Song 27

(Śrī rāga-Diśā)

Refrain: In the villages of Nadīyā arose many joyful sounds of "O jewel of Lord Gaura! O moon of the brāhmaṇas!" Glory, glory to Lord Gaura!

1. In Navadvīpa Lord Viśvambhara happily passed some days as Śacī’s unmarried son.

2. He happily stayed amongst His friends and kinsmen. Still, sadness came to Śacī’s heart.

3. Seeing there was no daughter-in-law in her home, she became very sad. In her heart she decided to arrange for Lord Viśvambhara’s marriage.

4. In her heart she decided: "If there is a suitable girl, that would be good."

5. Meeting in private with a brāhmaṇa named Kāśīnātha, Śacī revealed the thoughts in her heart. She said to him:

6. "Please go to Sanātana Paṇḍita’s house and tell him these words I now say to you.

7. "My son has good character and all virtues. He would, if you agree in your heart, be a good husband for your daughter."

8. Hearing Mother Śacī speak these words, the brāhmaṇa Kāśīnātha quickly departed.

9. The great brāhmaṇa Kāśīnātha went to visit Sanātana Paṇḍita at his house.

10. "Come in. Come in.", Sanātana Paṇḍita said. He offered his guest a seat. Smiling and smiling, he said: "What is your mission?"

11. Kāśīnātha said: "Listen. Listen, O paṇḍita. I will tell you everything, everything that is right.

12. "You are learned in all the scriptures. You are the most fortunate person on the earth. What remains unknown to you?

13. "You are very religious. You are devoted to Lord Viṣṇu. You are intent on performing your duties as a brāhmaṇa.

14. "Viśvambhara’s mother, Śacī, knows all this. She called for me and told me what was in her heart.

15. "She sent me with a message for you. Please listen carefully and I will repeat her words.

16. "To you I will repeat what was at the heart of her words. Please listen and do what you think is right.

17. "Viśvambhara would be a very suitable husband for your daughter. Now I have told you everything. Please give your reply."

18. Hearing these words, Sanātana Paṇḍita considered them in his heart. Then he discussed them with his kinsmen.

19. Finally Sanātana Paṇḍita said to Kāśīnātha Paṇḍita: "Now I will say what is in my heart. Please listen, O great soul.

20. "Day and night I thought of this in my heart, but I had no courage to speak of it.

21. "Today is very auspicious. Today Lord Viśvambhara, who is a great treasure of virtues, will become my son-in-law.

22. "When Śacī-devī personally gives her consent, then I will know that I have become truly fortunate.

23. "Who is fortunate like me? I will offer my daughter to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

24. "By offering Him my daughter, I will worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose lotus feet Brahmā and Śiva worship.

25. "Please go and place these words before Śacī-devī’s feet:

26. "‘When the proper day is decided I will send a brāhmaṇa with the news. Then you may make arrangements for the auspicious ceremony. "

27. When Sanātana Paṇḍita spoke these words, the great brāhmaṇa Kāśīnātha quickly departed.

28. Bowing before Śacī’s feet, he told her everything.

29. Delighted, Śacī heard his words. Smiling, she began to arrange for her son’s wedding.

30. Fortunate Śacī gathered many different articles for the wedding. On various pretexts she went to see her prospective daughter-in-law.

31. After some days Sanātana Paṇḍita sent a brāhmaṇa with the news.

32. To the brāhmaṇa he said: "Before Śacī’s feet please place these words:

33. "‘If you accept my proposal, I will become fortunate. Let this ceremony soon be performed.

34. "‘By giving my daughter to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has now become Śacī’s son, I will become liberated from this world of birth and death. "

35. After hearing these words, the brāhmaṇa went to Śacī’s house. Approaching Śacī’s feet, he said:

36. "Śrī Sanātana Paṇḍita sent me to give you this message from his heart:

37. "‘If you accept my proposal, I will become fortunate. I will give my daughter to your son Viśvambhara. "

38. Hearing this, delighted Śacī siad: "Excellent. Excellent. I agree. Please quickly arrange it."

39. Hearing these words, the delighted brāhmaṇa sweetly said:

40. "By attaining a husband like Viśvambhara, Viṣṇupriyā (dear to Lord Viṣṇu) will becom e worthy of her name

41. "In her heart she knows that she has now become like Rukmiṇī, who attained Lord Kṛṣṇa as her husband."

42. Hearing these words, Śacī was delighted. Then the brāhmaṇa returned and repeated her words to Sanātana Paṇḍita.

43. Śrī Sanātana Paṇḍita was very pleased. He began to gather all that was needed for the wedding ceremony.

44. That noble-hearted soul gathered the ornaments and various articles needed for the adhivāsa ceremony.

45. Calling for an astrologer, he humbly said: "ī will arrange Viṣṇupriya’s wedding. Please determine the right moment.

46. The astrologer said: "Listen. Listen, O paṇḍita. As I was coming here, I accidentally met Viśvambhara.

47. "Seeing him, I became joyful at heart. Joking, I said to Him:

48. "‘Soon Your auspicious adhivāsa ceremony will be performed. Then will come Your wedding. Please hear my words.’

49. "Hearing these words, Viśvambhara said: ‘Where will be this wedding? Who are the bride and groom?’

50. "These words He directly spoke to me. Please consider them and then decide what you should do."

51. Hearing these words from thw astrologer’s mouth, Sanātana Paṇḍita was no longer calm and peaceful.

52. Sanatana Pandita was very noble and generous. Gathering his kinsmen, he considered what to do.

53. He said: "I gathered many ornaments and articles for the ceremony. How can I be faulted for what I did?

54. "I committed no offense. For no reason Lord Gaura-Harī has rejected my offer."

55. Speaking these words, he manifested the sadness that was then born birth in his heart. Flames burned in his heart. Then his wife spoke to him.

56. She was modest, saintly, chaste, devoted to her husband, and born in a very respectable family. She had all virtues and good character. She was devoted to Lord Viṣṇu.

57. Seeing her husband’s sadness, she also became sad. Renouncing all shyness, she approached her husband and said:

58. "Because Viśvambhara will not consent to this ceremony, why would the people of Nadīyā find fault with you?

59. "If Viśvambhara, who is Lord Harī Himself, will not consent, what power have you to convince Him?

60. "He is the supremely independent Personality of Godhead. He is the master of all. Brahmā, Śiva, Indra, and all the demigods are His servants.

61. "Why would He become your son-in-law? Please meditate on Lord Kṛṣṇa’s teachings and be peaceful at heart.

62. "You have no power to change things. You are sad for no reason. Please kill your sadness. I fear to speak these words."

63. When his wife spoke these words, Sanātana Paṇḍita covered his sadness.

64. Consulting with his friends and knsmen, he said: "Viśvambhara does not agree. How am I at fault?"

65. Saying this, he spoke no further. The brāhmaṇa and his wife were both sad at heart.

66. As he thought, sadness again was born in his heart. He thought: "O! O Lord Viśvambhara, You have embarrassed me.

67. "Glory, glory to the Supreme Lord who removed Draupadī’s embarrassment and fear! Glory, glory to the Supreme Lord who rescued Gajendra from the crocodile’s jaws!

68. "Glory, glory to the Lord who protected the Pāṇḍavas, rescued Rukmiṇī, and freed Ahalyā from her sins!"

69. In this way the brāhmaṇa spoke many prayers. Lord Gaurāṅga, the master of the worlds, knew all that had happened.

70. Hearing these prayers, Lord viśvambhara thought: "Why should he suffer like this in his heart?

71. "Two of My devotees are very unhappy at heart." Smiling and smiling, the Lord then playfully spoke these words:

72. From amongst His friends, he selected one especially dear friend. In private the Lord revealed His heart to him.

73. "Please go to Sanātana Paṇḍita’s house. Pretend tjust to have a chat with him. What he will say ī do not know.

74. "Tell him I was only joking when I told the astrologer I knew nothing of the wedding. Ask him: why are you so upset?

75. "I have not rejected this wedding. It is not right that you are both so sad at heart.

76. "I agree to the proposal he gave to My mother. Why should I do otherwise?

77. "The idea that the wedding is cancelled is a lie. The sadness in your heart is not right. Please arrange for the wedding. That is what is right."

78. Lord Gaura sent the brāhmaṇa with that message. The brāhmaṇa repeated it all to Sanātana Miśra