Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya – Chapter Nine

jaya gaura-candra jaya nityānanda
jaya jaya gadādhara
śrīvāsādi jaya jaya bhaktālaya
navadvīpa-dhāma-vara [1]

All glory to Gaura-candra, Nityānanda, Gadādhara, Śrīvāsa, all the devotees of the Lord! All glory to their home, the best of abodes, Śrī Navadvīpa!

niśi avasāne matta gaura-gāne
calilena nityānanda
saṅge bhakta-gaṇa premete magana
vistāriyā parānanda [2]

Immersed in divine love and madly chanting about Gaurāṅga, Nityānanda departed with the devotees at the end of the night, distributing divine joy.

madhyadvīpe āsi’ bale hāsi’ hāsi’
“ei ta mājidā grāma
hethā sapta-ṛṣi bhaji’ gaura-śaśī
karilena suviśrāma [3]

Coming into Madhyadvīpa and laughing, Nityānanda Prabhu said, “This is Mājidā Grāma. The seven sages resided here and worshipped the moon-like Śrī Gaura.

pitṛ-sannidhāne gaura-guṇa-gāne
satya-yuge ṛṣi-gaṇa
ha-iyā magana yācila takhana
gaura-prema nitya-dhana [4]

“During Satya-yuga, the sages became immersed in chanting Gaura’s glories and prayed to their father, Brahmā, for the eternal wealth of divine love for Gaurāṅga.

brahmā catur-mukha peye baḍa sukha
sapta-putre bale tabe
‘navadvīpe yāo gaura-guṇa gāo
anāyāse prema habe [5]

“Four-headed Brahmā felt great joy and said to his seven sons*, ‘Go to Navadvīpa and chant the glories of Gaura. You will easily attain divine love.

* According to the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (3.1.32), the seven ṛṣis of the current manvantara are Atri, Bharadvāja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kaśyapa, Vasiṣṭha, and Viśvāmitra. In previous eras, these and numerous other ṛṣis served in this capacity. Because the seven ṛṣis are described here as sons of Lord Brahmā, the seven ṛṣis who received Śrīman Mahāprabhu’s mercy may have been Aṅgirā, Atri, Kratu, Marīci, Pulaha, Pulastya, and Vasiṣṭha, as this group is the only group of ṛṣis listed as the seven ṛṣis in the scriptures (in this case the Bṛhat-saṁhitā) in which all seven of the ṛṣis are sons of Brahmā.

dhāma-kṛpā sāra lābha haya yāra
tāra haya sādhu-saṅga
sādhu-saṅge bhaje kṛṣṇa-preme maje
ei ta parama raṅga [6]

“‘The mercy of the Dhāma is supreme. Those who attain it, attain the association of the sādhus. Serving in the association of the sādhus and becoming immersed in divine love for Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate joy.

navadvīpe rati labhe yāra mati
sei pāya vraja-vāsa
aprākṛta dhāma gaurahari nāma
kevala sādhura āśa’ [7]

“‘Those whose hearts develop attachment to Navadvīpa attain residency in Vraja. The supramundane Dhāma and the Name of Gaurahari are the only desires of the sādhus.’

pitṛ-upadeśa bujhiyā viśeṣa
sapta-ṛṣi āsi’ tabe
‘hari’ bali’ nāce gaura-prema yāce
gāya guṇa uccha-rave [8]

“Properly understanding the instructions of their father, the seven sages came here, chanted the Name of the Lord, and danced. They prayed for divine love for Gaurāṅga and loudly chanted His glories.

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

“They prayed, ‘O Gaurahari! Just once mercifully reveal Yourself to us. Practising various dharmas, we became offenders, but we have now accepted devotion to be all-in-all.’

 

bhakti-niṣṭhā kari’ bhaji’ gaurahari
ṛṣi-gaṇa kare tapa
kichu nāhi khāya nidrā nāhi yāya
gaura-nāma kare japa [10]

“The sages performed austerities and served Gaurahari with firm devotion. They ate nothing, never went to sleep, and constantly chanted the Name of Gaura.

madhyāhna samaya gaura dayāmaya
dekhā dila ṛṣi-gaṇe
śata-sūrya-prabhā yogi-mano-lobhā
śuddha pañca-tattva sane [11]

“Once, at midday, merciful Gaurāṅga, in the company of the Pañca Tattva, revealed Himself to the sages. As bright as a hundred suns, His effulgence was alluring to the minds of yogīs.

kibā sei rūpa ati aparūpa
suvarṇa sundara mūrti
gale vana-mālā dik kare ālā
tāhe ābharaṇa sphūrti [12]

“How extraordinary was His form! How beautiful and golden was His figure! He had a forest garland around His neck, and the glittering of His ornaments illumined the directions.

cāhani sundara cikura caṅcara
candanera bindu bhāle
trikaccha vasana sūtra suśobhana
śobhita mallikā-māle [13]

“His charming glance, His wavy hair, the spot of sandalwood paste on His forehead, His dhotī tucked in three places, His sacred thread—all were extremely beautiful and further beautified by His garland of jasmine flowers.

se rūpa dekhiyā mohita ha-iyā
sabe kare nivedana
‘tomāra caraṇa la-inu śaraṇa
deha pade bhakti-dhana’ [14]

“Seeing His form and becoming enchanted, the sages prayed, ‘May we take shelter at Your feet. Please give us the wealth of devotion to Your feet.’

śuni’ gaurahari bale dayā kari’
‘śuna ohe ṛṣi-gaṇa
chāḍi’ abhilāṣa jñāna-karma-pāśa
kara kṛṣṇa ālocana [15]

“Hearing their prayer, Gaurahari mercifully said, ‘O sages, listen! Leave behind all other desires and the chains of exploitation and renunciation, and discuss only Kṛṣṇa.

svalpa dināntare nadīyā nagare
ha-ibe prakaṭa līlā
tumi sabe tabe darśana karibe
nāma-saṅkīrtana-khelā [16]

“‘My Pastimes will manifest in Nadia soon, and you all will then see My Pastime of chanting My Name.

e kathā ekhana rākhaha gopana
āmāra vacana dhara
śrī-kumāra-haṭṭe nija-kṛta ghaṭṭe
kṛṣṇera bhajana kara’ [17]

“‘For now, keep this secret. Remember My words and worship Kṛṣṇa at the ghāṭa you made in Śrī Kumāra Haṭṭa.’

gaura-adarśane saptarṣi takhane
kumāra-haṭṭete yāya
e-sthāne ekhana kara daraśana
sapta-ṭīlā śobhā pāya [18]

“When Gaura disappeared, the seven sages went to Kumāra Haṭṭa. See now the seven hills shining here.

saptarṣi ākāśe yemate prakāśe
sapta-ṭīlā taṅra sama
hethā vāsa kari’ pāya gaurahari
nā sādhi’ niyama yama [19]

“They are arranged just as the seven sages are in the sky. Residing here, the sages attained Gaurahari without following the rules and regulations of yoga practice.

ihāra dakṣiṇe dekhaha nayane
āchhe eka jaladhāra
ei ta gomatī supavitra ati
naimiṣa-kānana āra [20]

“See the river to the south of here; this is the Gomatī. She is extremely pure. See also the Naimiṣa forest.

purā kalpe kali haile mahābalī
śaunakādi ṛṣi-gaṇa
sūtera śrī-mukhe śune sabe sukhe
gaura-bhāgavata-dhana [21]

“In the previous manifestation of the universe, as Kali became very strong, Śaunaka and other sages joyfully heard about Lord Gaura from the holy mouth of Sūta Goswāmī.

hethā yei jana purāṇa paṭhana
karaya kārtika māse
sarva-kleśa tyaje gaura-raṅge maje
vraja labhe anāyāse [22]

“Anyone who recites the Purāṇas here during the month of Kārttika leaves behind all miseries, becomes immersed in the Pastimes of Gaura, and easily attains Vraja.

kabhu pañcānana chāḍi’ vṛṣāsana
śrī-haṁsa-vāhana haye
śunila purāṇa gaura-guṇa-gāna
āpana bhakata laye [23]

“Once, Śiva left Nandī, rode Brahmā’s swan here with his devotees, and heard the Purāṇas and songs about the glories of Gaura.

gāiyā gāiyā nāciyā nāciyā
śaiva yata kāśī-vāsī
pañcānane gheri’ bali’ ‘gaurahari’
puṣpa phele rāśi rāśi” [24]

“Chanting and dancing, Śiva’s followers from Kāśī surrounded him, chanted the Name of Gaurahari, and showered flowers.”

nitāi-vacana śuniyā takhana
jīvera uthale bhāva
gaḍāgaḍi yāya dhairaya nā pāya
āsvāde dhāma-prabhāva [25]

Hearing the words of Nitāi, Jīva became ecstatic. He lost his composure and rolled on the ground, relishing the glory of the Dhāma.

se dina yāpana kare bhakta-gaṇa
nitāi-caṅdera sane
para-dina sabe calilena tabe
śrī-puṣkara daraśane [26]

The devotees spent the day there with Nitāi-caṅda. The next day, they went to see Śrī Puṣkara.

jāhnavā-nitāi bhajana sadāi
yāhāra antare jāge
nadīyā-mahimā bhakta-madhurimā
gāichhe se jana rāge [27]

As constant service to Jāhnavā and Nitāi arises in his heart, this soul lovingly sings of the sweetness of the devotees and the glories of Nadīyā.