16.31
vyakarana padaha, nimani pandita tomara nama
balya-sastre loke tomara kahe guna-grama
SYNONYMS
vyakarana—grammar; padaha—You teach; nimani pandita—Nimai Pandita; tomara—Your; nama—name; balya-sastre—in grammar, which is considered a study for boys; loke—the people in general; tomara—of You; kahe—declare; guna-grama—very qualified “I understand that You are a teacher of grammar,” he said, "and that Your name is Nimai Pandita.
People speak very highly of Your teaching of beginners’ grammar.
PURPORT
Formerly Sanskrit schools first taught grammar very thoroughly, and this system continues even now.
A student was supposed to study grammar carefully for twelve years in the beginning of his life, because if one is expert in the grammar of the Sanskrit language, all the sastras are open to him.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was famous for teaching grammar to students, and therefore Kesava Kasmiri first referred to His position as a teacher of grammar.
He was very proud of his literary career; he was far above the first lessons of grammar, and so he thought the position of Nimai Pandita not at all comparable to his own.