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At Srivasa angan, the home of Lord Chaitanya's devotee Srivasa Thakura, the Lord displayed many wonderful pastimes, including his exhibition of Maha prakash lila or twenty one hour manifestation of his mood as supreme Lord. As you can imagine, only Lord's most intimate associates were allowed inside.
One day, however, the Lord was not feeling his usual sense of ecstasy. "Why is it I am not feeling happy?" he asked. Srivasa Pandita inspected the area and found his mother-in-law who had secretly made her way inside. She was immediately removed from the place for unless one is sufficiently advanced in spiritual life, they can lose their minds trying to witness what takes place there.
On another day, however, a brahmana from Navadvipa came and pleaded with Srivasa Thakura to allow him entrance inside. He was a very pious brahmana said to subsist only on milk. He sounded very sincere in motive as he begged Srivasa on a daily basis to allow him in.
Finally, Srivasa relented saying, "I know you to have always engaged in pious life, celibacy and to take only milk as your foodstuff. If I could I'd let you into the kirtana, but the Lord has ordered only his most dedicated devotees can join. So if you insist on coming inside, you must remain hiding." The brahmana agreed and was brought into the courtyard and concealed behind a screen.
That night the Lord of the fourteen worlds danced in transcendental madness, surrounded by His associates. The sang and danced and laughed and carried on in unbridled ecstasy. When suddenly the Lord stopped, perceiving an outsider to be present among them. "Why is it ecstatic love has not come to give us shelter today? I suspect a stranger is here. Please tell me what is going on." he said as he looked at His devotees.
Srivasa Thakura fearfully submitted, "My Lord, no atheists or unqualified persons are present, just a very pious brahmana who lives only on milk and who has great eagerness to see Your dancing."
"Out! Out! Take him out right away!", Mahaprabhu exploded. "Why is he here? Is it that simply by drinking milk one can purchase Me!"
The Lord raised His arms, pointing His finger at Srivasa, exclaimed, "It takes more than drinking milk to attain Me! If the keeper of a crematorium takes shelter of Me , know for certain that I am his, and he is Mine. Know this for certain. However, if even a sannyasi does not recognize his dependence upon Me, then he is not Mine! He useless!
"How do you think Gajendra, Hanuman and the gopis of Vraja attained Me? Was it simply by austerities? It was not by performing mundane austerities. It was not by drinking milk, but by taking shelter of My lotus feet! For this outrage, I will now destroy everyone!
Hearing this, the frightened brahmana ran frantically from his hiding place so everyone could see him. He thought himself worthy of any punishment after what he'd seen that day. Nothing could compare to the great mercy he received by being allowed to hide there."
Mahaprabhu, knowing the mind of the humble Brahmana, felt kindly disposed toward him, and placing His two lotus feet on his head He instructed him, "Do not simply rely on austerities as your means of perfection. It is only by devotion to Lord Vishnu that one can reach the topmost perfection."
