rÄja-mantrÄ« rÄmÄnanda — vyavahÄre nipuṇa
rÄja-prÄ«ti kahi' dravÄila prabhura mana

 rÄja-mantrÄ« - diplomatic minister; rÄmÄnanda - ÅšrÄ« RÄmÄnanda RÄya; vyavahÄre - in general behavior; nipuṇa - very expert; rÄja-prÄ«ti - the love of the King for ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu; kahi' - describing; dravÄila - softened; prabhura - of Lord ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu; mana - the mind.


Text

ÅšrÄ« RÄmÄnanda RÄya was indeed a diplomatic minister for the King. His general behavior was very expert, and simply by describing the King’s love for ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu, he gradually softened the Lord’s mind.

Purport

A diplomat in the material world knows how to deal with people, especially in political affairs. Some of the great devotees of the Lord — like RÄmÄnanda RÄya, RaghunÄtha dÄsa GosvÄmÄ«, SanÄtana GosvÄmÄ« and RÅ«pa GosvÄmÄ« — were government officers and had a background of very opulent householder life. Consequently they knew how to deal with people. In many instances we have seen the diplomacy of RÅ«pa GosvÄmÄ«, RaghunÄtha dÄsa GosvÄmÄ« and RÄmÄnanda RÄya employed in the service of the Lord. When RaghunÄtha dÄsa GosvÄmī’s father and uncle were to be arrested by government officials, RaghunÄtha dÄsa GosvÄmÄ« hid them and personally met the government officers and settled the affair diplomatically. This is but one instance. Similarly, SanÄtana GosvÄmÄ«, after resigning his ministership, was thrown in jail, and he bribed the attendant of the jail so he could leave the clutches of the Nawab and live with ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu. Now we see RÄmÄnanda RÄya, a most confidential devotee of the Lord, diplomatically soften the heart of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu, despite the fact that the Lord definitely decided not to meet the King. The diplomacy of RÄmÄnanda RÄya and entreaties of SÄrvabhauma Bhaá¹­á¹­ÄcÄrya and all the other great devotees succeeded. The conclusion is that diplomacy used for the service of the Lord is a form of devotional service.