CHAPTER 19

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Instructs Srila Rapa Gosvami
A summary of this chapter is given by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Amrta-pra-
vaha-bhasya. Meeting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in a village called Ramakeli, two
brothers, Ripa and Sanatana, began to devise means to get out of their govern-
ment service. Both brothers appointed some brahmanas to perform purascarana
ceremonies and chant the holy name of Krsna. Srila Rapa Gosvami deposited ten
thousand gold coins with a grocer, and the balance he brought in two boats to a
place called Bakla Candradvipa. There he divided this money among the
brahmanas, Vaisnavas and his relatives, and a portion he kept for emergency
measures and personal needs. He was informed that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
was going to Vrndavana from Jagannatha Puri through the forest of Madhya Pra-
desh; therefore he sent two people to Jagannatha Puri to find out when the Lord
would leave for Vrndavana. In this way Ripa Gosvami retired, but Sanatana
Gosvami told the Nawab that he was sick and could not attend to his work. Giv-
ing this excuse, he sat home and studied Srimad-Bhagavatam with learned
brahmana scholars. The Nawab Hussain Shah first sent his personal physician to
see what the real facts were; then he personally came to see why Sanatana was
not attending to official business. Knowing that he wanted to resign his post, the
Nawab had him arrested and imprisoned. The Nawab then went off to attack
Orissa.

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started for Vrndavana through the forest of
Madhya Pradesh (Jharikhanda), Ripa Gosvami left home and sent news to
Sanatana that he was leaving home with his younger brother (Anupama Mallika)
to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Rapa Gosvami finally reached Prayaga and
met with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for ten successive days. During this time,
Vallabha Bhatta extended an invitation to the Lord with great respect. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu introduced Srila Ripa Gosvami to Vallabha Bhatta. After this, a
brahmana scholar named Raghupati Upadhyaya arrived and discussed Krsna con-
sciousness with the Lord. Kaviraja Gosvami then extensively describes the living
condition of Sri Ripa and Sanatana at Vrndavana. During the ten days at Prayaga,
Srila Ripa Gosvami was instructed by the Lord, who gave him the basic principles
of the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. The Lord then sent Srila Ripa Gosvami to
Vrndavana. The Lord Himself returned to Varanasi and stayed at the home of
Candrasekhara.

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