The Greatest Scholar
Adi 16
After completing His primary education and formally entering household life, Nimai performed further pastimes known as the kaisora-lila (age 11- 15).
Nimai had become so accomplished in His studies, that by the age of eleven He had founded His own school! He attracted many students, defeated the most astute philosophers, and became widely renowned as a scholastic prodigy.
Nimai decided to exercise His intellectual prowess further afield by travelling to East Bengal. His influence spread far and wide as people flocked to hear Him speak. Despite the attention He drew, Nimai didn’t forget His other purpose in visiting East Bengal – to guide and advise Tapan Mishra. Mishra was a scholar who had read many scriptures, but remained confused about the ultimate goal of life. Nimai enlightened him about the devotional conclusions of the Vedas, and thus highlighted the limitations of academic scholarship. Although Nimai revealed the potency of nama-sankirtan to Mishra, He refrained from widely propagating it. The time, He considered, was not yet ripe.
Meanwhile in Navadvip, Lakshmipriya’s feelings of separation from Nimai became so unbearable that she passed away. On His return, Nimai comforted His grieving mother, offering spiritual support and promising to care for her. He reassured her by marrying the chaste and gentle Vishnupriya.
In this period, Nimai cemented His scholastic status by defeating Keshava Kashmiri, the champion debater widely acclaimed as the dhig-vijaya pandita (one who had defeated scholars from everywhere). Hearing of Nimai’s reputation as an academic genius, he sensed an opportunity to enhance his reputation further, and arrogantly demanded a debate. Nimai responded humbly and flattered the Pandita, requesting him to instead recite verses in glorification of Mother Ganges. Within an hour, Kashmiri composed one hundred eloquent stanzas and unflinchingly reeled them off like the mighty wind. Nimai was unfazed. He responded by recalling one of the quoted verses and outlining the numerous literary faults that spoilt the composition. The pandita was dumbfounded! How could Nimai memorise the verses so quickly? Furthermore, how could He instantaneously conduct such a critical analysis? Stunned and speechless, Kashmiri quietly excused himself to regroup. That night, Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, came to him in a dream and revealed Nimai’s identity as the Supreme Person. Appreciating that Nimai was compassionately curbing his pride, Kashmiri returned the following morning and happily surrendered to the young boy.
Nimai’s scholastic pastimes are particularly significant. Later in life, His immersion in ecstatic chanting and dancing would be viewed by many with a sceptical eye. They would accuse Him of being a sentimental and emotional devotee, labelling bhakti-yoga as a path for the less intelligent. Such comments invariably surfaced, yet Nimai’s early reputation as a scholar of unprecedented calibre confirms that the joyful chanting of Hare Krishna is the ultimate conclusion of all Vedic study. God cannot be understood through analytical and intellectual gymnastics, but by purification of the consciousness and heartfelt devotion.
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