Cmp 49. Meeting With Devananda Pundit Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU

A Teacher of Shrimad-Bhagavatam
Devananda Pundit was at that time,
Lived by the side of Ganga River,
Giving up his material life forever.

People considered the Pundit,
As an authority on the subject,
But the essence of that great work
He didn't know about what it spoke.

The Lord said, "What right he has
To speak on this subject, when he's
Ignorant of its essential message
For all the time and the age."

"Without devotional service,
This fool is just giving lectures,
And today I'll tear him into pieces
For his complete ignorance."

He saw Devananda coming,
Before Him, one fine morning,
And He asked, "You dragged once
Shrivasa out from your discourses.

"When he was deeply absorbed
In love for Krishna, he cried.
What was his offense?
Why were you so merciless? "

"This is a great offense.
Not knowing its purpose,
You just teach the students
Only words, not its contents."

"Unless you taste the nectar,
How can you give pleasure
To others in tasting the same,
And you're just fooling them."

The Pundit couldn't answer.
He felt sorry for his behavior.
Feeling dejected and broken,
He went home with head down.

A blessing in disguise it was
For the ignorant Pundit to face
The Lord and getting chastised
For his past sinful deeds.