Caitanya Mahāprabhu had taken bath and He was sitting on the bank of the Godāvarī River. The Godāvarī River is very sacred. She is like Lakṣmī. He was sitting there on the bank. What was He thinking? “I will know the greatness of Śrīmatī Rādhikā and Her heart.” At once, this big crowd surrounded Him. So many learned scholars and Sanskrit paṇḍitas were reciting Vedic mantras and playing on a drum, he [Rāya Rāmānanda] was coming in a palanquin, as a king. When he took off all of his things and wanted to take bath, he saw nearby, not so nearby, but a little far away, the bāla sannyāsī. Bāla sannyāsī means a kiśora, a young sannyāsī. And while sitting, lakhs and lakhs of sun rays [emanated from Him]. He was astonishing.
“Who is he?” [thought Rāya Rāmānanda].
He was so attractive. But he was fearing the paṇḍitas. “What will they say?” That being a śūdra, he is going to a brāhmaṇa sannyāsī. His heart was so stolen and attracted that he could not check himself. He told the brāhmaṇas, “Wait for me,” and he left his crown and royal dress and, wearing one kaupīna, came like a beggar.
May 08, 1996 Netherlands