Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya – Chapter Sixteen

jaya jaya nadīyā-bihārī gaura-candra
jaya ekacakrā-pati prabhu-nityānanda [1]

All glory to the reveller of Nadīyā, Gaura-candra! All glory to the Lord of Ekacakrā, Nityānanda Prabhu!

jaya śāntipura-nātha advaita īśvara
rāmacandrapura-vāsī jaya gadādhara [2]

All glory to the Lord of Śāntipura, Advaita Ācārya, and the resident of Rāmacandrapura Gadādhara Paṇḍita!

jaya jaya gauḍa-bhūmi cintāmaṇi-sāra
kali-yuge kṛṣṇa yathā karilā bihāra [3]

All glory to the land of Gauḍa, made of pure spiritual gemstone, where Kṛṣṇa performed Pastimes during Kali-yuga!

śrī-jāhnavī pāra haye padmāra nandana
kichu-dūre giyā bale, “dekha bhakta-gaṇa [4]

Nityānanda Prabhu crossed the Gaṅgā, went a little ways ahead, and said, “O devotees, look!

bilvapakṣa nāma ei sthāna manohara
bela-pukhariyā bali’ bale sarva-nara [5]

“This enchanting place is named Bilvapakṣa. Everyone calls it Bel Pukhariyā.

vraja-dhāme yāre śāstre bale bilvavana
navadvīpe sei sthāna kara daraśana [6]

“See here in Navadvīpa the place which the scriptures call Bilvavan in Vraja Dhāma.

pañca-vaktra bilvakeśa āchhila hethāya
eka-pakṣa bilva-dale ārādhiyā taṅya [7]

brāhmaṇa sajjana-gaṇe tuṣila taṅhāre
kṛṣṇa-bhakti vara dila tāhā sabākāre [8]

“Śiva, the lord of bael, resides here. After a group of noble brāhmaṇas satisfied him, having worshipped him with bael leaves for a fortnight, Śiva gave them the boon of devotion to Kṛṣṇa.

sei vipra-gaṇa madhye nimbāditya chila
viśeṣa kariyā pañca-vaktre ārādhila [9]

“Amongst the brāhmaṇas was Nimbāditya, who worshipped Śiva exceptionally well.

kṛpā kari’ pañca-vaktra kahila takhana
‘ei grāma-prānte āchhe divya bilvavana [10]

“Mercifully, Śiva said to him, ‘On the edge of this village is a divine bael forest.

sei vana madhye catuḥsana āchhe dhyāne
taṅdera kṛpāya tava habe divya-jñāne [11]

“‘The four Kumāras are meditating in that forest, and by their grace, you will attain divine knowledge.

catuḥsana guru tava taṅdera sevāya
sarva-artha lābha tava ha-ibe hethāya’ [12]

“‘The four Kumāras are your Gurus, and through their service, you will attain everything here.’

eta bali’ maheśvara haila antardhāna
nimbāditya anveṣaṇa kari’ pāya sthāna [13]

“Saying this, Śiva disappeared. Nimbāditya then searched and found the place.

bilvavana madhye dekhe vedī manohara
catuḥsana basiyāchhe tāhāra upara [14]

sanaka sananda āra ṛṣi sanātana
śrī-sanat-kumāra ei ṛṣi cāra jana [15]

vṛddha-keśa sannidhāne anya alakṣita
vastra-hīna sukumāra udāra carita [16]

“In the bael forest, he saw the four Kumāras—the sages Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana, and Sanat Kumāra—seated on a beautiful platform beside Śiva, unseen by others. They were unclothed, very young, and of noble character.

dekhi’ nimbādityācārya parama kautuke
‘hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa’ ḍāki’ bale sukhe [17]

“Greatly excited upon seeing them, Nimbāditya Ācārya happily called out, ‘Hare Kṛṣṇa! Hare Kṛṣṇa!’

hari-nāma śuni’ kāne dhyāna bhaṅga haila
sammukhe vaiṣṇava-mūrti dekhite pāila [18]

“Hearing the Name of the Lord, their meditation broke, and they saw the form of a Vaiṣṇava in front of them.

vaiṣṇava dekhiyā sabe haye hṛṣṭa-mana
nimbāditye krame krame deya āliṅgana [19]

“Seeing the Vaiṣṇava, they were pleased, and one by one they embraced Nimbāditya.

‘ke tūmi kena vā hethā bala paricaya
tomāra prārthanā morā purāba niścaya’ [20]

“‘Who are you? Why have you come here? Please introduce yourself. We will certainly fulfil your prayers.’

śuni’ nimbāditya daṇḍavat praṇamiyā
nija paricaya deya vinīta ha-iyā [21]

“Hearing their words, Nimbāditya prostrated and humbly introduced himself.

nimbārkera paricaya kariyā śravaṇa
śrī-sanat-kumāra kaya sahāsya vadana [22]

“Upon hearing Nimbārka’s introduction, Śrī Sanat Kumāra spoke with a smiling face.

‘kali ghora ha-ibe jāniyā kṛpāmaya
bhakti pracārite citte karila niścaya [23]

“‘Knowing that Kali-yuga would be dark, the merciful Lord decided to preach devotion.

cāri-jana bhakte śakti kariyā arpaṇa
bhakti pracārite viśve karila preraṇa [24]

“‘He empowered four devotees and sent them to preach devotion throughout the world.

rāmānuja, madhva, viṣṇu—ei tina jana
tumi ta caturtha hao bhakta mahājana [25]

“‘Rāmānuja, Madhvācārya, and Viṣṇu Swāmī are three of them. You are the fourth of these great devotees.

śrī-devī karila rāmānuje aṅgīkāra
brahmā madhvācārye rudra viṣṇuke svīkāra [26]

“‘Lakṣmī Devī accepted Rāmānuja, Brahmā accepted Madhvācārya, and Śiva accepted Viṣṇu Svāmī.

āmarā tomāke āja jāninu āpana
śiṣya kari’ dhanya ha-i ei prayojana [27]

“‘Today, we have met you personally. We will make you our disciple and thus become fortunate. This is our purpose.

pūrve morā abheda-cintāya cinu rata
kṛpā-yoge sei pāpa haila dūra-gata [28]

“‘Previously, we meditated on non-duality, but by the grace of the Lord such sin has left us.

ebe śuddha-bhakti ati upādeya jāni
saṁhitā racanā kariyāchhi eka-khāni [29]

“‘We now understand that pure devotion is supremely relishable, and we have written a scripture about it.

sanat-kumāra-saṁhitā ihāra nāma haya
ei-mate dīkṣā tava ha-ibe niścaya’ [30]

“‘Its name is Sanat-kumāra-saṁhitā. You will certainly be initiated into its teachings.’

guru-anugraha dekhi’ nimbārka dhīmāna
avilambe āilā kari’ bhāgīrathī snāna [31]

“Seeing the grace of his guru, the wise Nimbārka immediately bathed in the Gaṅgā and returned.

sāṣṭāṅge paḍiyā bale sadainya vacana
‘e adhame tāra nātha patita-pāvana’ [32]

“He prostrated himself and humbly said, ‘O lord! Saviour of the fallen! Deliver this lowly soul.’

catuḥsana kaila śrī-yugala-mantra dāna
bhāva-mārge upāsanā karila vidhāna [33]

“The four Kumāras gave him a mantra to worship the Divine Couple and taught him how to worship on the path of love.

mantra labhi’ nimbāditya siddha pīṭha-sthāne
upāsanā karilena saṁhitā-vidhāne [34]

“Receiving the mantra, Nimbāditya performed worship in this holy place according to the teachings of the Sanat-kumāra-saṁhitā.

kṛpā kari’ rādhā-kṛṣṇa tāre dekhā dila
rūpera chaṭāya catur-dika ālo haila [35]

“Mercifully, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa revealed Themselves to him, and the lustre of Their forms illuminated the four directions.

mṛdu mṛdu hāsi’ mukhe balena vacana
‘dhanya tumi nimbāditya karile sādhana [36]

“Gently smiling, They said, ‘O Nimbāditya, you are fortunate: you have performed worship here.

ati priya navadvīpa āmā doṅhākāra
hethā doṅhe eka-rūpa śacīra kumāra’ [37]

“‘Navadvīpa is very dear to Us. Here, We are present in one form as the son of Śacī Devī.’

balite balite gaura-rūpa prakāśila
rūpa dekhi’ nimbāditya vihvala ha-ila [38]

“As They spoke, They revealed Their form as Gaurāṅga. Seeing this form, Nimbāditya was overwhelmed.

bale, ‘kabhu nāhi dekhi nāhi śuni kāne
e hena apūrva rūpa āchhe kona-khāne’ [39]

“He said, ‘I have never seen or heard of this extraordinary form anywhere.’

kṛpā kari’ mahāprabhu balila takhana
e-rūpa gopana ebe kara mahājana [40]

“Mahāprabhu then mercifully said, ‘O great soul, for now, keep this form a secret.

pracāraha kṛṣṇa-bhakti yugala-vilāsa
yugala-vilāse mora atyanta ullāsa [41]

“‘Preach devotion to Kṛṣṇa and the Pastimes of the Divine Couple. Their Pastimes are My greatest joy.

ye samaye gaura-rūpa prakaṭa ha-ibe
śrī-vidyā-vilāse tabe baḍa raṅga habe [42]

“‘When I appear in the form of Gaura, I will find great pleasure in Pastimes of scholarship.

se samaye kāśmīra pradeśe janma laye
bhramibe bhārata-varṣa digvijayī haye [43]

“‘At that time, you will take birth in Kāśmīr and travel throughout the land of Bhārata, conquering all directions.

keśava kāśmīrī nāme sakale tomāya
mahāvidyāvāna bali’ sarvatrete gāya [44]

“‘Everyone, everywhere, will call you Keśava Kāśmīrī and praise you for being highly learned.

bhramite bhramite ei navadvīpa-dhāme
āsiyā thākibe tumi māyāpura-grāme [45]

“‘While travelling, you will come to Navadvīpa Dhāma and stay in the village of Māyāpura.

navadvīpe baḍa baḍa adhyāpaka-gaṇa
tava nāma śuni’ karibeka palāyana [46]

“‘Hearing your name, the greatest scholars in Navadvīpa will flee.

āmi ta takhana vidyā-vilāse mātiba
parājiyā tomā sabe ānanda labhiba [47]

“‘At that time, immersed in Pastimes of scholarship, I will defeat you and feel great pleasure.

sarasvatī-kṛpā-bale jāni’ mama tattva
āśraya karibe more chāḍiyā mahattva [48]

“‘By the grace of Sarasvatī, you will understand My identity, take shelter of Me, and give up your pride.

bhakti dāna kari’ āmi tomāre takhana
bhakti pracārite punaḥ kariba preraṇa [49]

“‘Then, I will give you devotion and send you to preach devotion again.

ataeva dvaitādvaita-mata pracāriyā
tuṣṭa kara ebe more gopana kariyā [50]

“‘So for now, satisfy Me by preaching the conception of dualistic non-dualism and keep My identity secret.

yabe āmi saṅkīrtana ārambha kariba
tomādera mata-sāra nije pracāriba [51]

“‘When I start My saṅkīrtana Pastimes, I will preach the essence of your conception.

madhva ha-ite sāra-dvaya kariba grahaṇa
eka haya kevala-advaita nirasana [52]

“‘I will accept two essential principles from Madhva Ācārya. One is his refutation of exclusive non-dualism.

kṛṣṇa-mūrti nitya jāni’ taṅhāra sevana
sei ta dvitīya sāra jāna mahājana [53]

“‘O great soul, know the second essential principle to be serving Kṛṣṇa’s Deity form, knowing the Deity to be eternal.

rāmānuja haite āmi la-i dui sāra
ananya bhakati bhakta-jana sevā āra [54]

“‘From Rāmānuja, I will take two essential principles: exclusive devotion and service to the devotees.

viṣṇu haite dui sāra kariba svīkāra
tadīya sarvasva bhāva rāga-mārga āra [55]

“‘From Viṣṇu Svāmī, I will accept two essential principles: surrender to the Lord and the path of love.

tomā haite laba āmi dui mahāsāra
ekānta rādhikāśraya gopī-bhāva āra’ [56]

“‘From you, I will accept two most essential principles: taking shelter of Rādhārāṇī exclusively and serving in the mood of the gopīs.’

eta bali’ gaura-candra haila adarśana
preme nimbāditya kata karila rodana [57]

“Saying this, Gaura-candra disappeared, and Nimbāditya cried profusely with divine love.

guru-pāda-padma nami’ cale deśāntara
kṛṣṇa-bhakti pracārite ha-ilā tatpara” [58]

“Nimbāditya then bowed at the lotus feet of his Guru and travelled elsewhere, intent upon preaching devotion to Kṛṣṇa.”

dūra haite rāma-tīrtha jīvere dekhāya
kolāsure haladhara badhila yathāya [59]

karilena gaṅgā-snāna laye yadu-gaṇa
rukmapura bali’ nāma prakāśa ekhana [60]

From afar, Nityānanda Prabhu showed Rāma Tīrtha to Jīva, where Balarāma killed Kolāsura and bathed in the Gaṅgā with the Yadus. This place is now known as Rukmapuar.

navadvīpa-parikramā ei eka-śeṣa
kārtika māsete tathā māhātmya viśeṣa [61]

It is at one end of the route to circumambulate Navadvīpa. It is especially glorious during the month of Kārttika.

bilvapakṣa chāḍi’ prabhu laye bhakta-gaṇa
bharadvāja-ṭilā grāme kare ārohaṇa [62]

Leaving Bilvapakṣa, Nityānanda Prabhu and the devotees went to Bharadvāja Ṭilā.

nityānanda bale, “ei sthāne muni-vara
āilena dekhi’ tīrtha śrī-gaṅgā-sāgara [63]

Nityānanda said, “The best of the sages, Bharadvāja Muni, visited Śrī Gaṅgā Sāgara and then came here.

hethā śrī-gaurāṅga-candra kari’ ārādhana
rahilena kata-dina muni mahājana [64]

“The great sage stayed here for some time worshipping Śrī Gaurāṅga-candra.

taṅra ārādhane tuṣṭa haye viśvambhara
nija-rūpe dekhā dilā sadaya antara [65]

“Satisfied by the worship of the sage, Viśvambhara revealed His form to the sage with a compassionate heart.

munire balila, ‘tava iṣṭa siddha habe
āmāra prakaṭa-kāle āmāre dekhibe’ [66]

“He said to the sage, ‘Your desire will be fulfilled: you will see Me at the time of My appearance.’

ei kathā bali’ prabhu haila antardhāna
bharadvāja mahāpreme ha-ila ajñāna [67]

“Saying this, the Lord disappeared, and Bharadvāja Muni fainted with intense divine love.

kata-dina thāki’ ei ṭilāra upara
anya-tīrtha daraśane gelā muni-vara [68]

“The great sage stayed here for some time on this hill and then went to visit other holy places.

lokete bhāruiḍāṅgā bale ei sthāne
mahātīrtha haya ei śāstrera vidhāne” [69]

“People call this place Bhāruiḍāṅgā. The scriptures say that it is a great holy place.”

balite balite sabe yāya māyāpura
āgubāḍi laya sabe īśāna ṭhākura [70]

While speaking, the party arrived in Māyāpura. Īśāna Ṭhākura came forward and received them.

mahāpreme nityānanda karena nartana
sakala vaiṣṇava meli’ karena kīrtana [71]

Nityānanda Prabhu danced with intense divine love, and all the Vaiṣṇavas joined together and chanted.

jagannātha-miśrālaya sarva-pīṭha-sāra
nāma saha yathā śrī-gaurāṅga-avatāra [72]

The home of Jagannātha Miśra, where Śrī Gaurāṅga descended with His Name, is the best of all holy places.

sei dina prabhu-gṛhe prabhura jananī
vaiṣṇava-gaṇere anna khāoyāna āpani [73]

That day, the Lord’s mother personally fed the devotees in the Lord’s home.

ki ānanda haila tathā nā haya varṇana
mahāsamārohe haya nāma-saṅkīrtana [74]

What sort of joy arose there? It was indescribable, and the nāma-saṅkīrtana erupted tumultuously.

nitāi-jāhnavā-pada-chāyā yāra āśa
e bhaktivinoda gāya nadīyā-vilāsa [75]

Bhaktivinoda, whose aspiration is the shade of Nitāi and Jāhnavā’s feet, chants the Pastimes of the Lord in Nadīyā.