Gaudiya Touchstone | Issue 4

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G a u d i y a To u c h s t o n e

told him that Sukadeva was a mere infant compared to Advaita who had the deepest connection with caitanya-lila. The story appears in Chaitanyabhagavata, Antya-khanda 9.282-296 as follows: The Lord said, “O Srivasa, tell Me what type of Vaishnava do you think Advaita Prabhu is.” Srivasa Pandita thought for a while and finally said, “I consider Him to be similar to Sukadeva or Prahlada.” Upon hearing the comparison of Advaita with Prahlada and Sukadeva, the Lord became angry and hit Srivasa. Just as an affectionate father beats his son in order to teach him, similarly the Lord gave a slap to Srivasa. “What did you say? What did you say, Pandita Srivasa? You are comparing My Nada (Advaita) with Sukadeva or Prahlada! “You may claim that Sukadeva is fully liberated, but compared to Nada, he is like a child. “How dare you say such a thing about My Nada? O Srivasa, today you have put Me in great distress.” Saying this, the Lord in an angry mood grabbed a stick in His hand and ran after Srivasa to hit him. Sri Advaita Acharya then stood up and gently caught hold of the Lord’s hand. “O Lord, a father teaches his sons out of compassion. So who in the three worlds is a suitable candidate for Your anger?” “Hearing the words of Advaita Acharya, the Lord gave up His anger and in ecstasy began to profusely glorify Advaita.

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