Massage

 

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu lay down at the door of the Gambhīrā, and Govinda came there to massage His legs.

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It was a steady, long-standing rule that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would lie down to rest after lunch and Govinda would come to massage His legs. Then Govinda would honor the remnants of food left by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

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This time when the Lord lay down, He occupied the entire doorway. Govinda could not enter the room, and therefore he made the following request.

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"Kindly turn on one side. Let me pass to enter the room." However, the Lord replied,"I don't have the strength to move My body."

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Govinda made his request again and again, but the Lord replied,"I cannot move My body."

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Govinda repeatedly requested, "I want to massage Your legs," but the Lord said, "Do it or don't do it. It depends upon your mind."

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Then Govinda spread the Lord's wrapper over the Lord's body and in this way entered the room by crossing over Him.

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Govinda massaged the Lord's legs as usual. He pressed the Lord's waist and back very softly, and thus all the Lord's fatigue went away.

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As Govinda stroked His body, the Lord slept very nicely for about forty-five minutes, and then His sleep broke.

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When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Govinda sitting by His side, He was somewhat angry."Why have you been sitting here for so long today?" the Lord asked.

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"Why didn't you go to take your meal after I fell asleep?" the Lord asked. Govinda replied, "You were lying down, blocking the door, and there was no way to go."

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The Lord asked, "How did you enter the room? Why didn't you go out to take your lunch in the same way?"

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Govinda mentally replied, "My duty is to serve, even if I have to commit offenses or go to hell.

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"I would not mind committing hundreds and thousands of offenses for the service of the Lord, but I greatly fear committing even a glimpse of an offense for my own self."

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Thinking in this way, Govinda kept silent. He did not reply to the Lord's inquiry.

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It was Govinda's practice to go take lunch when the Lord was asleep. On that day, however, seeing the Lord's weariness, Govinda continued massaging His body.

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There was no way to go. How could he leave? When he thought of crossing over the Lord's body, he considered it a great offense.

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These are some of the finer points of etiquette in devotional service. Only one who has received the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu can understand these principles.

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The Lord is very interested in manifesting the exalted qualities of His devotees, and that is why He engineered this incident.

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