Remembrance of Krishna – Gopinath & Vaninath

[Antya 9]

[9.1-9.153]

Gopinath Pattanayaka, the brother of Ramananda Raya, was facing the death penalty due to misappropriating government funds. Although everyone appealed to Shri Chaitanya for help, He was unwilling to intervene due to His being a sannyasi. Nevertheless, by the will of providence, Gopinath was in fact saved. When Shri Chaitanya received the message, He inquired about the activities of the brothers while Gopinath was on the verge of death. The messenger replied that they were all chanting the holy name and absorbed in remembrance of Krishna. Shri Chaitanya was extremely pleased, and even the brothers concluded that it was this remembrance which actually saved them . They also understood, however, that the ultimate fortune was to attain detachment from the material world and pure devotion to the Lord, and that material protection was simply a side-benefit. Shri Chaitanya instructed them to conduct their worldly affairs with full integrity and never make such financial mistakes again. He thus reiterated the principles of Bhagavad-Gita – “do your duty perfectly, and simultaneously remember Krishna at all times”.