Sweet Relations

Bhakti Ratnakara (8.382-392) narrates Narottama’s meeting of Gopala Guru as follows:

“Narottama went to Kasi-misra’s house. There he met Sri Gopala-guru. With great affection he gently, gently spoke these sweet words: “Only by the Lord’s wish do I somehow remain alive. Gazing at this holy place, I will soon bid farewell to this life. O Narottama, look, in this very secluded place Lord Caitanya all alone, would sit on a straw asana. In this place Lord Mahaprabhu would lie down. Sri Govinda would massage His feet. Who has the power to understand Sri Krishna Caitanya Prabhu’s pastimes. He manifested ecstatic spiritual love even Brahma and the demigods cannot attain.”

Seeing Lord Caitanya’s bed and asana, Narottam rolled on the ground. Again and again he wept. His heart wild with spiritual love, Sri Gopala-guru hugged Narottama, loudly he wept. After many moments Gopala-guru became peaceful. He consoled Narottama and made him peaceful also. Gopala-guru showed Narottama all the different places where Lord Caitanya was plunged in the ecstaty of spiritual love. Gopala-guru spoke of Vakresvara Pandita’s glorious activities. He made Narottama offer respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of the Deity Sri Radhakanta.”