[Nectar] A brahmana's doubt in the character of Lord Nityananda

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Nityananda Charitamrita, Antya Khanda Chapter 8

 

A brahmana lived in Navadvipa who was a classmate of Sri Gauranga

Mahaprabhu. Seeing the mysterious behavior of Nityananda, this brahmana

got a doubt. He had firm faith and devotion to the lotus feet of

Gaurangacandra, but he failed to understand the potency of Nityananda

Svarupa. Once, this brahmana went to Nilacala for some days. He

regularly visited Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu for he had firm faith in His

lotus feet. One day, he wanted to ask something of the Lord alone.

 

The brahmana said, "O Lord, I'd like to ask something, if You'll allow

me. If You really think me Your servant, then please answer my

question. I don't understand what this Nityananda Avadhuta is doing at

Navadvipa. Everyone says that He's a sannyasi. But to everyone's

surprise, He chews betel nut with camphor. A sannyasi is not supposed

to touch gold and so on. But Nityananda decorates His whole body with

gold, silver, and pearls. Abandoning kaupina and saffron robes, He

dresses Himself with fine and gorgeous clothing. He also puts

sandalwood paste on His body.

 

"Why does He carry an iron stick instead of a sannyasa-danda? He always

mingles with sudras. I don't find His behavior in accordance with the

scriptures. So I have a doubt in my heart. Everyone addresses Him as an

exalted person, but He doesn't follow the rules and regulations of His

asrama. O Lord, if You think me Your servant, then please explain the

truth. Since the pious brahmana inquired from the Lord at an auspicious

moment.

Sri Gaurasundara explained everything to him:

 

suna bipra maha adhikari ye ba haya, tabe tanra doya guna kichu na

janmaya

 

"Listen, my dear brahmana. Faults or defects do not affect an exalted

person. Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.20.36 states:

na mayy ekanta-bhaktanam, guna-doshodbhava gunah

sadhunam sama-cittanam, buddheh param upeyusham

 

Material piety and sin, which arise from the good and evil of this

world, cannot exist within My unalloyed devotees, who, being free from

material hankering, maintain steady spiritual consciousness in all

circumstances. Indeed, such devotees have achieved Me, the Supreme

Lord, who am beyond anything that can be conceived by material

intelligence.'

"As water doesn't touch a lotus leaf, so too no faults touch Nityananda

Svarupa. O brahmana, know that Krishnacandra eternally resides in

Nityananda's body. Those disregarding an exalted person will suffer

miseries and reap sinful reactions. The Puranas say if anyone other

than Lord Siva drinks poison, he will surely die.

 

Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.33.29-30 also says,

Sukadeva Gosvami said: The status of powerful controllers is not harmed

by any apparently audacious transgression of morality we may see in

them, for they are just like fire, which devours everything fed into it

and remains unpolluted.'

One who is not a great controller should never imitate the behavior of

ruling personalities, even mentally. If out of foolishness an ordinary

person does imitate such behavior, he will simply destroy himself, just

as a person who is not Rudra would destroy himself if he tried to drink

an ocean of poison.'

 

"Those thus criticizing an exalted person without knowing his glories

suffer miseries life after life from this fault. Even if an exalted

person does something improper, what to speak of criticizing him, if

one even laughs at him, such a person is doomed. Srimad-Bhagavatam

describes all these truths. One can also hear this from the mouth of a

bona fide spiritual master.

 

Lord Gauranga said, "O brahmana, I've explained the topics of

Srimad-Bhagavatam to you. Don't maintain the slightest doubt about

Nityananda Svarupa. He is the most exalted personality. Unfortunate

people are unable to understand Him. Accept His uncommon activities.

Then you'll surely be delivered. He incarnated simply to deliver the

fallen souls. He'll liberate all living beings. His dealings are above

all rules and regulations. Who has the power to understand Him? Anyone

who blasphemes Nityananda without knowing His unfathomable qualities,

even if that person achieved vishnu-bhakti, is doomed. O brahmana, go

to Navadvipa and explain this truth to everyone. If anyone blasphemes

Nityananda Prabhu in any way, no one will be able to protect that

person from Yamaraja's punishment.

 

"One who loves Him actually loves Me. I'm telling you the truth. Even

if Nityananda marries a Muslim girl or enters a wine shop, He is still

worshipable by Lord Brahma. This is My verdict."

 

The Lord's words made the pious brahmana very happy. He gained immense

faith in the lotus feet of Nityananda and returned to Navadvipa.

Arriving in Navadvipa, the fortunate brahmana first went to Nityananda

Prabhu's house. He begged forgiveness for his offenses from Nityananda

who fully bestowed His mercy on him.