Chapter Summary - Chaitanya-bhagavata - Adi-khanda Ch. 14
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 Success as the greatest scholar -14 Sannyasis guest - Perfect householder - Trip to E. Bengal - Meets Tapan Misra and instructs him - Laxmi Devi departure

Brief Summary:   

...every person unquestioningly accepted Nimai Pandita as the superior scholar and teacher in Nabadwip...Rich, influential and aristocratic men would immediately take a humble position upon seeing Nimai...Nimai Pandita would frequently receive gifts from various classes of people in Nabadwip...Whenever Nimai saw a poor person, He would kindly offer him food, clothing or money...An endless stream of guests visited the Lord's house...Once twenty sannyasis came at one time...taught the world how to behave as a perfect householder;  The author takes time to explain the qualities and actions of a perfect householder, rich or poor, and how Niamai was the perfect example...The Supreme repeatedly asked his guests if they had any further needs or if they were satisfied...The twenty sannyasi who were guests in the house of Lord Nimai had become a subject of conversation amongst the people. Someone said, Those guests could not have been ordinary persons; Laksmi devi's activities and good qualities are mentioned; some of the interactions between the Lord and Laksmi devi are described;...Without any prior indication, Lord Gauranga one day announced His desire to visit Bangladesh, the eastern part of Bengal... The Lord of Vaikuntha, enjoyed traveling in East Bengal immersed in the mood of a scholar...The Supreme Lord Sri Gaura Hari personally visited each of the residents and after taking leave, He started for Nabadwip. Many students decided to accompany the Lord to Nabadwip where they could study under him...Tapan Misra (was a pure devotee and was well versed in the conclusions of the Vedas. Met Nimai Pandita during the Lord's trip to East Bengal...The Lord speaks to and embraces him, blessing Tapan Misra with perfect knowledge and happiness...The Lord's wife ends her pastimes on earth...Nimai Pandit returns to Nabadwip and comforts His mother and realatives.  

Most Memorable:  I humbly request everyone to please listen faithfully and attentively to the wonderful activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, in His form as a young brahmana boy...The Supreme Personality of Godhead set the example of a perfect householder and repeatedly asked his guests if they had any further needs or if they were satisfied. Those guests of course were the mostfortunate souls, for Srimati Laksmi Devi, the Goddess of Fortune, and Supreme Personality of God, Narayana, the proprietor of the entire cosmic manifestation, personally fed them. Because of the wonderful activities of the Supreme Lord, that divine food which is cherished by great souls like Lord Brahma and other demigods was distributed to common people and ordinary citizens in Nabadwip...Frequently Laksmi Devi would sit for long hours massaging the Lord's lotus feet on her lap. At times when she served her Lord like that, Mother Saci could see a brillant effulgence emanating from the feet of GauraChandra. At other times the fragrance of lotus flowers would fill the entire house, and although Mother Saci would search everywhere, she could not find the source of the fragrance.

Quiz: (see answers below)

1.  Nimai Pandita would frequently receive gifts from various classes of people in Nabadwip.  What would he often do with these gifts.

A.  Give them to His mother so that she could afford all the bhoga she needed to feed all the Lord's guest.
B.  Would give it to an orphanage.
C.  Would keep everything in a special room next to His temple.
D. Whenever Nimai saw a poor person, He would kindly offer him food, clothing or money. In this way Nimai generously distributed gifts to the poor.

2.  How many sannyasis guest came at one time to visit the Lord?

A.  50
B.  100
C.  20
D.  50

3.   What is the most important duty of a householder?

A.  The foremost duty of a householder is to serve his guest. 
B.  A householder should always focus on charity.
C.  Educating the children.
D.  Giving to the temple.

4.  The author comments that even those who have insufficient means to be hospitable can at least offer a place to sit, some water and a place to rest. Shrila Vrindavana dasa Thakura says that simple hospitality is sufficient to satisfy any guest if it is offered with....what? 

A. A mood of devotion to Lord Krishna.
B. Instructions for their guest to chant Hare Krishna
C. Love and affection
D  Holy Scriptures to read.

5.   What did the Lord do with his guest which expressed the perfect duties of a perfect householder?

A.  Gave each of them a gift. 
B.  He embraced each one as they left, setting the example of physical affection.
C.  He repeatedly asked his guests if they had any further needs or if they were satisfied.
D   Instructed each one of his guests privately on chanting the maha-mantra.

6.  Who actually fed the 20 sannyasis when they visited the Lord's home?

A.  As was the custom, servants served the guest while Nimai and Laksmi Devi provided entertainment.
B.  Mother Saci served everyone
C.  All the relatives of Nimai Pandita did the actual serving to give the Lord time to preach to His guest.
D   Srimati Laksmi Devi and Nimai Pandita

7.  Often times Laksmi Devi would sit for long hours massaging the Lord's lotus feet on her lap.  What would Mother Saci sometimes observe during these special moments?

A.  Ghost-like figures floating in the house.
B.  A brillant effulgence emanating from the feet of GauraChandra. At other times the fragrance of lotus flowers would fill the entire house,
C.  Music coming from nowhere. 
D.  She would often see flower petals floating down and later would find them where Nimai and Laxmi were resting.  

8.  Where did Lord Gauranga announce that he wished to go and visit?

A.  Vrndavana
B.  Puri
C.  East Bengal
D.  Varanasi

9.  What river did Lord Gaurasundara enjoy seeing and playing in?

A. Padmavali
B. Ganges
C. Yamuna
D. Godavari

10.  Why are the residents of East Bengal attracted to the Holy Name and engage in congregational chanting even today?

A.  Because of the fame of Nimai Pandita spread to East Bengal after He defeated the Digvijaya.
B.  Because many of the Lord's disciples had homes in East Bengal and naturally told everyone there about the Holy Name.
C.  Because of the Lord's visit
D.  Because the was where Laxmi Devi family lived.


11. As the Lord traveled East Bengal, what was His mood?

A.  That of a conqueror, having just defeated the greatest scholar in all of India
B.   In the mood of a scholar.
C.   This is where Nimai finally revealed for all to see that He was in fact the Supreme Lord, so His mood was that of the Almighty Lord.
D.  As a saint.

 
12.  Laksmi devi was feeling the pangs of separation from her Lord. She never spoke of her loneliness to anyone. She served Mother Saci very lovingly. She also did what?

A.  Barely ate any food.
B.  Would not go outside.
C.  Would not go to the temple.
D.  Would not speak to her brother.

13  Why was Tapan Misra upset?

A.  Because his wife had recently been bitten by a poisonous snake and died.
B.  Becasue the Digvijaya was his brother and he was upset thought that Nimai Pandita had somehow cheated him during their debate
C.  Because he was a devotee of Lord Rama and did not want to worship Lord Krishna.
D.  Becayse he could find no one to answer his questions on the perfect spiritual path and the ultimate and absolute worshipable object.

14.  Nimai Pandita instructed Tapan Misra that in Kali Yuga, the recommended & authorized religious practice is congregational chanting of Krishna's Name.  What does this process also include?

A.  Different breathing techniques.
B.  All the other previous processes, from other ages.
C.  Ways to achieve material prosperity.
D.  A guaranteed way to be 100% from all sinful reaction, forever.

15.  Some in the West may argue that there is no such thing as a Holy River; that this is just some ancient myth.  What is the best proof that the Ganges is in fact a sacred river?

A.  It flow out of the Himalayan Mountians.
B.  The Vedas say it is.
C.  There are countless temples on its banks.
D.  Nimai Pandita joined them in offering deep and repeated obeisances to the Ganga.

Devotee Mentioned:  Pradyumna Misra (aka Jugannata Misra); Sri Paramananda Puri; Tapan Misra (was a pure devotee and was well versed in the conclusions of the Vedas. Met Nimai Pandita during the Lord's trip to East Bengal. However, he could find no one to answer his questions on the perfect spiritual path and the ultimate and absolute worshipable object. He constantly chanted the holy name of Krishna, yet he felt dissatisfied in the
absence of proper spiritual practice)

Blessings:   

Just by remembering His name (Sri Gaura Hari) one becomes free from material entanglement; even by simply remembering His servant one becomes victorious in every sphere of life.

Lord Siva and Parvati: 

Misc. Facts:

The foremost duty of a householder is to serve his guest and responsible householders live by that standard. The householder who does not serve and satisfy his guests properly is worse than an animal or a bird. Even those who because of their previous impious activities have insufficient means to be hospitable can at least offer a place to sit, some water and a place to rest. That simple hospitality is sufficient to satisfy any guest if it is offered with love and affection. A householder who is pious maybe poverty stricken and possess very little with which to serve a guest, but his disposition should behospitable. He can offer drinking water and water with which the guest can wash his feet. He can offer a grass mat on which the guest can sit or rest to become refreshed and he can offer sweet words to please the  ears of the traveler. The host must endeavor with all humility to keep the guest from leaving his house and beg forgiveness for any mistakes in his humble hospitality. A householder who sincerely tries to satisfy his guests even though his means are meager is considered hospitable...From the moment the Lord entered East Bengal the land became blessed and remains so, even today..."Because of bodily attachment one is regarded as a husband or son. These illusory relationships arecaused by misunderstandings. O mother, why do you feel sad? How can you hope to change that which is ordained by the Lord's desire? No one can check the passage of time, and all relationships in this (material realm) 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 very pious woman."

Answers To Quiz:

 1-D;  2-C;  3-A;  4-C;  5C;  6-D;  7-B;  8-C;  9-A;  10-C;  11-B;  12-A ;  13-D;  14-B;  15-D  

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