Song 30

(Varāḍi rāga-Dhūlāpelājāta)

145. In this way Lord Viśvambhara arrived at Sanātana Paṇḍita’s house. Now become like an ocean of joy, the paṇḍita approached the Lord and offered pādya and arghya. Glorious glorious was Śacī’s son.

146. After offering pādya and arghya he placed Lord Gauracandra under a canopy. Everyone chanted: "Hari!" Though hundreds and hundreds of lamps shone brilliantly, Lord Gaura’s glorious body defeated their splendor.

147. The married ladies made a joyous tumult. Conchshells, dundubhis, and musical instruments sounded. Dressed in splendid silk saris, the married ladies circumambulated the Lord.

148. The married ladies stood before the Lord and offered ārati. Then the bride was brought before Him. Gazing at Lord Viśvambhara, who was decorated with the jewels of all transcendental virtues, the ladies became filled with bliss. They thought their feet no longer touched the ground.

150. In her heart Viṣṇupriyā’s mother thought of Lord Gaura-Hari. She thought: "My daughter Viṣṇupriyā is very suitable for Him."

151. One married lady offered āratī with a jewel lamp. Lord Gaura’s limbs shone with great splendor. Smelling the fragrance of the Lord’s limbs, the ladies struggled to keep their hearts from going wild with bliss.

152. Seven times the ladies circumambulated Lord Gauracandra. With yougrt they washed His lotus feet. Sanātana Paṇḍita gave gifts of splendid garments and splendid ornaments to the bridegroom.

153. The bridegroom’s limbs he anointed with splendid fragrances and sandal. On the bridegroom’s neck he placed a mālatī garland.

154. The Lord’s body was graceful like a Mount Sumeru with the celestial Gaṅgā cascading in two streams down both its sides. Gazing at His body decorated with a mālatī garland, the Sanātana Paṇḍita felt the hairs of His stand erect with joy.

155. Then Sanātana Paṇḍita, the jewel of the brāhmaṇas, commanded that his daughter be brought there. Sitting on a jewel throne, she was the most beautiful girl in the three worlds. Her limbs were efulgent like lightning.

156. Viṣṇupriyā, who charmed the hearts of the world, and whose namesake was Goddess Mahā-Lakṣmī, was brought before the Lord. With restless crooked glances she gazed at Lord Gaurāṅga’s face. She gently, gently smiled. She was beyond compare.

157. Seven times she circumambulated the Lord. With folded hands she offered obeisances. When a curtain was drawn around Them, They gazed at each other with Their four eyes. Then They enjoyed flower pastimes.

158. From everyone joyous shouts of "Hari! Hari!" arose. The bride and groom stood under a canopy. Everyone said: "Glorious! They are glorious!" Someone said: "They are like Candra and Rohiṇī". Someone else said: "They are like Śiṭa and Pārvatī."

159. Gently smiling, Lord Viśvambhara then sat on a throne. Then Sanātana Paṇḍita offered his daughter to the Lord’s lotus feet.

160. Everything was rightly done. Many gifts were given. The bride and groom sat on the throne together. During that wedding ritual in Sanātana Paṇḍita’s home, the bride and groom enjoyed a meal together.

161. Joyful at heart, the married ladies offered Them betelnuts and camphor. With their eyes they gazed at Śrī Gaurāṅgacandra Harī as He sat in that room.

162. In their hearts the ladies thought: "Today Viśvambhara and Viṣṇupriyā sit in this house. Viṣṇupriyā is actually Goddess Lakṣmī, and Viśvambhara is actually Lord Viṣṇu. They have both come to this earth."

163. The ladies thought many thoughts like this. Many splendid garlands they placed around Lord Viśvambhara’s neck. The Lord fulfilled every desire in their hearts.

164. One lady anointed the Lord’s limbs with sandal and fragrances. Tocuhing the Lord, she became wild with bliss. Another lady enjoyed a conversation with the Lord. Overcome with bliss, another lady fell to the ground. The desires of her life were all fuflilled.

165. Another lady offered betelnuts to the Lord. Another lady offered a handful of flowers to the Lord’s feet. In her heart she thought: "Birth after birth I offer myself to You, O Lord."

166. In this way the night passed. The Supreme Lord, who is adorned with the jewels of all virtues, was thus gloriously manifest before the married ladies. At dawn Lord Viśvambhara, who possesses the treasure of all virtues, performed His morning duties. On that day He performed the kuśaṇḍikā ritual.

167. On the following day the Lord sat down and said: "Now I will return to My home." On the pretext of offering gifts, the Lord’s associates worshiped Him. There were sounds of conchshells and great sounds of "Jaya! Jaya!"

168. Sanātana Paṇḍita and his wife offered gifts of sandal paste, betelnuts, and flower garlands to the newly married couple. On the couple’s heads they placed durvā grass and rice paddy. Saying, "May You both live long", they offered their blessings.

169. Her heart trembling, Goddess Viṣṇupriyā gazed at her mother and father. She humbly spoke in a voice filled with emotion.

170. Sad at heart, Sanātana Paṇḍita said to the Lord: "What can I say to You? It is only by Your mercy that I may give my daughter to You. How can I be qualified to give any gift to You?

171. "This I say: I am fortunate to have You as my son-iu-law. My whole house is fortunate. Today I place my Viṣṇupriyā at Your lotus feet." With a voice choked with emotion he spoke these words.

172. Tears streamed form his eyes. His eyes and face were red. He spoke with a choked voice. Into Lord Viśvambhara’s hand he placed Viṣṇupriyā’s hand. Tears streamed from hīs eyes.

173. Then, at an auspicious moment, the Lord ascended a palanquin. Everyone was joyful at heart. Many musical instruments played. Mṛdaṅgas and conchshells sounded. Calls of "Hari!" filled the sky.

174. Dancers danced before the newlyweds. The virtuous people were all there. As the people chanted "Jaya! Jaya!", the Lord traveled on His palanquin. Finally He came to His own home.

175. Joyful Śacī and the married ladies offered āratī to the newlyweds. Everyone made auspicious sounds of "Jaya! Jaya!" Everuone chanted "Hari!" They all offered many gifts.

176. Auspicious pots were placed before hte Lord. Poets recited poems. Brāhmaṇas chanted the Vedas. At the auspicious moment, taking Viṣṇupriyā by the hand, the Lord entered His home.

177. Overcome with bliss and love, Śacī embraced Viśvambhara. She kissed His moonlike face. Surrounded by the married ladies, and overcome with bliss, Śacī embarced her daughter-in-law.

178. She could not contain the bliss she felt. The people offered many gifts. Seeing that Viśvambhara and Viṣṇupriyā were now joined together, everyone was delighted and satisfied. In this way Locana dāsa sings Lord Gaura’s glories.