42
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
sand coins in Gouda (Bengal) in custody of the Grocer, could be used to release him from the Nawab's detention. Rupa Goswami, with his younger brother whose name was Sri Ballabha, then started for Vrindaban to meet Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Sanatan offered five thousand coins to the keeper of the jail in which he was being kept in custody. He advised the jailkeeper to gladly accept the five thousand coins from him and let him go, because by accepting such money he would be materially benefitted, and at the same time he would be acting very righteously in freeing Sanatan for spiritual activities.
The custodian replied, "Of course I can let you go, because you have done many services for me and you are in government service. I know that, but I am afraid of the Nawab when he hears that you are free. I'll have to explain. How can I accept such a proposal?" Sanatan gave a story which the custodian might submit to the Nawab—as to how he had escaped—and he then raised his offer to ten thousand coins. The custodian then agreed to the proposition, as he was very anxious to get the ten thousand coins. And so he let him go.
Sanatan then proceeded to Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He did not go on the open road but travelled instead through the jungles until he arrived at a place in Bihar called Pabda, and rested there in the hotel. The hotel keeper, meanwhile, was informed by an astrologer employed at the hotel that Sanatan Goswami had some gold coins with him, and he wanted to take them from him. And so he spoke with superficial respect: "You just take your rest tonight, and in the morning I shall arrange for you to get out of this jungle trap." Sanatan, however, was suspicious of the behavior of the hotel keeper, and he inquired from his accompanying servant Isan whether he had some money. Isan told him that he had seven gold coins with him. Sanatan did not like the idea of the servant carrying such money. He was angry with him and said, "Why do you carry this death knell on the road?"
Sanatan at once took the seven gold coins and offered them to the hotel keeper; he then requested the hotel keeper to help him through the jungle. He informed him that he was on a special journey for the government and could not travel on the open road, and therefore it would be very kind if the hotel keeper would help him to get over the jungle mountain. The hotel keeper replied, "I understood that you had eight coins with you and I was thinking of killing you to take them. But you are very good, I can understand, and so you don't have to offer me the money. I'll get you out of the hill-tract."
Sanatan replied, "If you don't accept these coins then somebody else will take them from me. Somebody will kill me for them, so better you take them. I offer them to you." The hotel keeper then gave him full assistance and that very night he helped him to get past the hills.