When Sanātana Gosvāmī returned from Vṛndāvana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu affectionately saved him from his determination to commit suicide. Then, after testing him, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu purified his body.(1) All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! (2) When Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī returned from Jagannātha Purī to Bengal, Sanātana Gosvāmī went from Mathurā to Jagannātha Purī to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (3) Sanātana Gosvāmī walked alone on the path through the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest in central India. Sometimes he fasted, and sometimes he would eat. (4)
Because of bad water in the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest and because of fasting, Sanātana Gosvāmī contracted a disease that made his body itch. Thus he was afflicted with itching sores from which fluid oozed. (5) In disappointment, Sanātana Gosvāmī considered, “I am of a low caste, and my body is useless for devotional service. (6) “When I go to Jagannātha Purī, I shall not be able to see Lord Jagannātha, nor shall I always be able to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (7) “I have heard that the residential quarters of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are near the temple of Jagannātha. But I shall not have the power to go near the temple. (8) “The servants of Lord Jagannātha generally move about tending to their duties, but if they touch me I shall be an offender. (9)
“Therefore if I sacrifice this body in a good place, my unhappiness will be mitigated and I shall attain an exalted destination. (10) “During the Ratha- yātrā festival, when Lord Jagannātha comes out of the temple, I shall give up this body under the wheel of His car. (11) “After seeing Lord Jagannātha, I shall give up my body under the wheel of the car in the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This will be the highest benediction of my life.” (12) Having made this resolution, Sanātana Gosvāmī went to Nīlācala, where he asked directions from people and approached the residence of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. (13) He offered his respects to the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, who knew him and thus embraced him. (14) Sanātana Gosvāmī was very eager to see the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, “The Lord is coming here very soon.” (15)
At that very moment, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after visiting the temple of Jagannātha to see the offering of upala- bhoga [morning refreshments], came with His other devotees to see Haridāsa Ṭhākura. (16) Seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, both Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī immediately fell flat like rods to offer obeisances. The Lord then lifted Haridāsa and embraced him. (17) Haridāsa Ṭhākura said to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “Here is Sanātana Gosvāmī offering his obeisances.” Seeing Sanātana Gosvāmī, the Lord was greatly surprised. (18) When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came forward to embrace him, Sanātana backed away and spoke as follows. (19) “My Lord, please do not touch me. I fall at Your lotus feet. I am the lowest of men, having been born of a low caste. Besides that, I have infections on my body.” (20) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, embraced Sanātana Gosvāmī by force. Thus the moisture oozing from the itching sores touched the transcendental body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (21)
The Lord introduced all the devotees to Sanātana Gosvāmī, who offered his respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of them all. (22) The Lord and His devotees sat on a raised platform, and below that sat Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Sanātana Gosvāmī. (23) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu inquired from Sanātana about news of his well- being. Sanātana replied, “Everything is auspicious because I have seen Your lotus feet.” (24) When the Lord asked about all the Vaiṣṇavas at Mathurā, Sanātana Gosvāmī informed Him of their good health and fortune. (25) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Sanātana Gosvāmī, “Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī was here for ten months. He left for Bengal just ten days ago. (26) “Your brother Anupama is now dead. He was a very good devotee who had firm conviction in Raghunātha [Lord Rāmacandra].” (27)
Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “I was born in a low family, for my family commits all kinds of irreligious acts that violate the scriptural injunctions. (28) “My Lord, without hatred for my family You have accepted me as Your servant. Only by Your mercy is there good fortune in my family. (29) “From the very beginning of his childhood, my younger brother Anupama was a great devotee of Raghunātha [Lord Rāmacandra], and he worshiped Him with great determination. (30) “He always chanted the holy name of Raghunātha and meditated upon Him. He continuously heard about the activities of the Lord from the Rāmāyaṇa and chanted about them. (31) “Rūpa and I are his elder brothers. He stayed with us continuously. (32) “He heard Śrīmad- Bhāgavatam and talks about Lord Kṛṣṇa with us, and both of us examined him. (33)
“‘Dear Vallabha,’ we said, ‘please hear from us. Lord Kṛṣṇa is supremely attractive. His beauty, sweetness and pastimes of love are without limit. (34) “‘Engage yourself in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa with the two of us. We three brothers shall stay together and enjoy discussing the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.’ (35) “In this way we spoke to him again and again, and because of this persuasion and his respect for us, his mind turned somewhat toward our instructions. (36) “Vallabha replied, ‘My dear brothers, how can I disobey your orders? Initiate me into the Kṛṣṇa mantra so that I may perform devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.’ (37) “After saying this, at night he began to think, ‘How shall I give up the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha?’ (38)
“He stayed up all night and cried. In the morning, he came to us and submitted the following plea. (39) “‘I have sold my head at the lotus feet of Lord Rāmacandra. I cannot take it away. That would be too painful for me. (40) “‘The two of you please be merciful to me and order me in such a way that life after life I may serve the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha. (41) “‘It is impossible for me to give up the lotus feet of Lord Raghunātha. When I even think of giving them up, my heart breaks.’ (42) “Upon hearing this, we each embraced him and encouraged him by saying, ‘You are a great saintly devotee, for your determination in devotional service is fixed.’ In this way we praised him. (43) “My dear Lord, the family upon which You bestow even a little mercy is always fortunate, for such mercy makes all miseries disappear.” (44)
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “There was a similar incident concerning Murāri Gupta. Formerly I examined him, and his determination was similar. (45) “Glorious is that devotee who does not give up the shelter of his Lord, and glorious is that Lord who does not abandon His servant. (46) “If by chance a servant falls down and goes somewhere else, glorious is that master who captures him and brings him back by the hair. (47) “It is very good that you have arrived here. Now stay in this room with Haridāsa Ṭhākura. (48) “Both of you are expert in understanding the mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service. Therefore you should both continue relishing the taste for such activities and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā- mantra.” (49) Having said this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu got up and left, and through Govinda He sent prasādam for them to eat. (50) In this way, Sanātana Gosvāmī stayed under the care of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He would see the wheel on the pinnacle of the Jagannātha temple and offer respectful obeisances. (51)
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