“I take an oath that someone who has not developed even a trace of śraddhā for Śrī Gaurāṅga-deva should not read this book (Jaiva Dharma), for the dry mukti-vādīs can never attain the shelter of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, but one endowed with spiritual śraddhā will gradually realize the full esoteric aspects of vraja-līlā.”
~Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Vijaya and Vrajanātha fell at Śrī Gopāla Guru Gosvāmī’s feet. They were carried away in the happiness of prema and began to shed tears. Śrī Guru Gosvāmī was very pleased to see their ecstatic sentiments and embraced them. He made them sit down close to him and immediately asked, “I wish to know who you are.” When Vijaya and Vrajanātha introduced themselves, Guru Gosvāmī’s eyes began to stream with tears of love. Hearing the name of Śrī Navadvīpa, he said, “Today I have become blessed by seeing the residents of Śrī Dhāma Navadvīpa. Tell me, how are the Vaiṣṇavas in Māyāpura, such as Śrī Raghunātha dāsa and Gorācanda dāsa? Are they well? Aho! When I remember Raghunātha dāsa, the memories of my śikṣā-guru Śrī Dāsa Gosvāmī come to my mind.”
Guru Gosvāmī called his disciple, Śrī Dhyānacandra, and said, “These two mahātmās will take prasāda here today.” Śrī Dhyānacandra took them both to his room and offered them śrī mahā-prasāda. Afterwards the three of them discussed many subjects. Dhyānacandra Gosvāmī was overjoyed when he saw Vijaya Kumāra’s vast erudition in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and recognized Vrajanātha as a fine scholar of all the śāstras. He related all their discussions to Śrī Guru Gosvāmī, who was also delighted to hear of their expertise in śāstra. Śrī Gopāla Guru Gosvāmī called them near to him, and said, “You are both very dear to me. Kindly allow me to see you every day, as long as you stay in Śrī Puruṣottama Dhāma.”
Vijaya Kumāra humbly replied, “O Prabhu! Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Bābājī of Śrī Māyāpura has bestowed great mercy upon us. He has given us so much śikṣā, and he ordered us to accept instructions at your divine feet.”
Gosvāmī said, “Raghunātha dāsa Bābājī is a highly learned scholar, and you should follow his instructions thoroughly. If you want to know anything further, you may come here tomorrow afternoon and present your inquiries. You may honor mahā-prasāda here tomorrow.” They conversed for some time, and then Vijaya and Vrajanātha took permission from Śrī Guru Gosvāmī and returned to Haracaṇḍī Sāhī.
The next day, Vijaya Kumāra and Vrajanātha returned to Śrī Rādhā-Kānta Maṭha at the appointed time. They honored prasāda, and then approached Śrī Gopāla Guru Gosvāmī. When they had offered their respectful praṇāma to him, they said, “Prabhu, we want to know about rasa-tattva. Our lives will become successful when we hear about kṛṣṇa-bhakti-rasa from your lotus mouth. You are the pre-eminent holy master of the Nimānanda sampradāya and you are reigning as jagad-guru on the seat of Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s successor, Śrī Svarūpa Gosvāmī. We desire to hear rasa-tattva from your divine lips, so that our scholarship may become fruitful.”
Śrī Gopāla Guru Gosvāmī was overjoyed, and taking these worthy disciples, to a solitary place, he spoke to them. “Śacī-nandana Nimāi Paṇḍita appeared in Śrī Navadvīpa-Māyāpura, and He is the very life-breath of the bhaktas of Śrī Gauḍa-maṇḍala, Śrī Kṣetra-maṇḍala, and Śrī Vraja-maṇḍala. May that Śacīnandana give us joy. May Śrī Svarūpa Gosvāmī, whose madhura-rasa-sevā always fills Śrī Mahāprabhu with elation, be manifest in the core of our hearts. Śrī Vakreśvara Paṇḍita thoroughly captivated Nimāi Paṇḍita with his dancing. He also showered his mercy on Devānanda Paṇḍita by purifying him and making him Kṛṣṇa’s bhakta. May that Śrī Vakreśvara Paṇḍita confer all auspiciousness upon you.