The Gopal pastime (continued from the previous post…)
The ladies continued to play games with Nimai. Meanwhile, the Brahmin
cooked and offered food to his Gopal deity. At this time, Nimai, with
His bewitching and bewildering potency, jumped around the house and
the ladies didn’t’ even notice he was gone. After some time when the
Brahmin opened his eyes to see the offering, he was once again shocked
to see little Nimai standing in front of him with his hands and mouth
filled with rice.
“Hai! Hai!” the Brahmin cried out, “the child has once again spoiled
my offering.” Jagannath Mishra was livid and picked up a stick to
punish his child but Nimai ran away, smiling. The Brahmin pleaded with
Jagannath Mishra, “Please do not punish your son. He is a small child;
he doesn’t know anything. Nothing happens by chance. It is Krishna’s
desire that I should not eat rice today. I am satisfied with a little
fruit, and besides, it’s very late at night.”
Jagananth Mishra was distressed that he couldn’t satisfy his guest. He
sat down dejected, his hands on his head, and his family pleaded with
the Brahmin to cook again. He however refused.
At that time, the beautiful Vishwarupa, the older brother of Nimai,
came to the room and requested the Brahmin to cook again.
The Brahmin was wonderstruck to see little Vishwarupa’s beauty. “How
wonderful are the divine, spiritual qualities of your son, oh
Jagannath Mishra,” said the Brahmin, “I am blessed to see this boy.”
Vishwarupa was the embodiment of good behavior and pleasing
mannerisms. He told the traveling Brahmin, “We are so fortunate that
you have come to bless us but we are also so unfortunate that we
couldn’t serve you properly.” Vishwarupa then fell at the feet of the
Brahmin, pleading him to cook again. The other members also begged him
to cook. Finally, he relented.
Jagannath Mishra had Nimai locked in a room and he personally guarded
the room from outside, with a stick. But then he heard that Nimai is
fast asleep and the Brahmin could now cook and offer the food to his
Gopal deity.
After some time he finished his cooking and was ready to offer his
food to Gopal. Meanwhile, nidra devi- the goddess of sleep, entered
the house of Jagannath Mishra and caused everyone to fall asleep. In
the stillness of the night, the Brahmin silently offered a prayer to
Gopal, his eyes closed in deep meditation. When he opened his eyes to
receive the Prasad, he was astonished to see little Nimai with food in
his hand, eating with great delight.
To be continued…
