Nityananda’s indispensable mercy

Without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, no one will get Krishna-prema. Without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu, one will not proceed even one inch in their spiritual life. There are so many examples in the scriptures that illustrate this. A prominent example of Nityananda Prabhu’s all-important mercy is Srila Raghunath Das Goswami. Raghunath Das Goswami was a young prince married to a beautiful young girl, and he was incredibly wealthy. But Raghunath Das had an extremely renounced mentality although he had so much property. Both his father and his uncle wanted to give all their riches and property to him for his benefit, but he did not want any of it. He only wanted the mercy of Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu.

Many times Raghunath Das tried to leave his family life to join Mahaprabhu’s group, but he was always unsuccessful. His father was determined to prevent him from leaving and used all his strength and influence to do this. Security guards and accomplished fighters were employed to keep him at home, so he was unable to leave. He wanted nothing but to go to the lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and he wanted to leave everything, but he was forcefully restrained.

Then one day Nityananda Prabhu came to Panihati. Raghunath Das Goswami’s father’s house was perhaps only seven miles or so from there, and seeing this opportunity he told his father, «My dear father, Nityananda Prabhu has come nearby, and I want to go and worship Him.» His father said, «Yes, that is not a difficulty. If you will not run away from home, then you can go.» So Raghunath Das went to Nityananda Prabhu, and Nityananda Prabhu saw him from afar and in a joking mood said, «I shall punish you today.» Then Raghunath Das Goswami asked, «Yes Prabhu, what is Your punishment? Please give it to me. I shall accept it happily.» Nityananda Prabhu blessed him, saying, «Yes, now you have come to Me, and now you will get relief. I will arrange for you to leave your mundane condition. But before that I have one condition. With Me are a thousand devotees. Feed make a feast here and feed them today. I want to see that. If the devotees are satisfied, then I will give My blessings to you.»