ilc oilci consoiis in ilc spiiiiual woild.
Indcc, ncvci was sucl a iling cvcn imagincd by ilc mosi bcauiilul giils in ilc
lcavcnly plancis wlosc bodily lusici and aioma icscmblc ilc loius llowci. And
wlai io spcal ol woildly womcn wlo aic vciy bcauiilul accoiding io ilc maiciial
csiimaiion''
S1. "'suddcnly, duc io ilc gopis' lcllings ol scpaiaiion, Loid Kisna appcaicd among
ilcm dicsscd in ycllow gaidcnis and wcaiing a llowci gailand. His loius lacc was
smiling, and Hc was diiccily aiiiaciing ilc mind ol Cupid.'
S2. "Tlcic aic vaiious mcans and pioccsscs by wlicl onc may aiiain ilc lavoi ol
Loid Kisna. All ilosc iiansccndcnial pioccsscs will bc siudicd liom ilc vicwpoini
ol compaiaiivc impoiiancc.
S3. "Ii is iiuc ilai wlaicvci iclaiionslip a paiiiculai dcvoicc las wiil ilc Loid is
ilc bcsi loi lim; siill, wlcn wc siudy all ilc dillcicni mcilods liom and ncuiial
posiiion, wc can undcisiand ilai ilcic aic liglci and lowci dcgiccs ol lovc.
S+. "'Incicasing lovc is ccxpciicnccd in vaiious iasics, onc abovc anoilci. lui ilai
lovc wlicl las ilc liglcsi iasic in ilc giadual succcssion ol dcsiics manilcsis
iiscll in ilc loim ol conjugal lovc.'
S5. "Tlcic is a giadual oidci ol impiovcmcni in iiansccndcnial mcllows liom ilc
iniiial oncs io ilc laici oncs. In cacl subscqucni mcllow ilc qualiiics ol ilc
picvious mcllows aic manilcsi, couniing liom iwo, ilcn ilicc and up io ilc poini
ol livc complcic qualiiics.
S6. "As ilc qualiiics incicasc, so ilc iasic also incicascs in cacl and cvciy mcllow.
ilcicloic ilc qualiiics lound in sania-iasa, dasya-iasa, sallya-iasa and vaisalya-
iasa aic all manilcsi in conjugal lovc(madluiya-iasa).
S7. "Tlc qualiiics in ilc maiciial clcmcnis-sly, aii, liic, waici and caiil-incicasc
onc alici anoilci by a giadual pioccss ol onc, iwo and ilicc, and ilc lasi siagc, in
ilc clcmcni caiil, all livc qualiiics aic complcicly visiblc.
SS. "Complcic aiiainmcni ol ilc loius lcci ol Loid Kisna is madc possiblc by lovc
ol Godlcad, spccilically madluiya-iasa oi conjugal lovc. Loid Kisna is indccd
capiivaicd by ilis siandaid ol lovc. Tlis is also siaicd in Siimad-llagavaiam.
S9. "Loid Kisna iold ilc gopis:'Tlc mcans ol aiiaining My lavoi is loving scivicc
unio Mc, and loiiunaicly you aic all ilus cngagcd. Tlosc living bcings wlo icndci
scivicc unio Mc aic cligiblc io bc iianslciicd io ilc spiiiiual woild and aiiain
cicinal lilc wiil lnowlcdgc and bliss.'
90. "Loid Kisna las madc a liim piomisc loi all iimc. Il onc icndcis scivicc unio
Him, Kisna coiicspondingly givc lim an cqual amouni ol succcss in dcvoiional
scivicc io ilc Loid.
91. "Accoiding io Loid Kisna in llagavad-giia (+.11), 'All ol ilcm-as ilcy
suiicndci unio Mc-Iicwaid accoidingly. Lvciyonc lollows My pail in all icspccis,
O son ol Piila.'
92. "In Siimad-llagavaiam (l0.32.22) ii is said ilai Loid Kisna cannoi
piopoiiionaicly iccipiocaic dcvoiional scivicc in ilc madluiya-iasa; ilcicloic Hc
always icmains a dcbioi io sucl dcvoiccs.
93. "Wlcn ilc gopis wcic ovciwlclmcd wiil dissaiislaciion duc io Loid Kisna's
abscncc lio ilc iasa lila, Kisna iciuincd io ilcm and iold ilcm, 'My dcai gopis,
oui mcciing is vciiainly licc liom all maiciial coniaminaiion. I musi admii ilai in
many livcs ii would bc impossiblc loi Mc io icpay My dcbi io you bccausc you
lavc cui oll ilc bondagc ol lamily lilc jusi io scaicl loi Mc. conscqucnily I am
unablc io icpay you. Tlcicloic plcasc bc saiislicd wiil youi loncsi aciiviiics in
ilis icgaid.'
9+. "Alilougl Kisna's unpaicllclcd bcauiy is ilc iopmosi swccincss ol lovc ol
Godlcad, His swccincss incicascs unlimiicdly wlcn Hc is in ilc company ol ilc
gopis. Conscqucnily Kisna's cxclangc ol lovc wiil ilc gopis is ilc iopmosi
pcilcciion ol lovc ol Godlcad.
95. "'Alilougl ilc son ol Dcvali, ilc Supicmc Pcisonaliiy ol Godlcad, is also ilc
icscivoii ol all linds ol bcauiy, wlcn Hc is among ilc gopis Hc noncilclcss
bccomcs moic bcauiilul, loi Hc icscmblcs a maialaia jcwcl suiioundcd by gold
and oilci jcwcls.'"
96. Loid Caiianya Malapiablu icplicd, "Tlis is cciiainly ilc limii ol pcilcciion,
bui plcasc bc mcicilul io Mc and spcal moic il ilcic is moic."
97. Rai Ramananda icplicd, "Uniil ilis day I did noi lnow anyonc wiilin ilis
maiciial woild wlo could inquiic bcyond ilis pcilcciional siagc ol dcvoiional
scivicc.
9S. "Among ilc loving allaiis ol ilc gopis," Ramananda Rai coniinucd,"ilc lovc ol
Siimaii Radlaiani loi Sii Kisna is iopmosi. Indccd, ilc gloiics ol Siimaii
Radlaiani aic liglly csiimaicd in all icvcalcd sciipiuics.
99. "'Jusi as Siimaii Radlaiani is mosi dcai io Sii Kisna, Hci bailing placc lnown
as Radla-lunda is also dcai io Him. Among all ilc gopis, Siimaii Radljaiani is
supcimosi and vciy dcai io Loid Kisna."
100. "Wlcn ilc gopis bcgan io iall among ilcmsclvcs, ilcy said, 'Dcai liicnds, ilc
gopi wlo las bccn ialcn away by Kisna io a sccludcd placc musi lavc woislipcd
ilc Loid moic ilan anyonc clsc.'"
101. Loid Sii Caiianya Malapiablu said, "Plcasc spcal on. I am vciy lappy io
lcai you bacausc a iivci ol unpicccdcnicd ncciai is llowing liom youi mouil.