Song 26

(Vibhāsa rāga)

109. In this way Śacī stayed with Lakṣmīpriyā. Still, what destiny commands no one can break into pieces.

110. Unable to see her husband, Lakṣmīpriyā was anguished at heart. Separated from Him, she always trembled.

111. That anguished separation then took the form of a serpent. This truth saintly Lakṣmīpriyā knew in her heart.

112. That great serpent bit Lakṣmīpriyā’s ankle. Śacī-devī became frantic.

113. Lakṣmīpriyā burned with fever. Seeing this, Śacī-devī knew the danger was great.

114. She called for a snake-bite doctor, a doctor who knew many mantras, herbs, and tantras.

115. He tried again and again. The doctor could not remove the poison. Śacī became very frightened. She was filled with grief.

116. Seeing the time of death had come, she carefully took Lakṣmīpriyā to the Gaṅgā’s waters and chanted Lord Hari’s holy names.

117. Around Lakṣmīpriyā’s neck she placed a tulasī necklace. Surrounding Lakṣmīpriyā on four sides, many people chanted Lord Hari’s holy names.

118. Then Lakṣmīpriyā went to the Lord’s spiritual abode. The people did not understand the events of that moment. Then everyone saw a great wonder.

119. Traveling on the pathways of the sky, a gandharva brought a celestial airplane to that place. Chanting "Haribol!", Lakṣmīpriyā left her body and went to the spiritual world.

120. Lakṣmīpriyā, who was a plenary expansion of Goddess Lakṣmī, returned to Vaikuṇṭha. Seeing all this, everyone was filled with wonder.

121. Arriving in the city of Vaikuṇṭha’s king, Lakṣmīpriyā went to her own palace. She was effulgent with glorious beauty. She was endowed with all opulences.

122. Stricken with grief, Śacī-devī wept. The ladies around her chanted Lakṣmīpriyā’s glories.

123. Tears streaming from her eyes soaked her bodice. Striking her head with her hands, she sighed with grief and said:

124. "Lakṣmīpriyā had all virtues, all noble character, and all beauty. In the villages of Nadīyā no girl was her peer.

125. "How can I return home alone? First you touched me with your mercy. Now you have forgotten me.

126. "You carefully served our Deities. You were always faithful and obedient to me. How can I return home without you?

127. "From today my house is a barren desert. You married Viśvambhara. Now you are no longer at His side.

128. "O sinful snake, where are you now? Instead of my daughter-in-law, why did you not bite me?

129. "Commanding my daughter-in-law to serve me, my son went to a far-away country.

130. "Now I am very unfortunate. How will I look at my son’s face? How, now unable to see my daughterin-law, will I remain alive?"

131. Seeing her stricken with grief, Śacī-devī’s friends said to her: "Śacī-devī, please stop lamenting.

132. "When the destined moment comes, then one must die. This whole material world and every material body in it are all made of the Lord illusory potency.

133. "Who must explain all this to you? You know all this. Hearing these words and understanding them, why do you not awaken your heart from its slumber of grief?

134. "What person who has a material body will not die? Even Brahmā and the demigods must die.

135. "Some die soon and others late, but all must die. Everyone is born and dies.

136. "Lord Kṛṣṇa is the only eternal reality. This we know from the Vedas. Anyone who does not worship Lord Kṛṣṇa is a fool."

137. Speaking these words, Śacī’s friends concoled her. Together chanting "Haribol!", they stopped her weeping.

138. After performing the appropriate pious rituals, the women returned to their homes.

139. Weeping and weeping, Śacī returned to her home. Her friends gathered there and consoled her.

140. After staying for some days in East Bengal, with a joyful heart Lord Viśvambhara returned home.

141. Bringing gifts of silver, gold, pearls, coral, and costly garments, He worshiped the Vaiṣṇavas without end.

142. Bringing great wealth, the Lord returned to His home. He happily gave all that wealth to His mother.

143. First the Lord bowed down. Then He gazed at His mother’s face. Her face withered with grief, Śacī spoke not a word.

144. Taking the dust from her feet, Lord Viśvambhara again gazed at His mother’s withered face and then spoke some words.

145. To His mother He offered the wealth He had brought. Filled with wonder, the Lord gently, gently said:

146. "Why do I see that your face is withered with grief? When I see your face withered with grief, My hear becomes alight with flames of suffering."

147. Hearing these words, Śacī tried to speak, but her voice was choked with grief. Tears streaming from her eyes soaked her bodice.

148. She had no power to say even a word. Her voice was choked with grief. Finally she said: "My daughter-in-law went to Vaikuṇṭha."

149. Hearing these words, the Lord felt His heart become withered with grief. Tears of grief flowed from His eyes.

150. To His mother the Lord said: Please hear My words. I will tell you why she took birth in this world.

151. "One time, by the arrangement of destiny, one of Indra’s apsarās stumbled as she danced.

152. "The rhythm of the dance broken, Indra cursed the dancer, saying: ‘Go to the earth and take birth in a human home.’

153. "After speaking this curse, Indra became compassionate and said: ‘You won’t suffer. You have a great mission to fulfill.

154. "The Supreme Personality of Godhead will descend to the earth. You will become His bride. This benediction I give to you.

155. "‘When your mission is fulfilled, you will return to Indrapurī. Now I have told you everything. Laksmipriya is a beautiful dancing girl in Indra’s court.

156. "Therefore please don’t lament any more. O mother, please listen. No one can rub out what fate has written."

157. Carefully hearing her son’s words, Śacī did not lament any more in her heart.

158. Comforted, Śacī had a change of heart. Satying amongst the devotees, the Lord told of His journey.

159. After He spoke Lord Viśvambhara became thoughtful. He spoke of many things, but He carefully concealed those thoughts in His heart.

160. I, Locana dāsa, speak these words. Please hear this wonderful account of Lord Gaurāṅga’s pastimes, an account that includes this description of Lakṣmīpriyā’s ascension to Svarga.