Premadasa Paramahamsa Babaji lived in Godruma, in the region of Navadvipa. His retreat stood beside the Bhagirathi River. Thick climbing plants covered the little cottage in Pradyumna-kunja. There he spent his days in bhajan, devotional service to the Lord. He was a learned man, well acquainted with the scriptures. He received spiritual instruction from Pradyumna Brahmachari. He had chosen Godruma as the place for his worship, understanding its spiritual identity with Nandagrama in Vraja.
Every day he chanted two hundred thousand holy names. He bowed respectfully to the Vaishnavas. For his sustenance he collected a little food from the cowherds' homes. In his remaining time he read Prema-vivarta. Jagadananda Pandita was the author of this work. His eyes filled with tears as he read. Devotees came from the nearby cottages to hear him. They listened to his reading with devotion.
One afternoon Babaji finished his appointed number of holy names. He sat beneath the shelter of madhavi and malati vines. Reading Prema-vivarta, he became absorbed in devotional feeling. A sannyasi arrived and lay prostrate at his feet. For some time the visitor remained there, offering respect. At first Babaji did not notice him, so deep was his absorption. When his awareness of his surroundings returned, he saw the sannyasi. He too bowed before his visitor, considering himself far humbler.
Weeping, Babaji called upon the mercy of Chaitanya and Nityananda. He addressed the visitor with great humility. The sannyasi touched the dust of Babaji's feet. Babaji offered him a seat and sat down beside him. He asked how he might be of service. The visitor set down his water pot. With folded hands he began to tell the story of his life. He described himself as an unfortunate man seeking mercy.
For many years the sannyasi had studied scripture and the six philosophical systems. In Varanasi and other holy places he had debated their meaning. Twelve years earlier he had accepted sannyasa from Saccidananda Sarasvati. He had then travelled to places of pilgrimage throughout India. His companions were sannyasis in Shankara's teaching lineage. He passed through the kutichaka, bahudaka and hamsa stages, reaching paramahamsa. In Varanasi he observed a vow of silence. He contemplated the great Vedic statements concerning Brahman.
One day a Vaishnava passed him, singing the glories of Hari. Tears flowed down the devotee's face, and his hair stood on end in spiritual joy. His voice trembled as he chanted the names of Chaitanya and Nityananda. He danced, his steps becoming unsteady in his absorption. The sight and the song awakened a feeling the sannyasi had never known. Yet concern for his standing as a paramahamsa kept him from speaking to the devotee. Afterwards he bitterly regretted his pride. From that day his mind was drawn toward Chaitanya.
The sannyasi searched for that Vaishnava but could not find him again. He reflected on the pure happiness he had felt on hearing the holy name. He had never experienced anything like it before. After some days he resolved to seek shelter with a Vaishnava. He left Varanasi and went to Vrindavan. There he met devotees who remembered the Goswamis with deep emotion. They spoke the names of Rupa, Sanatana and Jiva. They remembered the pastimes of Radha and Krishna.
Those same devotees also spoke lovingly of Navadvipa. In spiritual ecstasy they rolled upon the ground. The sannyasi developed a strong desire to visit that dhama. After travelling around Vraja, he set out for Navadvipa. A few days before this meeting he had arrived in Mayapur. There he heard people praise Premadasa Babaji. That was why he had come to seek shelter with him. He begged Babaji for mercy and acceptance as his servant.
Premadasa Babaji answered with tears and deep humility. He spoke of his own life as wasted in eating, sleeping and idle talk. He had taken shelter in the land of Chaitanya's pastimes. Yet he humbly said he had not tasted true Krishna-prema. The sannyasi, he said, was blessed. His encounter with the Vaishnava had brought him a moment's experience of love. Babaji recognized Chaitanya's mercy in that encounter. He asked to be remembered when the visitor tasted such love.
Then Babaji embraced the sannyasi firmly, weeping with affection. At the Vaishnava's touch, the visitor felt a new spiritual exaltation. He began to weep and dance, glorifying Chaitanya and Nityananda. His song also praised his guru Premadasa and the happiness of bhajan. After the kirtan they became calm and continued their conversation. Babaji invited him to remain in the kunja for a few days. The sannyasi offered him his body and his life. His prayer was to serve him until his final breath.