Song 9

(Varāḍi rāga)

Refrain: Chasing away all inauspiciousness, Lord Gaura gave to the world the treasure of ecstatic spiritual love.

36. Sitting in His own home, Lord Mahāprabhu explained the spiritual truth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

37. He said: "There īs only one Supreme Lord. He is Lord Kṛṣṇa. He is the creator and maintainer of the worlds. He is the Supersoul present everywhere in this world."

38. Speaking these words, the Lord made a fist. Everyone watched.

39.Again He said: "Everyone listen. Only a person who has devotion can understand the truth of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

40. "Without devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa one may struggle and struggle, but one will not attain liberation.

41. "If he thinks he is the same as Lord Kṛṣṇa, a conditioned soul cannot become free from the prison of repeated birth and death.

42. "Without being liberated one cannot understand Lord Kṛṣṇa in truth." Saying this, Lord Gaura continued: "Listen to this example.

43. "Look. Look at the five fingers of My hand. One finger may be anointed with honey. The other four fingers may be anointed with something horrible.

44. "The four fingers with a foul smell one will not even look at with his eyes. But the one finger anointed with honey one will try to lick with his tongue.

45. "The one finger is Lord Kṛṣṇa. A person whose interest lies only in Lord Kṛṣṇa and nowhere else is truly liberated."

46. With these words Lord Gaura, who is a treasure house of transcendental virtues, described the philosophy of jñāna-yoga in many way. Then He was silent for a moment.

47. Then Lord Gaura kindly said: "Devotional service ot Lord Kṛṣṇa is the best of all truths. There is no other truth.

48. "The people think that by cultivating transcendental knowledge one may attain Lord Kṛṣṇa. But the truth is that rendering loving devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet is the best way to attain Lord Kṛṣṇa.

49. "One who knows the truth keeps his heart attached to Lord Kṛṣṇa. A person whose heart is attached in that way develops unalloyed devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

50. "Such a person meditates on Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. Chanting ‘Hari! Hari!’, he always thinks of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

51. "Lord Kṛṣṇa’s dark three-fold-bending form is spiritual, eternal, and full of bliss. Lord Kṛṣṇa always stays with Śrī Rādhā. Lord Kṛṣṇa is more enchanting than Kāmadeva. He is the best of dancers. He enjoys many pastimes.

52. "In Vṛndāvana forest, in a palace of nine kinds of jewels, charming Lord Kṛṣṇa is surrounded by beautiful gopīs.

53. "Vṛndāvana is beautiful with many cuckoos, peacocks, parrots, bumblebees, and many kinds of blossoming flowers.

54. "In Vṛndāvana the land os made of cintāmaṇī jewels, the trees are all kalpavṛkṣa trees, and the cows are all kāmadhenu cows.

55. "Beautiful Vṛndāvana is surrounded by the Yamunā. Seeing the sweet beauty of Vṛndāvana, Goddess Lakṣmī yearns to go there."

56. As Goddess Lakṣmī gazed at Vṛndāvana, a flood of tears rose in her two reddish eyes, and the hairs of her body stood erect.

57. One moment she laughed. The next moment she wept. The next moment she sang and danced." Addressing everyone, Lord Gaura said in a voice choked with emotion:

58. "In this way My great devotees mercifully purify the three worlds."

59. After speaking these words, Lord Gaura became very joyful at heart. He danced and He made His devotees dance also.

60. In this way Lord Gaura happily enjoyed pastimes in Navadvīpa. He would meet His devotees by the Gaṅgā’s banks.

61. On another day Lord Advaita Acārya Gosāī came to Navadvīpa to see Lord Viśvambhara.

62. At that time Lord Mahāprabhu had gone to Śrīvāsa’s house. Waiting for Lord Mahāprabhu’s return, Lord Advaita bathed and performed worship.

63. At Śrīvāsa’s house, with a happy heart Lord Mahāprbahu placed flowers on a stick and said:

64. "To kill the demons I worship this stick. In My hands this stick will become like a lion to protect the devotees.

65. "With this stick I will punish the demons." To everyone the Lord said:

66. "One demon especially hates My devotees. For many births he will be afflicted with leprosy.

67. "I will make him live in a hell of witches and goblins. He will become a stool-eating pig.

68. "I will punish his students. With this stick I will kill all the offenders.

69. "In My heart I decided: ‘I will enter the jungle. To Me this world is a great jungle.

70. "Some people here are like tigers. Others are like boulders. Others are like trees. Others are like blades of grass.

71. "Some people I consider ferocious animals. Therefore I say that to Me this world is like a great jungle."

72. Hearing that Lord Advaita had come, Lord Gaura thought: "I was not there to greet Him. I should go to greet Him."

73. At that moment Lord Advaita arrived at that place and came before Lord Gaura.

74. Placing a gift before Lord Gaura’s lotus feet, Lord Advaita offered obeisances, falling like a stick to the ground.

75. Grasping Advaita’s hand, Lord Gaura said: "It is because of You that I came to this world.

76. "You bowed Your head before My lotus feet. You offered Me tulasī-mañjarīs. You worshiped Me and wept.

77. "With the heart of a true devotee You loudly called for Me. It is because of Your love for Me that I came here with My devotees."

78. Saying these words, Lord Mahāprabhu sat on a seat. "Dance.", He commanded Advaita Acārya.

79. Singing the daśa-avatāra prayers, the great brāhmaṇa Lord Advaita Acārya danced very elaborately.

80. Overcome with bliss, Śrīvāsa and the other devotees sang the holy names of Lord Hari.

81. Watching all this Lord Gaura Mahāprabhu became happy. He smiled and said to Lord Advaita:

82. "Your children always pray that I give them ecstatic spiritual love. I will give it. I will give them the gift of ecstatic loving devotion. This I tell to You."

83. Hearing these words, Lord Advaita Acārya became pleased. In His heart He thought: "Now My mission is successful."

84. Then Advaita Acārya said: "Lord, please hear My words. These people are all devoted to Your lotus feet.

85. "You love Your devotees. You are an ocean of mercy. Please give them a great treasure of ecstatic spiritual love. Please protect Your devotees."

86. The devotees all approached the Lord. Sitting on all sides, they surrounded Him.

87. Lord Gaura was like a moon filling the evening sky with glorious light. Glancing at Advaita Acārya, Lord Gaura said:

88. "O lotus-eyed Advaita, You are My greatest devotee. It is because of You that I came here.

89. "You happily sing My glories and dance. Everyone I see here is intent on devotional service."

90. Hearing these words, Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita approached Lord Gaura and with a happy heart said:

91. "I have one request. Please hear my words. I am afraid to speak. My heart is in turmoil.

92. "I have one doubt in my heart. Therefore I ask this question: Is Advaita Acārya a devotee of Yours?"

93. When Lord Gaura heard these words His face became flushed with anger. His eyes red with anger, He spoke this rebuke:

94. "Uddhava and Akrūra are both very dear to Me. You think Advaita Acārya is less than them?

95. "Of all My devotees in Bhārata-varṣa who is equal to Advaita Acārya?

96. "Brāhmaṇa, you are very foolish to speak these words. None of My devotees is equal to Advaita Acārya.

97. "He is the king of the Vaiṣṇavas. He is My very self. This I say. He is the creator of all the worlds. He has come here to deliver the people of Kalī-yuga.

98. "He whom the scriptures call Mahā-Viṣṇu has assumed the role of a devotee, descended to this world, and become Advaita Acārya.

99. "Therefore I very emphatically say to You: Glorify Advaita Acārya with prayers. At every moment serve Him with devotion."

100. Hearing these words, the brāhmaṇa Śrīvāsa felt fear in hīs heart. He remained silent. No word came to his mouth.

101. Then Lord Gaura-Harī again said: "Don’t again chew the ideas of impersonalism.

102. "If again you hear and gaze on the ideas of impersonalim, I will not again give ecstatic spiritual love to you and your followers.

103. "Only persons who turn away from karma and jñāna attain ecstatic love for Lord Kṛṣṇa. Knowing this, don’t take shelter of karma or jñāna."

104. Hearing these wofds, Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita said: "Please grant me this boon: That my heart will forget everything about impersonalism."

105. Murārī said: "I do not know anything about impersonalism." Lord Gaura said: "From lotus-eyed Advaita Acārya you may learn the actual truth.

106. "With a pure heart earnestly engage in devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇacandra. Liberation is a maiservant serving devotional service."

107. Hearing these words, everyone became joyful at heart. In their hearts the devotees thought: "I will obey this command."

108. Wild by tasting the honey at Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, and glorious like a host of demigods, the devotees joyfully danced.

109. The stories of Lord Gaura’s pastimes in Nadīyā are all glorious like this story. In this way Locana dāsa describes Lord Gaura’s preaching the philosophy of ecstatic spiritual love.