By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, one can certainly become spiritually advanced. Indeed, no one can estimate the results of His mercy. (108) Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka achieved the result of kingly opulence due to but a glimpse of the Lord’s mercy. Therefore no one can calculate the full value of His mercy. (109) Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was lifted onto the cāṅga to be killed, and all his money was taken away, but instead his debts were excused, and he was appointed collector in the same place. (110) On one hand Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka was unable to clear his debt even by selling all his possessions, but on the other his salary was doubled, and he was honored with the silken wrapper. (111) It was not the desire of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka be excused of his debt to the government, nor was it His desire that his salary be doubled or that he be reappointed collector at the same place. (112)
When Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka’s servant went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and informed the Lord of his plight, the Lord was somewhat agitated and dissatisfied. (113) The Lord had no intention of awarding His devotee the happiness of material opulence, yet simply because of His being informed, such a great result was obtained. (114) No one can estimate the wonderful characteristics of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot understand the intentions of the Lord. (115) Kāśī Miśra went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and informed Him in detail of all the King’s intentions. (116) Upon hearing about Kāśī Miśra’s tactics with the King, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Kāśī Miśra, what have you done? You have made Me indirectly take help from the King.” (117) Kāśī Miśra said, “My dear Lord, the King has done this without reservations. Kindly hear his statement. (118)
“The King said, ‘Speak to the Lord in such a way that He will not think, “For My sake the King has forfeited 200,000 kāhanas of kauḍis.” (119) ‘Inform Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that all the sons of Bhavānanda Rāya are especially dear to me. I consider them like members of my family. (120) “‘Therefore I have appointed them collectors in various places, and although they spend the government’s money, eat, drink, plunder and distribute it as they like, I do not take them very seriously. (121) “‘I made Rāmānanda Rāya the governor of Rājamahendrī. There is practically no account of whatever money he took and distributed in that position. (122) “‘Having been appointed collector, Gopīnātha, in the same way, also generally spends 200,000 to 400,000 kāhanas as he likes. (123)
“‘Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka would collect some and pay some, spending it at will, but I would not consider this very seriously. This time, however, he was put into trouble because of a misunderstanding with the prince. (124) “‘The prince created this situation without my knowledge, but actually I consider all the sons of Bhavānanda Rāya to be like my relatives. (125) “‘Because of my intimate relationship with them, I have absolved Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka of all his debts. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu does not know this fact. Whatever I have done is because of my intimate relationship with the family of Bhavānanda Rāya.'” (126) Having heard from Kāśī Miśra all these statements concerning the King’s mentality, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy. At that time, Bhavānanda Rāya arrived there. (127) Bhavānanda Rāya, along with his five sons, fell at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who lifted him up and embraced him. (128)
Thus Rāmānanda Rāya, all his brothers and their father met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Then Bhavānanda Rāya began speaking. (129) “All these members of my family,” he said, “are Your eternal servants. You have saved us from this great danger. Therefore You have purchased us for a proper price. (130) “You have now demonstrated Your love for Your devotees, just as when You previously saved the five Pāṇḍavas from great danger.” (131) Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, his head covered with the silken wrapper, fell at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and described in detail the King’s mercy toward him. (132) “The King has excused me for the balance due,” he said. “He has reappointed me to my post by honoring me with this silken cloth and has doubled my salary. (133) “I was lifted upon the cāṅga to be killed, but instead I was honored with this silken cloth. This is all Your mercy. (134)
“On the cāṅga I began meditating upon Your lotus feet, and the power of that remembrance has yielded all these results. (135) “Struck with wonder by my affairs, the populace is glorifying the greatness of Your mercy. (136) “However, my Lord, these are not the principal results of meditating upon Your lotus feet. Material opulence is very flickering. Therefore it is simply a glimpse of the result of Your mercy. (137) “Your real mercy has been granted to Rāmānanda Rāya and Vāṇīnātha Rāya, for You have detached them from all material opulence. I think that I have not been favored by such mercy. (138) “Kindly bestow upon me Your pure mercy so that I may also become renounced. I am no longer interested in material enjoyment.” (139) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “If you all adopt the renounced order and lose interest in dealing with pounds, shillings and pence, who will take charge of maintaining your large family? (140)
“Whether you are involved in material activities or become completely renounced, you five brothers are all My eternal servants, birth after birth. (141) “However, just obey one order from Me. Do not spend any of the King’s revenue. (142) “First you should pay the revenue due the King, and then you may spend the balance for religious and fruitive activities. (143) “Don’t spend a farthing for sinful activities, for which you will be the loser both in this life and the next.” After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bade them farewell. (144) Thus the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was spoken of in the family of Bhavānanda Rāya. That mercy was clearly demonstrated, although it appeared to be something different. (145) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them all and bade them farewell. Then all the devotees got up and left, loudly chanting the holy name of Hari. (146)
Seeing the extraordinary mercy the Lord granted to the family of Bhavānanda Rāya, everyone was struck with wonder. They could not understand the behavior of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (147) Indeed, when all the devotees had requested the Lord to bestow His mercy upon Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka, the Lord had replied that He could do nothing. (148) I have simply described the chastisement of Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s indifference. But the deep meaning of this behavior is very difficult to understand. (149) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave so much to Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka without directly making requests of either Kāśī Miśra or the King. (150)
The intentions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are so deep that one can understand them only if he has complete faith in service to the lotus feet of the Lord. (151) Whether or not one understands it, if one hears of this incident concerning the activities of Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s causeless mercy upon him, certainly he will be promoted to the platform of ecstatic love for the Lord, and for him all dangers will be nullified. (152) Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya- caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps. (153)
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