Just then came there Bhabánanda Ray, with his four sons; and they all fell at the Master's feet. Sárvabhauma introduced them, "This is Bhabánanda Ray whose eldest son is Rámánanda Ray." The Master embraced him and spoke in praise of Rámánanda adding, "One cannot adequately describe to the world the greatness of him whose son is a jewel like Rámánanda. Truly, you are Pandu, your wife is Kunti, and your five high-souled sons are the five Pandav brothers." The Ray replied, "I am a Shudra, a worldling and a wretch. That you have touched me is the only holy thing [about me]. I lay down at your feet myself with my house, belongings, servants, and five sons. This youth Vánináth will constantly wait on you, to do whatever you bid him. Know me as your own, feel no delicacy, but order whatever you desire." The Master answered, "What delicacy can there be? You are not a stranger to me. In birth after birth you with your family have been my servants. In some five days Rámánanda will arrive here. His society will complete my bliss." So saying He embraced the father, while the four sons laid their heads at His feet. They were all sent home, only Vánináth Patta Nayak was retained by the Master.
Bhattáchárya sent away the other people. Thereafter the Master called for deaf Krishna-dás, and said "Listen, Bhattáchárya, to the story of this man. He had accompanied me to the South, but left me to join the tribe of Bhattamári. But I rescued him from their hands. Having brought him back here I give him his discharge. Let him go wherever he likes; I have no longer any concern with him." At this Krishna-dás set up a lamentation. When the Master went away for His noonday worship, Nityánanda, Jagadánanda, Mukunda, and Dámodar laid their heads together, saying, "We have to send a messenger to Bengal to report the Master's arrival to His mother. Adwaita, Shribas and others of the faithful will all flock hither on hearing of His return. Let us send Krishna-dás (for the purpose)." With this they consoled Krishna-dás.
Next day they prayed to the Master, "Allow us to send a man to Bengal, as mother Shachi, Adwaita and other devotees have all been plunged in concern since they heard of your setting out for the South. Let a man go and give them the glad tidings (of your safe return)." The Master assented, "Do as you like." So they sent Krishna-dás to Bengal, with a present of the mahá-prasád for the Vaishnavs there.
Deaf Krishna-dás reached Bengal, saw mother Shachi at Navadwip, bowed, and gave her the mahá-prasád and the news of the Master's return from the South. The mother rejoiced at the news, and so did the faithful led by Shribas. Then Krishna-dás went to the house of Adwaita Acharya, gave him the prasád, bowed, and told him all about the Master. The Acharya in rapture danced, sang, and shouted for a long time. How shall I name all the flock who exulted at the news,—Haridás Thákur, Vásudev Datta, Murári Gupta, Shivananda, Acharya Ratna, Pandit Vakreshwar, Acharya Nidhi, the Pandits Gadadhar, Shrirám, Dámodar, Shrimán, and Rághav, Vijay, Shridhar, and Acharya Nandan. They all went in a body to Adwaita, bowed at his feet, and were clasped to his bosom. Two or three days were spent by the Acharya in great rejoicing (with them), and then he confirmed the desire to make a pilgrimage to the Niláchal. Gathering together at Navadwip, they set off for Jagannáth with mother Shachi's leave. At the report about the Master, Satyaráj and Rámánanda from the Kulin village joined them, and so did Mukunda and Narahari from Raghunandan Khand. Just then Paramánanda Puri arrived at Nadia from the South, travelling along the banks of the Ganges. He lodged in comfort in the temple of mother Shachi, who honourably fed him. On hearing there of the Master's return, the Puri too wished to hasten to the Niláchal. He set off thither with the Master's devotee, the Brahman Kamalákánta, and soon arrived in the Master's presence, who rejoiced at the meeting and lovingly saluted his feet, while the Puri embraced Him.
The Master said, "I long to live in thy company. Make the Niláchal thy abode, as thou lovest me." The Puri replied, "It is because I desire your society that I came hither from Bengal. The news of your return from the South has gladdened the heart of Shachi. The other devotees are coming to see you, but as they made delay I had started quickly (before them)." The Master assigned to the Puri a retired room in Káshi Mishra's house and an attendant.
Next day arrived Swarup Dámodar, who had touched the inmost recess of the Master's spirit. His name in the world was Purushottam Acharya, and he waited on the Master at Navadwip. Wild at the Master's renunciation of the world, he went to Benares and turned monk there. His guru, Chaitanyananda, bade him study the Vedánta and expound it to the people. He was totally withdrawn from the world and a deep scholar, having taken refuge in Krishna with all his body and soul. He had turned sannyasi, in a wild longing to worship Krishna in freedom from every (earthly) thought and care. As a sannyasi he cast off his sacred thread and took the tonsure, but did not put on the yogi's dress. Swarup was the new name given to him. With his guru's permission he came to the Niláchal, being day and night out of his senses in the bliss of loving Krishna. He was a perfect scholar, holding converse with none, and living in seclusion unknown to the world, He had known the mystery of the love of Krishna; his very body was a picture of love; he seemed the exact second self of the Master. Every book, verse, or song brought to the Master had to be first examined by Swarup before He would hear it. The Master took no delight in compositions that clashed with the theory of bhakti and lacked the spirit of delight (ras). So, Swarup Goswámi tasted books and read to the Master only such as were correct. Vidyápati, Chandidás and Git-Govinda were the poetry that delighted the Master. Dámodar surpassed others, as he was a veritable gandharva in musical skill and a Vrihaspati in Shastric lore. He was a darling to Adwaita and Nityánanda, and the very life of Shribas and other faithful ones.
Such was Dámodar who came and prostrating him self clasped the Master's feet while he recited stanza 20 of Act VIII. of the drama Chaitanya-chandrodaya.
The Master raised and embraced him. The two swooned away in ecstasy. After a while regaining composure the Master began thus: "I have dreamt that you would come to-day. It is good (that you have come); I am like a blind man who has got back his two eyes." Swarup answered, "Pardon my sin, Master I erred grievously when I left you and sought another (guru). I had not a particle of faith in your feet, but, sinner that I was, I had left you to go to another country! I had no doubt left you, but you did not forsake me. Thy grace has been a chain round my neck, dragging me to thy feet."
Then Swarup bowed at Nityánanda's feet, who lovingly embraced him. He also did due courtesy as he met Jagadánanda, Mukunda, Shankar, Sárvabhauma, and Paramananda Puri. The Master gave him a quiet room with a servant to draw water and do other services.
One day the Master sat surrounded by Sárvabhauma and other faithful ones, holding sweet discourse on Krishna, when Govinda arrived, prostrated himself, and said, "I am Govinda, a servant of Ishwar Puri, at whose bidding I have come to you. The Puri, when attaining to siddhi (death) told me to go and serve Krishna-Chaitanya. Kashishwar will come (here) after visiting holy places. At my Master's bidding I have hastened to your feet." To this the Master replied, "Ishwar Puri loved me like a son, and has sent you to me as a favour." At this Sárvabhauma asked, "How could the Puri retain a Shudra attendant?" The Master answered, "God is supremely independent. His mercy is not bound by (the rules of) the Vedas. God's grace defies caste and family distinctions." Witness how Krishna dined at the house of Bidur. Love and service are mere instruments of Krishna's mercy. When actuated by mercy He acts independently [of the conventions of religion]. Loving treatment is a million times more blissful than dignity. The very hearing of it gives intense delight."