Nityananda Caritamrta
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Licensed for Personal Use Only<br />
ÇRÉ NITYÄNANDA CARITÄMÅTA<br />
like lions and others shouted wildly. Some wept in ecstasy while<br />
others clapped their hands, laughing loudly. Some made noises<br />
like hai, hai. They were all absorbed in the mellows of ecstatic<br />
love.<br />
The spy returned and informed the others that Avadhüta<br />
was eating and the others were awake. The thieves decided: “Let<br />
Him eat and go to bed. Then we will invade the house. For now,<br />
we will simply wait and watch.”<br />
The thieves sat beneath a tree, waiting for the right time to<br />
plunder Nityänanda’s wealth. One of the thieves said, “I’ll take<br />
the golden bangles.” Another said, “I’ll take the pearl necklace.”<br />
Someone said, “The golden earrings are mine.” Yet another said,<br />
“I’ll take the golden necklace.” Another thief said, “I’ll take the<br />
silver ankle bells.”<br />
In this way, the thieves were living in the abode of imagination.<br />
That night, by the will of Nityänanda Prabhu, Nidrä-devé,<br />
the deity of sleep, captured all the thieves. They fell asleep right<br />
where they patiently waited, being bewildered by the Lord’s illusory<br />
energy. The night passed, and yet they did not awaken.<br />
At dawn, when the crows began to caw, the thieves finally<br />
woke up. When they found that it was morning, they became<br />
very sad. They hurriedly hid their weapons in the forest and<br />
went to bathe in the Ganges. Finally, they returned to their<br />
homes and began to accuse each other.<br />
One of the thieves said to another, “It was you who first fell<br />
asleep.” Another one replied, “Oh, you are talking like you were<br />
awake all night, keeping track of who was asleep and who was<br />
awake.” Then another thief said, “Stop this fighting! Goddess<br />
Caëòé kindly saved us from disgrace.”<br />
Finally, the sinful brähmaëa, the leader of the thieves, said,<br />
“There’s no use in fighting. By the mercy of Goddess Caëòé,<br />
whatever happened has happened. This does not mean that every<br />
day we will fail. I think Goddess Caëòé baffled us last night<br />
because we went to rob without first worshiping her. Therefore,<br />
let us go and worship Goddess Caëòé very nicely. We should offer<br />
her the best meat and wine.”<br />
After discussing in this way, the thieves worshiped Goddess<br />
Caëòé with offerings of meat and wine. The next day, the<br />
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