Mor pran Gaurachand nare haya (refrain)
Translation –
Lord Gaurachand is my very life and soul.
Text 158-159
Chalila narada muni vina gaya guna
Shuniya bihavala hiya pore punah punah
Kshaneke rodon , kshane atta atta hash
Kshane kanpe, kshane kshane , adha adha bhash
Translation –
Playing upon his vina and singing the Lord’s glories, Narada muni continued with his journey. Hearing these glories, his heart became overwhelmed and he fell down again and again being imbued with ecstatic love. Momentarily he would cry, the next moment he would laugh out loud. Sometimes his whole body trembled and at times, his voice got choked up and he spoke with faltering voice.
Purport –
These symptoms of ecstasy are very common in advanced devotees and are usually manifested when they come in contact with the Lord or any of His close associates. There are eight such ecstatic symptoms that are observed in human beings – 1. being stopped as though dumb; 2. perspiration 3. standing up of hairs on the body 4. dislocation of voice 5. trembling 6. fading of the body 7. crying in ecstasy and 8. trance
Text 160-161
Kshane hunkara chhare ,mare malsat
Gaura Gaura boli kande, antara uchat
Pasharite nare Gaurar sumadhura prema
Anga jhalamala tyejah, dinakara jeno
Translation –
At moments Narada would roar and slap his own arms just like a wrestler, crying out ‘Gaura Gaura’ in a state of intense internal ecstasy. It was impossible for Narada to forget the exceedingly charming form of Mahaprabhu, filled with ecstatic love, and more dazzling than the sun.
Text 162-163
Chalite na paare preme antara ullash
Ankhira nimikhe gela shivera kailash
Mahesh dekhiba boli barila ananda
Kahiba Krishnera katha kariya prabandha
Translation –
Narada couldn’t even walk ,being overcome with the intense ecstatic love that filled his heart. Within a twinkling of an eye, he reached the abode of Lord Shiva in Kailash. Thinking that he would soon be able to see Lord Shiva increased Narada’s bliss. He was eager to narrate all he had heard from Lord Krishna.
Text 164-165
Aichhana ananda-katha nahi teenloke
Vrindavana dhana prakashiba kaliyuge
Ye prema yachoye Shiva birinchi ananta
Bilashiba kaliyuge adhama duranta
Translation –
There is nothing as blissful as these words in the entire three worlds. The Supreme Lord will manifest the treasure of Vrindavana in this age of Kali. That same pure ecstatic love which Shiva, Brahma and Ananta Sesha beg to attain, the Supreme Lord will distribute it freely to the lowest of the sinners in this age of kali.
Purport –
‘Gaurangera duti pada, yar dhana sampada, se jane bhakti rasa sar’ – One who treasures the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga in his heart, knows the very essence of devotional science.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the most magnanimous incarnation of the Supreme Lord. He freely distributes His mercy without judging any qualifications of the person whom He is showering His blessings upon.
At the same time ,Lord Chaitanya’s mercy is very unique. One who receives His mercy, can experience the highest ecstasy of love of God. The realization of this pure ecstatic love of the Supreme is extremely rare. This is something which the people of the previous yugas (Satya, Treta, Dvapara) could not receive even by means of performing severe austerities for thousands of years, performing grand sacrifices or even elaborate deity worship. This is rare even for the great demigods like Brahma, Shiva and Indra, who forever hanker to receive it.
The supreme Lord in His form as Sri Krishna rarely ever bestows this kind of special mercy. He gives it to His intimate associates or the gopis of Vrindavana. But Sri Chaitanya bestows this rare treasure of love of God, to one and all, freely, without any consideration. Hence Sri Chaitanya is the essence of all the incarnations of the supreme – ‘Avatara sar Gaura avatara’. One who gets this special mercy receives the pure love of God, receiving which there remains nothing else to be achieved. Obtaining the pure ecstatic love of God is the highest perfection of human life.
Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati sings :
alaukikya premonmada rasa vilasa prathanaya
na yah sri Govindanuchara saciveshv esu kritisu
mahascharyam premotsavam api hadhad datari na yan
matir Gaure saksat para iha sa mudho nara pasuh
(Chaitanya Chandramrita,
Text 40)
The supreme lord Gauranga is the greatest philanthropist who wonderfully performs His transcendental pastimes thereby freely distributing to one and all the pure love of God, which is rarely attained even by the principal associates of Lord Govinda. Thus a person whose mind is not rapt in meditation of Lord Gauranga is certainly a bewildered fool, and an animal in the guise of a man.
Text 166-167
Heno adbhuta katha kahiba Maheshe
Shuniya Thakura pabe baroi santoshe
Katyayani prasade laiba padadhuli
Yara pada parashade Harinama boli
Translation –
(Narada thought) ‘I would relate this wonderful news to Shiva, upon hearing which he would become very pleased.By the mercy of Goddess Katyayani (Durga), I would obtain the dust of Shiva’s feet. The dust of his feet would give me the strength to chant the holy names of Lord Hari’.
Text 168-169
Chintite chintite gela Maheshera dwar
Sambhrame uthila dekhi nandi mahakaal
Paranama kari nandi gela abhyantare
Parvati Mahesh yatha nija antahpure
Translation –
Thinking thus, Narada arrived at the gates of Lord Shiva’s abode. Seeing him, Nandi, Lord Shiva’s bull, who was like the personification of time, stood up and reverentially received him.After offering his respects, Nandi went inside the palace where Shiva and Parvati were residing.
Text 170-171
janaila dwar-ete Narada agamana
Ananda hridoye donhe chalila tokhon
Narada dekhiya hashi sambhase thakura
Charane pariya muni, bhakta suchatura
Translation –
Nandi went and informed them of Narada’s arrival at their gates. Lord Shiva and Parvati, with blissful hearts, then came out to greet him.Seeing them, Narada smiled and addressing them as his masters, he fell at their feet. Narada muni is a very intelligent devotee.
Text 172-173
Mahesh bishesh jane Vaishnava mahima
Narada Gourab kare prakashiya prema
Garoh alingana kari basaila pashe
Charane pariya muni devike sambhase
Translation –
Lord Shiva very well knows the glories of a Vaishnava and so he ecstatically glorified Narada muni. Lord Shiva warmly embraced Narada and made him sit next to him.Falling at goddess Parvati’s feet, Narada began talking to her.
Purport –
pancatattvamakam gauram, Krishna Chaitanya-samjnakam
ye bhajanti navadvipe, te me priyatamah kila
(Urdhvamnaya-Tantra)
Lord Shiva declares to Parvati, “They who in Navadvipa worship Lord Gauranga, who is known as Shri Krishna Chaitanya in His five features of Panca-tattva (Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Shri Advaita Acharya, Shrila Gadadhara Pandita, Shrila Shrivasa Thakura alongwith all the other associates of Lord Gauranga) ,are most dear to me.”
In the Navadvipa dham mahatmya it is stated how at the beginning of this age of kali, the sages headed by Shaunaka Rishi, assembled at Madhya Dvipa (one of the nine islands of Navadvipa) ,to relish the nectarian pastimes of Lord Gaurahari, from the lotus mouth of Suta Goswami. During this time, Lord Shiva became greatly anxious to attend this lecture as well. Abandoning his bull carrier ,which travelled very slowly, Lord shiva hence ascended the much faster Swan carrier of Lord Brahma, in order to quickly reach the assembly of the sages.So it was here at Madhya Dvipa, that Lord shiva , along with his associates, sang the glories of Lord Gauranga and danced in ecstasy.
A small yet beautiful temple of Hamsa Vahan , has been established in this island to commemorate this sublime pastime. In this temple is worshipped a magnificent deity of Lord Shiva, who is postured sitting on the Swan Carrier of Lord Brahma. The word ‘Hamsa’ means ‘Swan’ and ‘Vahan’ translates to ‘Carrier’ in bengali. The deity is exceedingly old and no one knows exactly how ancient it is.The deity was discovered by a few localites who went for fishing in the nearby Gomati river. A great festival takes place here every year in the month of Chaitra (March- april) during which the devotees from all over the world pour water on this beautiful deity of Hamsa Vahana. Water is poured in order to cool down the deity as it gets heated up by himself. It is said that the deity gets heated up ,as Lord shiva in this mood is very eager and anxious to hear and relish Chaitanya Katha (pastimes of Lord Chaitanya) in the assembly of the sages.
Few miles down the road, in the island of Godruma, is located the beautiful temple of HariHara. This temple lies on the eastern bank of the Alakananda river that used to once flow over here.The amazing deity of Hari Hara , who is half Lord Shiva (white) and Half Lord Vishnu (Black) is worshipped here with due reverence. This deity of Harihara was rescued from the midst of the surrounding forest.The place came to be subsequently known as HariHara kshetra (the land of HariHara).This half Vishnu-half Shiva deity signifies how dear Lord Shiva is to the Supreme Lord.
In Navadvipa dham mahatmya ,Lord Nityananda has revealed to Jiva Goswami , how this land, is non-different from Kasi. Kasi ,situated in varanasi (a place in North India), is famous for being the land of mayavadi sannyasis (impersonalists) who try to attain liberation by cultivation of knowledge (jnana). But this Kasi of Navadvipa, is much superior to that of Varanasi, as Lord Shiva is eternally engaged here in singing the glories of Lord Gaurachandra and dancing in ecstasy. Lord shiva ,here at Hari-Hara Kshetra , begs his followers to accept devotion unto Gauranga. Hence this dham is also known as Maha-Varanasi (Greater Varanasi).Lord Shiva personally chants the holy name of Gauranga into the ears of any living entity who passes away at this place, thereby liberating them. Thus at HariHara Kshetra , there is no fear of death.
Text 174-175
Putra snehe Naradere puchhe Katyayani
Kushala mangala kaha priya mahamuni
Chaturdash bhubaner tumi tattva jano
Aaji kotha haite taba shuvo agamana
Translation –
In the mood of an affectionate mother, Katyayani devi enquired from Narada, ‘O Great sage ! Please tell us about your well being. You know the truths about all the fourteen planetary systems. Your arrival is auspicious. From where are you coming today ?’
Text 176-177
Narada kahoye , shuno adbhuta katha
Jagata nistara hetu tumi mata pita
Puraba rahasya katha pasharile tumi
Charane dhariya ebe smaraiba ami
Translation –
Narada muni replied ,’ Please listen to these wonderful words. You are like the mother and father of this material world. You always desire the deliverance of the fallen souls. You have now forgotten about a great mysterious pastime that had happened in the past. Grasping your feet, I shall now remind you of it’.
Text 178-179
Adyopanto yata katha kahi taba sthane
Shuniya prasada more karibe apane
Prabhure purabe kichu puchila Uddhava
Taba antardhane kiba prithivi rahiba
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘I shall narrate all of the pastimes here at your place, from the very beginning till the end. Hearing this, you will surely bestow your mercy upon me. Previously, Uddhava had enquired from Lord Krishna, “Will the earth remain once You disappear from it ?” ‘
Text 180-181
Bhakata rahiba kiba ei mahi majhe
Shuniya thakura yoga kahe nija kaje
Ami jal , ami sthal, ami mahi, briksha
Ami deva gandharva, ami yaksha, raksha
Translation –
(Narada narrates Uddhava’s conversation with Lord Krishna) ‘Uddhava continued, “Will the devotees then remain on this earth ?” Hearing this, Lord Krishna explained to him the science of Yoga. He said, “I am water , I am land, I am the earth, I am the trees, I am demigods and the gandharvas, I am Yakshas and the Rakshasas” ‘.
Text 182-183
utpotti , proloy ami sarvajiva prana
Ami sarvamoy, amar kahan antardhan
Aicchana thakura vani shuniya Uddhava
Buke kara hani kahe nija anubhav
Translation –
(Narada narrates Uddhava’s conversation with Lord Krishna) ‘“I am creation and annihilation. I am the very life of all living beings. I am everywhere. So how can I become invisible ?”
Hearing these words from the Supreme Lord, Uddhava struck his own chest, and spoke out his mind’.
Text 184-185
Tumi sarvamoy prabhu , ami iha jani
Tomare adhik tor pada duikhani
Ye parila pada-nokhchandrikara pashe
Ara ki kahiba guna mukhe nahi ashe
Translation –
(Narada narrates Uddhava’s conversation with Lord Krishna) ‘“My Lord, I know that You are everywhere. Your lotus feet are dearer to me than You Yourself. I am incapable of sufficiently glorifying one who takes shelter of the moonlike toenails of Your feet” ‘.
Purport –
For a devotee, the lotus feet of the Lord are His most powerful manifestations. Worshipping the Lord’s feet also signifies that a devotee is subservient to the Supreme Lord. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura encaptures this subservient mood of a devotee :
marobi rakhobi – jo ichha tohara
nitya-dasa prati tuya adhikara
Slay me or protect me as You wish my Lord, for You are the master of Your eternal servant.
There is no authority that a devotee can exercise over the Supreme Lord. Being fully surrendered, he worships His master’s lotus feet as his greatest treasure. The more a devotee surrenders himself ,the more the Lord reciprocates and takes charge of His devotee’s life.
That is why Srila Vasudeva Ghosh sings in one of his bhajans –
Gauranga tumi more daya na chadio
Apana kariya ranga caharane rakhio
Oh Lord Gauranga! Please do not neglect to show me Your mercy! Making me Your very own property, please keep me by the reddish soles of Your feet.
Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati (incarnation of Tungavidya Gopi) writes in Chaitanya Chandramrita :
jnana-vairagya-bhakty-adi
sadhayantu yatha tatha
Chaitanya charanambhoja-
bhakti-labhya-samam kutah
(Chaitanya Chandramrita,
Text 94)
One may try very hard and wander throughout the whole universe to seek out and achieve real knowledge, renunciation, devotion and other exalted virtues, but one will never be able to achieve these virtues to that fullest extent like those who are devoted to Lord Chaitanya’s lotus feet.
Text 186
tvayopabhukta-srag-gandha-
vaso-lankara-carchitah
uchista-bhojino dasas
tava mayam jayema hi
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.46)
Translation –
(Uddhava then quoted the following verse) ‘Simply by decorating ourselves (devotees of the supreme Lord) with the garlands, fragrant oils, clothes and ornaments that You have already used, and by honoring the remnants of Your meals, we, Your servants, shall indeed conquer Your illusory energy (Maya)’.
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.46)
Purport –
This age of kali is the most fortunate as it is in this age that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has blessed us with His most blissful amazing pastimes.
Ati aparupa leela prakashila prabhu
Chari yuge adbhut katha nahi shune kabhu
(Chaitanya Mangala , 1.94)
– Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had manifested the most wonderful incomparable pastimes, never heard before in any of the four yugas.
Seeking shelter of Mahaprabhu, loving and worshipping Him ,surrendering ourselves completely unto Him, we can immediately get delivered from the clutches of maya. Lord Chaitanya is the most merciful incarnation of the supreme.At the same time ,Lord Chaitanya’s mercy is very unique. One who receives His mercy, can experience the highest ecstasy of love of God. The realization of this pure ecstatic love of the Supreme is extremely rare. This is something which the people of the previous yugas (Satya, Treta, Dvapara) could not receive even by means of performing severe austerities for thousands of years, performing grand sacrifices or even elaborate deity worship. This is rare even for the great demigods like Brahma, Shiva and Indra, who forever hanker to receive it.
The supreme Lord in His form as Sri Krishna rarely ever bestows this kind of special mercy. He gives it to His intimate associates or the gopis of Vrindavana. But Sri Chaitanya bestows this rare treasure of love of God, to one and all, freely, without any consideration. Hence Sri Chaitanya is the essence of all the incarnations of the supreme – ‘Avatara sar Gaura avatara’. One who gets this special mercy receives the pure love of God, receiving which there remains nothing else to be achieved. Obtaining the pure ecstatic love of God is the highest perfection of human life.
Sri Chaitanya Chandramrita reveals :
dristah sprstah kirtitah samsmrito va
durasthair apy anato vadrito va
premnah saram datum iso ya ekah
Sri Chaitanya naumi devam dayalum
(Chaitanya Chandramrita,
Text 4)
– Whether seen, touched, glorified, intensely remembered, bowed down from afar or worshiped, Lord Gauranga causelessly awards to anyone and everyone the essence of pure unalloyed love for Himself. Thus I offer my respectful obeisances unto this most merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text 187-188
Mor bol-uchhista bhunjiya Haridasa
Tor maya jini, tor uchhistera aash
Aicchana thakura ara Uddhavera katha
Shuniya hridoye mor lagi gelo byatha
Translation –
(Narada narrates Uddhava’s conversation with Lord Krishna) ‘Uddhava continued, “By partaking your remnants, this servant of lord Hari, will surely conquer Your illusory energy. Therefore I yearn to receive Your (Maha Prasada) remnants” . Hearing this conversation between krishna and Uddhava ,my heart felt pained’.
Text 189-190
Etodin dhori mor path parichay
Ajiha na jani heno ucchista nischoy
Ucchistera bole Haridas bol dhore
Prabhu bidyaman ucchistera purashkare
Translation –
(Narada continued speaking to Lord Shiva and Parvati) ‘Although I am acquainted with this path of devotion for so long, yet i did not quite know the greatness of the Lord’s Mahaprasada.It is by honoring His remnants, that this servant of Lord Hari (Uddhava) has acquired his strength of devotion. In presence of Lord Krishna, Uddhava greatly glorified the practice of honoring the Lord’s Mahaprasada’.
Text 191-192
Heno Mahaprasada muin na bhunjilu kabhu
Antare janilun more banchiayache Prabhu
Ei mahaprasada bhunjiye kon buddhi
Kemon upaye parasanna habe bidhi
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘I have never ever tasted Lord Krishna’s mahaprasada. So I felt in my heart that I have been deprived by the Lord. Then I devised a plan to please the Supreme Lord, and thus obtain His Mahaprasada’.
Text 193-194
Ei monoh-katha rase vaikunthere gelun
Lakshmi devira seva bahu vidho kailun
Parasanna haiya devi paritoshe baila
Maago bor diba , boli pratigya karila
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Carrying the mellow of this desire in my heart, I visited Vaikuntha and rendered various services unto Lakshmi devi. Being pleased and content with my services, the goddess said, “Ask for a benediction”. She vowed that She would fulfil it’.
Text 195-196
Pratigya shuniya hiya prati aash kaila
Sei se kushala vani punah doraila
Kator bayane kailu karajora kari
Chiradin antare bedona bara mori
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Hearing of Her promise, I became hopeful and repeated to Her the desires of my heart. Folding my hands, I spoke in a sorrowful voice, “Forever my heart suffers from the burns of a grave pain” ‘.
Text 197-198
Sarvajana jane tor sevaka Narada
Na bhunjila Mahaprabhur uchhista Prasada
Prabhur prasada more deho ekmushti
Ei bor deho more chahi shuvodrishti
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘ Everyone knows that I am Your servant. Yet I have never tasted the food remnants of the Supreme Lord. I beg You to please give me one handful of Lord’s Mahaprasada remnants. Please grant me this benediction showering Your auspicious glances upon me’.
Text 199-200
Shuniya Lakshmidevi bayan bismay
Kahite lagila kichu kariya binoy
Prabhu agya nahi, karo dibare uchhista
Agya langhi muni tore diba absishta
Translation –
‘Hearing Narada’s words, Lakshmi devi became very surprised and submissively said, “The Lord (Narayana) has ordered not to give His Mahaprasada remnants to anyone. Yet I will disobey Him and give You the remnants” ‘.
Text 201-202
Bilamba karaha kichu amare chahiya
Bilambe se dite pari sanchaya kariya
Aichhana madhura vani baila Thakurani
Valo valo baila kaj bujhiya apani
Translation –
(Lakshmi devi continued) ‘Considering my predicament however, you shall have to wait for sometime. If you wait, I shall try to collect some mahaprasada for you’. (Narada continued) ‘Understanding my situation, the goddess responded with such sweet and comforting words’.
Text 203-204
Kothodin bohi ekdin pahun rase
Kara parashiya devi basaila pashe
Hashiya kahaye katha sarasa sambhase
Anumati nahi devi antara tarase
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Several days later ,on one occasion, when Lord Narayana and Lakshmi devi were enjoying their nectarian pastimes, the Lord caught hold of Her hands and made Her sit by His side. Not having the permission, and with Her heart trembling in fear, the goddess then smilingly spoke in a flattering tone’.
Text 205-206
Pranati kariya baila nibedana achhe
Hridoy-tarase mor sankata sankoche
Sankata ghuchao prabhu rakha nijadashi
Charana dhoriya bolo shuno gunarashi
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Offering Her prayers unto the Supreme Lord, goddess Lakshmi made Her request. She said, “My heart trembles in fear and I feel embarrassed expressing my concern in front of You. Please relieve Me of My distressful condition, O Lord, and save Your servant. Please listen to Me , O abode of transcendental qualities. I grasp Your feet” ’.
Text 207-208
Lakshmi katore kahe prabhuke taras
Sudarsana pane chahe sabismaya hash
Kanpe chakra sudarsana bale kakuvani
Lakshmi sankate Prabhu ami nahi jani
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘As Lakshmi devi spoke these distressed words, the Lord smilingly glanced at His sudarsana Chakra being a bit surprised. At this, Sudarsana began trembling and humbly spoke in a voice choked with emotion, “My Lord, Lakshmi devi is in a crisis, but i don’t know the reason why” ‘.
Text 209-210
Lakshmi kahoye sudarsaner nahi dosh
Narader kathaya mor haila hiya shosh
Dvadash vatsar mor agyata seva kaila
Paritosh paiya ami pratigya karila
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Lakshmi devi said, “Sudarsana is not at fault. It is Narada’s words that has placed my heart in anxiety. Although no one knows about it, Narada served Me for twelve years. Being pleased with his services, I made this vow “ ‘.
Text 211-212
Mago bor diba bali baila satya satya
Punah doraila muni sei katha nitya
Magila ye bor tor uchhistera tore
Mor shakti kiba tor agya langhibare
Translation –
(Lakshmi devi continued) ‘I said to Narada ,”Ask for a boon and I shall bestow it upon You. What I say is the truth. It is the truth”. I repeated again to the sage that I shall keep my words. Narada then asked for a benediction to receive Your food remnants (Mahaprasada). But, what power do I have to disobey Your orders’.
Text 213-214
Ei katha kaila mor promada nikata
Rakha nija dashi prabhu ghuchao sankata
Bujhiya kahila katha shunoho Lakshmi
Baroi pramada katha kahile ye tumi
Translation –
(Lakshmi devi continued) ‘These words that I spoke to Narada has placed Me in a great calamity. O lord, please save Your servant and relieve Me of My distressful situation’. (Narada muni continued) ‘Understanding the goddess’ condition, Lord Narayana said, “Please listen Lakshmi, Your words were a big mistake” ‘.
Purport –
The Lord being the supersoul in everyone’s heart, is already aware of everything. Yet , He sometimes acts like an ordinary human being , to enhance the loving mood of His devotees, or relish His own pastimes even more.No action can ever be performed without the approval of the Supreme Lord. Hence this act of granting this boon to Narada must have also been approved by the supreme Lord.The fact is that the Lord , out of His own sweet will, gave this benediction to Narada to manifest His sweet pastimes, and then appeared to disapprove of it. Such are His mysterious pastimes.Only one who is blessed by the Lord can truly understand His actions.
Text 215-216
Nibhrita se diho yeno ami nahi jani
Shuniya santosh paila prabhu agyavani
Kotodin bohi sei jagata janani
Mahaprasada more dila dak diya ani
Translation –
(Lord Narayana continued) ‘Give Narada my remnants secretly ,when I am not around, so that I do not come to know’. (Narada continued his narration) ‘Hearing this order from Her master, Lakshmi devi became delighted. After a few days, Lakshmi devi, the mother of the worlds, summoned me and handed me over the remnants of the Supreme Lord (Mahaprasada)’.
Text 217-218
Lakshmi Prasade Mahaprasada pailun
Purnamanorathe Mahaprasada bhunjilun
Koti indu jini jyoti koti kamarupa
Koti divakara tyejah haila aparupa
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘By mercy of Lakshmi devi, I received Mahaprasada of the Supreme Lord, which I honored to my heart’s content. It was more glorious and more effulgent than millions of moons, millions of cupids and millions of suns’.
Text 219-220
Shataguna tyejah Mahaprasada parashe
Vina bajaiya sukhe ailun kailashe
Amare dekhiya , prabhu puchhila Mahesh
Hashiya kahila , aji aparupa besh
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘ By the mere touch of the Lord’s Mahaprasada , I became more effulgent and spiritually potent a hundred times over. Happily playing on my vina, I arrived at Kailash. Seeing me, Lord Shiva asked smilingly ,” why do you appear so spiritually surcharged and effulgent? “ ‘
Text 221-222
Ati aparupa tyejah dekhite bismay
Aji kene heno rupa kahana nischoy
Adya anta yata katha shakala kahila
Shuniya Mahesh punah amare ganjila
Translation –
(Lord Shiva continued) ‘I am very surprised, observing your wonderful effulgence. Please tell me how you obtained such a form ?’ (Narada continued) ‘I narrated to Lord Shiva all that had happened, hearing which he began scolding me’.
Text 223-224
Aichhana durlabha mahaprasada paiya
Ekelea bhunjila muni amare na diya
Ama dekhibare punah asiyachho preme
Eheno durlabha dhana nahi aano kene
Translation –
(Lord Shiva asked) ‘O sage, after obtaining the rare Mahaprasadam, you ate it all by yourself, not giving any of it to me.You have come to see me out of great love, but why didn’t you bring any of that great treasure ? ‘
Purport –
Lord Shiva is a great Vaishnava and hence he always hankers to honor the Mahaprasada remnants of Lord Hari. One who comes in contact with the remnants of the Supreme Lord is atonce overwhelmed with transcendental ecstasy.
Text 225-226
Shuniya Mahesh vani lajjita haiya
Namita bayane chahe nokhe nokh diya
Achhe Mahaprasada kana boli dila sukhe
Pachhu na ganila prabhu dila nija mukhe
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Hearing Lord Shiva’s words i hung my head down in shame staring at my fingernails. Then i saw that there was still some Mahaprasada stuck in my fingernails. I exclaimed that there was still a morsel of Mahaprasada left and saying thus, i offered it to him. Lord Shiva atonce put it into his mouth without any hesitation’.
Purport –
Lord Shiva here teaches us by example how one should immediately and enthusiastically honour mahaprasadam. One should not delay unnecessarily in honoring the remnants of the Supreme Lord. Only if the day is an ekadashi then one should humbly beg forgiveness from Mahaprasada, and keep it waiting until he breaks his ekadashi fast.
Text 227-228
Anande nachoye Maha-Mahesh thakura
Padatala bhare mahi kare durdur
Premabhare talamala sumeru-parvata
Kampamana basumati , chamaka sarvatra
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Then Lord Shiva began dancing in a fit of utter ecstasy. The weight of his feet caused the earth to fall in great distress. Mount Sumeru began rocking back and forth in ecstasy due to Shiva’s uncontrollable dance. Mother earth trembled under the pounding of his feet. There was a great surprise everywhere’.
Text 229-230
Preme yogeshwar kanpe apana pashare
Rasatala jay mahi maheshera bhor-e
Anantera phana theke kachhapera pristhe
Griba bakra kari kurma chahe ekdriste
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Completely forgetting himself and being overcome with an ecstatic love of God, Shiva, the king of Yogis, began trembling. His weight threatened to push the earth into the dark abyss of Rasatala. The hoods of Ananta then touched the back of Kurma deva. Sticking His head out of His shell, Kurma deva stared at Lord Ananta’.
Srila Prabodhananda sarasvati sings :
Aparasya premojjvala-rasa-rahasyamrita nidhher
Nidhanam brahmesarchita iha hi Chaitanya charanah
Atas tam dhyayantu pranaya bharato yantu sharanam
Tam eva pronmattas tam iha kila gayantu kritinah
(Chaitanya Chandramrita,
Text 89)
Within the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya, which is worshipped by Brahma and Shiva, rests the shoreless nectarean ocean of confidential loving mellows for the Lord.The saintly devotees should always meditate upon these feet, take its exclusive shelter, become intensely attached and intoxicated with love for them and chant their glories.
Text 231-232
Bakragriba kari bhare yata digbah
Huhukara nade phate brahmanda kataha
Maheshera bhar mahi sahite na pari
aste byaste gela Maheshera puri
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘The elephants bearing the four directions bent their necks (being unable to carry the weight of the earth). Shiva’s loud ecstatic roaring of Lord Hari’s holy names cracked the coverings of the universe. Being unable to bear the weight of Lord shiva anymore, mother earth ran to his abode (Kailash)’.
Text 233-234
Katyayani sthane mahi kahe kara-yuri
Maheshera nritya bhare prana ami chhari
Pratikar kara devi srishti rakhibare
Promada parila dekhi shakala samsare
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Folding her palms, mother earth then prayed to goddess Katyayani, “I am no longer able to bear the weight of Lord Shiva’s dance and am about to lose my life. Please do something to save this creation.I see that a great calamity has befallen the whole world” ‘.
Text 235-236
Prithivira kator vani shuniya Parvati
Sattare chaliya gela yatha Pashupati
Purna rashabeshe nache deva devaraya
Mahesh abesh bhange karkasha kathaye
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Hearing the anguished words of mother earth, goddess Parvati immediately rushed to where Pashupati (Lord Shiva) was dancing being suffused with the great mellows of divine ecstasy. Lord Shiva’s ecstatic trance then broke hearing Parvati’s harsh words’.
Text 237-238
Sambid haila prabhu dukhita haiya
Karkasha hridoye bale Pravati dekhiya
Ki kaile ki kaile devi heno abidhan
E abesh bhanga mor marana shoman
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Returning to his external consciousness, Lord Shiva became sorrowful. With a heavy heart, he then expressed to his wife Parvati, “ What have you done, what have you done O goddess. It is so wrong. By breaking my ecstatic trance you have practically killed me” ‘.
Text 239-240
Toma boi ripu mor nahi tribhuvane
Eheno ananda mor ghuchaile kene
Shuniya kator devi bole arbar
Prithivi dekhoho prabhu sammukhe tomara
Translation –
(Lord Shiva continued) ‘ But for you I have no other enemy in these three worlds. Why did you interrupt my bliss ?’ Hearing this, a distressed Parvati, spoke once more ,’ O Lord, look at goddess earth who now stands in front of you’.
Text 241-242
Taba pada-tala bhar-e jaya rasatala
Srishti noshto haya, tenyi kailun katuttora
Aparadha kailun dosh khamo mahasaya
Hashiya Mahesh dila Prithivi biday
Translation –
(Goddess Durga continued) ‘The weight of your feet has pushed her down to Rasatala. The material creation is on the verge of destruction. It is for this reason that I spoke harshly.Please forgive me for my offense O master’. Lord Shiva then smiled and bade farewell to mother earth.
Text 243-244
Punarapi puchhe binita kariya
Ek nibediun prabhu sandheo lagiya
Krishna-rasa-beshe tumi nacho pratidine
Aji mahi rasatale jaye ki karone
Translation –
(Narada continued narrating) ‘Goddess Durga then submissively asked her husband once again, “I have one request for you ,O Lord, as i am having some doubts. Everyday you dance in a pure ecstasy of Krishna Prema (love). Why is it that today your dancing has pushed the earth down to Rasatala ?” ‘
Text 245-246
Koti divakara tyejah kirana prachanda
Ati aparupa tyejah na dhore brahmanda
Aji kene aparupa ananda ananta
Sabishesh kaha more prabhu gunabanta
Translation –
(Goddess Parvati continued) ‘Today, your form is as effulgent and shines as brightly as millions of suns. Such is the brightness of this effulgence that it cannot be contained in the universe. Why is it that you feel an infinite wonderful bliss today ? O glorious master , Please tell me the reasons for this’.
Text 247-248
Mahesh kahoye shuno ananda kahini
Prabhura prasada more dila mahamuni
Durlabha e trijagate vishnu nibedita
Vishesh adharamrita vede abidita
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Lord Shiva replied, “Please listen to this wonderful news. The great sage Narada has brought me the remnants of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu’s remnants are inconceivably rare in these three worlds. It is the nectar touched by the Lord’s lips. Even the Vedas do not know the end of glories of the Lord’s Mahaprasadam” ’
Text 249-250
Heno Mahaprasada ami karilun bhakshan
Saphala janama mor aji shubhokshan
Narada prasade mahaprasada parasha
Kahila mangala katha sampada sarasa
Translation –
(Shiva continued) ‘I have now honored this Mahaprasadam of my Lord and made my life successful. Today is the auspicious moment of my life. By the mercy of Narada, I was able to touch this Mahaprasadam’. In this way Lord Shiva expressed the treasure of his auspicious words in a very flattering tone.
Text 251-252
Shuni thakurera vani kahe Mahamaya
Etodine janilun tomara yata daya
Ardha ange dhara more shakali kapata
Kaitaba piriti ebe haila prakata
Translation –
(Narada continued) Hearing Lord Shiva’s words, Mahamaya devi (goddess Durga) said, “After all these days, i now know that all your compassion and generosity, accepting me as your better half was all a trick. Your false love for me has now been revealed” ‘.
Text 253-254
E heno durlabha mahaprasada paiya
Ekela bhunjila dev amare na diya
Lajjay abash haiya bole shulopani
E dhanera adhikari naho to bhavani
Translation –
(Mahamaya devi continued) ‘after obtaining that rarely attainable Mahaprasada my lord, you ate all of it yourself, without sharing it with me’. Feeling guilty Sulapani (Lord Shiva) expressed, ‘O Bhavani (Parvati), you do not have the right to receive this transcendental wealth’.
Purport –
Lord Shiva’s argument was that as mother Parvati was not a pure devotee of the supreme Lord, hence she was not supposed to receive the Mahaprasada (Lord’s remnants). But this argument would be refuted by Mahamaya devi in the next verse.
Text 255-257
Shuniya rushila hiya – bole adyashakti
Vaishnavi nama mor kari Vishnubhakti
Pratigya karilun muin sabara bhitore
Janibe amare daya prabhura antare
Ei Mahaprasada muin dimu jagatere
Mor pratigyay pabe srigala-kukkure
Translation –
These words inflamed adyashakti (Parvati) even more. She said, ‘One of my names is Vaishnavi and I also serve Lord Vishnu with devotion. I hereby solemnly vow in this assembly, that if Lord Vishnu is merciful upon me in His heart ,then I shall distribute His Mahaprasada unto everyone in this material world. Due to my vow even the jackals and dogs will receive it’.
Purport –
Simantadvipa is one of the nine islands of Navadvipa.This island embodies the devotional mellows of Sravanam or hearing the glories of the Lord. Maa Parvati had once performed severe austerities at this place, with an intense desire to obtain darsana and mercy of Lord Gaurahari.Finally, on receiving His darsana, she became overwhelmed with ecstasy, and smeared the dust of the Lord’s lotus feet upon her simanta (the center parting line of her hair). As a result this island came to be known as Simantadvipa.
There is also a very interesting pastime in which Mahamaya devi (Parvati) wanted to test the devotion of namacharya Haridasa Thakura, an eternal associate of Lord Gauranga. She approached Haridasa thakura and expressed her desires to enjoy with him. But she failed. Haridasa thakura gave her false assurances and made her sit and hear him chant the holy names of Krishna for three days. The story concluded with her surrendering at the lotus feet of Haridasa Thakura and receiving initiation from him. Thus Mahamaya devi has been initiated by namacharya Haridasa Thakura in this age of Kali.
Text 258
Aichhana pratigya katyayani yabe kaila
Shuniya vaikunthanath sattare aila
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Hearing Katyayani’s vow, Lord Vaikunthanath (Vishnu) arrived over there at once’.
Text 259-260
Sambhrame uthiya devi kaila paranam
Nibedana kaila devi sajala nayan
Kator antare kahe chhariya nishash
Ananda hridoye kahe e Locana das
Translation –
(Narada continued) ‘Parvati devi stood up and offered her respectful obeisances unto Lord Vishnu. With tears in her eyes, and her heart overwhelmed, she sighed and began to speak’.In a joyful mood, I, Locana das narrate this pastime.