Maṅgalācaraṇa (Auspicious Invocation) –

pañca-tattva sahita gaurāṅga jaya jaya
jaya jaya navadvīpa gaurāṅga-ālaya (1)

All glories, all glories to Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu and the Pañca-tattva! All glories, all glories to the dwelling place of Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma! (1)

Śrī Vaikuṇṭhapura

śrī-vaikuṇṭhapure āsi’ prabhu nityānanda
śrī-jīve kahena tabe hāsi’ manda-manda (2)

“navadvīpa aṣṭa-dala eka pārśve haya
ei ta’ vaikuṇṭhapurī śunaha niścaya (3)

When they arrived in Śrī Vaikuṇṭhapura, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu smiled gently and spoke to Śrī Jīva: “You should know with certainty that this place, which is situated on the northern border of the eight-petaled Śrī Navadvīpa, is Vaikuṇṭhapurī. (2–3)

paravyoma śrī-vaikuṇṭha nārāyaṇa-sthāna
virajāra pāre sthiti ei ta’ sandhāna (4)

“Śrī Vaikuṇṭha, the abode of the Supreme Lord Śrī Nārāyaṇa, is situated beyond the Virajā River in the spiritual realm, the paravyoma. (4)

māyāra nāhika tathā gati kadācana
śrī-bhū-līlā-śakti sevya tathā nārāyaṇa (5)

“In Vaikuṇṭha the three potencies – Śrī, Bhū and Līlā – serve Śrī Nārāyaṇa. Māyā can never enter this place. (5)

cinmaya bhūmira brahma haya ta’ kiraṇa
carmacakṣe jaḍa-dṛṣṭi kare sarva-jana (6)

“Brahma is merely the splendour emanating from this transcendental abode of Śrī Vaikuṇṭha-loka. People with material vision perceivet his Vaikuṇṭhapura as nothing but a material realm. (6)

(At this very place, Śrī Nārada obtained Śrī Gaurasundara’s darśana –)

ei nārāyaṇa-dhāme nitya nirañjane
nārada dekhila kabhu cinmaya locane (7)

nārāyaṇe dekhe punaḥ gaurāṅga-sundara
dekhi’ hethā katadine rahe munivara (8)

“In this Vaikuṇṭhapura, Śrī Nārada, with his transcendental vision, first saw the eternal, untainted Bhagavān Śrī Nārāyaṇa. Thereafter, having received the darśana of Śrī Gaurāṅga-sundara, Śrī Nārada resided here for a long time. (7–8)

(The ancient history about Śrī Rāmānujācārya in relation to Śrī Vaikuṇṭhapura –)

āra eka kathā gūḍha āche purātana
jagannātha-kṣetre āila ācārya-lakṣmaṇa (9)

“An old and confidential history is related to this place. Once, Śrī Lakṣmaṇa Ācārya [Śrī Rāmānujācārya] came to Jagannātha Purī. (9)

(Śrī Rāmānujācārya obtains darśana of Bhagavān Śrī Jagannātha –)

bahu stave tuṣṭa kaila deva jagannāthe
kṛpā kari’ jagannātha āila sākṣāte (10)

“By reciting many prayers, Śrī Rāmānujācārya pleased Śrī Jagannātha, and out of mercy, Śrī Jagannātha extended His darśana to him. (10)

(Bhagavān Śrī Jagannātha’s order to Śrī Rāmānuja –)

sākṣāte āsiyā prabhu balila vacana
navadvīpa-dhāma tumi karaha darśana (11)

“Śrī Jagannātha-deva said, ‘O Rāmānuja, go and take darśana of Śrī Navadvīpa. (11)

(Śrī Jagannātha-deva indicates the incarnation of Śrī Gaura –)

ati alpadine āmi nadīyā-nagare
prakaṭa haiba jagannātha-miśra-ghare (12)

“‘I will appear very soon in Jagannātha Miśra’s house in the town of Nadiyā. (12)

(Paravyoma, the spiritual sky, is situated in one section of Śrī Navadvīpa –)

navadvīpa haya mora ati-priya-sthāna
paravyoma tāra ekadeśe adhiṣṭhāna (13)

“‘Śrī Navadvīpa is very dear to Me. Paravyoma, the spiritual sky, is situated within just one of its sections. (13)

tumi mora nitya-dāsa bhakata-pradhāna
avaśya dekhibe tumi navadvīpa-sthāna (14)

“‘You are My eternal servant and foremost among the devotees. You must certainly take darśana of Śrī Navadvīpa. (14)

tava śiṣya-gaṇa dāsya-rasete Magana
hethāya thākuka, tumi karaha gamana (15)

“‘All of your disciples are immersed in dāsya-rasa, the mellow of servitude. You should therefore leave them here and go to Navadvīpa alone. (15)

(Human life is useless without darśana of Navadvīpa –)

navadvīpa nā dekhe je pāiyā śarīra
mithya tāra janma ohe rāmānuja dhīra (16)

“‘O Rāmānuja, O resolute one, birth on this earth is useless for that person who, in spite of obtaining a human form of life, does not attain darśana of Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma. (16)

raṅga-sthāna śrī-veṅkaṭa yādava-acala
navadvīpa kalāmātra haya se-sakala (17)

“‘Śrī Raṅgam, Śrī Veṅkaṭa (Tirupati) and Yādava-acala are all just a small portion of Śrī Navadvīpa. (17)

ataeva navadvīpa kariyā gamana
dekha gaurāṅgera-rūpa keśava-nandana (18)

“‘Therefore, O son of Keśava [Rāmānuja], go to Śrī Navadvīpa and take darśana of the beautiful form of Śrī Gaurāṅga. (18)

(The merciful blessings of Bhagavān Śrī Jagannātha upon Śrī Rāmānuja –)

bhakti pracārite tumi āile dharātale
sārthaka hauka janma gaura-kṛpā-bale (19)

“‘You have come to this material world only to preach bhakti-yoga. May your life be successful by the mercy of Śrī Gaurahari. (19)

navadvīpa dekhi’ tumi jāo kūrmasthāna
śiṣya-gaṇa-sane tathā haibe milana” (20)

“‘You should go to Kūrmasthāna after taking darśana of Śrī Navadvīpa. There you will again meet with your disciples.’ (20)

(Śrī Rāmānuja inquires from Bhagavān Śrī Jagannātha about śrī gaura-tattva –)

eta śuni’ lakṣmaṇācārya juḍi dui kara
jagannāthe nivedana kare ataḥpara (21)

“Hearing this, Śrī Lakṣmaṇācārya folded his hands and made a request to Śrī Jagannātha. (21)

“tomāra kṛpāya prabhu gaura-kathā śuni’
kona tattva gauracandra tāhā nāhi jāni” (22)

“‘O Lord, by Your merciful words I have now, for the first time, heard about Śrī Gaurahari, but I know nothing about the tattva of Him.’ (22)

(Bhagavān Śrī Jagannātha describes śrī gaura-tattva –)

rāmānuje kṛpā kari’ jaga-bandhu bale
“golokera-nātha kṛṣṇa jānena sakale (23)

jāṅhāra vilāsa-mūrti prabhu nārāyaṇa
sei kṛṣṇa para-tattva dhāma vṛndāvana (24)

“Śrī Jagannātha, the friend of the entire world, mercifully spoke to Śrī Rāmānuja: ‘Everyone knows that Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Lord of Goloka, that Lord Śrī Nārāyaṇa is His vilāsa-mūrti, that Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Absolute Truth, and that He lives in Śrīdhāma Vṛndāvana. (23–24)

(Śrī kṛṣṇa-tattva and śrī gaura-tattva are non-different –)

sei kṛṣṇa pūrṇa-rūpe nitya gaurahari
sei vṛndāvana-dhāma navadvīpa-purī (25)

“‘O Rāmānuja, that very Śrī Kṛṣṇa is completely and eternally Śrī Gaurahari, and that very Śrī Vṛndāvana-dhāma is the town of Śrī Navadvīpa. (25)

navadvīpe āmi nitya gaurāṅga-sundara
navadvīpe sreṣṭha-dhāma jagat-bhitara (26)

“‘As the eternal form of Śrī Gaurāṅga-sundara I reside in Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma, which is superior to all other holy places in the world. (26)

āmāra kṛpāya dhāma āche bhūmaṇḍale
māyā-gandha nāhi tathā sarva-śāstra bale (27)

“‘Although, by My mercy, this dhāma is situated on the earth planet, all scriptures describe it as being without a scent of māyā. (27)

(The destination of those who consider Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma, situated on the earth planet, to be inferior to Śvetadvīpa –)

bhūmaṇḍale āche bali’ yadi bhāva hīna
tabe tava bhakti-kṣaya ha’be dina-dina (28)

“‘If someone thinks that because Navadvīpa is situated on the earth planet it is inferior [to Śrī Śvetadvīpa], his bhakti will diminish day by day. (28)

āmāra acintya-śakti se cinmaya-dhāme
āmāra icchāya rākhiyāche māyāśrame (29)

“‘Only by My desire has My inconceivable potency (acintya-śakti) brought that transcendental realm to this material world. (29)

(Attainment of bhagavat-tattva, which is beyond material sense perception, is possible only by Bhagavān’s mercy –)

yuktira atīta tattva śāstra nāhi pāya
kevala jānena bhakta āmāra kṛpāya” (30)

“‘That truth, which is beyond reason and logic, cannot be obtained just by studying scriptures. Only by My mercy can My devotees understand it.’ (30)

jagannātha-vākya śuni’ rāmānuja dhīra
śrī-gaurāṅga-preme tabe haila asthira (31)

bale,—“prabhu baḍai āścarya līlā tava
veda-śāstra nāhi jāne tomāra vaibhava (32)

“When Śrī Rāmānuja, whose mind was firm and peaceful, heard Śrī Jagannātha’s words, he became restless out of prema for Śrī Gaurāṅga. He said, ‘O Lord, Your pastimes are most amazing. Not even the Vedas and other scriptures know of Your grandeur. (31–32)

śāstrete viśeṣa-rūpe śrī-gaurāṅga-līlā
kena prabhu jagannātha vyakta nā karilā (33)

“‘O Lord Jagannātha, earlier I used to wonder why the scriptures do not clearly describe the pastimes of Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu. (33)

gāḍha-rūpe śruti-purāṇādi dekhi jabe
kabhu gaura-tattva sphūrti citte pāi tabe (34)

“‘When I minutely reflected upon the Śrutis, Purāṇas and other scriptures, then, only, did gaura-tattva manifest in my heart. (34)

(By the mercy of Lord Śrī Jagannātha all of Śrī Rāmānuja’s doubts vanish –)

tava ajñā prāpta ha’ye chāḍila saṁśaya
gaura-līlā-rasa hṛde haila udaya (35)

“‘Now, through Your instruction all my doubts have been removed and the rasa of Śrī Gaura’s pastimes have arisen in my heart. (35)

(Śrī Rāmānuja’s eagerness to preach śrī gaura-tattva –)

ājñā haya navadvīpa kariyā gamana
pracāriba gaura-līlā e tina bhuvana (36)

“‘If You allow me, I will go to Śrī Navadvīpa and then preach about śrī gaura-līlā throughout all the three worlds. (36)

gūḍha-śāstra vyakta kari’ jānā’ba sabāre
gaura-bhakta kari’ bala e tina saṁsāre” (37)

“ ‘I will reveal the hidden scriptures [in other words, I will bring out the scriptural evidences regarding Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu] and make everyone in the three worlds devotees of Śrī Gaurahari.’ (37)

(Lord Śrī Jagannātha’s prohibition –)

rāmānuja-āgraha dekhiyā jagannātha
bale,—“rāmānuja nāhi bala aiche bāta (38)

“Seeing Rāmānuja’s enthusiasm Lord Jagannātha said, ‘O Rāmānuja, do not speak like this now. (38)

gaura-līlā ati gūḍha rākhibe gopane
se-līlāra aprakaṭe pābe sarva-jane (39)

“‘Secretly keep the tattva of Śrī Gaurahari’s pastimes to yourself. After the pastimes [Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s] have become unmanifest, everyone will automatically come to know of them. (39)

(Lord Śrī Jagannātha’s order to the most fortunate Śrī Rāmānuja –)

tumi dāsya-rasa mora karaha pracāra
nije-nije citte gaura bhaja anibāra” (40)

“‘Preach only about dāsya-rasa to Me, and constantly worship Śrī Gaura in your heart.’ (40)

(Śrī Rāmānujacārya’s arrival in Śrī Navadvīpa –)

saṅketa pāiyā rāmānuja mahāśaya
gopane śrī-navadvīpe haila udaya (41)

“After receiving Śrī Jagannātha’s instruction, Śrī Rāmānuja Mahāśaya came secretly to Śrī Navadvīpa. (41)

(Viṣvaksena brings Śrī Rāmānuja to Śrī Vaikuṇṭhapura –)

pāche vyakta haya gaura-līlā asamaye
se-kāraṇe rāmānuje viṣvaksena la’ye (42)

paravyoma śrī-vaikuṇṭha-purete rākhaya
ei sthāna dekhi’ rāmānuja mugdha haya (43)

“[When Śrī Viṣvaksena came to know of Śrī Rāmānuja’s arrival in Navadvīpa, he considered that Śrī Rāmānuja may well become absorbed in ecstatic emotions and thus reveal the truth about Navadvīpa.] To ensure that Śrī Rāmānuja did not reveal gaura-līlā prematurely, Viṣvaksena brought Śrī Rāmānuja to this place, Śrī Vaikuṇṭhapura. Upon seeing it, Rāmānuja became enchanted. (42–43)

(Śrī Rāmānuja obtains Lord Śrī Nārāyaṇa’s darśana in Śrī Vaikuṇṭhapura –)

śrī-bhū-līlā-niṣevita paravyoma-pati
dekhā dila rāmānuje kṛpā kari’ ati (44)

“The Lord of the spiritual realm, Bhagavān Śrī Nārāyaṇa, mercifully showed Śrī Rāmānuja His form, which is served by the potencies Śrī, Bhū and Līlā. (44)

rāmānuja nija iṣṭa-devera darśane
āpanāre dhanya māni gaṇe mane-mane (45)

“Śrī Rāmānuja considered himself blessed to behold his worshipful Lord. (45)

(Śrī Rāmānuja attains the darśana of Śrī Gaurahari –)

kṣaṇeke lakṣmaṇa dekhe puraṭa-sundara
jagannātha-miśra-suta-rūpa manohara (46)

“After just a moment, Śrī Rāmānuja saw the captivatingly beautiful form of Śrī Gaurahari, the son of Śrī Jagannātha Miśra, in the place of Śrī Nārāyaṇa. (46)

(Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s mercy on Śrī Rāmānuja –)

rūpera chaṭāya rāmānuja mūrchā jāya
śrī-gaura dharila pada tāṅhāra māthāya (47)

“Śrī Rāmānuja fainted seeing the splendour of Śrī Gaurahari’s beauty. Śrī Gaurahari mercifully placed His lotus foot on Rāmānuja’s head. (47)

(Śrī Rāmānuja’s prayer to Śrīman Mahāprabhu –)

divya-jñāne rāmānuja karila stavana
nadīyā-prakaṭa-līlā pāba daraśana (48)

“After receiving divine knowledge, Śrī Rāmānuja began to pray as follows: ‘O Lord, will I be able to behold Your manifest pastimes in the town of Nadiyā?’ (48)

ei bali’ preme kāṅde rāmānuja-svāmī
bale,—“navadvīpa chāḍi nāhi jāba āmi” (49)

“Saying this Śrī Rāmānujācārya, filled with prema, began to shed tears and continued, ‘I will never leave Navadvīpa to go anywhere else’. (49)

(Śrī Gaurahari’s boon to Śrī Rāmānuja –)

kṛpā kari’ gaurahari balila vacana
“pūrṇa habe icchā tava keśava-nandana (50)

“Śrī Gaurahari mercifully spoke with a sweet voice: ‘O son of Keśava, your desire will certainly be fulfilled. (50)

je-kāle nadīyā-līlā prakaṭa haibe
takhana dvitīya janma navadvīpe pābe” (51)

“ ‘When My pastimes become manifest here in Nadiyā, you will also take birth here.’ (51)

(Śrī Rāmānujācārya’s journey to the south –)

ei bali’ gaurahari haila antardhyāna
sustha ha’ye rāmānuja karila prayāṇa (52)

“Having said this, Śrī Gaurahari disappeared. Śrī Rāmānuja was satisfied and resumed his journey. (52)

katadine kūrmasthāne haila upasthita
tathā dekhā haila śiṣya-gaṇera sahita (53)

“After a short time he arrived in Kūrmasthāna, where he met with his disciples. (53)

dākṣiṇātye giyā dāsya-rasa vyakta kare
navadvīpa-śrī-gaurāṅga bhāviyā antare (54)

“He began preaching dāsya-rasa throughout South India. Internally, however, he was absorbed in thoughts of Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu of Śrī Navadvīpa. (54)

(The appearance of Śrī Rāmānujācārya in śrī gaura-līlā –)

gaurāṅgera kṛpā-vaśe ei nitya-dhāme
janamila rāmānuja śrī-ananta-nāme (55)

“By the mercy of Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, Śrī Rāmānuja took birth in this eternal dhāma as Śrī Ananta. (55)

vallabha-ācārya-gṛhe kariyā gamana
lakṣmī-gaurāṅgera vibhā kare daraśana (56)

“He [Śrī Ananta] saw the marriage ceremony of Śrī Lakṣmīpriyā and Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu in the house of Śrī Vallabha Ācārya [the father of Śrī Lakṣmīpriyā].” (56)

anantera gṛhe sthāna dekha bhakta-gaṇa
hethā nārāyaṇa-bhakta chila bahu-jana (57)

Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu said, “O devotees, behold the place where Śrī Ananta’s house once stood. Many devotees of Lord Śrī Nārāyaṇa resided at this place. (57)

tātkālika rāja-gaṇa ei pīṭha-sthāne
nārāyaṇa-sevā prakāśila sabe jāne (58)

“It is well known that the kings of that time established service to Bhagavān Śrī Nārāyaṇa in this holy place.” (58)

(The Niḥśreyasa Forest in Śrī Navadvīpa –)

niḥśreyasa-vana ei virajāra pāra
bhakta-gaṇa dekhi’ pāya ānanda apāra (59)

All the devotees became unlimitedly blissful upon seeing the forest named Niḥśreyasa, which is situated beyond the Virajā River. (59)

Mahatpura, or Kāmyavana of Vraja

eirūpa pūrva-kathā balite-balite
sabe upanīta mahatpura-sannihite (60)

As they heard and spoke these ancient narrations, they arrived near Mahatpura. (60)

prabhu bale,—ei sthāne āche kāmyavana
parama bhakati-saha kara daraśana (61)

Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu said, “This place is Kāmyavana of Vraja. All of you behold this abode with great devotion. (61)

pañca-vaṭa ei sthāne chila pūrva-kāle
prabhura iccāya ebe gela antarāle (62)

“In ancient times there were five banyan trees. By the will of Śrīman Mahāprabhu, these trees have now disappeared. (62)

(Another name of Mahatpura is Mātāpura –)

ebe ei sthāna mātāpura-nāme kaya
pūrva-nāma śāstra-siddha mahatpura haya (63)

“Although today everyone calls this place Mātāpura, its old name, as mentioned in the scriptures, is Mahatpura. (63)

(The history of the Pāṇḍavas in relation to Mahatpura –)

draupadīra saha pāṇḍu-putra pañca-jana
ajñāta-vāsete gauḍe kaila āgamana (64)

“When, during their exile, the five Pāṇḍavas and Draupadī lived incognito, they came to Gauḍa-deśa (Bengal). (64)

(Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s dream while staying in Ekacakrā –)

ekacakrā-grāme svapne rājā yudhiṣṭhira
nadīyā-māhātmya jāni’ haila asthira (65)

“When they were residing in the village of Ekacakrā, Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja became overwhelmed upon having a dream by which he understood the glories of Nadiyā. (65)

(The Pāṇḍavas and Draupadī arrive in Mahatpura –)

paradina navadvīpe-darśanera āśe
ei sthāne āila sabe parama ullāse (66)

“The next day they all came to this place, which is situated within the area of Śrī Navadvīpa. Simply by desiring darśana of Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma, they felt elated. (66)

(The Pāṇḍavas praise the good fortune of the residents of Navadvīpa –

navadvīpa-śobhā heri’ pāṇḍu-putra-gaṇa
gauḍa-vāsī-gaṇa-bhāgya kare praśaṁsana (67)

“Seeing the beauty of Śrī Navadvīpa, the sons of Pāṇḍu began to glorify the fortune of the residents of Gauḍa-deśa. (67)

katadina karilena ei sthāne vāsa
asura rākṣasa-gaṇe karila vināśa (68)

“The Pāṇḍavas resided at this place for some time and killed many demons. (68)

Yudhiṣṭhira-ṭīlā and Draupadī-kuṇḍa

yudhiṣṭhira-ṭīlā ei dekha sarva-jana
draupadīra-kuṇḍa hethā kara daraśana (69)

“Behold this place, known by the name Yudhiṣṭhira-ṭīlā and also Draupadī-kuṇḍa, which is situated nearby. (69)

sthānera māhātmya jāni’ rājā yudhiṣṭhira
ei sthāne katadina hailena sthira (70)

“Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira understood the glories of this place and therefore stayed here for a long time. (70)

(Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira receives darśana of Śrī Gaurahari in a dream –)

ekadina svapne dekhe gaurāṅgera rūpa
sarva-dika ālo kare ati aparūpa (71)

“One day in a dream, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira received darśana of the astonishing form of Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu. The lustre of Mahāprabhu’s divine limbs illuminated all directions. (71)

(Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s words to Śrī Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja –)

hāsite-hāsite gaura balila vacana
ati gopya-rūpa ei kara daraśana (72)

āmi kṛṣṇa nanda-suta tomāra ālaye
mitra-bhāve thāki sadā nija-jana ha’ye (73)

“Smiling, Śrī Gaurahari spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, ‘Just behold My form, which is rarely seen. I, Nanda-nandana Śrī Kṛṣṇa, always reside in your home as your friend and just like a member of your family. (72–73)

ei navadvīpa-dhāma sarva-dhāma-sāra
kalite prakaṭa ha’ye nāśe andhakāra (74)

“‘This Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma is the essence of all other holy places. This dhāma manifests in Kali-yuga and destroys the darkness of ignorance of all living entities. (74)

(Śrīman Mahāprabhu bestows a boon to Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja –)

tumi sabe ācha cirakāle dāsa mama
āmāra prakaṭa-kāle pāibe janama (75)

“‘All of you are eternally My servants. At the time of My appearance [in the form of Gaurahari], you all will also take birth again. (75)

utkala-deśete sindhu-tīre tomā-saha
ekatre puruṣottame raba aharahaḥ (76)

“‘I will always stay with you and spend My time on the shore of the ocean in Śrī Puruṣottama-kṣetra in the land of Utkala (Orissa). (76)

(Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s instruction to the Pāṇḍavas –)

ei sthāna haite ebe jāo oḍhra-deśa
se deśa pavitra kari’ nāśa jīva kleṣa (77)

“‘Now you should go to Oḍhra-deśa (Orissa), purify that place and remove the sufferings of the living entities there.’ (77)

(The Pāṇḍavas’ journey to Orissa –)

svapna dekhi’ yudhiṣṭhira bhrātṛ-gaṇe bale
yukti kari’ chaya jane uḍhra-deśe cale (78)

“When he awoke from his dream, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira told his brothers about it. They discussed the matter and then, together with Draupadī, began their journey towards the land of Orissa. (78)

navadvīpa chāḍite haila baḍa kleśa
tathāpi pālana kare prabhura ādeśa (79)

“Although they felt great sorrow to leave Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma, they followed the instruction of Śrīman Mahāprabhu. (79)

Śrīla Madhvācārya’s Arrival in Mahatpura

ei sthāne madhva-muni śiṣya-gaṇa la’ye
rahilena katadina dhāma-vāsī ha’ye (80)

“Śrī Madhva Muni [Śrīla Madhvācārya] resided in this place for a long time with his disciples. (80)

(Śrīla Madhvācārya receives darśana of Śrīman Mahāprabhu in a dream –)

madhvere kariyā kṛpā gaurāṅga-sundara
svapne dekhāila rūpa ati manohara (81)

“Śrī Gaurāṅga-sundara was very merciful to Śrīman Madhvācārya, and in a dream, He bestowed upon him darśana of His supremely enchanting form. (81)

hāsi’-hāsi’ gauracandra madhvācārye bale
“tumi nitya-dāsa mama jāne ta’ sakale (82)

“Smiling, Śrī Gauracandra said to Śrī Madhvācārya, ‘Everyone knows that you are My eternal servant. (82)

(Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s indicates acceptance of the Madhva sampradāya –)

navadvīpe jabe āmi prakaṭa haiba
tava sampradāya āmi svīkāra kariba (83)

“‘When I appear in Śrī Navadvīpa I will accept your sampradāya. (83)

(Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s instructions to Śrīla Madhvācārya –)

ebe sarva-deśe tumi kariyā yatana
māyāvāda asacchāstra kara utpāṭana (84)

“‘Now, with great effort, you should carefully uproot the false scriptures of māyāvāda everywhere. (84)

śrī-mūrti-māhātmya tumi kara’ parakāśa
tava śuddha mata āmi kariba vikāśa” (85)

“‘You should reveal the glories of the deity. I will further develop your pure doctrine [śuddha-dvaita].’ (85)

eta bali’ gauracandra haila antardhāna
nidrā bhāṅgi madhva-muni haila ajñāna (86)

“Having spoken thus Śrī Gauracandra disappeared. When Śrī Madhva Muni woke up, he remembered his dream and fell unconscious. (86)

(Śrīla Madhvācārya’s lamentation –)

āra ki dekhiba rūpa puraṭa-sundara
baliyā krandana kare madhva ataḥpara (87)

“When he came back to his senses, Śrī Madhva Muni said, ‘Will I again be able to see that beautiful golden-complexioned form?’ and began to weep. (87)

daivavāṇī haila tabe nirmala ākāśe
āmāre gopane bhaji’ āisa mama pāśe (88)

“Just then he heard a divine voice from the clear sky: ‘You should worship Me secretly. As a result of your worship you will surely come to Me.’ (88)

susthira haiyā madhvācārya mahāśaya
māyāvādī digvijaye karila vijaya (89)

“When he heard the divine voice speak, Śrīla Madhvācārya regained his composure, and then he set out to defeat the māyāvādis.” (89)

Śrī Rudradvīpa

ei saba pūrva-kathā balite-balite
rudradvīpe upanīta dekhite-dekhite (90)

As they recounted and heard these old narrations, they all arrived in Rudradvīpa. (90)

prabhu nityānanda bale,—“ei rudra-khaṇḍa
bhāgīrathī-prabhāve haila dui khaṇḍa (91)

Upon reaching there, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu said, “This Rudradvīpa has been divided into two parts by the power of the river Bhāgīrathī. (91)

loka-vāsa nāhi hethā prabhura icchāya
paścimera dvīpa dekha pūrva-pāre jāya (92)

“By the will of Śrīman Mahāprabhu, no people reside here now. Just see, because of the flow of Śrī Gaṅgā, the western island is moving toward the eastern bank. (92)

Śrī Śaṅkarapura

hethā haite dekha ai śrī-śaṅkarapura
śobhā pāya gaṅgā-tīre dekha katadūre (93)

“Now see Śrī Śaṅkarapura from here. Look how the entire Śaṅkarapura, which is situated on the bank of the Gaṅgā, is beautified. (93)

Śrī Śaṅkarācārya’s Arrival in Śrī Navadvīpa

śaṅkara ācārya jabe kare digvijaya
navadvīpa-jaye tathā upasthita haya (94)

“Once Śrī Śaṅkarācārya, during his scholarly conquests, arrived here for the purpose of defeating [the scholars of] Śrī Navadvīpa. (94)

(Śrī Śaṅkarācārya, the best of the Vaiṣṇavas –)

manete vaiṣṇava-rāja ācārya śaṅkara
bāhire advaitavādī māyāra kiṅkara (95)

“Although Ācārya Śaṅkara in his heart was the best of all Vaiṣṇavas [vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhu], externally he wore the dress of a servant of māyā (a māyāvādī) as an advaitavādī sannyāsī. (95)

(On the order of the supremely independent Śrī Bhagavān, Śrī Śaṅkarācārya was preaching hidden Buddhism –)

nije rudra-aṁśa sadā pratāpe pracura
pracchanna-bauddhera-mata pracārete śūra (96)

“Although he was a partial incarnation (aṁśa) of Rudra  himself and was greatly talented, still Śaṅkarācārya skillfully preached a hidden form of Buddhism. (96)

(Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s order to Śrī Śaṅkarācārya –)

prabhura ājñāya rudra ei kārya kare
āilena jabe teṅha nadīyā-nagare (97)

svapne prabhu gauracandra dilā daraśana
kṛpā kari’ bale tā’re madhura vacana (98)

“tumi ta’ āmāra dāsa mama ājñā dhari’
pracāricha māyāvāda bahu yatna kari’ (99)

“Śrī Śaṅkarācārya was preaching māyāvāda only to follow the order of the Supreme Lord. When he came to the city of Nadiyā, Śrī Gauracandra appeared to him in a dream and mercifully spoke to him with sweet words: ‘You are My servant. You are diligently preaching māyāvāda to fulfil My order. (97–99)

ei navadvīpa-dhāma mama priya ati
hethā māyāvāda kabhu nā pāibe gati (100)

“‘However, Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma is most dear to Me, and therefore māyāvāda cannot be preached here. (100)

vṛddha-śiva hethā prauḍhamāyāre laiyā
kalpita āgama-gaṇe dena pracāriyā (101)

mama bhakta-gaṇe dveṣa kare jei jana
tāhāre kevala teṅha karena vañcana (102)

“‘Here, Vṛddha-śiva, together with Prauḍha-māyā, spreads a false explanation of the āgama scriptures. They only preach to those who have enmity toward My devotees, because their sole purpose is to deceive these people. (101–102)

(Māyāvāda is a corrupted philosophy –)

ei-sthāne sādhāraṇe mama bhakta haya
duṣṭa-mata-pracārera sthāna ihā naya (103)

“‘Since this place is generally for My devotees, it is not proper to spread māyāvāda and other such corrupt philosophies here. (103)

ataeva tumi kara anyatra gamana
navadvīpa-vāsī-gaṇe nā kara pīḍana” (104)

“‘Therefore, you should go somewhere else. Do not cause any pain to the residents of Navadvīpa.’ (104)

(Śrī Śaṅkarācārya’s departure –)

svapne navadvīpa-tattva jāniyā takhana
bhaktyāveśe anya deśe karila gamana (105)

“From this dream, Śrī Śaṅkarācārya understood the truth (tattva) about Śrī Navadvīpa, and full of bhakti, he went elsewhere. [He was joyful at heart to follow Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s order to go to another place.] (105)

Rudradvīpa (the Place of the Eleven Rudras)

ei rudradvīpa haya rudra-gaṇa-sthāna
hethā rudra-gaṇa gaura-guṇa kare gāna (106)

“This Rudradvīpa is the place of the [eleven] Rudras. Together here, they glorify Śrī Gaurahari. (106)

(Śrī Nīla-lohita Rudra –)

śrī-nīla-lohita rudra-gaṇa adhipati
mahānande nṛtya hethā kare niti-niti (107)

“The Rudra whose complexion is nīla-lohita (4) is the lord of all the Rudras. He (Nīla-lohita Rudra) continuously dances here, full of joy. (107)

rudra-nṛtya dekhi’ ākāśete deva-gaṇa
ānandete kare sabe puṣpa variṣaṇa (108)

“Seeing his dance, the demigods in heaven also become happy and shower flowers. (108)

Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī’s Arrival in Śrī Navadvīpa

kadācit viṣṇusvāmī āsi’ digvijaye
rudradvīpe rahe rātre śiṣya-gaṇa la’ye (109)

“Once, Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī also came here with his disciples, while he was on tour defeating opposing philosophies. He spent the night here in Rudradvīpa. (109)

‘hari’ ‘hari’ bali’ nṛtya kare śiṣya-gaṇa
viṣṇusvāmī śruti-stuti karena paṭhana (110)

“While here, all of his disciples began to dance and chant ‘Hari, Hari’, and Śrī Viṣṇu-svāmī himself began to recite prayers from the Śrutis. (110)

(Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī receives darśana of Nīla-lohita Rudra –)

bhakti ālocanā dekhi’ ha’ye haraṣita
kṛpā kari’ dekhā dila śrī-nīla-lohita (111)

“Extremely pleased by their deliberation on bhakti, Śrī Nīla-lohita Rudra mercifully appeared there. (111)

(Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī’s praise of Śrī Nīla-lohita Rudra –)

vaiṣṇava-sabhāya rudra haila upanīta
dekhi’ viṣṇusvāmī ati haila camakita (112)

kara juḍi’ stava kare viṣṇu tatakṣaṇa
dayārdra haiyā rudra balena vacana (113)

“tomarā vaiṣṇava-jana mama priya ati
bhakti-ālocanā dekhi’ tuṣṭa mama mati (114)

“Śrī Nīla-lohita Rudra appeared in that assembly of Vaiṣṇavas. Upon seeing his form, Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī became greatly astonished and with folded hands began to praise him. Rudra, being most merciful to Viṣṇusvāmī, said, ‘You Vaiṣṇavas are extremely dear to me. My heart is very satisfied by your discussion on bhakti. (112–114)

(Śrī Nīla-lohita Rudra’s affectionate instruction –)

vara māga diba āmi haiyā sadaya
vaiṣṇavera adeya mora kichu nāhi haya” (115)

“‘Ask any boon you like from me and I will mercifully grant it, because there is nothing that I do not give to the Vaiṣṇavas.’ (115)

(Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī’s prayer for a boon –)

daṇḍavat praṇamiyā viṣṇu mahāśaya
kara juḍi’ vara māge premānandamaya (116)

“ei vara deha prabhu āmā sabākāre
bhakti-sampradāya siddhi labhi ataḥpare” (117)

“After offering his prostrated obeisances, Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī, feeling supreme joy, folded his hands and prayed for a boon: ‘O Lord, please give us such a boon by which we may attain perfection within any sampradāya that preaches bhakti.’ (116–117)

(The boon bestowed by Śrī Nīla-lohita Rudra –)

parama ānande rudra vara kari’ dāna
nija-sampradāya bali’ karila ākhyāna (118)

“In great happiness, Śrī Rudra bestowed upon them a benediction and accepted them within his own sampradāya. (118)

(The dance of the supremely blissful Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī –)

sei haite viṣṇusvāmī svīya sampradaya
śrī-rudra-nāmete khyāti diyā nāce gāya (119)

“Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī thus established his own sampradāya, named Śrī Rudra sampradāya, and began to dance and sing. (119)

rudra-kṛpā-bale viṣṇu ei sthāne rahiyā
bhajiba śrī-gauracandra premera lāgiyā (120)

“By the mercy of Rudra, Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī stayed at this very place and began to worship Śrī Gauracandra, with the purpose of attaining divine love (prema). (120)

(Bhagavān’s mercy follows the mercy of the bhakta –)

svapne āsi’ śrī-gaurāṅga viṣṇure balila
mama bhakta rudra kṛpā tomāre haila (121)

“In Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī’s dream, Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu told him, ‘You have received the mercy of My devotee, Rudra. (121)

(Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s instruction to Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī –)

dhanya tumi navadvīpe pāile bhakti-dhana
śuddhādvaita-mata pracāraha eikṣaṇa (122)

“‘You are blessed because in Śrī Navadvīpa you have received the wealth of bhakti. Now you should spread the philosophy of śuddhādvaita (purified non-dualism). (122)

(Śrī Viṣṇusvāmī took birth as Śrī Vallabha Bhaṭṭa in Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s manifest pastimes –)

katadine ha’be mora prakaṭa-samaya
śrī-vallabha-bhaṭṭa-rūpe haibe udaya (123)

“‘After some time, when I will appear [as Śrī Gaurahari], you will take birth as Śrī Vallabha Bhaṭṭa. (123)

śrī-kṣetre āmāre tumi kari’ daraśane
sampradāye siddhi pābe giyā mahāvane (124)

“‘After meeting Me in Śrī Kṣetra (Purī), you will go to Mahāvana and promote your sampradāya.’ ” (124)

ohe jīva! śrī-vallabha gokule ekhana
tumi tathā gele pā’be tā’ra daraśana (125)

Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu said, “O Jīva, now Śrī Vallabhācārya is in Gokula. When you go to Vraja, you will get his darśana.” (125)

Pāraḍāṅgā

eta bali’ nityānanda dakṣiṇābhimukhe
pāraḍāṅgā śrī-puline calilena sukhe (126)

Having spoken thus, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu turned His face toward the south and happily began to walk towards the beautiful bank of the Gaṅgā named Pāraḍāṅgā. (126)

(Śrī Rāsa-maṇḍala and Śrī Dhīra-samīra in Śrī Navadvīpa –)

puline jāiyā prabhu nityānanda-rāya
śrī-rāsa-maṇḍala dhīra-samīra dekhāya (127)

When they came to the bank of Śrī Bhāgīrathī, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu showed Śrī Jīva Śrī Rāsa-maṇḍala and Śrī Dhīra-samīra. (127)

bale,—“jīva! ei dekha nitya-vṛndāvana
vṛndāvana-līlā hethā pāya daraśana” (128)

Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu said, “O Jīva, just behold this eternal Vṛndāvana. Here one can see the pastimes of Vṛndāvana.” (128)

(Just by hearing the name of the divine Śrī Vṛndāvana, prema awakened within Śrī Jīva –)

vṛndāvana śuni’ jīva premete vihvala
nayanete bahe dara-dara prema-jala (129)

Hearing the name of Vṛndāvana, Jīva became overwhelmed with prema, and steams of tears began to flow from his eyes. (129)

prabhu bale,—śrī-gaurāṅga la’ye bhakta-jana
ei sthāne rāsa-padya karila kīrtana (130)

Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu said, “Here, together with His devotees, Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu performed kīrtana of the verses describing rāsa-līlā. (130)

(The Place of Rāsa-līlā, Śrī Vaṁśī-vaṭa)

mahā-rāsa-līlā-sthāna yathā vṛndāvane
tathā ei sthāna jīva jāhnavī-puline (131)

“O Jīva, the pastime place in Vṛndāvana called Mahārāsa-sthalī [Vaṁśī-vaṭa] is the bank of the Jāhnavī in Navadvīpa. (131)

(A fortunate person attains darśana of Bhagavān’s rāsa-līlā –)

nitya-rāsa haya hethā gopī-gaṇa-sane
daraśana kare prabhu bhāgyavān jane (132)

“Here Śrī Kṛṣṇa eternally performs rāsa-līlā with the gopīs. Sometimes a fortunate jīvabeholds that pastime. (132)

ihāra paścime dekha śrī-dhīra-samīra
bhajanera sthāna ei śuna ohe dhīra (133)

“Behold Śrī Dhīra-samīra to the west of Rāsa-sthalī. Listen, O supremely intelligent and grave Jīva, this is a place of bhajana. (133)

Śrī Dhīra-samīra

braje dhīra-samīra ye yamunāra tire
sei sthāna hethā gaṅgā-pulina-bhītare (134)

“In Vraja, Dhīra-samīra is splendidly situated on the bank of the Yamunā, and here it is situated on the bank of the Gaṅgā. (134)

dekhite gaṅgāra tīra, vastutaḥ tā’ naya
gaṅgāra paścima-dhāre śrī-yamunā vaya (135)

“It appears to be the bank of the Gaṅgā, but actually it is not so, because Śrī Yamunā flows along Gaṅgā’s western bank. (135)

yamunāra tīre ei pulina sundara
ataeva vṛndāvana bale viśvambhara (136)

“This is why Śrī Śacī-nandana called this beautiful place on the bank of the Yamunā ‘Vṛndāvana’. (136)

vṛndāvane jata sthāna līlāra āchaya
se-saba jānaha jīva ei sthāne haya (137)

“O Jīva, all the pastime places of Vṛndāvana are splendidly situated here. (137)

(Navadvīpa is non-different from Vṛndāvana; there is no difference between Śrī Gaura and Śrī Kṛṣṇa –)

vṛndāvane-navadvīpe kichu nāhi bheda
gaura-kṛṣṇe kabhu nāhi karibe prabheda (138)

“There is no difference between Śrī Dhāma Vṛndāvana and Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma. O Jīva, you should never see any difference between Śrī Gaurahari and Śrī Kṛṣṇa.” (138)

mahābhāve gara-gara nityānanda-rāya
vṛndāvana dekhāiyā ‘jīve’ la’ye jāya (139)

After showing Vṛndāvana to Śrī Jīva, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, who was immersed in powerful transcendental emotions, continued onward. (139)

katadūre uttarete kariyā gamana
rudradvīpe sei rātri karila yāpana (140)

They proceeded further toward the north and spent the night in Rudradvīpa. (140)

(The author prays for his desired service –)

nitāi-jāhnavā-pada jāhāra sampada
nadīyā-māhātmya gāya se bhaktivinoda (141)

This Bhaktivinoda, whose only wealth is the lotus feet of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Jāhnavā-devī, is singing of the glories of Śrī Nadiyā. (141)

Thus Ends Chapter Fifteen