Shri Krishna Chaitanya-carita Mahakavya
BY: SUN STAFF
Feb 22, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Shri Krishna Chaitanya-carita Mahakavya, written by Shrila Murari Gupta (1513 A.D.). Translation into English by Bhaktivedanta Bhagavata Swami.
Fourth Prakrama - Twenty-first Sarga
rama-dasa-anugrahah
The Lord Shows Mercy to Ramadasa
eva dina-traya tatra / bhakteshvara-vibhavitah
kno viharate ratna-mandira rasa-mandalam 1
evam - thus; dina-trayam - three days; tatra - there; bhakta-ishvara - the Lord of the bhaktas; vibhavitah - felt the moods; knah - Krishna Chaitanya; viharate - enjoys; ratna-mandiram - the jewel temple; rasa-mandalam - the rasa circle.
For three days, while Kna Chaitanya manifested the external form of bhakta-raja, king of the devotees, He internally enjoyed the rasa-dance in that jewel temple.
nava-dina-samudaya gundica-prema-vasa
gaja-pati-npa-sevye nila-shailadhinathe
ktavati jagad-ishe sagraje gaura-candro
ratham anugata eva bhakta-vargena sarddham 2
nava-dina-samudayam - nine days having passed; gundica - of Gundica; prema-vasam- residing in the residence of love; gaja-pati - possessor of elephants; npa-sevye - served by the king; nila-shaila - the blue mountain; adhi-nathe - Supreme Lord; ktavati - done; jagat-ishe - Lord of the cosmos; sa-agraje - with His elder brother; gaura-candrah - the Golden Moon; ratham - chariot; anugatah - followed; eva - indeed; bhakta-vargena - with the host of bhaktas; sardham - in company.
The Lord of Nilacala remained for nine days with His elder brother Balarama in Gunica, the abode of love, receiving the devoted service of Gajapati Pratapa Rudra Maharaja. Then He embarked on His return journey while Gaura Candra followed the chariots along with the host of His bhaktas.
hera-pancami-yatra ca / shri-lakmi-vijayotsavam
ktva yayau nila-shaila / shri-lila-puruottamah 3
hera - the goddess of fortune goes to see Jagannatha; pancami - the fifth; yatram - festival; ca - and; shri-lakmi-vijaya-utsavam - the festival of Lakshmi's victory; ktva - having done; yayau - He went; nila-shailam - to the temple like a blue mountain; shri-lila-purua-uttamah - the Supreme Male who performs transcendental pastimes.
After first observing the festival of Hera-Pancami-Yatra, when the goddess of fortune seeks out Lord Jagannatha, and also Shri-Lakmi-Vijayotsava, the victory festival of Lakshmi Devi, then Shri Lila-Purushottama, the supreme enjoyer of transcendental pastimes, returned to His home that resembles a blue mountain.
tatah para shri-shaci-nandano harih / padmavati-nandana-rama-sangatah
shri-ratna-sihasana-madhya-sasthita / ramanuja pashyati vainavaih saha 4
tatah param - thereafter; shri-shaci-nandanah - the son of Shaci; harih - the dispeller of sin; padmavati-nandana - the son of Padmavati; rama - Nityananda; sangatah - in the association; shri-ratna - bejewelled; siha-asana - lion-throne; madhya-sasthitam - seated in the midst of; rama-anujam - the younger brother of Rama; pashyati - He sees; vainavaih saha - together with the vaishnavas.
Thereafter, Shri Shaci-nandana Hari, accompanied by Shri Nityananda Rama, the son of Padmavati, together with the assembled vaishnavas, gazed upon the younger brother of Rama, who was pleasantly seated in the midst of a resplendent, bejewelled lion-throne.
pauranika dhyanam: A meditation on the Lord taken from the Puranas:
* niladrau shankha-madhye shata-dala-kamale ratna-sihasana-stha
sarvvalankara-yukta nava-ghana-rucira sasthita cagrajena
bhadraya vama-bhage ratha-carana-yuta brahma-rudradi-vandya
vedana saram eka sakala-guna-maya brahma purna smarami 5
nila-adrau - on the blue mountain; shankha-madhye - in the midst of a conch; shata-dala-kamale - on a hundred-petalled lotus; ratna-siha-asana-stham - seated on a jewelled lion-throne; sarva-alankara-yuktam - embellished by all kinds of jewels; nava-ghana-ruciram - having the luster of a fresh raincloud; sasthitam - situated; ca - and; agrajena - with His elder brother; bhadrayah - having Subhadra; vama-bhage - on His left side; ratha-carana-yutam - with a chariot wheel; brahma-rudra-adi - headed by Brahma and Shiva; vandyam - praised; vedanam - of the Vedas; saram - the essence; ekam - one; sakala-guna-mayam - with all auspicious qualities; brahma purnam - the Absolute Spirit Whole; smarami - I remember.
Within the temple resembling a blue mountain, in the land of Purushottama Kshetra, which is shaped like a gigantic conchshell, the Lord resides. Amidst a hundred-petalled lotus, He is seated upon a bejewelled lion-throne. His body is the hue of a new lightning-illuminated thundercloud, and He is adorned with variegated ornaments. He is seated along with His elder brother, Baladeva, while His sister, Subhadra, sits to His left. He is attended by His disc, Sudarshana, and is offered prayers by all the gods headed by Brahma and Rudra. The sole and essential message of all the Vedas is to achieve knowledge of His Person, which is endowed with all sublime qualities. Thus do I recall the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead, Lord Jagannatha.
eva dhyatva gatah kno / mishrasya pupa-vetikam
sukham asanam asitva / bhaktan gauda-nivasinah 6
yapayam asa bhagavan / jananyah sukha-hetave
ya tasau shri-harer bhakti-rupini prema-rupini 7
evam - thus; dhyatva - having contemplated; gatah - gone; knah - all-attractive; mishrasya - of the brahmana; pupa-vetikam - small flower house; sukham - comfortably; asanam - seat; asitva - seated; bhaktan - the devotees; gauda-nivasinah - residents of Gauda; yapayam asa - sent; bhagavan - all-opulent Lord; jananyah - of His mother; sukha-hetave - for the happiness; ya - who; ta - she; asau - she; shri-hare - of Shri Hari; bhakti-rupini - the form of devotion; prema-rupini - the form of love.
After meditating in this way, Gaura Krishna went to a small house of flowers constructed by Kashi Mishra. After seating Himself comfortably on an asana there, He sent home the bhaktas of Gauda to bring happiness to His mother, who is the embodiment of both bhakti and prema for Shri Hari.
nityananda samalingya / dhtva tasya kara-dvayam
praha sa-gadgada yahi / gauda-desha tvam ishvarah 8
nitya-anandam - the ever-blissful Lord; samalingya - warmly embracing; dhtva - holding; tasya - His; kara-dvayam - two hands; praha - He said; sah - He; gadgadam - falteringly; yahi - You should go; gauda-desham - to Bengal; tvam - You; ishvarah - the Lord.
Warmly embracing Nityananda and clasping His hands, the Lord addressed Him with a faltering voice, "Go now to Gaua-desha.
tava deha vijaniyad / vishvasa-bharana mama
etaj jnatva yatheccha tva / kartum arhasi hi prabho 9
tava - Your; deham - body; vijaniyat - may understand; vishvasa-bharanam - supporter of faith; mama - my; etat - this; jnatva - knowing; yatha-iccham - as desired; tvam - You; kartum - to do; arhasi - You ought; hi - certainly; prabho - O Master.
"You are the Supreme Lord. I can therefore understand Your body to be the sustaining pillar of My faith. Knowing this, You may act in whichever way You desire, My dear Prabhu.
murkha-nica-jadandhakhya / ye ca patakino 'pare
tan eva sarvatha sarvvan / kuru premadhikarinah 10
murkha - fools; nica - lowly; jada - dullards; andha - blind; akhyah - known as; ye - those; ca - and; patakinah - sinners; apare - others; tan - those; eva - indeed; sarvatha - in every way; sarvan - all; kuru - make; prema-adhikarinah - fit for.
"You must make the fools, the lowly, the dullards, the blind, and all other sinful men qualified in every respect to receive love for Krishna."
tam iti prahasan praha / narttako 'ham tava prabho
kariyami yathajna te / yatas tva sutra-dharakah 11
tam - Him; iti - thus; prahasan - laughing loudly; praha - He said; nartakah - the puppet; aham - I; tava - Your; prabho - O Master; kariyami - I shall act; yatha-ajna - according to Your order; te - Your; yatah - since; tvam - You; sutra-dharakah - the string-puller.
Laughing loudly, Nityananda replied, "Prabhu, I am merely Your puppet; I must fulfill Your order, for You are the puppeteer."
tayor eva kathayatoh / svarupadi-ganaih saha
puri-shri-paramananda-ramanandadibhis tatha 12
dravida-stho dvijah kashcid / daridro buddhi-sattamah
ajagama dhanartha ca / jagannatha-didkaya 13
tayoh - of those two; evam - thus; kathayatoh - who were talking; svarupa-adi - headed by Svarupa; ganaih - with the group; saha - together; puri-shri-paramananda-ramananda-adibhih - and headed by Shri Paramananda Puri and Ramananda Raya; tatha - also; dravida-sthah - a resident of southern Bharata (India); dvijah - a brahmana; kashcit - a certain; daridrah - poor; buddhi-sattamah - of excellent intelligence; ajagama - he went; dhana-artham - for the purpose of wealth; ca - and; jagat-natha - the Lord of the universe; didkaya - desiring to see.
As those two were speaking in the company of Svarupa Damodara and his men, and also Shri Paramananda Puri, Ramananda Raya and the others, a certain poor brahmana of pure intelligence named Ramadasa had arrived in Puri from south Bharata. He desired to see Jagannatha-deva in order to acquire wealth.
nivedya sva-prayojana / jagannathasya sannidhau
sthitah sapta-dinany eva / pratyadesha vicintayan 14
nivedya - submitting; sva-prayojanam - his objective; jagat-nathasya - of Jagannatha; sannidhau - near; sthitah - standing; sapta-dinani - seven days; eva - indeed; pratyadesham - rejection; vicintayan - considering.
After submitting his objective before Jagannatha Svami and waiting for seven days, he then considered his petition rejected.
aprapya vanchita duhkhat / samudra-tiram agatah
tatraiva hy agata daivad / bibhiana ca darshayan 15
aprapya - after not getting; vanchitam - desire; duhkhat - out of unhappiness; samudra-tiram - the shore of the ocean; agatah - came; tatra - there; eva - indeed; hi - certainly; agatam - came; daivat - by Providence; bibhianam - the pious rakshasa, king of Lanka; ca - and; darshayan - showing.
Grief-stricken because of his unfulfilled desire, he went by the shore of the ocean. At that moment, by the will of Providence, King Bibhishana of the island of Lanka came there and showed himself to that brahmana.
papraccha ko bhavan kutra / yahi sa tva vadasva bhoh
saptaha shri-jagannatha-darshanartha gato 'py aham 16
papraccha - he inquired; kah - who?; bhavan - your honor; kutra - where?; yahi - you go; sah - he; tvam - you; vadasva - do tell; bhoh - Oh!; sapta-aham - seven days; shri-jagannatha-darshana-artham - with the purpose of seeing Jagannatha; gatah - gone; api - indeed; aham - I.
The brahmana inquired, "Oh tell me - who are you, good sir? And where are you going? I have just spent seven days seeing Shri Jagannatha."
bibhiano nama mahyam / ity uktva prayayau sa ca
vipro 'pi tena sarddha ca / yayau saubhagya-parvvatah 17
bibhianah nama - name of Bibhishana; mahyam - my; iti - thus; uktva - having said; prayayau - he left; sah - he; ca - and; viprah - learned brahmana; api - also; tena - with him; sardham - together; ca - and; yayau - he went; saubhagya-parvatah - that mountain of good fortune.
"Bibhishana is my name," the pious rakshasa replied. Then he departed, and the greatly fortunate vipra went along with him.
agato gaura-candrasya / samipa shri-vibhianah
dtva shri-carana-dvandva / tasya danda-natir bhuvi 18
agatah - went; gaura-candrasya - of Gaura Candra; samipam - in the vicinity; shri-vibhianah - the pious rakshasa; dtva - having seen; shri-carana-dvandvam - the two shining feet; tasya - His; danda-natih - bowing like a stick; bhuvi - on the earth.
Shri Bibhishana went to the place where Lord Gaura Candra was staying. Upon seeing the Lord's shining feet, he fell like a stick to the ground.
vipro 'pi sa camatkara / pashyan prema-pariplutah
daridrya shlaghayan duhkha / nanartta jata-kautukah 19
viprah - the learned brahmana; api - also; sah - he; camatkaram - astonishment; pashyan - seeing; prema-pariplutah - drenched by tears of love; daridryam - poverty; shlaghayan - praising; duhkham - unhappiness; nanarta - he danced; jata-kautukah - became jubilant.
Beholding that amazing scene, the brahmana also bowed down, and he wept until his body became drenched by tears of love. Then, praising his own miserable poverty [which had caused him to eventually meet the Lord], his heart became filled with jubilation and he danced.
bibhiana ca bhagavan / vancha-kalpa-taruh prabhuh
praha brahmana-varyyaya / dhana dattva bhavan khalu 20
purnayiyati yenasau / duhkha-rogad vimucyate
ktanjali-putah so' pi / jagraha shirasi vacah 21
bibhianam - to Bibhishana; ca - and; bhagavan - the all-opulent Lord; vancha-kalpa-taruh - desire tree; prabhuh - the Master; praha - said; brahmana-varyaya - to this exalted brahmana; dhanam - wealth; datva - having given; bhavan - your honor; khalu - truly; purnayiyati - You will make him complete; yena - by which; asau - he; duhkha-rogat - from the disease of misery; vimucyate - he is liberated; kta-anjali-putah - with folded hands; sah - he; api - assuredly; jagraha - he took; shirasi - on his head; vacah - His words.
The all-opulent Lord, who is like a wish-fulfilling tree, said to Bibhishana, "If your grace gives wealth to this exalted brahmana, his desire will then be fulfilled, thus freeing him from the affliction of misery." With folded hands, Bibhishana accepted Mahaprabhu's instruction on his head.
shrutva dvija-varah praha / ma ma santyaktum arhasi
yatha te vacana-praptis / tatha kuru jagad-guro 22
shrutva - hearing; dvija-varah - the elevated brahmana; praha - said; ma - not; mam - me; santyaktum - to abandon; arhasi - You should; yatha - as; te - your; vacana-praptih - speaking these words; tatha - so; kuru - fulfill; jagat-guro - O guru of the cosmos.
Hearing this, the elevated brahmana said, "O guru of the cosmos! Kindly do not abandon me. Fulfill the boon promised by You.
jagannatha hikesha / sasararnava-taraka
patita-prema-dah knas / tvam eva ma samuddhara 23
jagannatha - O Lord of the universe; hika-isha - O master of the senses; sasara-arnava-taraka - O deliverer from the ocean of material existence; patita-prema-dah - the bestower of love of God on the fallen souls; knah - all-attractive; tvam - You; eva - indeed; mam - me; samuddhara - deliver.
"O Lord of the universe! Master of the senses! O deliverer of conditioned souls from the ocean of repeated birth and death! You are the bestower of Krishna-prema to the fallen souls. Indeed, You are Krishna, the all-attractive person! Kindly deliver me."
ta praha karuna-sindhur / yahi tva nija-mandiram
bhuktva bhogan samutsjya / shri-kna-carana sada 24
tam - him; praha - He said; karuna-sindhuh - the ocean of mercy; yahi - go; tvam - you; nija-mandiram - to your own home; bhuktva - having enjoyed; bhogan - pleasures; samutsjya - renouncing; shri-kna-caranam - the feet of Shri Krishna; sada - always.
The ocean of compassion answered him, "Return to your home. Enjoy your pleasures after first renouncing them at Shri Krishna's feet.
bhajanal labhate bhakti / yatha syat prema-sampadah
eva shrutva pranamy asau / yayau nija-gha dvijah 25
bhajanat - through worship; labhate - one gets; bhaktim - devotion; yatha - whereby; syat - there may be; prema-sampadah - the opulences of prema; evam - thus; shrutva - having heard; pranamya - bowing down; asau - he; yayau - he went; nija-gham - own home; dvijah - the twice-born man.
"Through such worship you shall receive bhakti, and by the practice of bhakti the wealth of Krishna-prema can arise in your heart." On hearing this, the brahmana offered Mahaprabhu respectful obeisances and then departed for his home.
bibhianash ca ta stutva / pranamya ca punah punah
jagama sva-gha ramya / dhyayan tac-caranambujam 26
bibhianah - the pious rakshasa; ca - and; tam - Him; stutva - glorifying; pranamya - bowing down; ca - and; punah punah - repeatedly; jagama - went; sva-gham - own home; ramyam - charming; dhyayan - contemplating; tat - His; carana-ambujam - lotus feet.
After offering prayers of praise to Gaura Hari and bowing down before Him repeatedly, Bibhishana also departed for his charming home while meditating on the Lord's lotus feet.
Thus ends the Twenty-first Sarga entitled "The Lord Shows Mercy to Ramadasa," in the Fourth Prakrama of the great poem Shri Chaitanya Carita.
