One day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was talking to Śrīvāsa Pandita about his household affairs. The Lord said, “I have noticed that you rarely leave your house; I wonder how you maintain your family. And how will you maintain them in the future?”
Śrīvāsa replied, “O Lord, if I may say, in my heart I don’t like to go outside.” The Lord then asked, “You have a large family. How will you maintain them?”
Śrīvāsa replied, “A person will inevitably receive what is destined for him.” The Lord then said with a gentle smile, “Then you should take sannyāsa,” and Śrīvāsa replied, “O Lord, that is not possible for someone like me.” The Lord continued, “You will neither take sannyāsa, nor will you go to anyone’s door to beg alms. How then will you maintain your family? I cannot understand your reasoning. If one does not go out and bring anything, he will perish; for nowadays nothing will come of its own accord. My dear Śrīvāsa, please tell Me, if nothing comes to you, then what will you do?”
Śrīvāsa then clapped his hands three times, saying, “one, two, three. That’s my secret!” Surprised, the Lord asked, “Why did you clap? What is the meaning of one, two, three’?” Śrīvāsa replied, O Lord, this is my firm conviction: If we do not receive any food for three consecutive days, we will all fast. After Lord Gaurasundara then called Sri Rama, the younger brother of Śrīvāsa, and said, “O My dear Rama, please hear my words. You must always serve your elder brother as if he were the Supreme Lord. You should never give up serving him. This is My order.” Thus the Lord that if nothing comes, we will drown ourselves in the Ganges.” As soon as the son of Śacidevi heard Śrīvāsa’s words. He jumped up and roared loudly. “What did you say, Pandita Śrīvāsa! Will you starve for want of food? Even if goddess Laksmidevi, the source of unlimited opulence, is forced to beg, your household will never be afflicted by poverty.”
The Lord then asked, “O Śrīvāsa, have you forgotten what I have declared previously in the Bhagavad-gitä?”
ananyaś cintayanto mam ye janah paryupāsate tesam nityabhiyuktanam yoga-kşemam vahamy aham
“Those who solely love Me, constantly think of Me, and selflessly worship Me, I personally take the responsibility of acquiring and protecting all their necessities.”
“I personally accept the duty to fulfill the needs of any person who constantly thinks of Me. All perfection will automatically come to a person who does not go to anyone’s door but thinks only of Me. Even though religiosity, economic development, sense gratification, and liberation automatically come to My servants, they do not accept or even look at them. My Sudarsana cakra always protects My devotees. Even during the final dissolution they are not destroyed. I personally protect and maintain anyone who remembers even My servant. The servant of My servant is very dear to Me. There is no doubt that such a person easily attains Me. How can My servant be in anxiety for food, when I accept it as my responsibility to maintain him in all respects?”
“O My dear Śrīvāsa, continue your service happily. From today. I assure you that everything will come to your doorstep. This is my benediction.” Lord Gaurasundara then called Śrī Rāma, the younger brother of Śrīvāsa, and said, “O My dear Rāma, please hear my words. You must always serve your elder brother as if he were the Supreme Lord. You should never give up serving him. This is My order.” Thus the Lord showed unlimited affection to Śrīvāsa and his brother. Hearing the Lord’s words, Śrīvāsa and Śrī Rāma were overjoyed at heart as if all their desires were fulfilled. In this way, by the mercy of Lord Caitanya, all the needs of Śrīvāsa and his family were perpetually fulfilled.
What can be said in praise of Śrīvāsa? By remembering his glories the three worlds are purified.
Adapted from Sri Caitanya Bhagavata (Antya 5. 38 -71) by Srila Vrindavan Das Thakura