Maṅgalācaraṇa (Auspicious Invocation) –

jaya gauracandra, jaya nityānanda
jaya jaya gadādhara
śrīvāsādi jaya, jaya bhaktālaya,
navadvīpa dhāma-vara (1)

All glories to Śrī Gauracandra! All glories to Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu! All glories to Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita! All glories to Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita and the other devotees! All glories to the residence of the devotees, the topmost Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma! (1)

(Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, the crest jewel of givers of prema –)

niśi avasāne, matta gaura-gāne,
calilena nityānanda
saṅge bhakta-gaṇa, premete magana,
vistāriyā parānanda (2)

The next morning, Śrīman Nityānanda Prabhu proceeded onwards, intoxicated by singing Śrī Gaura’s names. The devotees walking with Him were also drowning in prema and were thus distributing supreme bliss. (2)

Śrī Madhyadvīpa

madhyadvīpe āsi’, bale hāsi’ hāsi’,
ei ta’ mājidā grāma
hethā sapta ṛṣi, bhaji’ gaura-śaśī,
karilena suviśrāma (3)

When they arrived in Madhyadvīpa, Śrīman Nityānanda Prabhu smiled and said, “This is the village of Mājidā. Here the seven sages – Marīci, Atri, Aṅgirā, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya and Vaśiṣṭa – happily rested and worshipped Śrī Gauracandra. (3)

(The seven sages hear the glories of Śrī Gaurahari from their father Śrī Brahmā –)

pitṛ-sannidhāne, gaura-guṇa-gāne,
satya-yuge ṛṣi-gaṇa
haiyā magana, yācila takhana,
gaura-prema nitya-dhana (4)

“In Satya-yuga, those sages heard Śrī Gaurahari’s glories from their father Brahmā. Hearing about Śrī Gaura’s glories, they became enchanted and begged Brahmā to give them the eternal treasure of gaura-prema. (4)

(Śrī Brahmā inspires his seven sons to go to Śrī Navadvīpa –)

brahmā catur-mukha, peye baḍa sukha,
sapta-putre bale tabe
navadvīpe jāo, gaura-guṇa gāo,
anāyāse prema ha’be (5)

“The four-headed Śrī Brahmā became pleased by hearing their appeal and said, ‘All of you go to Navadvīpa-dhāma and sing the glories of Śrī Gaurahari. You will easily attain prema. (5)

(Śrī Brahmā describes the glories of the dhāma –)

dhāma-kṛpā sāra, lābha haya jā’ra
tā’ra haya sādhu-saṅga
sādhu-saṅge bhaje, kṛṣṇa-preme maje,
ei ta’ parama raṅga (6)

“‘One who has gained the mercy of the dhāma will attain the association of saintly personalities as a result. By continuously performing bhajana in the association of sādhus, one will dive deep into kṛṣṇa-prema. To be engrossed in prema is a matter of supreme joy. (6)

navadvīpe rati, labhe jā’ra mati,
sei pāya braja-vāsa
aprākṛta dhāma, gaurahari nāma,
kevala sādhura āśa (7)

“‘One whose heart is attached to Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma will attain residence in Vraja. To chant Śrī Gaurahari’s name while staying in the transcendental holy abode of Śrī Navadvīpa is the sādhus’ only desire.’ (7)

(The seven sages arrive in Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma –)

pitṛ-upadeśa, bujhiyā viśeṣa,
sapta-ṛṣi āsi’ tabe
‘hari’ bali’ nāce, gaura-prema yāce,
gāya guṇa uccarave (8)

“The seven sages thoroughly understood their father’s instruction and came to this place. They chanted Hari’s name, danced and loudly sang of the glories of Śrī Gaurahari, praying for the attainment of prema. (8)

(The prayer of the seven sages –)

bale gaurahari, anugraha kari’,
dekhā dāo eka-bāra
nānā dharma sādhi’, hainu aparādhī,
bhakti ebe kainu sāra (9)

“As they chanted, they began to pray, ‘O Gaurahari, please have mercy on us by finally giving us Your darśana, just once. We have followed many varieties of religious paths and thereby committed offences, but now we have made bhakti the sole aim and object of our lives.’ (9)

bhakti-niṣṭhā kari’, bhaji’ gaurahari,
ṛṣi-gaṇa kare tapa
kichu nāhi khāya, nidrā nāhi jāya,
gaura-nāma kare japa (10)

“In this way, the sages underwent austerities and worshiped Śrī Gaurahari with exclusive faith in bhakti. They completely gave up eating and sleeping, and just chanted His name. (10)

(The seven sages attain the audience of Pañca-tattva –)

madhyāhna-samaya, gaura dayāmaya,
dekhā dila ṛṣi-gaṇe
śata-sūrya-prabhā, yogī-manolobhā,
śuddha pañca-tattva sane (11)

“One day at noon, the supremely compassionate Śrī Gaurahari appeared with [the rest of] the Pañca-tattva and gave His darśana to the sages. The Lord’s divine body was glowing like a hundred of suns shining together. This form of His attracted even the minds of the yogīs. (11)

(Description of Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s divine form –)

kibā sei rūpa, ati aparūpa,
suvarṇa-sundara mūrti
gale vanamālā, dik kare ālā,
tāhe ābharaṇa sphūrti (12)

“How astonishing was Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s beautiful, golden form! Around His neck He wore a garland of forest flowers. The rays shining forth from His ornaments illuminated the ten directions. (12)

cāhani sundara, cikura cāñcara,
candanera bindu bhāle
trikaccha vasana, sūtra suśobhana,
śobhita mallikā-māle (13)

“Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s glance was most beautiful and His hair was long and curly. A spot of sandalwood pulp decorated His forehead. He wore a dhoti folded in three places and His chest was beautifully adorned with the sacred thread. A garland of mallikā flowers dangled gracefully from His neck. (13)

(The seven sages’ prayer at Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s lotus feet –)

serūpa dekhiyā, mohita haiyā,
sabe kare nivedana
tomāra caraṇa, lainu śaraṇa,
deha pade bhakti-dhana (14)

“They were all enchanted upon seeing Mahāprabhu’s form and requested Him thus: ‘O Lord, we have now taken shelter at Your lotus feet. Mercifully grant us the wealth of bhakti.’ (14)

(Śrīman Mahāprabhu instructs the seven sages –)

śuni’ gaurahari, bale dayā kari’,
śuna ohe ṛṣi-gaṇa
chāḍi’ abhilāṣa, jñāna-karma-pāśa,
kara kṛṣṇa-ālocana (15)

“Śrī Gaurahari heard their prayer and kindly replied, ‘Please listen, O sages. Abandon all other desires except one: service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Throw off the shackles of jñāna and karma and only cultivate devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (15)

(Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s blessing to the seven sages –)

svalpa dināntare, nadīyā-nagare,
haibe prakaṭa-līlā
tumi sabe tabe, darśana karibe,
nāma-saṅkīrtana-khelā (16)

“‘Within a short time, I will unfold My pastimes in Nadiyā. At that time, all of you will be able to behold My pastimes of chanting the holy names of the Lord. (16)

e kathā ekhana, rākhaha gopana,
āmāra vacana dhara
śrī-kumāra-haṭṭe, nija-kṛta ghaṭṭe,
kṛṣṇera bhajana kara (17)

“‘For now I order you, however, to keep all of these topics confidential. Go to Śrī Kumārahaṭṭa and worship Śrī Kṛṣṇa at the ghāṭas youhave constructed.’ (17)

Śrī Kumāra-haṭṭa

gaura-adarśane, sapta-rṣi takhane,
kumāra-haṭṭete jāya
e sthāne ekhana, kara daraśana,
sapta-ṭīlā śobhā pāya (18)

“After Śrī Gaurahari disappeared from their vision, the seven sages went to Śrī Kumāra-haṭṭa. Look, even now these seven beautiful hillocks stand as testimony to their worship. (18)

sapta-rṣi ākāśe, jemata prakāśe,
sapta-ṭīlā tāra sama
hethā vāsa kari’, pāya gaurahari,
nā-sādhi’ niyama-yama (19)

“These seven hillocks appear just like the constellation of the seven sages in the sky. Just by living here one can attain Śrī Gaurahari without even following any rules and regulations. (19)

Naimiṣāraṇya

ihāra dakṣiṇe, dekhaha nayane,
āche eka jalādhāra
ei ta’ gomatī, su-pavitra ati,
naimiṣa-kānana āra (20)

“O Jīva, the river you see flowing in the southern direction is the supremely sacred Gomatī. Close by is Naimiṣāraṇya. (20)

purā-kalpe kali, haile mahābalī,
śaunakādi ṛṣi-gaṇa
sutera śrī-mukhe, śune sabe sukhe,
gaura-bhāgavata-dhana (21)

“In the Kali-yuga of the previous kalpa, when the influence of Kali became excessive, Śaunaka and other sages joyfully heard the Gaura-Bhāgavata from Sūta Gosvāmī. (21)

(The result of staying in Naimiṣāraṇya during Kārtika –)

hethā jei jana, purāṇa paṭhana,
karaya kārtika māse
sarva-kleśa tyaje, gaura-raṅge maje,
braja labhe anāyāse (22)

“All the miseries of that person who studies the Purāṇas in this place during the month of Kārtika are vanquished. He becomes absorbed in Śrī Gaurahari’s pastimes and easily attains Vraja. (22)

(Lord Śiva arrives in Naimiṣāraṇya –)

kabhu pañcānana, chāḍi’ vṛṣāsana,
śrī-haṁsa-vāhana ha’ye
śunila purāṇa, gaura-guṇa-gāna,
āpana bhakata la’ye (23)

“Once, Pañcānana (Lord Śiva) came here with his devotees, riding on Lord Brahmā’s swancarrier, having given up his own carrier Nandī, the bull. He heard Śrī Gaurahari’s pastimes recited just as they are described in the Purāṇas. (23)

gāiyā-gāiyā, nāciyā-nāciyā,
śaiva jata kāśī-vāsī
pañcānane gheri’, bali’ gaurahari,
puṣpa phele rāśi-rāśi (24)

“The followers of Lord Śiva from Kāśī surrounded Pañcānana. They continuously sang Śrī Gaurahari’s name, danced and showered flowers on Lord Śiva.” (24)

(Śrī Jīva experiences the influence of the dhāma –)

nitāi-vacana, śuniyā takhana,
‘jīvera’ uthale bhāva
gaḍāgaḍi jāya, dhairaya nā pāya,
āsvāde dhāma-prabhāva (25)

Upon hearing these words of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, aṣṭa-sāttvika bhāva arose in the heart of Śrī Jīva and he began rolling in the dust of that place. Relishing the influence of that holy place, he was not able to maintain his composure. (25)

se-dina yāpana, kare bhakta-gaṇa,
nitāicāṅdera sane
paradina sabe, calilena tabe,
śrī-puṣkara daraśane (26)

The devotees spent that day there together with Śrī Nitāicāṅda. The next day they all proceeded onward for darśana of Śrī Puṣkara. (26)

(The author prays for his desired service –)

jāhnavā-nitāi, bhajana sadāi,
jāhāra antare jāge
nadīyā-mahimā, bhakta-madhurimā,
gāiche se jana rāge (27)

That person [Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura] in whose heart the worship of Śrī Jāhnavā-devī and Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu is always manifest, is singing of the glories of Śrī Nadiyā and the sweetness of the devotees, being full of affection. (27)

Thus Ends Chapter Nine