Chaitanya Mangala

100,055 words

This page relates Song 17 of the Pauganda-lila of the Adi-khanda of the Chaitanya Mangala by Locana Dasa Thakura (1520 A.D.) translated into English. This book contains songs narrating the activities (pastimes) of Lord Chaitanya and represents a Sanskrit biography written as a narrative poem which can be sung in various ragas.

(Vibhāsa rāga-Diśā)

Refrain: Never lost, his life is never lost!

655. Everyone please hear another wonderful story. When you hear it the sufferings in your heart will perish.

656. One day, after studying the Vedas at his guru’s āśrama, Jagannātha Miśra, the jewel of the brāhmaṇas, returned to his home.

657. Pushed by destiny, the flames of a fever began to burn in his body. When he saw the fever was very severe, fear arose within him.

658. Seeing this, agitated Śacī wept. Speaking the spiritual truth, Lord Gaura consoled her.

659-660. He said: "Mother, death will come for everyone. Brahmā, Śiva, the ocean, the mountains, the Himālayas, Indra, Varuṇa, and Agnī must all die in the course of time. Why do you fear death?

661. "Gather all Our friends and kinsmen. Together We will chant Lord Kṛṣṇa’s holy names.

662. "At the time of death is the duty of friends and kinsmen to help one remember Lord Kṛṣṇa, the jewel of the Yadus."

663. Hearing these words, all the friends and kinsmen came. They gathered around Lord Gaura and Jagannātha Miśra.

664. The friends and kinsmen debated what should be done. Seeing the time was near, Lord Gaura spoke to them.

665. Lord Viśvambhara said: "Mother, why is there a delay? This moment I will go with the friends and kinsmen."

666. After speaking these words to His mother, Lord Gaura, accompanied by the friends and kinsmen, took His father to the Gaṅgā’s bank.

667. Grasping His father’s feet, Lord Viśvambhara wept. Tears filled His eyes. With a choked voice He said:

668. "O father, if you leave Me, where will I go? Neṭer again will I be able to call out to you, ‘O father!’

669. "From today My house is a desert. O father, never again will I see your feet.

670. "Today the ten directions are a great desert. They are filled with a terrible blinding darkness. Never again will I study under you. Never again will I hold your hand."

671. Hearing these nectar words, Jagannātha Miśra had no power to reply.

672. In a choked voice he said: "Listen, Viśvambhara. I will tell You what is in my heart.

673. "I place You at Lord Rāmacandra’s feet. After some time You will forget me."

674. Then Jagannātha Miśra chanted, "Hari! Hari!" and meditated on the Lord. Then all the brāhmaṇas bathed him with Gaṅgā water.

675. Around his neck they placed a tulasī necklace. Surrounding him on four sides, the friends and kinsmen chanted Lord Hari’s holy names.

676. On his four sides there was saṅkīrtana of Lord Hari’s holy names. At that moment Jagannātha Miśra, the best of the brāhmaṇas, went to Vaikuṇṭha.

677. Entering a celestial chariot, Jagannātha Miśra went to Vaikuṇṭha. Śacī’s weeping made the earth split into pieces.

678. Grasping her husband’s feet, Śacī wept. She rolled on the ground. "Please don’t leave me. Take me with you.

679. "For a long time I served you. Now you have gone to Vaikuṇṭha. And I must stay behind on the earth.

680. "When you ate and when you slept I served you. For me the ten directions have now become a desert. They are filled with blinding darkness.

681. "Now I am a widow. I have only yoursmall son. Where will Nimāī stay? Into whose face will He gaze?

682. "A son like Nimāī is very difficult to find in this world. Forgetting everyuthing, my master has now left us."

683. Seeing His father’s death and His mother’s weeping, Lord Gaura also wept. Tears flowed from His eyes.

684. The large tears flowing from His eyes to His chest were like a string of enormous elephant pearls.

685. The devotees, friends, and kinsmen lamented, "Ha! Ha!" When Lord Gaura wept the whole world wept with Him.

686. To pacify the Lord the people sweetly said: "O Lord, Your crying will make the whole world perish."

687. The ladies consoled Śacī-devī: "Śrī, look at Viśvambhara and forget about all this."

688. Controlling His grief, the Lord became peaceful. When the time came He performed the funeral ceremony.

689. Surrounded by His kinsmen, He performed the Vedic ritual for His father’s funeral.

690. Lord Gaura, who dearly loved His father, performed His father’s yajña. One after another He performed all the rituals. Then He worshiped the brāhmaṇas.

691. Lord Gaura, who was devoted to His father, gave to the brāhmaṇas pots of water, dishes of food, and many other gifts.

692. This is the story of Jagannātha Miśra’s journey to Vaikuṇṭha. Lors Viśvambhara’s father, Jagannātha Miśra, was the best of brāhmaṇas.

693. Faithful persons who hear this story and die by the Gaṅgā’s banks will certainly go to Vaikuṇṭha.

694. Gazing at Lord Gauracandra, Śacī sighed. She feared raising her fatherless son.

695. "If He dives into the nectar of scholarship, then my son will be happy at heart", she thought.

696. Everyone please hear these wonderful stories. In this way Locana dāsa narrates Lord Caitanya’s pastimes.

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