No Entrance for Laksmidevi
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Without pursuing the footsteps of the gopis, no one can obtain the spiritual body of a sakhi and render service to Sri Krsna, even if the devotional service is rendered in the mood of opulence. A vivid example of this is Sri Laksmidevi, who desired entrance into the transcendental pastimes of the rasa-lila of Sri Krsna. However, because Laksmidevi did not follow in the footsteps of the cowherd girls of Vraja, she did not get entrance.
This statement of Ramananda Raya caused Lord Caitanya to melt in complete ecstasy and thus He embraced him in His arms. Both Ramananda Raya and Lord Caitanya were overflowing with tears of transcendental joy. The whole night was thus passed in divine conversation, and when the morning came, both Ramananda and Lord Caitanya went about their respective engagements. As Lord Caitanya was leaving, Ramananda fell at his feet and fervently requested Him in the following way:
- more krpa karite tomara ihan agamana
- dina dasa rahi' sodha mora dusta mana
- toma vina anya nahi jiva uddharite
- toma vina anya nahi krsna-prema dite'
"You have come here to bestow Your Divine Grace upon me; therefore, please remain here for at least ten days and see to it that my polluted mind is corrected. There is no one in the world but You who can deliver the fallen souls and there is no one in the world except You who can bestow upon them the transcendental mellowness of love of Godhead." (CC Madhya 8.236-237)
Lord Caitanya replied,
- prabhu kahe-ailana suni' tomara guna
- krsna-katha suni, suddha karaite mana
- yaiche sunilun, taiche dekhilun tomara mahima
- radha-krsna-premarasa-jnanera tumi sima
- dasa dinera ka-katha yavat ami jiba'
- tavat tomara sanga chadite nariba
- nilacale tumi-ami thakiba eka-sange
- sukhe gonaiba kala krsna-katha-range
"I came to you after hearing of your reputation of pure devotion in order to purify My mind by hearing the transcendental message of Sri Krsna. I have just verified My information about you upon seeing and hearing you. You are he zenith of transcendental knowledge regarding the pastimes of Radha and Krsna. As such, it will not be possible for Me to ever leave your company, what to speak of after ten days or so. We shall both live at Nilacala (Jagannatha Puri) together and pass our time in perfect happiness always talking about the subject of the divine pastimes of Radha and Krsna." (CC Madhya 8.238-241)