Superficial Discrimination – Pradyumna Mishra

[Antya 5]

[5.1-5.32]

When Pradyumna Mishra approached Shri Chaitanya with the ardent desire to hear topics of Krishna, the Lord directed him to meet Ramananda Raya, who was extremely qualified in this regard. Pradyumna visited Ramananda, but discovered that the former-governor was massaging the bodies of young girls and seemingly engaged in immodest activities. Shocked and bewildered, Pradyumna quickly left the home and avoided any further conversation with Ramananda.

[5.33-5.90]

Seeing Pradyumna the following day, Shri Chaitanya detected his bewilderment and thus extolled the glories of Ramananda. Ramananda was personally directing the girls in song and dance for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha. Since he was transfixed in his eternal identity as a maidservant in the spiritual world, such intimate services could not bewilder or agitate him. When Pradyumna later approached the former-governor with a different mindset, eagerly requesting him to narrate the pastimes of Krishna, an unprecedented flow of transcendental nectar emanated from Ramananda’s mouth. On a superficial level, Pradyumna was a highly qualified brahmana, whereas Ramananda was an ordinary grhasta-sudra engaged in duties; Shri Chaitanya, however, wanted to highlight the principle that advancement is based on internal realisation rather than superficial indication.