Introduction 15
of the brahmana community were the most ardent supporters of Lord
Caitanya’s movement. Sri Advaita Prabhu was the chief cause for the
advent of the Lord. When Advaita Prabhu saw that the total human
society was full of materialistic activities and devoid of devotional service,
which alone could save mankind from the threefold miseries of material
existence, he, out of his causeless compassion for the age-worn huinan
society, prayed fervently for the incarnation of the Lord and continually
worshiped the Lord with the water of the Ganges and the leaves of the holy
tulasi tree. As far as preaching work in the sankirtana movement was
concerned, everyone was expected to do his daily share according to the
order of the Lord.

Once Nityananda Prabhu and Srila Haridasa Thakur were walking down
a main road, and on the way they saw a roaring crowd assembled. Upon
inquiring from passers-by, they understood that two brothers, named Jagai
and Madhai, were creating a public disturbance in a drunken state. They
also heard that these two brothers were born in a respectable brahmana
family, but because of low association they had turned into debauchees of
the worst type. They were not only drunkards but also meat-eaters,
woman-hunters, decoits and sinners of all description. Srila Nityananda
Prabhu heard all of these stories and decided that these two fallen souls
must be the first to be delivered. If they were delivered from their sinful
life, then the good name of Lord Caitanya would be even still more
glorified. Thinking in this way, Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa pushed
their way through the crowd and asked the two brothers to chant the
holy name of Lord Hari. Tne drunken brothers became enraged upon
this request and attacked Nityananda Prabhu with filthy language. Both
brothers chased them a considerable distance. In the evening the report of
the preaching work was submitted to the Lord, and He was glad to learn
that Nityananda and Haridasa had attempted to deliver such a stupid pair
of fellows.

The next day Nityananda Prabhu went to see the brothers, and as soon
as He approached them one of them threw a piece of earthen pot at Him.
This struck Him on the forehead, and immediately blood began to flow.
But Nityananda Prabhu was so kind that instead of protesting this heinous
act, He said, “It does not matter that you have thrown this stone at Me. I
still request you to chant the holy name of Lord Hari.”

One of the brothers, Jagai, was astonished to see this behavior of
Nityananda Prabhu, and he at once fell down at His feet and asked Him to
pardon his sinful brother. When Madhai again attempted to hurt Nityananda
Prabhu, Jagai stopped him and implored him to fall down at His feet.
