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Among them was a Brahmin called Gopal Chãpal. He was jealous of Prabhu’s growing fame.

One night, he came to Srivas Pundit’s house. The doors were locked and Namasankirtan was going on. Gopal Chãpal placed articles used for Chandi Pooja - a piece of bone with red, yellow and black dots painted on it and two vessels filled with wine and flesh at the doorstep and left the place.

The next morning when Prabhu and his devotees came out after Nãmasankirtan, Gopal Chãpal was waiting outside with his gang. They talked loudly among themselves -“We know beforehand that they close the doors and raise sounds of Hari Nãma Sankirtan along with the ladies. But, they are actually performing Bhairavi Pooja according to the rules of Vama Mãrga. Look, here are the articles required for that.” The noble people understood that this was an act of jealousy. Srivas Pundit too laughed aloud clapping his hands and said – “Yes! We did perform Chandi Pooja.” Saying thus, he removed those articles and cleansed that place with cow-dung and sprinkled the water of Ganges to purify that place.

The very next day, Gopal Chãpal developed leprosy all over his body. All parts of his body oozed with pus. Due to the irritations on the wounds, he was screaming aloud “Hai! Hai!” in pain. He was banned from living in the village. He lay down under a neem tree on the banks of the Ganges. One day he saw Prabhu coming to the Ganges and pleaded to him, “Prabho! I have offended you. Please forgive me. You are elevating the whole world. Please elevate this sinner also. Even by means of relation you are my nephew. Grace this sinful uncle of yours and mitigate my sorrow.” Mahaprabhu said – “I will forgive only those who have offended me. But you have offended Srivas Pundit indeed. So, I am not capable of forgiving you.” After some time, when Prabhu came to Kuliya village again after he had taken Sanyasa, he came and pleaded to Prabhu again.

Prabhu sent him to Srivas Pundit. Srivas Pundit said – “I have had no hatred for him either before or now. If Prabhu forgives him, he is a released soul even this very moment. Soon, to the surprise of all the on-lookers, the disease on his body disappeared.

Similarly, another Brahmin who came to watch the Nãma Sankirtan, saw the locked doors and went home after severely criticizing the devotees performing Bhajans. The next day he met Prabhu on the banks of the Ganges and said – “Are you proud of your Kirtan? You are having ten, twenty people as your toys and making them dance to your tunes! Are you arrogant because everybody worships you? Those worldly pleasures that have made you mad with pride will soon get destroyed!” Those nearby looked at him in shock. Some were angered beyond control. But Prabhu pacified everybody and said with a smile – “Oh! Best of Brahmins! I bow at your feet! I accept your curse with pleasure.”

After some time, the Brahmin’s anger cooled down. He felt ashamed and repented for having talked like that. He came to Prabhu and said – “He! Prabho! I have spoken misfiling words to you in a fit of rage when my senses were totally lost. I plead you to forgive me”.

Prabhu said to him – “Oh! Best among Brahmins! You have not done any offence to me. The curse you have given me is indeed a boon! Worldly pleasures are a hindrance to attain Krishna, isn’t it! You have only given me a boon to get released from them! Only good and auspicious things will happen to me by these words of yours!” Saying this he embraced the Brahmin.

Such acts like showing pure love to even those who hate us are possible only for great Mahans like Mahaprabhu.

To be continued...

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