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One attains the Lord only if he renounces worldly pleasures. 'Sanyãsa' verily means renouncing all the pleasures and getting involved with the Lord. How could Bhakti develop without leading a ascetic life? It is even possible to attain Jnãna without taking up Sanyãsa, but Bhakti cannot develop without renunciation. Nãrada, the forerunner of the Bhakti Cult, was indeed a Brahmachãri. However, did he not turn all the twelve thousand sons of Daksha Prajãpati into Sanyãsis? All of the Lord's avatars, Parasurama, Vãmana, the Sanatkumaras, were Sanyãsis. The stars of the Bhakti cult, viz., Sri Ramanuja, Sri Nimbarka, Sri Vallabha, Sri Madhwãchãrya - all of them were Sanyãsis. Thus one can go on speaking about Sanyãsa. Who can object the sovereignty of Sanyãsa? Mahãprabhu also got attracted towards Sanyãsa.

Meanwhile, a 'Dhandi Sanyãsi' named Kesava Bhãrati hailing from Katwa village came to Nawadweep. Having seen him, Prabhu immediately fell to his feet. Kesava Bhãrati was transfixed by devotional transformations that happened in Prabhu's body after their meet. Astonished, he enquired of Prabhu, "Are you Nãrada or Prahlada? You seem to me as verily an embodiment of devotion!"

Speechless at Kesava Bhãrati's words, Prabhu held his feet pleading, "You are verily Lord Narayana in human form. You have purified family-men like me by coming to our house. Please relieve me from this bondage of the world!"

Kesava Bhãrati replied, "Your body is completely filled with divine qualities. You are an embodiment of love. Your very darshan gives me an ecstasy of seeing the Lord." Not giving up, Prabhu replied, "You are the Lord's favorite. He lives in your heart. Sri Krishna's shadows remain in your eyes forever, and hence you are able to see the whole world as godly". Thus the two Mahapurushas conversed in love. Meanwhile, Sachi Mãta had prepared delicious food which Prabhu served to Keshava Bhãrati. The next day, Keshava Bhãrati returned to his Ãshram through the banks of the Ganges. Prabhu's longing became more intense than earlier. So he made preparations for Sanyãsa. Don't the Shãstras prescribe that one derives utmost happiness by renunciation?

This really means that, by just holding on to the truth, one can derive the fruit of following all the Dharmas and by renouncing everything, one can attain the highest bliss.

Let us now see each action Mahaprabhu performed towards attaining Sanyãsa.

To be continued...

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