The Departure of Sri Laksmipriya

[Guest guest]

One by one, His relatives came forward to greet Him after His long absence.

They sat around Him as He joked and laughed while describing His stay in

East Bengal. Nimai imitated the strange habits of the people of East Bengal

and everyone had a good laugh. None of them mentioned the passing of Laksmi

devi, knowing that the shock would cause the Lord grief. After some time,

the relatives all returned to their homes, and the Lord sat quietly chewing

on betel pan and reflecting on the humorous conversation.

 

Sacimata avoided meeting the Lord. She stayed in her room, deeply affected

by the pain of Laksmipriya's death. When Nimai found His mother, He saw the

marks of deep sorrow, which lined her face. In a sweet, comforting voice, He

said, "What is the reason for your sorrow mother? I have returned from My

journey in good health, so, you should be happy, but I see only sadness upon

your face. Tell me the truth Mother, what is the reason?" Her son's words

simply increased her pain and she wept silently, unable to speak.

 

"Mother, I know everything," said Nimai. "Tell Me has your daughter-in-law

met with misfortune."

 

Some relatives stepped forward to speak, "Listen Nimai Pandita, Your wife

has left for the Ganga, and reached the lotus feet of the Lord."

 

The Supreme Lord Sri Gaura Hari remained silent, casting His head down as He

contemplated the departure of his eternal consort and wife, Sri Laksmi Devi.

He allowed the pain of separation to engulf Him, and although He was the

personification of all Vedic truths, He remained silent. Like any ordinary

human being, He displayed the emotions of deep sorrow, but after controlling

Himself, He spoke, "By bodily attachment, one is regarded as a husband or

son. These illusory relationships are caused by misunderstandings. O mother,

why do you feel sad? How can you hope to change that which has been ordained

by the Lord's desire? No one can check the passage of time, and all

relationships in this world are temporary. This is the verdict of the Vedas.

"The activities of the entire cosmic creation rest in the hands of the

Supreme Personality of Godhead. Who but our Lord can bring people together

and then separate them? Why should these arrangements of the Supreme Lord,

make you so unhappy? It is fortunate for the wife if she can leave before

her husband. This is proof that she was a most pious woman."

 

The Lord tried to console His mother by these philosophical truths, and

everyone felt the veil of sadness dissipate by the soothing words of the

Supreme Lord. In this way, the Lord of Vaikuntha, Sri Gaura Hari, performed

wonderful pastimes in the mood of a scholar.

 

Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are my life and soul. I,

Vrndavana dasa, humbly offer this song at Their lotus feet.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Caitanya Bhagavat, Adi-lila 14: The Departure of Sri

Laksmipriya