Chapter Three
Śoka Śātana (The Dispelling of Grief)

Śrī Gaurāṅga-līlā-caritra
(The Character and Activities of Lord Gaurāṅga’s Transcendental Pastimes)

Song Thirteen
Prayer Unto all the Hearers of This Story

(1)
nadīyā-nagare gorā-carita amṛta
piyā śoka bhoya chāḍo sthira koro cita

The activities and behavior of Lord Gaurasundara within the villages around Nadia District are just like sweet ambrosial nectar. By drinking this nectar, just give up all of your material lamentations and fears, and make your heart become thus fixed up.

(2)
anitya soṁsāra bhāi kṛṣṇa mātra sāra
gorā-śikhā mate kṛṣṇa bhaja anibāra

Within this temporary material world, my friends, the only substantial essence of Absolute truth is Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, kindly take heed of Lord Caitanya’s advice, and just worship Kṛṣṇa constantly.

(3)
gorāra caraṇa dhori’ jei bhāgyabān
braje rādhā-kṛṣṇa bhaje sei mora prāṇa

Whoever understands this and thereby firmly grabs hold of Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet is most fortunate. And if he worships Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, then I will accept him as my very life soul.

(4)
rādhā-kṛṣṇa gorācanda na’de bṛndābana
ei mātra koro sāra pā’be nitya dhana

Their Lordships Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa are none other than the selfsame Lord Gauracandra, and Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma is that very same Vṛndāvana-dhāma. If you consider this as the only essential point, then you will rightfully receive some eternal treasures.

(5)
bidyā-buddhi hīna dīna akiñcana chāra
karma-jñāna-śūnya āmi śūnya-sad-ācāra

Actually I am completely devoid of any real knowledge or good intelligence. Indeed, I am most lowly, insignificant and contemptible. I am also certainly without the slightest trace of good karma or philosophical understanding, and I am completely bereft of any proper virtuous behavior.

(6)
śrī-guru baiṣṇaba more dilena upādhi
bhakti-hīne upādhi hoilo ebe byādhi

All the assembled Vaiṣṇavas, who I consider to be just like my spiritual master, have given me this title of Bhaktivinoda, but because I am actually totally devoid of any trace of devotion, this title has simply become like a painful disease for me.

(7)
jatana koriyā sei byadhi nibaraṇe
śaraṇa loinu āmi baiṣṇaba-caraṇe

Taking great care to check the spreading of this disease, I have taken refuge at the lotus feet of all the Vaiṣṇavas.

(8)
baiṣṇabera pada-raja mastake dhoriyā
e śoka-satana gāya bhaktibinodiyā

Taking the dust of the lotus feet of all the Vaiṣṇavas upon my head, this lowly Bhaktivinoda thus sings this story called Śoka-Śātana, (The Dispelling of Grief).

Thus Ends the Third Chapter of Gītāmālā,
entitled Śoka-Śātana (The Dispelling of Grief).