When Mahāprabhu decided to deliver the people of the South, He left Purī on the pretext of going on pilgrimage in the month of Vaiśākha. At Nityānanda Prabhu’s request, He accepted the brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadāsa as a servant. Distributing prema to all as He passed, He arrived in Kūrma-sthāna (or Kūrma-kṣetra) where he bestowed his blessings on the Vedic brāhmaṇa also named Kūrma.

Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī has not given anything more than this brāhmaṇa’s name in his account of this event in his Caitanya Caritāmṛta. Though many devotees descended to this world to participate in the Lord’s pastimes, the worldly identity of many of them, unfortunately, remains unknown. There is not much possibility that historians will ever be able to unearth any more information about any of the devotees who are by nature transcendental. Detailed knowledge of the Lord’s associates’ worldly identities is far less important, however, than the lessons which we are taught through their saintly lives.

Mahāprabhu was subjugated by the intense devotion of Kūrma Vipra to accept his service. He was fortunate enough to be able to take the Lord to his house, where he washed His feet and gave the holy water to all his family members to drink. He served the Lord food offerings and honored His remnants.

In that village, there was a Vedic brāhmaṇa named Kūrma. He respectfully invited Caitanya Mahāprabhu to his home. He washed the Lord’s lotus feet and drank the water with his family members. With great affection and respect, he gave Mahāprabhu all kinds of food to eat. After that, all the members of the family shared His remnants. (Caitanya Caritāmṛta 2.7.121-3)

The brāhmaṇa glorified Mahāprabhu, pleasing Him, but as the Lord left he was unable to bear the thought of being separated from Him. He asked the Lord for permission to accompany Him, but the Lord denied it, telling him to stay at home and chant the Names of Kṛṣṇa and then to take the role of an ācārya and preach the Holy Names to others.

The Lord said, “Never make this suggestion again. You should rather remain at home and constantly chant the Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa. Instruct whomever you see to follow the orders of Kṛṣṇa. Become a spiritual master on my order and deliver everyone in this land. Do this and you will never be entangled in the waves of materialistic life. Indeed, you will have My company again, here in this very place.” (Caitanya Caritāmṛta 2.7.127-9)

Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura has elaborated on this instruction to Kūrma Vipra in his Anubhāṣya as follows: “For those who are determined to abandon everything to take shelter of the Supreme Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and serve Him exclusively, the Lord here gives the instruction to remain in the home, that is, to give up the pride of being a heroic performer of bhajana and to adopt a regular practice of chanting the Holy Name of Kṛṣṇa in the home and, with the humility that is characterized by remaining in the householder life, instruct others in chanting the Holy Names. If one chants the Holy Name with humility and takes up the duties of a spiritual master to propagate its glories, he will never become entangled in the waves of materialistic life in the form of the desire for self-aggrandizement.

“Many foolish people think that it is an impediment to spiritual practice to teach through writing books as Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, Jīva Gosvāmī or Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī have done, or to accept large numbers of disciples like Madhvācārya, Rāmānujācārya or Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura. Indeed, these less intelligent persons even claim that such activities are material entanglements. By adhering to these erroneous ideas, they become offenders to such genuine unalloyed devotees. Such devotees understand Lord Gaurāṅga’s teachings very well and give up their false pride and the show of humility and do not demonstrate an inimical attitude towards those who are devoid of devotion to the Lord. They thus follow the order of Mahāprabhu for their own advancement in bhajana.”

While in Kūrma-sthāna, Mahāprabhu was also attracted by the heartfelt devotion of the leper Vāsudeva Vipra. He delivered him and embraced him, transforming him into a handsome man. Vāsudeva said:

“Listen, O merciful one! The qualities You possess are not manifest in an ordinary living being. The lowest of the low run away at the sight and smell of my body, yet You touched and embraced me! You are the supremely independent Lord. But I was well off in my humble state. By transforming me, You have put me at risk of becoming proud.” (Caitanya Caritāmṛta 2.7.144-6)

The pleased Lord then gave him assurances that even though his body had been restored to health, he would not become entangled in the egoism that physical beauty usual brings. He also told him to help others by teaching them to chant the Holy Names of Kṛṣṇa.

The mercy of the Lord and His devotees upon seeing the distress of the conditioned souls is demonstrated by these words of the Lord and the above quotation from the writings of Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura. As Mahāprabhu left the pilgrimage town of Kūrma-kṣetra, Kūrma Vipra and Vāsudeva embraced each other and sang His glories, while absorbed in transcendental divine love.

Through this pastime, the Lord instructs to everyone that He cannot be won over by any material qualities and that only exclusive devotion can please Him. He does not consider the external appearance of a one-pointed devotee.