One day, our dear Nimai Pandita decided to take a stroll in Navadwipa. At this time in His pastimes, He was still living at home and involved in learning, teaching, and debate. In fact, His incredible scholarship was becoming well known throughout the entire region. His arguments were unmatchable, and many lesser scholars were soundly defeated by Viswambhara’s lucid and impeccable debating abilities. His fame spread throughout the lands.
Walking along the avenue, Nimai could see Mukunda Prabhu, a great scholar in his right and Nimai’s friend, coming up the same road, towards Him. The Lord was looking forward to meeting Mukunda. Suddenly, however, Mukunda turned up a side street, apparently in order to avoid meeting the Lord. Mukunda was a Vaisnava, and he felt some dissatisfaction debating Nimai on so many points not directly related to devotional service. He did not wish to be further involved in logical debate and points of grammar. So, to avoid meeting the Lord, he turned and went another direction.
Seeing him do this, Sri Vrindavan dasa Thakura in Caitanya Bhagavata, describes that the Lord thought to Himself, “Ah, that Mukunda! He thinks that by turning aside, he can avoid debating with me. He does not care for scholarship so much as devotional service, so he avoids me. Well! I will show him! I will become such a Vaisnava that even the demigods will come to take my association! I will become such an exalted devotee as is rarely seen in this world!”
And He did! Taking initiation, He shed whole flower-beds full of tears of love of Godhead. The residents of Bengal were astonished to see the changes in the Lord’s behaviors. Now for Him, everything indicated Krsna. The balance of His life established Him as the greatest of all devotees.
In this way, if we just ponder for a moment… We are all struggling hard to make advancement in spiritual life. No one can rise to pure devotional service without deep commitment and dedication, often over many lifetimes, and even then, hardly anyone rises to the topmost levels. But Nimai, simply at His will, becomes the most exalted Vaisnava, just like that! Even Lord Mahesvara cannot do this! No one can do this just on the moment, by dint of their will. All must have full sanction from the highest devotional authorities, from the liberated advanced pure devotees, and by allowance of Godhead. But Nimai, just like that, He decides, and it is done.
No one but God can just decide, to be the greatest devotee. This is entirely impossible for the ordinary man or demigods. That He can do this, it is proven that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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