CHAPTER 6
The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya

A summary study of the Sixth Chapter is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in
his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya as follows: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered the
temple of Jagannatha, He immediately fainted. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya then
took Him to his home. Meanwhile, Gopinatha Acarya, the brother-in-law of Sar-
vabhauma Bhattacarya, met Mukunda Datta and talked to him about Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's acceptance of sannyasa and His journey to Jagannatha Puri. After
hearing about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s fainting and His being carried to the
house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacdrya, people crowded there to see the Lord. Srila
Nityananda Prabhu and other devotees then visited the Jagannatha temple, and
when they came back to the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu returned to external consciousness. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya
received everyone and distributed mahd-prasdda with great care. Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya then became acquainted with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and arranged
accommodations at his aunt’s house. His brother-in-law, Gopinatha Acarya,
established that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Krsna Himself, but Sarvabhauma
and his many disciples could not accept this. However, Gopinatha Acarya con-
vinced Sarvabhauma that no one can understand the Supreme Personality of
Godhead without being favored by Him. He proved by Sastric quotation, quota-
tions from the revealed scriptures, that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Krsna Him-
self in person. Still, Sarvabhauma did not take these statements very seriously.
Hearing all these arguments, Caitanya Mahaprabhu told His devotees that Sar-
vabhauma was His spiritual master and that whatever he said out of affection was
for everyone's benefit.

When Sarvabhauma met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he asked Him to hear
Vedanta philosophy from him. Sti Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted this proposal,
and for seven days He continuously heard Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya explain
Vedanta-stitra. However, the Lord remained very silent. Because of His silence, the
Bhattacarya asked Him whether He was understanding the Vedanta philosophy,
and the Lord replied, “Sir, | can understand Vedanta philosophy very clearly, but |
cannot understand your explanations.” There was then a discussion between the
Bhattdcdrya and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu concerning the authority of the Vedic
scriptures, specifically the Upanisads and Vedanta-sitra. The Bhattacarya was an
impersonalist, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu proved that the Absolute Truth is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. He proved that the conceptions of the
Mayavadi philosophers concerning the impersonal Absolute Truth are incorrect.

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