Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya – Chapter Four

jaya jaya navadvīpa-candra śacī-suta
jaya jaya nityānanda-rāya avadhūta [1]

All glory to the son of Śacī, the moon of Navadvīpa! All glory to the avadhūta Nityānanda Rāy!

jaya jaya navadvīpa sarva-dhāma-sāra
yathāya ha-ila śrī-caitanya-avatāra [2]

All glory to the best of all abodes, Navadvīpa, where Śrī Caitanya appeared!

sarva-tīrthe vāsa kari’ yei phala pāi
navadvīpe labhi tāhā eka-dine bhāi [3]

Brother, souls attain in Navadvīpa in one day the result that others attain by residing in all the holy places.

sei navadvīpa parikramā vivaraṇa
śāstra ālociyā gāi śuna sādhu-jana [4]

O sādhus, listen as I discuss the scriptures and sing about circumambulating Navadvīpa.

śāstrera likhana āra vaiṣṇava-vacana
prabhu-ājñā ei tina mama prāṇa-dhana [5]

The writing of the scriptures, the words of the devotees, and the order of the Lord are my life and wealth.

e tine āśraya kari’ kariba varṇana
nadīyā-bhramaṇa-vidhi śuna sarva-jana [6]

Having taken shelter of them, I will describe the procedure for circumambulating Nadia. Everyone listen.

śrī-jīva-gosvāmī yabe chāḍilena ghara
“nadīyā nadīyā” bali’ vyākula antara [7]

When Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī left home, he was eager at heart, calling out, “Nadīyā! Nadīyā!”

candradvīpa chāḍi’ teṅha yata patha cale
bhāse dui cakṣu tāṅra nayanera jale [8]

As he left Candradvīpa and walked down the road, his eyes filled with tears.

“hā gaurāṅga nityānanda jīvera jīvana
kabe more kṛpā kari’ dibe daraśana [9]

hā hā navadvīpa-dhāma sarva-dhāma-sāra
kabe vā dekhiba āmi” bale bāra-bāra [10]

Again and again, he called out, “O Gaurāṅga! O Nityānanda! O Life of the soul! When will You mercifully appear before me? O Navadvīpa Dhāma, best of all abodes! When will I see you?”

kaiśora vayasa jīva sundara gaṭhana
vairāgyera parākāṣṭhā apūrva darśana [11]

Jīva was young and had a beautiful figure. His extreme detachment was astonishing to see.

caliyā caliyā kata-dine mahāśaya
navadvīpe uttarila sadā premamaya [12]

After walking for many days, always filled with divine love, Jīva arrived in Navadvīpa.

dūra haite navadvīpa kari’ daraśana
daṇḍavat haye paḍe prāya acetana [13]

Seeing Navadvīpa from a distance, he bowed and fell almost unconscious.

kata-kṣaṇa pare nija citta kari’ sthira
praveśila navadvīpe pulaka śarīra [14]

Eventually he steadied his heart and entered Navadvīpa, the hair on his body standing on end.

bārakoṇā ghāṭe āsi’ jijñāse sabāre
“kothā prabhu nityānanda dekhāo āmāre” [15] He came to Bārakoṇā Ghāṭa and asked everyone, “Where is Nityānanda Prabhu? Please show me.”

śrī-jīvera bhāva dekhi’ kona mahājana
prabhu nityānanda yathā laya tata-kṣaṇa [16]

Seeing Śrī Jīva’s ecstasy, a great soul immediately brought him to Nityānanda Prabhu.

hethā prabhu nityānanda aṭṭa aṭṭa hāsi’
śrī-jīva āsibe bali’ antare ullāsī [17]

Knowing that Śrī Jīva would come, Nityānanda Prabhu was delighted at heart and roaring with laughter.

ājñā dila dāsa-gaṇe śrī-jīve ānite
aneka vaiṣṇava yāya jīve sambodhite [18]

He ordered His servants to bring Śrī Jīva, and many devotees went to call him.

sāttvika-vikāra-pūrṇa jīvera śarīra
dekhi’ jīva bali’ sabe karilena sthira [19]

Upon seeing the body of Jīva filled with divine ecstasy, Nityānanda Prabhu’s servants identified him.

keha keha āge giyā mahāprema-bhare
nityānanda-prabhu-ājñā vijñāpana kare [20]

Some of them, filled with intense divine love, went forward and conveyed the order of Nityānanda Prabhu to Jīva.

prabhu-nityānanda-nāma kariyā śravaṇa
dharaṇīte paḍe jīva haye acetana [21]

Hearing the Name of Nityānanda Prabhu, Jīva fell to the ground unconscious.

kṣaṇeka uṭhiyā bale, “baḍa bhāgya mama
prabhu-nityānanda-kṛpā pāila adhama” [22]

Immediately, he arose and said, “It is my great fortune that I, a fallen soul, have received the mercy of Nityānanda Prabhu.”

se saba vaiṣṇava-gaṇe daṇḍavat haye
praṇāma karaye jīva praphulla hṛdaye [23]

Jīva prostrated himself before all the devotees with a jubilant heart.

bale, “tumi sabe more ha-ile sadaya
nityānanda-pada pāi sarva-śāstre kaya” [24]

He said, “All the scriptures say that if you all are merciful to me, then I will attain the feet of Nityānanda Prabhu.”

jīvera saubhāgya heri’ kateka vaiṣṇava
caraṇera dhūli laya kariyā utsava [25]

Seeing Jīva’s fortune, some of the devotees joyously took dust from his feet.

sabe meli’ jīve laya nityānanda yathā
vaiṣṇava-veṣṭita prabhu kahe kṛṣṇa-kathā [26]

They all joined together and took Jīva to Nityānanda Prabhu, where He was speaking about Kṛṣṇa, surrounded by devotees.

prabhu nityānandera dekhiyā divya-rūpa
jīvera śarīra haya bhāva aparūpa [27]

Seeing the divine form of Nityānanda Prabhu, extraordinary ecstasy arose in Jīva’s body.

“ki apūrva-rūpa āja herinu” baliyā
paḍila dharaṇī-tale acetana haiyā [28]

Thinking, “What a wonderful form I have seen today!”, Jīva fell to the ground unconscious.

mahākṛpā-vaśe prabhu nityānanda-rāya
jīve uṭhāiyā laya āpanāra pāya [29]

Moved by intense compassion, Nityānanda Prabhu raised Jīva to His feet.

vyasta haye śrī-jīva-gosvāmī dāṅḍāila
kara yuḍi’ nityānande kahite lāgila [30]

Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī quickly stood up, joined his palms, and began to speak to Nityānanda.

“viśva-rūpa viśva-dhāma tumi balarāma
āmi jīva kibā jāni tava guṇa-grāma [31]

“You are Balarāma, the original form and shelter of the world. I am just a soul. How can I understand Your glories?

tumi mora prabhu nitya āmi tava dāsa
tomāra caraṇa-chāyā eka-mātra āśa [32]

“You are my Master, and I am Your eternal servant. The shade of Your feet is my one and only aspiration.

tumi yāre kara dayā sei anāyāse
śrī-caitanya-pada pāya prema-jale bhāse [33]

“Those whom you bless easily attain the feet of Śrī Caitanya and float in the waters of divine love.

tomāra karuṇā vinā gaura nāhi pāya
śata janma bhaje yadi gaurāṅga hiyāya [34]

“Without Your grace, souls do not attain Śrī Gaura, even if they serve Him within their heart for one hundred births.

gaura daṇḍa kare yadi tumi rakṣā kara
tumi yāre daṇḍa kara gaura tāra para [35]

“If Gaura punishes someone, You protect them, and Gaura rejects whomever You punish.

ataeva prabhu tava caraṇa-kamale
la-inu śaraṇa āmi sukṛtira bale [36]

“Therefore, O Lord, by my good fortune, I have taken shelter at Your lotus feet.

tumi kṛpā kari’ more deha anumati
śrī-gaura-darśane pāi gaure ha-u rati [37]

“O Lord, mercifully give Your consent that I may see Śrī Gaura and develop devotion to Him.

yabe rāmakeli-grāme śrī-gaurāṅga-rāya
āmāra pitṛvya-dvaye la-ilena pāya [38]

“When Śrī Gaurāṅga Rāya was in the village of Rāmakeli, my uncles took shelter at His feet.

sei kāle śiśu āmi sajala nayane
herilāma gaura-rūpa sadā jāge mane [39]

“At that time, I was a child. With tearful eyes, I saw Śrī Gaura’s form, and still now that form constantly arises in my heart.

śrī-gaurāṅga-pade paḍi’ karinu praṇati
śrī-aṅga sparśiyā sukha pāilāma ati [40]

“Bowing at Śrī Gaurāṅga’s feet, I offered my obeisance. Touching His divine form, I felt great joy.

sei kāle gaura more kahilā vacana
‘ohe jīva kara tumi śāstra adhyayana [41]

“At that time, Gaura said to me, ‘O Jīva, study the scriptures.

adhyayana samāpiyā navadvīpe chala
nityānanda śrī-caraṇe pāibe sakala’ [42]

“‘Complete your study and then go to Navadvīpa. There, at the holy feet of Nityānanda, you will attain everything.’

sei ājñā śire dhari’ āmi akiñcana
yathā sādhya vidyā kariyāchhi upārjana [43]

“Holding this order on my head, I, a poor soul, have learned as much as possible.

candradvīpe paḍilāma sāhityādi yata
vedānta ācārya nāhi pāi manomata [44]

“I studied literature and other subjects in Candradvīpa, but I did not find an expert teacher of Vedānta.

prabhu ājñā dila more vedānta paḍite
vedānta-sammata kṛṣṇa-bhakti prakāśite [45]

“The Lord ordered me to study Vedānta and prove that devotion to Kṛṣṇa is its purport.

āilāma navadvīpe tomāra caraṇe
yei rūpa ājñā haya kari ācaraṇe [46]

“So, I have come to Your feet in Navadvīpa, and I will do whatever You order me.

ājñā haya yāi kṣetre prabhura caraṇe
vedānta paḍiba sārva-bhaumera sadane” [47]

“If You order me, I will go to the feet of the Lord in Puruṣottama Kṣetra and study Vedānta at the school of Sārvabhauma Bhattācārya.”

jīvera madhura vākye nityānanda-rāya
jīve kole kari’ kāṅde dhairya nāhi pāya [48]

Moved by Jīva’s sweet words, Nityānanda Rāya embraced Jīva and cried, unable to restrain Himself.

bale, “śuna ohe jīva nigūḍha vacana
sarva-tattva avagata rūpa sanātana [49]

Nityānanda said, “O Jīva, listen to My confidential words. Rūpa and Sanātana know everything.

prabhu more ājñā dila balite tomāya
‘kṣetre nāhi yāo tumi nā raha hethāya’ [50]

“The Lord ordered Me to tell you, ‘Do not go to Puruṣottama Kṣetra or stay here.’

tumi āra rūpa sanātana dui bhāi
prabhura ekānta dāsa jānena sabai [51]

“Everyone knows that you and the brothers Rūpa and Sanātana are exclusive servants of the Lord.

tomā prati ājñā ei vārāṇasī giyā
vācaspati nikaṭete vedānta paḍiyā [52]

ekebāre yāha tathā haite vṛndāvana
tathā kṛpā karibena rūpa sanātana [53]

“The Lord’s order to you is that you go to Vārāṇasī, study Vedānta with Madhusūdana Vācaspati, and then go straight to Vṛndāvana from there. Rūpa and Sanātana will bless you in Vṛndāvana.

rūpera anuga haye yugala-bhajana
kara tathā vedāntādi śāstra-ālāpana [54]

“Serve the Divine Couple as a follower of Śrī Rūpa, and discuss Vedānta and other scriptures there.

bhāgavata śāstra haya sarva-śāstra-sāra
vedānta-sūtrera bhāṣya karaha pracāra [55]

“Preach that Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is the best of all the scriptures and the natural commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra.

sārvabhaume kṛpā kari’ gaurāṅga śrī-hari
brahma-sūtra vyākhyā kaila bhāgavata dhari’ [56]

“Śrī Gaurāṅga Hari mercifully explained the Brahma-sūtra to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya on the basis of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.

sei vidyā sārvabhauma śrī-madhusūdane
śikhāila kṣetra-dhāme parama yatane [57]

“Sārvabhauma very carefully taught this knowledge to Śrī Madhusūdana in Śrī Kṣetra Dhāma.

sei madhu-vācaspati prabhu-ājñā peye
āchhe vārāṇasī dhāme dekha tumi yeye [58]

“Go and see Madhusūdana Vāchaspati, who is in Vārāṇasī Dhāma on the order of the Lord.

bāhye teṅha sampradāyī vaidāntika haya
śāṅkarī sannyāsī yāra nikaṭe paḍaya [59]

“Externally, he is a traditional Vedāntic scholar, and Śaṅkarite sannyāsīs study with him.

krame krame sannyāsi-gaṇere kṛpā kari’
gaurāṅgera vyākhyā śikṣā deya sūtra dhari’ [60]

“In a gradual way, he mercifully teaches the sannyāsīs Gaurāṅga’s explanations of the sūtras.

pṛthak bhāṣyera ebe nāhi prayojana
bhāgavate kaya sūtra bhāṣyete gaṇana [61]

“There is no need for a separate commentary on the Brahma-sūtra now. The Bhāgavatam explains the sūtras and is considered the sūtras’ natural commentary.

kāle yabe bhāṣyera ha-ibe prayojana
śrī-govinda-bhāṣya tabe habe prakaṭana [62]

“In time, when there is a need for another commentary, the Śrī Govinda-bhāṣya will be revealed.

sārvabhauma samparke sei gopīnātha
śunila prabhura bhāṣya sārvabhauma sātha [63]

 “Sārvabhauma’s relative, Gopīnātha Ācārya, heard the Lord’s commentary with Sārvabhauma.

kāle teṅha prabhura icchāya janma laye
baladevāveśe yābe jayapura jaye [64]

“In time, by the will of the Lord, he will take birth as Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa and conquer Jaipur.

tathā śrī-govinda bale bhāṣya prakāśiyā
sevibe gaurāṅga-pada jīve nistāriyā [65]

“There, he will compose a commentary spoken by Śrī Govinda, serve the feet of Gaurāṅga, and deliver the souls.

ei saba gūḍha kathā rūpa sanātana
sakala kahibe tomā prati dui-jana” [66]

“Rūpa and Sanātana will explain all these confidential matters to you.”

nityānanda-vākya śuni’ śrī-jīva goṅsāi
kāṅdiyā loṭāya bhūme saṁjña āra nāi [67]

Upon hearing the words of Nityānanda, Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī rolled on the ground crying and lost consciousness.

kṛpā kari’ prabhu nija caraṇa-yugala
śrī-jīvera śire dhari’ arpilena bala [68]

Mercifully, the Lord placed His feet on Śrī Jīva’s head and empowered him.

“jaya śrī-gaurāṅga jaya nityānanda-rāya”
baliyā nācena jīva vaiṣṇava-sabhāya [69]

Chanting, “All glory to Śrī Gaurāṅga! All glory to Nityānanda Rāya!”, Jīva then danced amidst the assembly of Vaiṣṇavas.

śrīvāsādi chila tathā yata mahājana
jīve nityānanda-kṛpā kari’ daraśana [70]

sabe nāce “śrī-gaurāṅga nityānanda” bali’
mahākala-rave tathā haya hulu-sthulī [71]

Śrīvāsa and the other great souls there, seeing the mercy of Nityānanda upon Jīva, danced, chanting, “Śrī Gaurāṅga! Nityānanda!”, and the loud sound of women cheering arose.

kata-kṣaṇa pare nṛtya kari’ samvaraṇa
jīve laye nityānanda basila takhana [72]

Eventually everyone stopped dancing, and Nityānanda sat down with Jīva.

jīvera ha-ila vāsā śrīvāsa-aṅgane
sandhyā-kāle āila punaḥ prabhu daraśane [73]

Jīva stayed in the courtyard of Śrīvāsa, and in the evening he came to see Nityānanda Prabhu again.

nirjane basiyā prabhu gaura-guṇa gāya
śrī-jīva āsiyā paḍe nityānanda-pāya [74]

Nityānanda Prabhu was sitting alone chanting the glories of Śrī Gaura. Jīva came and bowed at His feet.

yatna kari prabhu tāre nikaṭe basāya
kara-yoḍa kari’ jīva svadainya jānāya [75]

Nityānanda Prabhu carefully sat Jīva nearby. Jīva joined his palms and humbly prayed to the Lord.

jīva bale, “prabhu more karuṇā kariyā
navadvīpa-dhāma-tattva bala vivariya” [76]

Jīva said, “O Lord, mercifully describe the glories of Navadvīpa Dhāma for me.”

prabhu bale, “ohe jīva baliba tomāya
atyanta nigūḍha tattva rākhibe hiyāya [77]

The Lord said, “O Jīva, I will describe the most confidential truths to you. Hold them in your heart.

yathā tathā ebe ihā nā kara prakāśa
prakaṭa-līlāra ante ha-ibe vikāśa [78]

“Do not reveal them anywhere now. They will be revealed after the manifest Pastimes of the Lord.

ei navadvīpa haya sarva-dhāma-sāra
śrī-virajā brahma-dhāma ādi haye pāra [79]

vaikuṇṭhera para śvetadvīpa śrī-goloka
tadante gokula vṛndāvana kṛṣṇa-loka [80]

“Navadvīpa is the best of all the Lord’s abodes. Beyond Śrī Virajā, Brahmaloka, and Vaikuṇṭha is Śvetadvīpa, Śrī Goloka, and lastly Gokula Vṛndāvana, Kṛṣṇa’s abode.

sei loka dui bhāve haya ta prakāśa
mādhurya audārya bhede rasera vikāśa [81] “That abode manifests in two ways: its rasa appears as either mādhurya or audārya.

mādhurye audārya pūrṇa-rūpe avasthita
audārye mādhurya pūrṇa-rūpete vihita [82]

“Audārya is fully present in mādhurya, and mādhurya is fully present in audārya.

tathāpio ye prakāśe mādhurya pradhāna
vṛndāvana bali tāhā jāne bhāgyavān [83]

“Still, fortunate souls know that Vṛndāvana is where mādhurya is predominant.

ye prakāśe audārya pradhāna nitya haya
sei navadvīpa-dhāma sarva-vede kaya [84]

“All the Vedas say that Navadvīpa Dhāma is where audārya is always predominant.

vṛndāvana navadvīpe nāhi kichhu bheda
rasera prakāśa-bhede karaya prabheda [85]

“There is no difference between Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa other than the difference made by their respective manifestations of rasa.

ei dhāma nitya-siddha cinmaya ananta
jaḍa-buddhi-jane tāra nāhi pāya anta [86]

“This abode is eternally perfect, spiritual, and infinite. Materialists cannot even reach its edge.

hlādinī-prabhāve jīva chāḍi’ jaḍa-dharma
nitya-siddha jñāna-bale pāya tāra dharma [87]

“Only by the influence of the pleasure potency of the Lord do souls give up material nature and realise the true nature of the Dhāma through eternal, perfect knowledge.

sarva-navadvīpa haya cinmaya prakāśa
sei pīṭhe śrī-gaurāṅga karena vilāsa [88]

“The whole of Navadvīpa is a spiritual manifestation, and Śrī Gaurāṅga performs His Pastimes there.

carma-cakṣe loke dekhe prapañca gaṭhana
māyā ācchādiyā rākhe nitya-niketana [89]

“With fleshy eyes, people see a material form of the Dhāma—Māyā keeps the eternal abode covered.

navadvīpe māyā nāi jaḍa deśa kāla
kichu nāhi āchhe tathā jīvera jañjāla [90]

“In Navadvīpa, there is no illusory matter, space, or time. Souls undergo no suffering there.

kintu karma-bandha-krame jīva māyā-vaśe
navadvīpa-dhāme prāpañcika bhāve paśe [91]

“Souls bound by karma and bewildered by Māyā, however, enter Navadvīpa Dhāma in a material way.

bhāgya-krame sādhu-saṅge premera udaya
haya yabe tabe dekhe vaikuṇṭha cinmaya [92]

“When souls develop divine love by good fortune and the association of the sādhus, they then see the spiritual world.

aprākṛta deśa kāla dhāma dravya yata
anāyāse dekhe svīya cakṣe avirata [93]

“Souls easily and uninterruptedly see with their own eyes the supramundane space, time, light, and objects in the Dhāma.

ei ta kahinu āmi navadvīpa-tattva
vicāriyā dekha jīva haye śuddha sattva” [94]

“Thus, I have described the glory of Navadvīpa. O Jīva, reflect on it with a pure heart.”

nitāi-jāhnavā-pade nitya yāra āśa
gūḍha-tattva kare bhaktivinoda prakāśa [95]

Bhaktivinoda, whose eternal aspiration is the feet of Nitāi and Jāhnavā, reveals the hidden glories of Nadīyā.