The Life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu XXIX
Ganganagar close by the village of Mayapur. In two years He became well
read in Sanskrit Grammar and Rhetoric. His readings after that were of the
nature of self-study in His own house, where He had found all-important
books belonging to His father, who was a pandit himself. It appears that He
read the Smriti in His own study and the Nyaya also, in competition with
His friends who were then studying under the celebrated Pandit Raghunath
Shiromani.

Now, after the tenth year of His age, Chaitanya became a passable scholar
in Grammar, Rhetoric, the Smriti and the Nyaya. It was after this that His
elder brother Vishwarup left his house and accepted the asram (status) of a
sanyasi (ascetic). Chaitanya, though a very young Boy, consoled His parents,
saying that He would serve them with a view to please God. Just after that,
His father left this world. His mother was exceedingly sorry, and Mahaprabhu,
with His usually contented appearance, consoled his widowed mother.

It was at the age of 14 or 15 that Mahaprabhu was married to Lakshmi
Devi, the daughter of Ballabha Acharya, also of Nadia. He was at this age
considered one of the best scholars of Nadia, the renowned seat of Nyaya
philosophy and Sanskrit learning. Not to speak of the smarta pandits, the
naiyaiks were all afraid of confronting Him in literary discussions. Being a
married man, He went to Eastern Bengal on the banks of the Padma for
acquirement of wealth. There He displayed His learning and obtained a good
sum of money.

It was at this time that He preached Vaishnavism at intervals. After teaching
him the principles of Vaishnavism, He ordered Tapan Misra to go and live
in Benares. During His residence in East Bengal, His wife Lakshmi Devi left
this world from the effects of snake-bite. On returning home, He found His
mother in a mourning state. He consoled her with a lecture on the uncertainty
of human affairs. It was at His mother’s request that He married Vishnupriya,
the daughter of Raj pandit Sanatan Misra. His comrades joined Him on
His return from pravas, or sojourn.

He was now so renowned that He was considered to be the best pandit
in Nadia. Keshab Misra of Kashmere, who had called himself the Great
Digvijayi, came to Nadia with a view to discuss with the pandits of that place.
Afraid of the so-called conquering pandit, the tol professors of Nadia left
their town on pretence of invitation, and Keshab met Mahaprabhu at the
Barokonaghat in Mayapur and, after a very short discussion with Him, he
got defeated by the Boy and mortification obliged him to decamp. Nimai
Pandit was now the most important pandit of His times.

It was at the age of 16 or 17 that He travelled to Gaya with a host of His
