Sanatan Goswami AI

sibility in the government service to his immediate assistants, and he remained
at home to study Srimad Bhagwatam.

He engaged some ten or twenty learned Brahmins, and began an intensive
study of Srimad Bhagwatam in their company. While he was thus engaged,
he submitted sick reports to the Nawab, but the ruler was very anxious for
his advice in government matters, and therefore he suddenly appeared one
day at Sanatan Goswami’s house. The Nawab entered the assembly of Sanatan
Goswami and the Brahmins, and out of respect all of them stood up to receive
him and they offered him a place to sit. The Nawab said:

“You have submitted sick reports, but I sent my physician to see you, and
he reported that you have no illness. I did not know why you were submitting
sick reports and not attending to your service, so I have personally come to
see you. And I’m much perturbed by your behavior. As you know, I com-
pletely depend on you and your responsible work in governing. I was there-
fore free to act in other matters because I was depending on you, but if you
do not join me, your past devotion will be spoiled. Now, what is your inten-
tion? Please tell me.”

On hearing this, Sanatan Goswami replied that he was unable to work
anymore and it would be very kind of the Nawab if he appointed somebody
else to execute the work that was entrusted to him. The Nawab became very
angry at this and said, “Your elder brother lives like a hunter, and if you also
retire from the administration then everything will be finished.” It is said
that the Nawab used to treat Sanatan Goswami as a younger brother. The
Nawab was engaged in conquering different parts of the country, and he
was also engaged in hunting, and therefore he depended more or less on
Sanatan Goswami for administration; and so he pleaded with him: “If you
also retire from the government service, how will the administration be run?”
Sanatan Goswami replied very gravely: “You are the governor of Gouda,
and you punish different kinds of criminals in different ways. So you are at
liberty to punish anyone according to his activity.” The purpose of his reply
was that the governor was engaged in hunting animals and killing men to
expand his kingdom; so let both of them suffer according to the acts they
were performing.

The Nawab was intelligent, and he understood Sanatan Goswami’s pur-
pose and left the place in an angry mood. Shortly afterward, he went off to
conquer Orissa, and ordered the arrest of Sanatan Goswami until he returned.

Rupa Goswami then learned that his elder brother Sanatan had been
arrested by the Nawab. He sent information by messenger that the ten thou-
