Navadvipa Dhama MahatmyaŚrīman Navadvīpa-dhāma-vandanā
Navadvipa Dhama MahatmyaChapter Two

Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya – Chapter One
The Glories of the Dhāma

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 śrī-advaita prabhu mahāśaya
gadādhara śrīvāsa paṇḍita jaya jaya [2]

All glory to the worshippable Śrī Advaita Prabhu! All glory to Gadādhara Paṇḍita and Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita!

jaya navadvīpa-dhāma sarva-dhāma-sāra
jaya navadvīpa-vāsī gaura-parivāra [3]

All glory to Navadvīpa Dhāma, the best of all abodes! All glory to the residents of Navadvīpa, the associates of Śrī Gaura!

sakala bhakata-pade kariyā praṇāma
saṁkṣepe varṇiba āmi navadvīpa-dhāma [4]

Bowing at the feet of all the devotees, I will briefly describe Navadvīpa Dhāma.

navadvīpa-maṇḍalera mahimā apāra
brahmā ādi nāhi jāne varṇe sādhya kāra [5]

The glories of Navadvīpa Maṇḍala are unlimited. Brahmā and the other gods do not know them. So, who can describe them?

sahasra vadane śeṣa varṇite akṣama
kṣudra-jīva āmi kise ha-iba sakṣama [6]

Ananta Śeṣa is unable to describe them with thousands of mouths. So, how will I, a tiny soul, be able to?

satya vaṭe navadvīpa mahimā ananta
deva-deva mahādeva nāhi pāya anta [7]

It is true that the glories of Navadvīpa are unlimited. The god of gods, Lord Śiva, cannot reach their end.

tathāpi caitanya-candra-icchā balavan
sei icchā-vaśe bhakta ājñāra vidhāna [8]

Still, the will of the moon-like Śrī Caitanya is all-powerful, and under its control, the devotees give orders.

bhakta-gaṇe ājñā dila caitanya icchāya
nadīyā-māhātmya varṇi bhaktera kṛpāya [9]

By the will of Śrī Caitanya, the devotees have ordered me, and so I describe the glories of Nadia by their mercy.

āra eka kathā āchhe gūḍha atiśaya
kahite nā icchā haya nā kahile naya [10]

There is another very confidential subject, which I do not want to mention, yet cannot but mention.

ye avadhi śrī-caitanya aprakaṭa haila
dhāma-līlā prakāśite bhakte ājñā dila [11]

When Śrī Caitanya disappeared, He ordered the devotees to reveal His abode and Pastimes.

sarva-avatāra haite gūḍha avatāra
śrī-caitanya-candra mora vidita saṁsāra [12]

Of all avatāras, our moon-like Śrī Caitanya is the most confidential known in this world.

gūḍha-līlā śāstre gūḍha-rūpe ukta haya
abhakta janera citte nā haya udaya [13]

His confidential Pastimes are mentioned confidentially in the scriptures. They are not revealed in the hearts of non-devotees.

se līlā sambandhe yata gūḍha śāstra chila
māyā-devī bahu-kāla ācchādi’ rākhila [14]

For a long time, Māyā Devī hid the confidential scriptures that existed about His Pastimes.

aprakaṭa śāstra bahu rahe yathā tathā
prakaṭa śāstreo yata caitanyera kathā [15]

se sakala māyā-devī paṇḍita nayana
āvariyā rākhe gupta-bhāve anukṣaṇa [16]

Māyā Devī covered the eyes of the scholars and at all times kept secret all the descriptions of Śrī Caitanya throughout both the manifest and unmanifest scriptures.

gaurera gambhīra līlā haile aprakaṭa
prabhu-icchā jāni’ māyā haya akapaṭa [17]

When the deep Pastimes of Śrī Gaura became unmanifest, Māyā understood the will of the Lord and withdrew her deception.

uṭhāiyā laila jāla jīva-cakṣu haite
prakāśila gaura-tattva e jaḍa jagate [18]

Māyā lifted her veil from the eyes of the souls and revealed the truth about Śrī Gaura to the material world.

gupta-śāstra anāyāse ha-ila prakaṭa
ghucila jīvera yata yuktira saṅkaṭa [19]

The hidden scriptures then appeared clearly and dispelled the doubts of all souls.

baḍa-i dayālu prabhu nityānanda-rāya
gaura-tattva prakāśila jīvera hiyāya [20]

The extremely merciful Nityānanda Prabhu revealed the truth about Śrī Gaura in the hearts of the souls.

tāṅra ājñā peye māyā chāḍe āvaraṇa
subhakta paṇḍita-gaṇa pāya śāstra-dhana [21]

Receiving His order, Māyā removed her veil, and the wise devotees discovered the wealth of the scriptures.

ihāte sandeha yāra nā haya khaṇḍana
se abhāgā vṛthā kena dharaya jīvana [22]

Those whose doubts are not dispelled by this are unfortunate. Why do such persons meaninglessly continue their lives?

ye kāle īśvara yei kṛpā vitaraya
bhāgyavanta jana tāhe baḍa sukhī haya [23]

Whenever and howsoever the Lord bestows His mercy, the fortunate souls become extremely happy.

durbhāgā lakṣaṇa ei jāna sarva-jana
nija buddhi baḍa bali’ kariyā gaṇana [24]

īśvarera kṛpā nāhi karaya svīkāra
kutarke māyāra garte paḍe bāra-bāra [25]

Everyone should know the symptoms of misfortune: to consider your own intelligence to be great and not accept the mercy of the Lord. Through false arguments, souls fall into Māyā’s traps again and again.

“esa he kalira jīva chāḍa kuṭināṭi
nirmala gaurāṅga-prema laha paripāṭi” [26]

“O souls of Kali-yuga, come! Give up duplicity, and accept pure divine love for Śrī Gaurāṅga in full!”

ei bali’ nityānanda ḍāke bāra-bāra
tabu ta durbhāgā jana nā kare svīkāra [27]

Saying this, Nityānanda calls out again and again. Still, unfortunate souls do not accept.

kena ye emana preme kare anādara
vicāra kariyā dekha ha-iyā tatpara [28]

Let us consider carefully why souls disregard divine love.

sukha-lāgi sarva-jīva nānā yukti kare
tarka kare yoga kare saṁsāra bhitare [29]

In various ways, all souls pursue happiness. In this world, some souls study logic, and others practise yoga.

sukha-lāgi saṁsāra chāḍiyā vane yāya
sukha-lāgi yuddha kare rājāya rājāya [30]

For the sake of happiness, some leave home and go to the forest, and others wage wars between nations.

sukha-lāgi kāminī-kanaka pāche dhāya
sukha-lāgi śilpa āra vijñāna cālāya [31]

For the sake of happiness, some run after women and wealth, and others pursue the arts and sciences.

sukha-lāgi sukha chāḍe kleśa śikṣā kare
sukha-lāgi arṇava madhyete ḍubi mare [32]

For the sake of happiness, some give up on happiness and learn to be miserable, and others drown themselves in the ocean.

nityānanda bale ḍāki’ duhāta tuliyā
“esa jīva karma-jñāna-saṅkaṭa chāḍiyā [33]

Raising His arms, Nityānanda calls, “O souls! Give up the misery of exploitation and renunciation, and come with Me!

sukha-lāgi ceṣṭā tava āmi tāhā diba
tāra vinimaye āmi kichu nā la-iba [34]

“You are searching for happiness. I will give that to you, and I will not take anything from you in return.

kaṣṭa nāi vyaya nāi nā pābe yātanā
‘śrī-gaurāṅga’ bali’ nāca nāhika bhāvanā [35]

“You will not undergo any trouble, loss, or pain. Simply chant, ‘Śrī Gaurāṅga’ and dance without a care.

ye sukha āmi ta diba tāra nāi sama
sarvadā vimalānanda nāhi tāra bhrama” [36]

“The happiness I will give you is unparalleled. It is pure, eternal joy, free from all illusion.”

ei rūpe prema yāce nityānanda-rāya
abhāgā karama-doṣe tāhā nāhi cāya [37]

In this way, Nityānanda Prabhu begs everyone to accept divine love, but the unfortunate, as a result of their sins, do not want it.

“gaurāṅga nitāi” yei bale eka-bara
ananta karama-doṣa anta haya tāra [38]

The unlimited sins of anyone who once chants, “Gaurāṅga! Nitāi!”are destroyed.

āra eka gūḍha kathā śuna sarva-jana
kali-jīve yogya-vastu gaura-līlā-dhana [39]

Everyone, please listen to another confidential subject. The wealth of Gaura’s Pastimes is appropriate for the souls of Kali-yuga.

gaurahari rādhā-kṛṣṇa-rūpe vṛndāvane
nitya-kāla vilāsa karaye sakhī-sane [40]

Gaurahari, as Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, plays with the sakhīs eternally in Vṛndāvana.

śāstrete jānila jīva vraja-līlā-tattva
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-nitya-līlā vrajera mahattva [41]

Through the scriptures, the souls understood the nature of Pastimes in Vraja, and the greatness of Vraja and Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s eternal Pastimes there.

kṛṣṇa-nāma kṛṣṇa-dhāma māhātmya apāra
śāstrera dvārāya jāne sakala saṁsāra [42]

Through the scriptures, the whole world understood the unlimited glories of Kṛṣṇa’s Name and Kṛṣṇa’s abode.

tabu kṛṣṇa-prema sādhāraṇe nāhi pāya
ihāra kāraṇa kibā cintaha hiyāya [43]

Still, in general, souls did not attain divine love for Kṛṣṇa. What is the reason for this? Consider it within your heart.

ihāte āchhe ta eka gūḍha-tattva-sāra
māyā-mugdha jīva tāhā nā kare vicāra [44]

In this regard, there is a highly confidential subject that souls bewildered by Māyā do not consider.

bahu janma kṛṣṇa bhaji’ prema nāhi haya
aparādha-puñja tāra āchaya niścaya [45]

When souls serve Kṛṣṇa for many births but do not develop divine love, then certainly they have made offences.

aparādha-śūnya haye laya kṛṣṇa-nāma
tabe jīva kṛṣṇa-prema labhe avirāma [46]

When souls, free from offences, chant the Name of Kṛṣṇa, they quickly attain divine love for Kṛṣṇa.

śrī-caitanya-avatāre baḍa vilakṣaṇa
aparādha-sattve jīva labhe prema-dhana [47]

The special characteristic of Śrī Caitanya’s Pastimes is that souls attain the wealth of divine love even while they commit offences.

“nitāi caitanya” bali’ yei jīva ḍāke
suvimala kṛṣṇa-prema anveṣaye tāke [48]

Pure divine love for Kṛṣṇa searches for souls who call out “Nitāi-Caitanya!”

aparādha bādhā tāra kichu nāhi kare
niramala kṛṣṇa-preme tāra āṅkhi jhare [49]

Offences do not obstruct such souls, and their eyes cry with pure love for Kṛṣṇa.

svalpa-kāle aparādha āpani palāya
hṛdaya śodhita haya prema bāḍe tāya [50]

Within a short time, offences leave on their own. The souls’ hearts become purified, and divine love develops within them.

kali-jīvera aparādha asaṅkhya durvāra
gaura-nāma vinā tāra nāhika uddhāra [51]

The offences of the souls in Kali-yuga are unlimited and unavoidable. There is no deliverance for them without the Name of Gaura.

ataeva gaura vinā kalite upāya
nā dekhi kothāo āra śāstra phukāraya [52]

Thus, in Kali-yuga, I do not see any way without Gaura, and the scriptures proclaim this.

navadvīpe gaura-candra ha-ila udaya
navadvīpa sarva-tīrtha avataṁsa haya [53]

Gaura-candra appeared in Navadvīpa, the crown atop all the holy places.

anya tīrthe aparādhī daṇḍera bhājana
navadvīpe aparādha sadāi mārjana [54]

In other holy places, offenders are punished, but in Navadvīpa offences are always forgiven.

tāra sākṣī jagāi-mādhāi dui bhāi
aparādha kari’ pāila caitanya-nitāi [55]

The brothers Jagāi and Mādhāi are evidence of this. They committed offences but attained Nitāi and Caitanya.

anyānya tīrthera kathā rākha bhāi dūre
aparādhī daitya daṇḍa pāya vraja-pure [56]

Brother! Let alone other holy places, offenders and demons are punished even in Vraja.

navadvīpe śata śata aparādha kari’
anāyāse nitāi kṛpāya yāya tari’ [57]

In Navadvīpa, souls who commit hundreds and hundreds of offences are easily delivered by the mercy of Nitāi.

hena navadvīpa-dhāma ye gauḍa-maṇḍale
dhanya dhanya sei deśa ṛṣi-gaṇa bale [58]

The sages say that the land of Śrī Navadvīpa Dhāma in Śrī Gauḍa Maṇḍala is most glorious.

hena navadvīpe bhāi yāṅhāra vasati
baḍa bhāgyavāna sei labhe kṛṣṇa-rati [59]

Brother, souls who reside in Navadvīpa are very fortunate. They attain devotion to Kṛṣṇa.

navadvīpe yebā kabhu karaya gamana
sarva-aparādha mukta haya sei jana [60]

Souls who once visit Navadvīpa are freed from all offences.

sarva-tīrtha bhramiyā tairthika yāhā pāya
navadvīpa-smaraṇe sei lābha śāstre gāya [61]

The scriptures say that by remembering Navadvīpa you attain that which pilgrims attain by visiting all the other holy places.

navadvīpa daraśana kare yei jana
janme janme labhe sei kṛṣṇa-prema-dhana [62]

Souls who see Navadvīpa attain the wealth of divine love for Kṛṣṇa birth after birth.

karma-buddhi-yogeo ye navadvīpe yāya
nara janma āra sei jana nāhi pāya [63]

Even souls who go to Navadvīpa with a materialistic motivation do not take a human birth again.

navadvīpa bhramite se pade pade pāya
koṭi aśvamedha phala sarva-śāstre gāya [64]

All the scriptures say that while walking through Navadvīpa, such souls attain the result of ten million horse sacrifices with each step.

navadvīpe vasi’ yei mantra japa kare
śrī-mantra caitanya haya, anāyāse tare [65]

Those who reside in Navadvīpa and chant their mantra—that holy mantra comes alive and easily delivers them.

anya tīrthe yogī daśa-varṣe labhe yāhā
navadvīpe tina rātre sādhi’ pāya tāhā [66]

That which yogīs attain after ten years in other holy places is attained in three nights in Navadvīpa.

anya tīrthe brahma-jñāne yei mukti haya
navadvīpe bhāgīrathī snāne tā ghaṭaya [67]

The liberation attained through knowledge of Brahmā in other holy places is attained in Navadvīpa simply by bathing in the Gaṅgā.

sālokya-sārūpya-sārṣṭi-sāmīpya-nirvāṇa
navadvīpe mumukṣu labhaya vinā jñāna [68]

In Navadvīpa, even without knowledge of Brahma, seekers of liberation can attain residence in the Lord’s abode, a form like the Lord’s, opulence like the Lord’s, association with the Lord, and absorption into the Lord.

navadvīpe śuddha-bhakta caraṇe paḍiyā
bhukti mukti sadā rahe dāsī rūpa haiyā [69]

Enjoyment and liberation personified bow at the feet of the pure devotees in Navadvīpa and always wait upon them as maidservants.

bhakta-gaṇa lāthi māri’ se duye tāḍāya
bhakta-pada chāḍi’ dāsī tabu nā palāya [70]

Although devotees kick them and drive them away, these maidservants do not leave the feet of the devotees or run away.

śata-varṣa sapta-tīrthe mile yāhā bhāi
navadvīpe eka-rātra vāse tāhā pāi [71]

Brother, by spending one night in Navadvīpa, souls attain that which is gained by residing in the seven principal holy places for one hundred years.

hena navadvīpa-dhāma sarva-dhāma-sāra
kalite āśraya kari’ jīva haya pāra [72]

Thus, Navadvīpa Dhāma is the best of all abodes. Souls who take shelter here in Kali-yuga are delivered.

tāraka pāraka vidyā-dvaya avirata
navadvīpa-vāsi-gaṇe seve rīti-mata [73]

The two forms of knowledge—that which liberates and that which nourishes—constantly and perfectly serve the residents of Navadvīpa.

nitāi-jāhnavā-pada-chāyā yāra āśa
se bhaktivinoda gāya pāiyā ullāsa [74]

Bhaktivinoda, whose aspiration is the shade of Nitāi and Jāhnavā’s feet, sings the glories of Nadīya and rejoices.

Navadvipa Dhama MahatmyaŚrīman Navadvīpa-dhāma-vandanā
Navadvipa Dhama MahatmyaChapter Two

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