Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya – Chapter Five

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya śacīra nandana
jaya jaya nityānanda jāhnavī-jīvana [1]

All glory to the son of Śacī, Śrī Caitanya! All glory to the life of Jāhnavā, Śrī Nityānanda!

jaya jaya navadvīpa-dhāma sarva-dhāma-sāra
yathā kali-yuge haila gaura avatāra [2]

All glory to Navadvīpa Dhāma, the best of all abodes, where Gaura descended during the Age of Kali!

nityānanda prabhu bale, “śunaha vacana
ṣola-krośa navadvīpa yathā vṛndāvana [3]

Nityānanda Prabhu said, “Listen to My words! The thirty-two miles of Navadvīpa are non-different from Vṛndāvana.

ei ṣola-krośa madhye dvīpa haya naya
aṣṭa-dala padma yena jalete bhāsaya [4]

“Within these thirty-two miles, there are nine islands, which form an eight-petalled lotus that floats on water.

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aṣṭa-dala aṣṭa-dvīpa madhye antardvīpa
tāra mājhe māyāpura madhya-bindu-ṭīpa [5]

 “In the middle of the eight petals—the eight islands—is Antardvīpa. At its centre is Māyāpura.

māyāpura yoga-pīṭha sadā golākāra
tathā nitya caitanyera vividha bihāra [6]

“The circular Yoga Pīṭha in Māyāpura is eternal. There, Śrī Caitanya performs various eternal Pastimes.

trisahasra-dhanu tāra paridhi pramāṇa
sahasreka-dhanu tāra vyāsera vidhāna [7]

“Its circumference is six miles, and its diameter two miles.

ei yoga-pīṭha-mājhe vaise pañca-tattva
anya-sthāna haite yoga-pīṭhera mahattva [8]

“The Pañca Tattva reside at the Yoga Pīṭha, whose greatness exceeds that of all other places.

ati śīghra gupta habe prabhura ichchhāya
bhāgīrathī-jale habe saṅgopita prāya [9]

“Very soon it will be hidden by the will of the Lord. The waters of the Gaṅgā will almost entirely conceal it.

kabhu punaḥ prabhu-icchā habe balavān
prakāśa ha-ibe dhāma habe dīptimān [10]

“Someday, when the desire of the Lord becomes strong, the Yoga Pīṭha will be revealed and the Dhāma will shine again.

nitya-dhāma kabhu kāle lopa nāhi haya
gupta haye punar-bāra haya ta udaya [11]

“The eternal Dhāma is never lost at any time—it only becomes hidden and then emerges again.

bhāgīrathī pūrva-tīre haya māyāpura
māyāpure nitya āchhena āmāra ṭhākura [12]

“My Lord is eternally present in Māyāpura on the eastern bank of the Gaṅgā.

loka-dṛṣṭye sannyāsī ha-iyā viśvambhara
chāḍi’ navadvīpa phire deśa-deśāntara [13]

“In the vision of common people, Viśvambhara became a sannyāsī, left Navadvīpa, and toured other places.

vastutaḥ gaurāṅga mora navadvīpa-dhāma
chāḍiyā nā yāya kabhu māyāpura-grāma [14]

“In truth, however, My Gaurāṅga never leaves Navadvīpa Dhāma or the village of Māyāpura.

dainandina līlā tāṅra dekhe bhakta-gaṇa
tumio dekhaha jīva gaurāṅga-nartana [15]

“The devotees see His Pastimes here daily, and you too, Jīva, will see His dancing.

māyāpura ante antardvīpa śobhā pāya
gaurāṅga darśana brahmā pāila yathāya [16]

“Māyāpura shines within Antardvīpa, where Brahmā saw Gaurāṅga.

ohe jīva cāha yadi dekhite sakala
parikramā kara tumi ha-ibe saphala” [17]

“O Jīva, if you want to see everything, then circumambulate the Dhāma, and you will be successful.”

prabhu-vākya śuni’ jīva sajala-nayane
daṇḍavat haye paḍe prabhura caraṇe [18]

Hearing the words of Nityānanda Prabhu, with tears in his eyes Jīva bowed at His feet.

“kṛpā yadi kara prabhu ei akiñcane
saṅge laye parikramā karāo āpane” [19]

“O Lord, if You are merciful to this poor soul, then please personally take me with You on a circumambulation of the Dhāma.”

jīvera prārthanā śuni’ nityānanda-rāya
“tathāstu” baliyā nija mānasa jānāya [20]

Hearing Jīva’s prayer, Nityānanda Rāya answered, “So be it.”

prabhu bale, “ohe jīva adya māyāpura
karaha darśana kalya bhramiba pracura” [21]

He said, “O Jīva, today see Māyāpura. Tomorrow we will tour extensively.”

eta bali’ nityānanda uṭhila takhana
pāchhe pāchhe uṭhe jīva praphullita mana [22]

Having said this, Nityānanda arose, and with a joyous heart Jīva rose after Him.

cale nityānanda-rāya manda manda gati
gaurāṅga-premete deha suvihvala ati [23]

 Nityānanda Rāya moved slowly, His body completely overwhelmed by divine love for Gaurāṅga.

mohana murati prabhu bhāve ḍhala-ḍhala
alaṅkāra sarva-dehe kare jhalamala [24]

Nityānanda Prabhu’s enchanting form swayed to and fro in ecstasy, and the ornaments all over His body shone.

ye caraṇa brahmā śiva dhyāne nāhi pāya
śrī-jīve kariyā kṛpā se pada bāḍāya [25]

The feet that Brahmā and Śiva cannot attain by meditation mercifully walked in front of Śrī Jīva.

pāchhe thāki’ jīva laya padāṅkera dhūli
sarva-aṅge mākhe cale baḍa kutūhalī [26]

Remaining behind, Jīva collected dust from their footprints, smeared it all over his body, and proceeded with great delight.

jagannātha-miśra-gṛhe karila praveśa
śacī-mātā śrī-caraṇe jānāya viśeṣa [27]

They entered the home of Jagannātha Miśra and spoke carefully at the holy feet of Mother Śacī.

“śunago jananī ei jīva mahāmatī
śrī-gaurāṅga-priya-dāsa bhāgyavān ati” [28]

“O Mother, listen! This is Jīva, a dear servant of Śrī Gaurāṅga. He is very intelligent and very fortunate.”

balite balite jīva ācāḍiyā paḍe
chinna-mūla taru yena baḍa baḍa jhaḍe [29]

As Nityānanda Prabhu spoke, Jīva threw himself down like a tree uprooted by an intense storm.

śacīra caraṇe paḍi’ yāya gaḍāgaḍi
sāttvika vikāra dehe kare huḍāhuḍi [30]

He bowed at the feet of Śacī and rolled on the ground. Divine ecstasy surged through his body.

kṛpā kari’ śacī-devī kaila āśīrvāda
sei dina sei gṛhe pāila prasāda [31]

Śacī Devī mercifully blessed him, and that day he received prasāda in her home.

viṣṇu-priyā śacī-devī-ājñā yabe pāila
nānā anna vyañjanādi randhana karila [32]

Receiving the order of Śacī Devī, Viṣṇu Priyā cooked rice, various vegetables, and other things.

śrī-vaṁśī-vadanānanda prabhu kata–kṣaṇe
śrī-gaurāṅge bhoga nivedila sayatane [33]

Śrī Vaṁśī Vadanānanda Prabhu then carefully offered the preparations to Śrī Gaurāṅga.

īśāna ṭhākura sthāna kari’ ataḥpara
nityānande bhuñjāila hariṣa antara [34]

Īśāna Ṭhākura then prepared a place and fed Nityānanda, with joy in his heart.

putra-snehe śacī-devī nityānande bale
“khāo vāchhā nityānanda jananīra sthale [35]

With motherly affection, Śacī Devī said to Nityānanda, “Eat, my child. Nityānanda, You are in the home of Your mother.

ei āmi gaura-candre bhuñjānu gopane
tumi khāile baḍa sukhī ha-i āmi mane” [36]

“Privately, I fed this to Gaura-candra. If You eat it, I will be very happy at heart.”

jananīra vākye prabhu nityānanda-rāya
bhuñjila ānande, jīva avaśiṣṭa pāya [37]

At the request of Mother Śacī, Nityānanda Rāya joyfully ate, and Jīva received His remnants.

 

jīva bale, “dhanya āmi mahāprabhu-ghare
pāinu prasāda anna ei māyāpure” [38]

Jīva said, “I am so fortunate to have received prasāda at the home of Mahāprabhu in Māyāpura.”

bhojana kariyā tabe nityānanda-rāya
śacī-devī śrī-caraṇe ha-ila vidāya [39]

After eating, Nityānanda Rāya took leave of Śacī Devī’s holy feet.

yāibāra kāle saṅge vaṁśīke la-ila
śrī-jīva vaṁśīra pade praṇati karila [40]

As He was leaving, He took Vaṁśī Vadanānanda with Him. Śrī Jīva bowed at the feet of Vaṁśī.

jīva prati bale prabhu, “e vaṁśī-vadana
śrī-kṛṣṇera priya-vaṁśī jāne bhakta-jana [41]

Nityānanda said to Jīva, “This is Vaṁśī Vadanānanda. The devotees know him to be Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s dear flute.

ihāra kṛpāya jīva haya kṛṣṇākṛṣṭa
mahārāsa labhe sabe ha-iyā satṛṣṇa [42]

“By his mercy, souls become attracted to Kṛṣṇa and desire to join the Rāsa Dance.

dekha jīva ei gṛhe caitanya-ṭhākura
āmā sabā laye līlā karila prachura [43]

“Jīva, look! Lord Caitanya performed many Pastimes with us in this house.

ei dekha jagannātha miśrera mandira
viṣṇu-pūjā nitya yathā karitena dhīra [44]

“See here. This is the Temple of Jagannātha Miśra, where Gaura would earnestly worship Viṣṇu each day.

ei gṛhe karitena atithi-sevana
tulasī-maṇḍapa ei karaha darśana [45]

“In this house, the Lord would serve guests. See here His tulasī courtyard.

śrī-gaurāṅga-candra gṛhe chila yata kāla
pitāra ācāra pālitena bhakta-pāla [46]

“When Śrī Gauracandra, the maintainer of the devotees, was present at home, He would perform His father’s duties.

ebe saba vaṁśī-ṭhākurera tattvādhīne
īśāna nirvāha kare prati dine dine [47]

“Īśāna Ṭhākura now performs these duties each day under the direction of Vaṁśī Ṭhākura.

ei sthāne chila eka nimba vṛkṣa-vara
prabhura paraśe vṛkṣa ha-ila agocara” [48]

“In this place, there was a great neem tree that disappeared upon being touched by the Lord.”

 

yata kāṅde nityānanda kariyā varṇana
jīva vaṁśī duṅhe tata karaye krandana [49]

Nityānanda wept as He described all of this, as did Jīva and Vaṁśī.

dekhite dekhite tathā āila śrīvāsa
cāri-jane cale chāḍi’ jagannātha-vāsa [50]

Just then, Śrīvāsa arrived, and the four of them then left Jagannātha Miśra’s home.

śata-dhanu uttarete śrīvāsa-aṅgana
jīve dekhāila prabhu ānandita mana [51]

Three hundred and twenty metres to the north, Nityānanda Prabhu joyfully showed Śrīvāsa Aṅgana to Jīva.

śrīvāsa-aṅgane jīva yāya gaḍāgaḍi
smariyā prabhura līlā preme huḍāhuḍi [52]

Jīva rolled on the ground in Śrīvāsa Aṅgana. Remembering the Pastimes of the Lord there, he was overwhelmed with divine love.

śrī-jīva uṭhibāmātra dekhe eka raṅga
nāciche gaurāṅga laye bhakta antaraṅga [53]

Jīva immediately had a vision: he saw Gaurāṅga dancing with His intimate devotees.

mahā-saṅkīrtana dekhe vallabha-nandana
sarva-bhakta mājhe prabhura apūrva nartana [54]

Jīva saw the Lord’s mahā-saṅkīrtana and wonderful dancing amidst all the devotees.

nāciche advaita prabhu nityānanda-rāya
gadādhara haridāsa nāce āra gāya [55]

Advaita Prabhu, Nityānanda Rāya, Gadādhara, and Haridāsa were dancing and singing.

śuklāmbara nāce āra śata śata jana
dekhiyā premete jīva haila acetana [56]

Seeing Śuklāmbara and hundreds of other devotees dancing, Jīva fainted in divine love.

cetana pāile āra se raṅga nā bhāya
kāṅdi’ jīva gosvāmī karena hāya hāya [57]

“kena mora kichu pūrve janama nahila
emana kīrtanānanda bhāgye nā ghaṭila [58]

When he regained consciousness and this vision disappeared, Jīva Gosvāmī wept and lamented, “Why was I not born a little earlier? I was not fortunate enough to be part of such ecstatic kīrtana.

prabhu nityānanda-kṛpā asīma ananta
sei bale kṣaṇa-kāla hainu bhāgyavanta [59]

“The mercy of Nityānanda Prabhu is unlimited and infinite, and by its influence I have attained a moment of good fortune.

icchā haya māyāpure thāki’ cira-kāla
ghucibe sampūrṇa-rūpe māyāra jañjāla [60]

“I want to stay in Māyāpura forever. Here, the miseries of material existence will be completely dispelled.

dāsera vāsanā haite prabhu-ājñā baḍa
māyāpura chāḍite antara dhaḍa-phaḍa” [61]

“The order of the Lord, however, is greater than the desire of His servant, and my heart is palpitating at the thought of leaving Māyāpura.”

tathā haite nityānanda jīve laye yāya
daśa-dhanu uttare advaita-gṛha pāya [62]

From there, Nityānanda took Jīva thirty-two metres north to the house of Advaita.

prabhu bale, “dekha jīva sītānāthālaya
hethā vaiṣṇavera goṣṭhi sadāi milaya [63]

The Lord said, “O Jīva, see the house of Advaita. The devotees met here every day.

hethā sītānātha kaila kṛṣṇera pūjana
huṅkāre ānila mora śrī-gaurāṅga dhana” [64]

“Here, Advaita worshipped Kṛṣṇa and brought down our wealth, Śrī Gaurāṅga, with His cries.”

tathā gaḍāgaḍi diyā cale cāri-jana
pañca-dhanu pūrve gadādharera bhavana [65]

There, the four of them rolled on the ground. Then they walked sixteen metres east to the house of Gadādhara.

tathā haite dekhāila nityānanda-rāya
sarva-pāriṣada gṛha yathāya tathāya [66]

Thereafter, Nityānanda showed Jīva the houses of all the Lord’s associates throughout Māyāpura.

brāhmaṇa-maṇḍalī gṛha kariyā darśana
tabe cale gaṅgā-tīre harṣe cāri-jana [67]

The four of them visited the homes of some brāhmaṇas and then joyfully walked to the bank of the Gaṅgā.

māyāpura sīmā-śeṣa vṛddha-śivālaya
jāhnavīra taṭe dekhe jīva mahāśaya [68]

Along the outer boundary of Māyāpura on the bank of the Gaṅgā, Jīva saw the Temple of Vṛddha Śiva.

prabhu bale, “māyāpure ini kṣetra-pāla
prauḍhā-māyā śakti adhiṣṭhāna nitya-kāla [69]

Nityānanda Prabhu said, “In Māyāpura, Vṛddha Śiva is the protector of the Dhāma. His consort, Prauḍhā Māyā, resides with him eternally.

prabhu yabe aprakaṭa ha-ibe takhana
tāṅhāra ichchhāya gaṅgā ha-ibe vardhana [70]

“When the Lord disappears, then, by His will, the Gaṅgā will swell.

māyāpura prāya gaṅgā ācchādibe jale
śata-varṣa rākhi’ punaḥ chāḍibena bale [71]

“She will almost entirely cover Māyāpura with water for one hundred years, and then she will withdraw.

sthāna mātra jāgibeka gṛha nā rahibe
vāsa-hīna haye kata-kāla sthita habe [72]

“At that time, only the land will emerge; no houses will remain. Māyāpura will stay uninhabited for a long time.

punaḥ kabhu prabhu-icchā haye balavān
habe māyāpure ei rūpa vāsa-sthāna [72]

“Again, when the Lord strongly desires it, Māyāpura will be inhabited like this again.

ei saba ghāṭa gaṅgā-tīre punaḥ habe
prabhura mandira karibena bhakta sabe [73]

“All these ghāṭas will appear on the banks of the Gaṅgā again, and the devotees will make Temples for the Lord.

adbhuta mandira eka ha-ibe prakāśa
gaurāṅgera nitya-sevā ha-ibe vikāśa [74]

“One wonderful Temple will manifest, and there daily worship of Gaurāṅga will flourish.

prauḍhā-māyā vṛddha-śiva āsi’ punarāya
nija kārya sādhibeka prabhura icchāya [75]

“By the will of the Lord, Prauḍhā Māyā and Vṛddha Śiva will return and perform their duties (of revealing and protecting the Dhāma).”

eta śuni’ jīva tabe kara-yoḍa kari’
prabhure jijñāse vārtā pada-yūga dhari’ [76]

Hearing this, Jīva joined his palms, questioned Nityānanda Prabhu, and then grasped the Lord’s feet.

“ohe prabhu tumi śeṣa tattvera nidāna
dhāma-rūpa nāma-tattva tomāri vidhāna [77]

“O Lord, You are the basis of the ultimate truth. You manifest Yourself as the Dhāma and the Holy Name.

yadio prabhura icchā-mate karma kara
tabu jīva-guru tumi sarva-śakti-dhara [78]

“Although You act according to the will of Mahāprabhu, You are the Guru of all souls and the controller of all energies.

gaurāṅge tomāte bheda yei jana kare
pāṣaṇḍī madhyete tāṅre vijña-jane dhare [79]

“The wise consider anyone who distinguishes between You and Gaurāṅga to be a sinner.

sarvajña puruṣa tumi līlā avatāra
saṁśaya jāgila eka hṛdaye āmāra [80]

“You are the all-knowing Lord, who descends to perform Pastimes. A doubt has arisen in my heart.

ye samaya gaṅgā lukāibe māyāpura
kothā yābe śiva śakti balaha ṭhākura” [81]

“O Lord, please tell me, where will Vṛddha Śiva and Prauḍhā Māyā go when the Gaṅgā hides Māyāpura?”

nityānanda bale, “jīva śunaha vacana
gaṅgāra paścima bhūmi karaha darśana [82]

Nityānanda Prabhu said, “Jīva, listen to My words and look at the land to the west of the Gaṅgā.

ei uccha caḍā dekha pāraḍāṅgā nāma
tathā āchhe vipra-maṇḍalīra eka grāma [83]

“See there the sand dune known as Pāraḍāṅgā. In that place, there is a village of brāhmaṇas.

tāhāra uttare āchhe jāhnavī-pulina
chinnaḍeṅgā bali tāre jānena pravīṇa [84]

“The wise know the bank of the Gaṅgā to its north as Chinnaḍeṅgā.

ei ta puline eka nagara vasibe
tathā śiva śakti kichhu divasa rahibe [85]

“A village will be established on this bank. Vṛddha Śiva and Prauḍhā Māyā will remain there for some time.

o pulina māhātmya ke kahibāre pāre
rāsa-sthalī āchhe yathā jāhnavīra dhāre [86]

“Who can describe the glories of that bank? The Rāsa Sthalī is there beside the Gaṅgā.

bālumaya bhūmi vaṭe carma-cakṣe bhāya
ratnamaya nitya-dhāma divya līlā tāya [87]

“It appears like a beach to fleshy eyes, but the Lord’s divine Pastimes take place in that eternal abode of gemstone.

māyāpura haya śrī-gokula mahāvana
pāraḍāṅgā saṭṭīkāra svarūpa gaṇana [88]

“Māyāpura is Śrī Gokula Mahāvana, and Pāraḍāṅgā is considered Saṭṭīkāra.

tathā āchhe vṛndāvana śrī-rāsa-maṇḍala
kāle ei sthāne habe gāna kolāhala [89]

“Śrī Rāsa Maṇḍala of Vṛndāvana is present there, and in the future there will be joyous singing at that place.

māyāpura śrī-pulina madhye bhāgīrathī
saba laye gaura-dhāma jāna mahāmati [90]

“O wise soul, know that Māyāpura and the Gaṅgā at Śrī Pulina are both part of Śrī Gaura’s Dhāma.

pañca-krośa dhāma yebā karibe bhramaṇa
māyāpura śrī-pulina karibe darśana [91]

“One who visits this abode of ten miles will see Māyāpura and Śrī Pulina.

phālguna-pūrṇimā-dine ye kare bhramaṇa
pañca-krośa bhakta-saha pāya nitya-dhana [92]

“One who visits these ten miles with devotees on the full moon day in the month of Phālguna attains the eternal wealth.

ohe jīva gūḍha kathā śunaha āmāra
śrī-gaurāṅga-mūrti śobhe śrī-viṣṇu-priyāra [93]

“O Jīva, listen to My confidential words. Śrī Viṣṇu Priyā’s Deity of Śrī Gaurāṅga shines here.

ai kāle miśra-vaṁśodbhava vipra–gaṇa
saṭṭīkāra dhāme labe śrī-mūrti-ratana [94]

“In the future, brāhmaṇas in the lineage of Jagannātha Miśra will bring this jewel-like Deity to Saṭṭīkāra Dhāma.

cāri-śata-varṣa gaura-janma-dina dhari’
ha-ile śrī-mūrti-sevā habe sarvopari [95]

“Four hundred years after the appearance day of Śrī Gaura, the worship of the Deity will be set to the highest standard.

ei saba kathā ebe rākha aprakāśa
parikramā kara haye antare ullāsa [96]

“For now, keep all these matters secret and circumambulate the Dhāma with a joyful heart.

vṛddha-śiva ghāṭa haite tridhanu uttara
gaurāṅgera nija-ghāṭa dekha vijña-vara [97]

“O best of the wise, see Śrī Gaurāṅga’s ghāṭa ten metres north of Vṛddha Śiva’s ghāṭa.

ei sthāne bālya-līlā chale gaurahari
bhāgīrathī-krīḍā karilena citta bhari’ [98]

“On the pretext of childhood Pastimes, Gaurahari played here with the Gaṅgā and filled her heart with joy.

yamunāra bhāgya dekhi’ himādri-nandinī
bahu tapa kaila haite līlāra saṅginī [99]

“Seeing the fortune of the Yamunā, Gaṅgā Devī had performed many austerities to become an associate of the Lord in His Pastimes.

kṛṣṇa kṛpā kari’ bale diyā daraśana
‘gaura-rūpe tava jale kariba krīḍana’ [100]

“Kṛṣṇa mercifully appeared before her and said, ‘As Gaura, I will play in your waters.’

sei līlā kaila hethā tribhuvana rāya
bhāgyavān jīva dekhi’ baḍa sukha pāya [101]

“The Lord of the three worlds performed this Pastime here. Upon seeing this place, fortunate souls feel great joy.

pañca-daśa-dhanu yei ghāṭa tad uttare
mādhāiyera ghāṭa bale vyakta carācare [102]

“The ghāṭa one hundred and sixty metres to the north is known by everyone as Mādhāi’s ghāṭa.

tāra pāñca-dhanura uttare ghāṭa śobhā
nāgarīyā janera sarvadā mano-lobhā [103]

“Sixteen metres to its north is a beautiful ghāṭa that always attracts the minds of all the villagers.

bārakoṇā ghāṭa ei atīva sundara
viśvakarmā nirmilena prabhu-ājñā-dhara [104]

“This extremely beautiful ghāṭa is known as Bārakoṇā Ghāṭa. Viśvakarmā constructed it on the order of the Lord.

ei ghāṭe dekha jīva pañca śivālaya
pañca-tīrtha liṅga pañca sadā jyotirmaya [105]

“O Jīva, see the five Śiva Temples at this ghāṭa. Five effulgent liṅgams always reside here in these five holy places.

ei cāri ghāṭa māyāpura śobhā kare
yathāya karile snāna sarva-duḥkha hare [106]

“These four ghāṭas beautify Māyāpura. Bathing at them removes all sorrow.

māyāpura pūrva-dike āchhe yei sthāna
antardvīpa bali’ tāya nāma vidyamāna [107]

“To the east of Māyāpura is a place known as Antardvīpa.

ebe prabhu-icchā-mate loka-vāsa-hīna
ei rūpa sthiti rahe āro kata dina [108]

“Now, by the will of the Lord, it is uninhabited. It will remain this way for some time.

kata-kāle punaḥ hethā loka vāsa habe
prakāśa ha-ibe sthāna nadīyā gaurave [109]

“Eventually, people will live here again, and the place will manifest as the glory of Nadīyā.

ohe jīva adya tumi raha māyāpure
kalya laye yāba āmi sīmanta-nagare” [110]

“O Jīva, today stay in Māyāpura. Tomorrow I will take you to Sīmantadvīpa.”

eta śuni’ jīva tabe balena vacana
“saṁśaya uṭhila eka karaha śravaṇa [111]

Hearing this, Jīva said, “A doubt has arisen within me. Please hear it.

yabe gaṅgā-devī māyāpura ācchādana
uṭhāiyā la-ibena nā rabe gopana [112]

sei kāle bhakta-gaṇa kon cihna dhari’
prakāśibe gupta-sthāna bala vyakta kari’” [113]

“When Gaṅgā Devī uncovers Māyāpura and it no longer remains hidden, by what signs will the devotees discover the hidden places? Please explain this.”

jīvera vacana śuni’ nityānanda-rāya
balilā uttara tabe amṛtera prāya [114]

Hearing Jīva’s words, Nityānanda Rāya gave a nectarean answer.

“śuna jīva gaṅgā yabe ācchādibe sthāna
māyāpura eka koṇa rabe vidyamāna [115]

“Listen, Jīva, when Gaṅgā Devī covers Māyāpura, one edge of it will remain manifest.

tathāya yavana vāsa ha-ibe pracura
tathāpi rahibe nāma tāra māyāpura [116]

“Many uncivilised people will reside there, but the name of the place will remain Māyāpura.

avaśiṣṭa sthāne paścima dakṣiṇete
pañca-śata-dhanu pāre pāibe dekhite [117]

kichu uccha sthāna sadā tṛṇa āvaraṇa
sei sthāna jagannātha-miśrera bhavana [118]

“One thousand six hundred metres southwest, past this remaining place, a raised area always covered with grass will be visible. That place will be the home of Jagannātha Miśra.

tathā haite pañca-dhanu vṛddha-śivālaya
ei parimāṇa dhari’ karibe nirṇaya [119]

“Sixteen metres from there is the Vṛddha Śiva Temple. According to these measurements, devotees will ascertain the lost places.

śiva-ḍobā bali khāta dekhite pāibe
sei khāta gaṅgā-tīra baliyā jānibe [120]

“A pond known as Śiva Ḍobā will be visible. Devotees will recognise that pond as the previous bank of the Gaṅgā.

bhakta-gaṇa ei rūpe prabhura icchāya
prakāśibe lupta-sthāna jānaha niścaya [121]

 “Know for certain that the devotees will reveal the lost places in this way by the will of the Lord.

prabhura śatābdī-catuṣṭaya anta yabe
lupta-tīrtha uddhārera yatna habe tabe” [122]

“Four hundred years after the appearance of the Lord, the endeavour to reveal the lost places will be completed.”

śrī-jīva balena, “prabhu balaha ekhana
antardvīpa nāmera ye yathārtha kāraṇa” [123]

Śrī Jīva said, “O Lord, now please tell me the true reason for Antardvīpa’s name.”

prabhu bale, “ei sthāne dvāparera śeṣe
tapasyā karila brahmā gaura-kṛpā āśe [124]

Nityānanda Prabhu said, “At the end of Dvāpara-yuga, Brahmā performed austerities in this place, aspiring for the mercy of Gaura.

govatsa gopāla sabe kariyā haraṇa
chalila kariyā māyā govindera mana [125]

“Previously, using his illusion, he tried to trick Govinda by stealing the calves and cowherd boys.

nija māyā parājaya dekhi’ catur-mukha
nija kārya-doṣe baḍa pāila asukha [126]

“When he saw his illusion overpowered by Govinda, Brahmā became very sad, understanding his offence.

bahu stava kari’ kṛṣṇe karila minati
kṣamila tāhāra doṣa vṛndāvana-pati [127]

“He profusely praised Kṛṣṇa and prayed to Him. The Lord of Vṛndāvana then forgave Brahmā’s offence.

tabu brahmā mane mane karila vicāra
‘brahma-buddhi mora haya atiśaya chāra [128]

“Brahmā considered within his mind, ‘My mentality of being Brahmā is completely worthless.

ei buddhi doṣe kṛṣṇa-premete rahita
vraja-līlā rasa bhoge ha-inu vañcita [129]

“‘Because of my wrong mentality, I am devoid of divine love for Kṛṣṇa and deprived of relishing the rasa of Pastimes in Vraja.

gopāla ha-iyā janma pāitāma āmi
sevitāma anāyāse gopikāra svāmī [130]

“‘If I had been born as a cowherd boy, I would have easily served the Lord of the gopīs.

se līlā-rasete mora nā ha-ila gati
ebe śrī-gaurāṅge mora nā haya kumati’ [131]

“‘I did not attain entrance into the rasa of those Pastimes, but now, with Śrī Gaurāṅga, I will not have any misconceptions.’

ei bali’ bahu-kāla antardvīpa sthāne
tapasyā kariyā brahmā rahila dheyāne [132]

“Thinking in this way, Brahmā performed austerities and meditated for a long time in Antardvīpa.

kata-dine gauracandra karuṇā kariyā
catur-mukha sannidhāne kahena āsiyā [133]

“Eventually, Gauracandra mercifully came before Brahmā and spoke to him.

‘ohe brahmā tava tape tuṣṭa haye āmi
āsilāma dite yāhā āśā kara tumi’ [134]

“‘O Brahmā, I am pleased by your austerities, and I have come to give you whatever you desire.’

nayana meliyā brahmā dekhi’ gaura-rāya
ajñāna ha-iyā bhūme paḍila tathāya [135]

“Opening his eyes and seeing Gaura Rāya, Brahmā fell to the ground unconscious.

brahmāra mastake prabhu dharilā caraṇa
divya-jñāna peye brahmā karaya stavana [136]

“The Lord placed His foot on Brahmā’s head. Receiving divine knowledge, Brahmā praised the Lord.

‘āmi dīna-hīna ati abhimāna vaśe
pāsariyā tava pada phiri jaḍa rase [137]

“‘I am very lowly and fallen. Controlled by pride, I forgot Your feet and turned to material pleasures.

āmi pañcānana indra ādi deva-gaṇa
adhikṛta dāsa tava śāstrera likhana [138]

“‘The scriptures say that myself, Śiva, Indra, and the other gods are all servants under Your control.

śuddha dāsa haite āmādera bhāgya naya
ataeva māyā moha-jāla vistāraya [139]

“‘But we do not have the fortune of being Your pure servants, and thus Māyā covers us with her net of illusion.

prathama parārdha mora kāṭila jīvana
ebe ta carama cintā karaye poṣaṇa [140]

“‘The first one hundred and fifty-five trillion years of my lifespan have passed. Now I am contemplating my final days.

dvitīya parārdha mora kāṭibe kemane
bahir-mukha ha-ile yātanā baḍa mane [141]

“‘How will I pass the second one hundred and fifty-five trillion years of my lifespan? I know that if I remain averse to You, I will suffer greatly.

ei mātra tava pade prārthanā āmāra
prakaṭa līlāya yena ha-i paribāra [142]

“‘My only prayer at Your feet is that I may become one of Your associates in Your manifest Pastimes.

brahma-buddhi dūre yāya hena janma pāi
tomāra saṅgete thāki’ tava guṇa gāi’ [143]

“‘May I attain a birth in which my mentality of being Brahmā leaves me, and I live in Your company, chanting Your glories.’

brahmāra prārthanā śuni’ gaura bhagavān
‘tathāstu’ baliyā vara karilena dāna [144]

“Hearing Brahmā’s prayer, the Supreme Lord Gaura said, ‘So be it’, and gave him the boon he desired.

‘ye samaya mama līlā prakaṭa ha-ibe
yavanera gṛhe tumi janama labhibe [145]

“‘When My Pastimes manifest, you will be born in a home of uncivilised people.

āpanāke hīna bali’ ha-ibe geyāna
haridāsa habe tumi śūnya abhimāna [146]

“‘You will consider yourself lowly. You will be known as Haridāsa, and you will be free from pride.

tina-lakṣa hari-nāma jihvāgre nāchibe
niryāṇa-samaye tumi āmāke dekhibe [147]

“‘The Name will dance on the tip of your tongue three hundred thousand times a day, and you will see Me at the time of your passing away.

ei ta sādhana-bale dviparārdha-śeṣe
pābe navadvīpa-dhāma maji’ nitya-rase [148]

“‘As a result of your practice, at the end of the second one hundred trillion years of your lifespan, you will attain Navadvīpa Dhāma and relish eternal rasa.

ohe brahmā śuna mora antarera kathā
vyakta kabhu nā karibe śāstre yathā tathā [149]

“‘O Brahmā, listen to My heartfelt words, but do not express them in the scriptures anywhere at any time.

bhakta-bhāva laye bhakti-rasa āsvādiba
parama durlabha saṅkīrtana prakāśiba [150]

“‘Taking the mood of a devotee, I will relish the rasa of devotion and reveal the most rare form of saṅkīrtana.

anya anya avatāra-kāle bhakta yata
vraja-rase sabe mātāiba kari’ rata [151]

“‘I will completely madden all the devotees of My previous avatāras with the rasa of Vraja.

śrī-rādhikā prema-baddha āmāra hṛdaya
tāṅra bhāva kānti laye ha-iba udaya [152]

“‘My heart is bound by the love of Śrī Rādhikā. I will take Her heart and halo, and appear.

kibā sukha rādhā pāya āmāre seviyā
sei sukha āsvādiba rādhā-bhāva laiyā [153]

“‘What sort of happiness does Rādhā feel by serving Me? Taking Her heart, I will relish that happiness.

āji haite tumi mora śiṣyatā labhibe
haridāsa rūpe more satata sevibe’ [154]

“‘From today, you are My disciple, and as Haridāsa, you will serve Me eternally.’

eta bali’ mahāprabhu haila antardhāna
āchāḍiyā paḍe brahmā ha-iyā ajñāna [155]

“Saying this, Mahāprabhu disappeared, and Brahmā fell heavily to the ground unconscious.

‘hā gaurāṅga dīna-bandhu bhakata-vatsala
kabe vā pāiba tava caraṇa-kamala’ [156]

“‘O Gaurāṅga! O Friend of the fallen! O affectionate Lord of the devotees! When will I reach Your lotus feet?’

ei mata kata dina kāṅdite kāṅdite
brahma-loke gela brahmā kārya sampādite” [157]

“After crying and crying in this way for some time, Brahmā returned to his abode to perform his duties.”

nitāi-jāhnavā-pade āśā mātra yāra
nadīyā-māhātmya gāya dīna hīna chāra [158]

This lowly, fallen, insignificant soul, who aspires only for the feet of Nitāi and Jāhnavā, chants the glories of Nadīyā.