Issue

12/2019

Released by Rohinisuta Das – tavakathamritam.com

Raghunātha dāsa receives great Mercy

Part One

Ciḍā-dadhi-mahotsava

kṛpā-guṇair yaḥ kugṛhāndha-kūpād
uddhṛtya bhaṅgyā raghunātha-dāsam
nyasya svarūpe vidadhe ’ntar-aṅgaṁ
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanyam amuṁ prapadye

With the ropes of His causeless mercy, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu employed a trick
to deliver Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī from the blind well of contemptible family life. He
made Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī one of His personal associates, placing him under the
charge of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī. I offer my obeisances unto Him. (CC Antya 6.1)

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda

jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Śrī
Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! (2)
Lord Gauracandra performed various pastimes with His associates at Jagannātha Purī in
varieties of transcendental pleasure. Although He felt pangs of separation from Kṛṣṇa, He
did not manifest His feelings externally, for He feared the unhappiness of His devotees.
The transformations undergone by the Lord when He manifested severe unhappiness due
to separation from Kṛṣṇa cannot be described. When Mahāprabhu acutely felt pangs of
separation from Kṛṣṇa, only Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya’s talks about Kṛṣṇa and the sweet songs
of Svarūpa Dāmodara kept Him alive. (3-6)
Because the Lord associated with various devotees during the day, His mind was
somewhat diverted, but at night the pangs of separation from Kṛṣṇa increased very rap-
idly. Two persons - Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī - stayed with Him
to pacify Him by reciting various verses about kṛṣṇa-lila and by singing appropriate songs
for His satisfaction. Like, when Lord Kṛṣṇa was personally present, Subala, His dear Priya-
narma-sakha, gave Him happiness when He felt pangs of separation from Rādhārāṇī. Sim-
ilarly, Rāmānanda Rāya helped give happiness to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. And also
when Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī felt the pangs of separation from Kṛṣṇa, Her constant companion
Lalitā kept Her alive by assisting Her in many ways. Similarly, when Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu felt Rādhārāṇī’s emotions, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī helped Him main-
tain His life. To describe the fortunate position of Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmo-
dara Gosvāmī is extremely difficult. They were renowned as intimately confidential
friends of Śrī Caitanya. (7-11)
Thus, Mahāprabhu enjoyed His life with His devotees. O devotees of Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu, now hear how Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī met Mahāprabhu. (12)

When Raghunātha dāsa, during his family life, went to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at
Śāntipura (in Advaita Prabhus house), Mahāprabhu gave him worthy instructions by His
causeless mercy. Instead of becoming a so-called renunciant (vairagi), Raghunātha dāsa,
following the instructions of Mahāprabhu, returned home and played exactly like a
pounds-and-shillings man. He was inwardly completely renounced, even in family life, but
he did not express his renunciation externally. Instead, he acted just like an ordinary busi-
nessman. Seeing this, his father and mother were satisfied. (13-15)

When he received a message that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had returned from Mathurā-
Vrindavan, Raghunātha dāsa endeavored to go to the lotus feet of Mahāprabhu. (16)
At that time there was a Muslim cauduri collecting the taxes of Saptagrāma. The
Muslim government who was in power of Bengal at that time, had appointed tax collectors for
every region, who would collect the taxes of the local landholders ‘zamindars’. The Zamindar
would keep one fourth of the collection for himself as a profit, and the balance he would deliver
to the tac collector for the treasury of the government. (17)
When Hiraṇya dāsa, Raghunātha dāsa’s uncle, made an agreement with the gov-
ernment to collect taxes, the Caudhurī, having lost his position, became extremely envious
of him. Hiraṇya dāsa was collecting 2,000,000 coins and therefore should have delivered
1,500,000 to the government. Instead, he was giving only 1,200,000, thus making an extra
profit of 300,000 coins. Seeing this, the Muslim caudhurī, became his rival. After sending
a confidential account to the government treasury, the caudhurī brought the minister in
charge. Thus, they came, wanting to arrest Hiraṇya dāsa, but Hiraṇya dāsa had left home.
Therefore, they arrested Raghunātha dāsa. (18-20)
Every day, they would chastise Raghunātha dāsa and tell him, “Bring your father
and his elder brother. Otherwise you will be punished instead.” The caudhurī wanted to
beat him, but as soon as he saw Raghunātha’s face, his mind changed and could not hit
him. Indeed, the caudhurī was afraid of Raghunātha dāsa because Raghunātha dāsa be-
longed to the kāyastha community. Although the caudhurī would chastise him with oral
vibrations; he was afraid to beat him. (21-23)
 While this was going on, Raghunātha thought of a tricky method of escape. He hum-
bly submitted this plea at the feet of the caudhurī: “My dear sir, my father and his elder
brother are your brothers. All brothers always fight about something; sometimes they
fight among themselves, and sometimes they have very friendly dealings. There is no cer-
tainty when such changes will take place. Therefore, I am sure that although today you
are fighting, tomorrow you three brothers will be sitting together in peace. Just as I am
my father’s son, so I am also yours. I am your dependent, and you are my maintainer. For
a maintainer to punish the person he maintains is not good. You are expert in all the scrip-
tures. Indeed, you are like a living saint.” (24-28)
When the Muslim heard Raghunātha dāsa’s appealing voice, his heart softened. He
began to cry, and he told while tears glided down his beard: “You are my son from this
day on. Today, by some means, I shall have you released.” Thus, after informing the min-
ister, the caudhurī released Raghunātha dāsa and then began to speak to him with great
affection: “Your father’s elder brother is less intelligent. He enjoys 800,000 coins, but since
I am also a shareholder, he should give some portion of it to me. Now you go arrange a
meeting between me and your uncle. Let him do whatever he thinks best. I shall com-
pletely depend on his decision.” Thereafter, Raghunātha arranged a meeting between his
uncle and the caudhurī. The matter was settled, and everything was peaceful. (29-34)
In this way he passed one year exactly like a first-class business manager, but the
next year he again decided to leave home. He got up alone one night and left, but his father
caught him in a distant place and brought him back. This became almost a daily affair.
Raghunātha would run away from home, and his father would again bring him back. Then
Raghunātha dāsa’s mother spoke to his father as follows: “Our son has become mad, there-
fore, just keep him at home by binding him with ropes.” His father, being very unhappy,
replied to her as follows: “Our son, has opulences like Indra, the heavenly king, and his
wife is as beautiful as an angel ‘apsara’. Yet all this could not tie down his mind. How then
could we keep this boy home by binding him with ropes? It is not possible for the father
to nullify the reactions of his past activities. Caitanyacandra has fully bestowed His mercy
on him. Who can keep home such a madman of the moon-like Śrī Caitanya?”

Raghunātha meets Nityānanda Prabhu at Pānihāṭi

Thereafter, Raghunātha dāsa considered something in his mind, and the next day he went
to Nityānanda Goswami. In the village of Pānihāṭi, Raghunātha dāsa obtained a daraśan
with Prabhu, who was accompanied by many kīrtaniyas, servants and others. Sitting on a
rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganga, He seemed as effulgent as hundreds of thou-
sands of rising suns. Many bhaktas sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influ-
ence of Nityānanda Prabhu, Raghunātha dāsa was astonished. He offered his dandavat
pranam from a distant, and the servant of Nityānanda Prabhu pointed out, “There is
Raghunātha dāsa, offering You dandavats.”
Hearing this, Prabhu said, “You are a thief. Now you have come to see Me. Come
here, come here. Today I shall punish you!”
But Raghunātha dāsa did not go near. Then Prabhu went and forcibly caught him
and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunātha dāsa’s head. Nityānanda was by nature very
merciful and funny. Thus, He spoke to Raghunātha dāsa as follows: “You are just like a
thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a distant place. Now that I have captured
you, I shall punish you. Make a festival and feed all My associates’ yogurt and chipped
rice.” Hearing this, Raghunātha dāsa was greatly pleased. He immediately sent his own
men to the village to purchase all kinds of eatables and bring them back. They brought
chipped rice (flat rice or ciḍā), yogurt dadhi or dahi, milk dugdha, sandeśa, sugar, bananas
and other eatables and placed them all around. (42-53)


Ciḍā-dadhi-mahotsava
As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brāhmaṇas and other
gentlemen began to arrive. Thus, there were innumerable people. (54)
Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunātha dāsa arranged to get more eatables from
other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round clay pots. He also ob-
tained five or seven especially large clay pots, and in these pots a brāhmaṇa began soaking
flat rice for the satisfaction of Lord Nityānanda. In one place, rice was soaked in hot milk
in each of the large pots, and half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas. The
other half was mixed with condensed milk and bananas. Then sugar, ghee and camphor
were added. (55-58)

After Nityānanda Prabhu had changed His cloth and sat on a raised platform, the
brāhmaṇa brought before Him the seven huge clay pots. With Him sitting in circle were
Rāmadāsa Abhirāma, Sundarānanda, Gadādhara dāsa, Murāri Caitanya, Kamalākara,
Sadāśiva and Purandara, Dhanañjaya, Jagadīśa, Parameśvara dāsa, Maheśa Pandit,
Gaurīdāsa Pandit and Hoḍa Kṛṣṇadāsa, Uddhāraṇa Datta and many others. (59-63)

Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brāhmaṇas and priests went
there. Nityānanda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with
Him. Everyone was offered two clay pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed
milk, and in the other chipped rice with yogurt. All the others sat in groups around the
platform, no one could count how many people there were. Each and every one of them
was supplied two earthen pots - one of chipped rice soaked in yogurt and the other of
chipped rice soaked in condensed milk. Some of the brāhmaṇas, not having gotten a place
on the platform, went to the bank of the Ganga with their two clay pots and soaked their
chipped rice there. Others, who could not get a place even on the bank, got down into the
water and began eating their two kinds of chipped rice. Thus, some sat on the platform,
some at the base of the platform, and some on the bank of the Ganga, and they were all
supplied two pots each by the twenty men who distributed the food. (64-70)

 Arrival of Rāghava Paṇḍita

At that time, Rāghava Paṇḍita arrived there. Seeing the situation, he began to laugh in
great surprise. He brought a variety of food cooked in ghee and offered to the Lord. This
prasādam he first served to Nityānanda Prabhu and then distributed it among the bhak-
tas. Rāghava Paṇḍita said to Prabhu, “Just for Your pleasure, I have already offered food
to the Deity, but You are engaged in a festival here, and so the food is lying there (at my
home) untouched.” Prabhu replied:

gopa-jāti āmi bahu gopa-gaṇa saṅge

āmi sukha pāi ei pulina-bhojana-raṅge”

“Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night. I belong
to a community of cowherders, and therefore I generally have many cowherd associates
with Me. I am happy when we eat together in a picnic like this by the sandy bank of the
river.” Thus, Prabhu made Rāghava Paṇḍita sit down and had two clay pots served to him
with two kinds of chipped rice soaked in them. (71-76)

Avirbhāva Lila

When chipped rice had been served to everyone, Prabhu, in meditation, invited Śrī Cai-
tanya Mahāprabhu. When Mahāprabhu arrived, Nityānanda Prabhu stood up. They then
observed together how everyone were enjoying the chipped rice soaked in yogurt and
condensed milk. From each and every clay pot, Nityānanda took one morsel of chipped
rice and pushed it into the mouth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as a joke. Then,
Mahāprabhu, smilingly, took a morsel of food, pushed it into the mouth of Nityānanda and
laughed as He made Lord Nityānanda eat it. In this way Nityānanda was walking through
all the groups of eaters, and all the Vaiṣṇavas present there could see the fun. But no one
could understand what Nityānanda Prabhu was doing as He walked about. Some, how-
ever, who were very fortunate, could see that Mahāprabhu was also present. Then
Nityānanda Prabhu smiled and sat down. On His right side He kept four pots of chipped
rice that had not been made from boiled paddy. Nityānanda offered Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu a place and had Him sit down. Then together the two brothers began eating
chipped rice. Seeing Mahāprabhu eating with Him, Nityānanda became very happy and
exhibited varieties of ecstatic love. In great ecstasy He ordered, “All of you eat, chanting
the holy name of Hari.” Immediately the holy names “Hari, Hari” resounded, filling the
entire universe. When all the Vaiṣṇavas were chanting the holy names “Hari, Hari” and
eating, they remembered how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma ate with Their gopa sakhas on the
bank of the Yamunā. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu are extremely mer-
ciful and liberal. It was Raghunātha dāsa’s good fortune that They accepted all these deal-
ings. Who can understand the influence and mercy of Nityānanda Prabhu? He is so pow-
erful that He induced Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to come eat chipped rice on the bank of
the Ganga. All the confidential bhaktas who were gopas, headed by Śrī Rāmadāsa, were
absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganga to be the bank of the Ya-
munā. (77-90)

When the shopkeepers of many other villages heard about the festival, they arrived there
to sell chipped rice, yogurt, sandesh and bananas. As they came, bringing all kinds of food,
Raghunātha dāsa purchased it all. He gave them the price for their goods and later fed
them the very same food. Anyone who came to see how these funny things were going on
was also fed chipped rice, yogurt and bananas. (91-93)

After Lord Nityānanda Prabhu finished eating, He washed His hands and mouth and gave
Raghunātha dāsa the food remaining in the four pots. There was food remaining in the
three other big clay pots of Nityānanda Prabhu, and a brāhmaṇa distributed it to all the
devotees, giving a morsel to each. Then he brought a flower garland, placed the garland
on Nityānanda Prabhu’s neck and smeared candana on His forehead. When a servant
brought pan (tambula) and offered it to Nityānanda Prabhu, He smilingly chewed it.
Thereafter, with His own hands Nityānanda Prabhu distributed to all the devotees
flower garlands (malas), candana and pan.
After receiving the remnants of food left by Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Raghunātha
dāsa, who was greatly happy, ate some and distributed the rest among his own associates.
Thus, I have described the pastimes of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu in relation to the cele-
brated festival of chipped rice and yogurt - Ciḍā-dadhi-mahotsava. (94-100)

The Sankirtan Festival and Feast at Raghava’s House

Nityānanda Prabhu rested for the day, and when the day ended, He went to the house of
Rāghava Paṇḍita and began kīrtan, – singing and dancing. Nityānanda Raya first influ-
enced all the devotees to dance, and then He Himself began dancing, thus inundating the
entire world in ecstatic prema. (101-102)
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was observing
the dancing of Nityānanda that only Nityānanda
could see, others could not. The dancing of the
two Prabhus, cannot be compared to anything
within these three worlds. No one can properly
describe the sweetness of Nityānanda’s dancing.
Mahāprabhu personally comes to see it.
After the dancing and after Nityānanda
Prabhu had rested, Rāghava Paṇḍita submitted
his request that Prabhu take His supper. Thus,
Nityānanda Prabhu sat down for supper with His
personal associates and made a sitting place on
His right side for Mahāprabhu. Śrī Caitanya came
there and sat down at His place. Seeing this,
Rāghava Thakur felt increasing happiness. He
brought the prasādam before the two brothers
and thereafter distributed prasādam to all the other Vaiṣṇavas. There were varieties of
cakes, sweet rice (pāyasa) and fine cooked rice that surpassed the taste of amrita. There
were also varieties of sabjis. The food prepared and offered to the Deity by Rāghava
Paṇḍita was like the essence of nectar; Mahāprabhu eat that prasādam in the house of
Rāghava again and again. (103-111)

It is stated in Caitanya Caritamrita Antya, 2.34-35:

śacīra mandire, āra nityānanda-nartane

śrīvāsa-kīrtane, āra rāghava-bhavane
ei cāri ṭhāñi prabhura sadā ‘āvirbhāva’
premākṛṣṭa haya, - prabhura sahaja svabhāva

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu always appeared in four places ‘āvirbhāva’, invisibly to others: In
the household temple of mother Śacī, in the places where Nityānanda Prabhu danced, in the
house of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita during kīrtan, and in the house of Rāghava Paṇḍita. He appeared
because of His attraction to the prema of His devotees. That is His natural characteristic.

When Rāghava Paṇḍita offered the food to the Deity after cooking, he would make
a separate offering for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Every day, Mahāprabhu would eat at the
house of Rāghava Paṇḍita. Sometimes He would give Rāghava Paṇḍita the opportunity to
see Him. (112-113)

Thus, Rāghava Paṇḍita would bring and distribute prasādam to the two brothers,
feeding Them with great attention. They ate everything, and therefore there were no rem-
nants left. He brought so many preparations that no one could know them perfectly. In-
deed, it was a fact that the supreme mother, Rādhā Thākurāṇī, personally cooked in the
house of Rāghava Paṇḍita.

It is said, that when wonderful food is cooked for the pleasure of the Lord, either Mother Lak-
shmi or Rādhārānī were cooking. Because whatever She cooks tastes like amrita. She came
with Her associate sakhis every day to Nandagram to prepare breakfast for the pleasure of
Krishna. She always prepared many wonderful preparations, all tasting like nectar. The
Vaishnava cook who is aware about that, just sees himself or herself as assistant of the assis-
tant of the Supreme Goddess of Fortune, Rādhā Thākurāṇī. (note)
Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī received from Durvāsā Muni the benediction that whatever She cooked
would be sweeter than nectar (amrita). That is the special feature of Her cooking.
Aromatic and pleasing to see, the food was the essence of all sweetness. Thus, the
two brothers, ate it with great satisfaction. (114-117)
All the devotees present requested Raghunātha dāsa to sit down and take
prasādam, but Rāghava Paṇḍita told them, “He will take prasādam later.” Thus, all the
devotees took prasādam, filling themselves to the brim. Thereafter, chanting the holy
name of Hari, they stood up and washed their hands and mouths.
After eating, the two brothers washed Their hands and mouths. Then Rāghava
Paṇḍita brought flower garlands and candana and refresh and decorate Them. Thereafter,
he offered Them pan and worshiped Their lotus feet. He also offered pan, malas and can-
dana to all the devotees.
At the end, Rāghava Paṇḍita, being very affectioned toward Raghunātha dāsa, of-
fered him the dishes with the remnants of food left by the two brothers. He said,
“Mahāprabhu has eaten this food. If you take His remnants, you will be released from the
bondage of your family.” (118-123)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead always resides either in the heart or in the
home His bhaktas. This fact is sometimes hidden and sometimes manifest, for the Su-
preme Lord is fully independent. He is all-pervasive, and therefore He resides every-
where. Anyone who doubts this will be annihilated. (124-125)
 Raghunātha receives the mercy of Nityānanda Prabhu

In the morning, after taking His bath in the Ganga, Nityānanda Prabhu sat down with His
associates beneath the same tree under which He had previously sat. Raghunātha dāsa -
used the opportunity – and went there and worshiped Nityānanda Prabhu’s lotus feet.
Through Rāghava Paṇḍita, he submitted his desire:

“adhama, pāmara mui hīna jīvādhama!

mora icchā haya - pāṅa caitanya-caraṇa

“I am the lowest of men, the most sinful, fallen and condemned. Nevertheless, I desire to
attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya. (128)

vāmana hañā yena cānda dharibāre cāya

aneka yatna kainu, tāte kabhu siddha naya

Like a dwarf who wants to catch the moon, I have tried my best many times, but I have
never been successful.
yata-bāra palāi āmi gṛhādi chāḍiyā
pitā, mātā - dui more rākhaye bāndhiyā

Every time I tried to go away and give up my home relationships, my father and mother
unfortunately kept me bound.

tomāra kṛpā vinā keha ‘caitanya’ nā pāya

tumi kṛpā kaile tāṅre adhameha pāya

No one can attain the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without Your mercy, but if You
are merciful, even the lowest of men can attain shelter at His lotus feet.

ayogya mui nivedana karite kari bhaya

more ‘caitanya’ deha’ gosāñi hañā sadaya

Although I am unfit and greatly afraid to submit this plea, I nevertheless request You, to
be especially merciful toward me by granting me shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu.
mora māthe pada dhari’ karaha prasāda
nirvighne caitanya pāṅa - kara āśīrvāda”

Placing Your feet on my head, give me the benediction that I may achieve the shelter of Śrī
Caitanya Mahāprabhu without difficulty. I pray for this benediction.” (126-133)

After hearing this appeal by Raghunātha dāsa, Nityānanda Prabhu smiled and told all the
assembled bhaktas, “Raghunātha dāsa’s standard of material happiness is equal to that of
Indra, the King of heaven. Because of the mercy bestowed upon him by Mahāprabhu,
Raghunātha dāsa, although situated in such material happiness, does not like it at all.
Therefore, let every one of you be merciful toward him and give him the benediction that
he may very soon attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. One who
experiences the fragrance of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa does not value even the standard
of happiness available in Brahmaloka, the topmost planet. And what to speak of heavenly
happiness?”
yo dustyajān dāra-sutān, suhṛd-rājyaṁ hṛdi-spṛśaḥ
jahau yuvaiva mala-vad, uttama-śloka-lālasaḥ

‘Lord Kṛṣṇa, is offered sublime, poetic prayers by those trying to attain His favor. Thus,
He is known as Uttamaśloka. Being very eager to gain the association of Him, King Bharata,
although in the prime of youth, gave up his very attractive wife, family members, children,
friends and opulent kingdom, exactly as one gives up stool after excreting it.’” (SB 5.14.43)
Then Nityānanda Prabhu called Raghunātha dāsa near Him, placed His lotus feet upon
Raghunātha dāsa’s head and began to speak: “Since you arranged the feast on the bank of
the Ganga, Mahāprabhu came here just to show you His mercy. By His causeless mercy He
ate the chipped rice with yoghurt and condensed milk. Then, after seeing the dancing of
all the devotees at night – at Raghava Pandit’s house -, He took His supper. Gaurahari,
came here personally to deliver you. Now rest assured that all the impediments meant for
your bondage are gone. He will accept you, and place you under the charge of His secre-
tary, Svarūpa Dāmodara. You will thus become one of the most confidential internal serv-
ants and will attain shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (134-142)
Being assured of all this, return to your own home. Very soon, without impedi-
ments, you will attain shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.” (
Thereafter, Nityānanda Prabhu had Raghunātha dāsa blessed by all the devotees,
and Raghunātha dāsa offered his respects to their lotus feet. After taking leave of
Nityānanda Prabhu and then all the other Vaiṣṇavas, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa consulted se-
cretly with Rāghava Paṇḍita. After consulting with Rāghava Paṇḍita, he secretly delivered
one hundred gold coins and about seven tolās of gold into the hand of Nityānanda
Prabhu’s treasurer. Raghunātha dāsa admonished the treasurer, “Do not speak about this
to Prabhu now, but when He returns home, kindly inform Him about this dakshina.”
Thereupon, Rāghava Paṇḍita took Raghunātha dāsa to his home. After inducing
him to see the Deity, he offered Raghunātha dāsa a garland and candana. And he gave
Raghunātha dāsa a large quantity of prasādam to eat on his way home. Then Raghunātha
again spoke to Rāghava Paṇḍita: “I want to give money,” he said, “just to worship the lotus
feet of all the great devotees (mahanta associates), servants and assistants of Nityānanda
Prabhu. As you think fit, give twenty, fifteen, twelve, ten or five coins to each of them.”
Raghunātha dāsa drew up an account of the amount to be given and submitted it
to Rāghava Paṇḍita, who then made up a list showing how much money was to be paid to
each and every devotee. With great humility, Raghunātha dāsa placed one hundred gold
coins and about two tolās of gold before Rāghava Paṇḍita for all the other devotees.
After taking dust from the feet of Rāghava Paṇḍita, Raghunātha dāsa returned to
his home, feeling greatly obligated to Nityānanda Prabhu because of having received His
merciful benediction. (143-154)

Soon after this meeting with Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunātha dāsa could leave his home
and attain the shelter at Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lotus feet in Jagannatha Puri.

Will be continued in another Issue of Krishna’s World