Navadvipa Dhama MahatmyaŚrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya - Chapter Seven
Navadvipa Dhama MahatmyaŚrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya - Chapter Nine

Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya – Chapter Eight
Śrī Harihara Kṣetra, Śrī Vārāṇasī, and Śrī Godruma

jaya jaya jaya śrī-śacī-sūta
jaya jaya jaya śrī-avadhūta [1]

All glory to the son of Śacī! All glory to the Avadhūta!

sītāpati jaya bhakata-rāja
gadādhara jaya bhakta-samāja [2]

All glory to Advaita Ācārya, the leader of the devotees! All glory to Gadādhara and all the devotees!

jaya navadvīpa sundara-dhāma
jaya jaya jaya gaura ki nāma [3]

All glory to beautiful Navadvīpa Dhāma! All glory to the Name of Gaura!

nitāi sahita bhakta-gaṇa
“hari hari” bali’ cale takhana [4]

Nitāi and the devotees then departed, chanting “Hari! Hari!”

bhāve ḍhala ḍhala nitāi cale
preme ādha ādha vacana bale [5]

Swaying to and fro in ecstasy, Nitāi walked and stammered with divine love.

 


jhara jhara jhare aṅkhira jala
“gorā gorā” bali’ haya vikala [6]

Tears streamed from His eyes. Chanting, “Gorā! Gorā!”, He became overwhelmed.

 


jhakmak kare bhūṣaṇa māla
rūpe daśa-dika ha-ila āla [7]

His ornaments and garlands sparkled, and His form illumined the ten directions.

 


śrīvāsa nāciche jīvera sane
kabhu kaṅde kabhu nāce saghane [8]

Śrīvāsa danced with Jīva. Sometimes they cried, and sometimes they danced continuously.

āra yata saba bhakta-gaṇa
nācite nācite cale takhana [9]

All the other devotees danced as they walked.

alakānandāra nikaṭe āsi’
balena nitāi ānande bhāsi’ [10]

Coming to the Alakānandā River, Nitāi spoke, floating in joy.

“bilvapakṣa-grama paścime dhari’
mandākinī āse nadīyā gheri [11]

“Flowing west of Bilvapakṣa Grāma, the Gaṅgā comes and surrounds Nadīyā.

suvarṇa-bihāra dekhile yathā
mandākinī chāḍe alakā tathā [12]

“Then she separates from the Alakānandā where we saw Suvarṇa Bihāra.

alakānandāra pūrava pāre
harihara-kṣetra gaṇḍaka dhāre [13]

“On the eastern shore of the Alakānandā, beside the Gaṇḍaka River, is Harihara Kṣetra.

śrī-mūrti prakāśa ha-ibe kāle
sundara kānana śobhibe bhāle [14]

“In time, a Deity will manifest there, and a beautiful forest will shine gloriously.

alakā paścime dekhaha kāśī
śaiva śākta seve mukati-dāsī [15]

“See Kāśī to the west of the Alakānandā. There the followers of Śiva and Śakti worship the maidservant Liberation.

vārāṇasī hate e dhāma para
hethāya dhūrjaṭī pināka-dhara [16]

‘gaura gaura’ bali’ sadāi nāhe
nija-jane gaura-bhakati yāce [17]

“This place is superior to Vārāṇasī because here Lord Śiva constantly chants, “Gaura! Gaura!”, dances holding his trident, and offers his followers devotion to Gaura.

sahasra varaṣa kāśīte vasi’
labhe ye mukati jñānete nyāsī [18]

tāhā ta hethāya caraṇe ṭheli’
nācena bhakata ‘gaurāṅga’ bali’ [19]

“Here, devotees chant Gaurāṅga’s Name, dance, and kick away the liberation that sannyāsīs attain by residing in Kāśī and practising jñāna-yoga for a thousand years.

 


niryāṇa samaye ekhāne jīva
kāṇe ‘gaura’ bali’ tārena śiva [20]

“Here, when souls pass away, Śiva chants the Name of Gaura into their ears and delivers them.

mahā-vārāṇasī e dhāma haya
jīvera maraṇe nāhika bhaya” [21]

“This place is thus Mahā-Vārāṇasī. Souls have no fear of death here.”

eta bali’ tathā nitāi nāce
gaurahari-prema jīvere yāce [22]

Saying this, Nitāi danced and offered Jīva divine love for Gaurahari.

 


alakṣye takhana kailāsa-pati
nitāi caraṇe karila nati [23]

Lord Śiva then invisibly bowed at the feet of Nitāi.

gaurī-saha śiva gaurāṅga-nāma
gāiyā gāiyā pūraya kāma [24]

Chanting the Name of Gaurāṅga, Śiva and Pārvatī fulfilled their desires.

svatantra īśvara nitāi tabe
bhakata-saṅgete calila yabe [25]

Then the independent Lord, Nitāi, left with the devotees.

gādigāchā-grāme pauṅchila āsi’
tathāya āsiyā kahila hāsi’ [26]

Arriving in Gādigāchā Grāma, Nityānanda came over and spoke, smiling.

“godruma nāmete e dvīpa haya
surabhi satata ekhāne raya [27]

“This island is called Godruma. Surabhi resides here eternally.

kṛṣṇa-māyā-vaśe devendra yabe
bhāsāya gokula nija gaurave [28]

govardhana-giri dhariyā hari
rakṣila gokula yatana kari’ [29]

“When Indra, bewildered by Kṛṣṇa’s illusion, flooded Gokula with his powerful rains, Kṛṣṇa lifted Govardhana Hill and carefully protected Gokula.

indra-darpa-cūrṇa ha-ile para
śacī-pati cine śāraṅga-dhara [30]

“After Indra’s pride was crushed, Indra recognised Kṛṣṇa.

nija aparādha mārjana tare
paḍila kṛṣṇera caraṇa dhare [31]

“To clear his offence, he bowed and grasped the feet of Kṛṣṇa.

dayāra samudra nanda-tanaya
kṣamila indrere dila abhaya [32]

“Kṛṣṇa, the ocean of mercy, forgave Indra and gave him the boon of fearlessness.

tathāpi indrera rahila bhaya
surabhi nikaṭe takhana kaya [33]

“Still, Indra remained fearful. He then spoke to Surabhi.

 


‘kṛṣṇa-līlā mui bujhite nāri
aparādha mama ha-ila bhāri [34]

“‘I could not understand the Pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, and I committed a very heavy offence.

 


śuneci kalite vrajendra-suta
karibe nadīyā-līlā adbhūta [35]

“‘I have heard that during Kali-yuga, Kṛṣṇa will perform wonderful Pastimes in Nadīyā.

pāche se samaya mohita haba
aparādhī punaḥ haye rahiba [36]

“‘At that time, I will become bewildered and be an offender again.

 


tumi ta surabhi sakala jāna
karaha ekhana tāhāra vidhāna’ [37]

“‘O Surabhi, you know everything. Please advise me about this.’

surabhi balila, ‘calaha yāi
navadvīpa-dhāme bhaji’ nimāi’ [38]

“Surabhi said, ‘Let us go and serve Nimāi in Navadvīpa Dhāma.’

devendra surabhi hethāya āsi’
gaurāṅga bhajana karila vasi’ [39]

“Indra and Surabhi moved here and worshipped Gaurāṅga.

gaurāṅga bhajana sahaja ati
sahaja tāhāra phala vitati [40]

“Worshipping Gaurāṅga is very easy, and the results of doing so are easily distributed.

‘gaurāṅga’ baliyā krandana kare
gaurāṅga darśana haya satvare [41]

“They cried, chanting the Name of Gaurāṅga, and immediately saw Him.

 


kibā aparūpa rūpa-lāvaṇi
dekhila gaurāṅga pratimā-khāni [42]

ādha ādha hāsi’ varada rūpa
preme gada-gada rasera kūpa [43]

“How extraordinary is His beauty and form! They saw the figure of Gaurāṅga—the embodiment of benevolence, the well of rasa—smiling and stammering, choked with divine love.

hāsiyā balena ṭhākura mora
‘jāninu vāsanā āmi ta tora [44]

“Smiling, My Lord said, ‘I know your desire.

alpa-dina āchhe prakaṭa-kāla
nadīyā-nagare dekhibe bhāla [45]

“‘I will appear in Nadīyā soon, and you will see Me fully then.

se līlā samaye sevibe more
māyā-jāla āra nā dhare tore’ [46]

“‘During those Pastimes, you will serve Me, and the net of māyā will no longer bind you.’

eta bali’ prabhu adṛśya haya
surabhi sundarī tathāya raya [47]

“Saying this, the Lord disappeared. Beautiful Surabhi remained there.

aśvattha nikaṭe rahilā devī
nirantara gaura-caraṇa sevi’ [48]

“She stayed near a banyan tree and constantly worshipped the feet of Gaura.

godrumadvīpa ta ha-ila nāma
hethāya pūraya bhakata-kāma [49]

“This place thus became known as Godrumadvīpa. The Lord fulfils the desires of the devotees here.

hethāya kuṭīra baṅdhiyā bhaje
anāyāse gaura-caraṇe maje [50]

“Anyone who builds a hut and serves here easily becomes immersed in the feet of Gaura.

ei dvīpe kabhu mṛkaṇḍa-suta
pralaye āchila kathā adbhuta [51]

“There is a wonderful story about Mārkaṇḍeya Muni, who was present on this island during the destruction of the universe.

sāta-kalpa āyu pāila muni
pralaye baḍa-i vipad gaṇi’ [52]

“Mārkaṇḍeya Muni attained a lifetime of seven kalpas, and during the destruction of the universe, he underwent great difficulty.

jalamaya haila samasta sthāna
kothā vā rahibe kare sandhāna [53]

“Everything became submerged in water, and he searched for a place to stay.

bhāsiyā bhāsiyā caliyā yāya
‘kena hena vara la-inu hāya’ [54]

“Floating and floating about, he thought, ‘Alas! Why have I taken this boon?’

ṣola-krośa mātra nadīyā-dhāma
jāgiyā bhakate deya viśrāma [55]

“During the destruction, only the thirty-two miles of Navadvīpa Dhāma arise and give shelter to the devotees.

jalera taraṅge bhāsiyā muni
ajñāna ha-iyā paḍe amani [56]

“Floating in the waves of the water, the sage suddenly lost consciousness.

mahākṛpā kari’ surabhi tāya
yatane munire hethā uṭhāya [57]

“Being very merciful to him, Surabhi carefully rescued the sage.

samvit labhiyā mṛkaṇḍa-suta
dekhila godrumadvīpa adbhuta [58]

“Regaining consciousness, Mārkaṇḍeya Muni saw the wonders of Godrumadvīpa.

śata-koṭī-krośa vistāra sthāna
nada-nadī śobhā prakāśamāna [59]

“He saw an abode spanning two billion miles around, resplendent with rivers and streams.

taru-latā kata śobhaya tathā
pakṣi-gaṇa gāya śrī-gaura-gāthā [60]

“Numerous trees and vines were shining, and birds were chanting the glories of Śrī Gaura.

yojana-vistāra aśvattha hera
surabhike tathā darśana kara [61]

“He saw a banyan tree that was eight miles wide, and he saw Surabhi beneath it.

kṣudhāya ākula muni takhana
surabhira prati bale vacana [62]

“Stricken with hunger, the sage spoke to Surabhi.

‘tumi bhagavati rākhaha prāṇa
dugdha diyā mora karaha trāṇa’ [63]

“‘O goddess! Please save my life. Rescue me by giving me some milk.’

surabhi takhana sadaya haye
piyāila dugdha munire laye [64]

“Surabhi mercifully fed the sage with her milk.

sabala ha-iyā mṛkaṇḍa-sūnu
surabhira prati kahaya punaḥ [65]

“Revitalised, Mārkaṇḍeya Muni spoke to Surabhi again.

‘tumi bhagavati jananī mora
tomāra māyāya jagat bhora [66]

“‘O goddess, you are my mother, and the world is absorbed in your illusion.

nā bujhiyā āmi layechi vara
sapta-kalpa jīva haye amara [67]

“‘Not understanding the consequences, I accepted a boon of living for seven kalpas without dying.

pralaya samaye baḍa-i duḥkha
nānā-vidha kleśa nāhika sukha [68]

“‘During the destruction of the universe, there are numerous miseries and extreme distress. There is no happiness.

ki kari janani balago more
kise vā yāiba e duḥkha tare’ [69]

“‘O Mother, tell me, what should I do? How can I overcome this distress?’

surabhi takhana balila vāṇī
‘bhajaha śrī-gaura-pada dukhāni [70]

“Surabhi said, ‘Serve the feet of Śrī Gaura.

ei navadvīpa prakṛti-pāra
kabhu nāśa nāhi haya ihāra [71]

“‘This abode of Navadvīpa is beyond material nature—it is never destroyed.

carma-cakṣe ihā ṣoḍaśa-krośa
parama vaikuṇṭha sadā nirdoṣa [72]

“‘To fleshy eyes, it is only thirty-two miles, but it is the supreme abode Vaikuṇṭha and eternally faultless.

aprākṛta deśa kāla ekhāne
jaḍa māyā kebā keha nā jāne [73]

“‘Here, time and space are supramundane, and no one knows of material illusion.

navadvīpe dekha apūrva ati
cāri-dike beḍe virajā satī [74]

“‘See the great wonder of Navadvīpa! The chaste Virajā flows all around it.

śata-koṭi-krośa pratyeka khaṇḍa
madhye māyāpura nagara gaṇḍa [75]

“‘Every part of Navadvīpa measures two billion miles, and at its centre is the grand city of Māyāpura.

aṣṭa-dala aṣṭa-dvīpera māna
antardvīpa tāra keśara sthāna [76]

“‘The eight islands of Navadvīpa are petals, and Antardvīpa is their whorl.

sarva-tīrtha sarva-devatā ṛṣi
gaurāṅga bhajichhe hethāya vasi’ [77]

“‘All the holy places, gods, and sages reside here and worship Gaurāṅga.

tumi mārkaṇḍeya gaurāṅga-pada
āśraya karaha jāni’ sampada [78]

“‘O Mārkaṇḍeya, understand your fortune and take shelter at the feet of Gaurāṅga.

akaitava dharma āśraya kara
bhukti-mukti-vāñchā sudūre dhara [79]

“‘Take shelter of the true dharma, and keep desires for enjoyment and liberation far away.

gaurāṅga-bhajana-āśraya-bale
madhura prema ta labhibe phale [80]

“‘By taking shelter of Gaurāṅga and serving Him, you will attain divine love in madhura-rasa.

sei prema yabe hṛdaye vase
bhāsāya vilāsa-kalāra rase [81]

“When that divine love appears in your heart, it will set you afloat in the rasa of the arts within the Pastimes of the Lord.

vraje rādhā-pade āśraya haya
yugala-sevāya mānasa raya [82]

“‘You will take shelter at the feet of Rādhā in Vraja, and your heart will be engaged in the service of the Divine Couple.

sevāra sukha ta atula jāna
abheda nirvāṇe apārtha jñāna’ [83]

“‘Know that the joy of service is unparalleled, and knowledge of static liberation is useless.’

surabhi-vacana śuniyā muni
kara-yoḍa kari’ bale amani [84]

“Hearing the words of Surabhi, the sage immediately joined his palms and spoke.

‘śrī-gaura-caraṇa bhajiba yabe
āmāra adṛṣṭa kothāya rabe’ [85]

“‘When I serve the feet of Śrī Gaura, what will become of my destiny?’

surabhi kahila siddhānta-sāra
‘śrī-gaura-bhajane nāhi vicāra [86]

“Surabhi then spoke the ultimate conclusion: ‘There is no judgement in the service of Śrī Gaura.

‘śrī-gaura’ baliyā ḍākibe yabe
samasta karama vināśa habe [87]

“‘When you call the Name of Śrī Gaura, all your karma will be destroyed.

kichu nāhi rabe vipāka āra
ghucibe tomāra bhava-saṁsāra [88]

“‘No reactions will remain any longer, and your attachment to material existence will disappear.

karma kene ekā jñānera phala
ghucibe samūle haye vikala [89]

“‘And not only your karma, but the consequences of your pursuing liberation will also be eradicated.

tumi ta majibe gaurāṅga-rase
bhajibe taṅhāre e dvīpe vase’ [90]

“‘You will become immersed in the ecstasy of Gaurāṅga, living on this island and serving Him.’

mārkaṇḍeya śuni’ ānande bhāse
‘gaura’ bali’ kaṅde kakhana hāse [91]

“Hearing this, Mārkaṇḍeya floated in joy. He chanted the Name of Gaura, cried, and sometimes laughed.

ei dekha jīva apūrva sthāna
mārkaṇḍeya yathā pāila prāṇa” [92]

“Jīva, see here the wonderful place where Mārkaṇḍeya received life.”

gaurāṅga-mahimā nitāi-mukhe
śuni’ jīva bhāse parama sukhe [93]

Hearing the glories of Gaurāṅga from the mouth of Nitāi, Jīva floated in the greatest joy.

se sthāne se dina yāpana kari’
madhyadvīpe cale baliyā “hari” [94]

They spent the day in that place and then went to Madhyadvīpa, chanting “Hari!”

nitāi-jāhnavā-caraṇa sāra
jāniyā bhaktivinoda cāra [95]

nitāi-ādeśa mastake dhare
nadīyā-mahimā varṇana kare [96]

Knowing Nitāi and Jāhnavā’s feet to be all-in-all, the fallen Bhaktivinoda holds the order of Nitāi on his head and describes the glories of Nadīyā.

Navadvipa Dhama MahatmyaŚrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya - Chapter Seven
Navadvipa Dhama MahatmyaŚrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya - Chapter Nine

Share this chapter!