Tridandiswami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “How did you come here? Oh, Krsna is so merciful that He has mercifully brought you from the ditch or ocean of stool. Sanatana Gosvami said, “I do not know Krsna. I only know Your mercy. Your mercy has done this. “Mahaprabhu then said, “You should be totally shaved, and then come.” Sanatana Gosvami went to the Ganges river, took bath, and cleaned everything. When he returned, Mahaprabhu told Candrasekhara, “You should give him a dhoti, a bahirvasa and an uttariya.”
Candrasekhara gave him a new, very fine cloth, but he refused to take it. He said, ” I do not want this new, fine cloth. I want any of your old dhotis.” So Candrasekhara gave him that and he accepted it. He made three pieces from it; one piece for uttarya bahiravasa, and the others for dor and kopin. Mahaprabhu was so much pleased. Sanatana Gosvami then quickly went to the Ganges again. There He saw a beggar who had a very worn out quilt. Sanatana Gosvami gave him his very costly blanket and said, “Can you give that old and torn blanket to me?” The beggar replied, “Are you joking with me? You will give this precious blanket to me in exchange for this old and torn one? I don’t believe you.” Sanatana Gosvami forcibly took it and washed it in the Ganges. Then he returned and Mahaprabhu became so happy.
If you want to have krsna-prema, you will have to follow the six Gosvamis. Srila Raghunatha das Gosvami, Srila Jiva Gosvami, Srila Rupa Gosvami — all were like this. None are inferior to the other. When we will try to judge, we will see that each one of them is so high. We will not be able to decide. They were so humble, knowing all these special truths. If we want to achieve the goal of our life, which is krsna-prema, we will have to follow in this birth. Or, if it is not possible to fully follow in this birth, we will have to gradually follow the process for lakhs and lakhs of births. It may take a day or a moment, but you will have to follow. There is no other way. Better to follow in this life.
June 2, 2000 in Badger, California