Page 19 - Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (English)

Birth and Childhood Pastimes 5

were joined by disguised demigods in chanting the
holy names of Lord Hari, blowing conchshells, and
ringing bells. Various objects, such as rice grains,
puffed rice, a book, coins, and gold and silver, were
placed before the infant. Jagannätha Miçra said, “O
my son Viçvambhara, please listen. Grasp whatever
attracts Your mind.” Ignoring everything else,
the infant picked up the Çrémad-Bhägavatam and
embraced it. Everyone cheered and proclaimed,
“He will be a distinguished paëòita.”
Baby Nimäi would play a game with the doting
neighborhood women who regularly came to see
Him. He would start crying and would stop only
when the ladies chanted “Hari! Hari!” In this
way He induced them to chant all day long, and
hence the home of Jagannätha Miçra continuously
resounded with the names of Kåñëa.
One day Çacémätä and Jagannätha Miçra
became aghast to see Nimäi playing in the
courtyard with a big snake. They didn’t know what
to do, but after some time the serpent crawled
around the body of the Lord and slithered away
harmlessly. Actually the snake was Anantadeva,
the resting place of Lord Viñëu.
Once two thieves entered the locality. Their
specialty was kidnapping children and stealing