Song 20

(Bhāṭiyāri rāga)

34. In this way night blissfully turned into dawn. With happy hearts everyone performed these rituals.

35. The rituals of bathing and giving gifts were rightly done. The demigods and pitās were worshiped.

36. The Vedic rituals of nāndīmukha and śrāddha were performed. When all was concluded, gifts and a feast were offered to the brāhmaṇas.

37. Gifts were given to the dancers and poets. The guests were all satisfied with many gifts.

38. In their hearts everyone thought the sweet words of the hosts were far more important than the gifts. Gazing at the moonlike face of Lord Gaura, everyone felt his heart become pleased and cooled.

39. In this way Lord Gaura rightly performed this portion of His marriage ritual. Then He bathed again.

40. Then a barber came and did his barber’s work. Then the assembled saintly ladies washed the Lord’s graceful limbs.

41. Musical instruments made a sweet sound. In the four directions was a great tumult of "Jaya! Jaya!"

42. Then Śacī-devī and the married ladies performed rituals of worship. All was rightly done.

43. To the friends and kinsmen that had come to her home, Śacī revealed her heart. She said:

44. "I am worthless like a pile of ashes. My husband is gone, and now my son is fatherless. I am poor and lowly. How can I properly honor you all?"

45. With a voice choked with emotion Śacī spoke these words. Tears flowed from her eyes to her chest.

46. Hearing His mother’s anguished words, Lord Gaura lowered His head.

47. He thought: "Where has My father gone?" His heart was aflame. He was very sad.

48. Tears like strings of pearls flowed from His eyes. Seeing this, Śacī-devī became afraid.

49. Seeing Lord Gaura weep, the saintly ladies began to weep also.

50. "Why? O father, why do I see your sad face even now? Even during this auspicious ceremony You still make Me weep.

51. "You are the whole world to Me. You are My only treasure. When you gave up your life you were very sad."

52. Hearing His mother speak these words, Lord Gaura became very sad. His voice became choked with emotion.

53. His face became like a moon fading at dawn. His voice rumbled like a new thundering cloud.

54. To His mother Lord Gaura said: "Please hear My words. Why is your heart so filled with grief?

55. "What wealth is not yours? Why are you distraught? Why do you grieve as if you were abandoned and alone?

56. "You remind Me I will never see My father again. Now My heart grieves like yours. What can I say to You?"

57. "To the guests at Our door please give gifts of sandal and betelnuts. Please absorb your heart īn giving gifts.

58. "With fragrant sandal paste please anoint our guests limbs. Please do not fill your heart with grief.

59. "Don’t treat Our guests in this way. This hint I give to you."

60. Hearing her son’s words, Śacī calmly, calmly spoke. With sweet words she pacified Lord Viśvambhara.

61. All the brāhmaṇas were pleased by these words Lord Viśvambhar spoke.

62. At that time, in his own house, and accompanied by a host of brāhmaṇas, Vallabhācārya worshiped the demigods and pitās.

63. He gave his daughter many ornaments. He decorated her with garlands, sandal, and fragrant scents.

64. At an auspicious moment he sent a brāhmaṇa to bring the bridegroom.

65. Meanwhile Lord Viśvambhara was surrounded by His friends. They dressed His graceful limbs with very wonderful garments.

66. They anointed His limbs with fragrances and sandal. On His forehead they placed a tilaka mark glorious like moonlight

67. On His cheeks they placed glistening sharkshaped earrings. His chest they decorated with a string of pearls.

68. His reddish eyes they anointed with splendid black kajjala. His eyebrows were like two bows held by the archer Kāmadeva.

69. He was decorated with glistening jewel rings, bracelets, and armlets. He was so glorious and effulgent no one could bear to look at Him.

70. He was decorated with a splendid flower garland and a garment with a red border. The breeze from His limbs was very fragrant.

71. He was splendid like a full moon or a golden mirror. The people gazed at Him. Their hearts had no power to remain aloof from Him.

72. Gazing at His handsome form, the young girls were overwhelmed. With unblinking eyes the grown ladies gazed at His handsome form.

73. At the auspicious moment the Lord offered obeisances to His mother and then departed. Great auspicious sounds of "Jaya!" and of Lord Hari’s holy names arose.

74. Surrounded by his friends, the Lord ascended a glorious vehicle. Before Him singers sang and dancers danced.

75. Brāhmaṇas chanted the Vedas and poets recited poems. Trumpets, horns, flutes, and drums sounded.

76. Dāmāmās, dagaḍas, paṭāhas, mṛdaṅgas, dosaris, and moharis also sounded. Hearing the music, everyone became filled with bliss.

77. Sounds of "Hari! Haribol!" and "Jaya! Jaya!" were heard. The people of Nadīyā were wild with bliss.

78. Pushing and shoving, everyone ran. No one had the power to stay on the pathways. The townspeople were all filled with wonder.

79. Some had untied hair. Others were not completely dressed. Breathing heavily, all ran to see.

80. They did not whisper in each other’s ear. Thet sent no hints or signals. They were not shy or reserved. Loudly calling to each other, everyone in Nadīyā ran.

81. Proud ladies threw their pride far away and joyfully ran to see Lord Gaurāṅga.

82. Demigods flying celestial airplanes in outer space also looked. Filled with love, they flew closer to gaze at Lord Gaura’s limbs.

83. Goddesses gazed at Lord Gaura’s face. In the four directions goddesses sang Lord Gaura’s auspicious glories.