Chaitanya Mangala

100,055 words

This page relates Song 31 of the Kaishora-Lila, Prabhura Gaya-yatra 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.

(Varāḍi rāga-Diśā)

Refrain: O! He who is the moon of the brāhmaṇas is my very life!

1. Lord Mahāprabhu joyfully stayed with His friends and kinsmen.

2. Talking amongst themselves, the brāhmaṇas of Navadvīpa agreed that Viśvambhara is glorious, glorious.

3. Lord Viśvambhara, the jewel of persons, taught His students and performed the rituals followed by a pious man.

4. In philosophy and debate Viśvambhara defeated even Bṛhaspati. Viśvambhara was the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Who has the power to praise Him enough?

5. Who has the power to describe the glorioes of His students? They studied under the guru of all the worlds.

6. Lord Viśvambhara is the beloved of millions of Sarasvatīs. By His mercy everyone tasted the nectar of scholarship and became a paṇḍita.

7. In this way Lord Viśvambhara taught the people. Then in His heart He thought: "I will go to Gayā.

8. "I will go to Gayā and offer piṇḍa to My ancestors. I will bow down before the Deity of Lord Gadādhara and before the footprints of Lord Viṣṇu."

9. As the Lord thought in this way, a group of brāhmaṇa pilgrims came to Navadvīpa.

10. Flames rose in Śacī’s heart. She approached her son. She sighed heavily. Her words were choked with emotion.

11. She said: "Viśvambhara, please listen. If You go on pilgriomage, then I will not see You. Then blinding darkness will fill my house.

12. "I am a blind person and You are the star that lights my eyes. You are the soul and I the body. I cannot live without You.

13. "You will go to deliver Your ancestors. What can I say to You?"

14. When Mother Śacī said this, the Lord comforted her with sweet words:

15. The Lord said: "Mother, please know I will stay with you at every moment.

16. "Every son must offer piṇḍa. Please be kind and give Me permission. Don’t lament." Then Śacī said to Him:

17. "With a happy heart You may join these pilgrim brāhmaṇas." In this way Lord Viśvambhara went on pilgrimage to Gayā.

18. On whatever path Śacī’s son walked, all who saw Him felt their eyes filled with cooling pleasure.

19. Young, old, lame, and foolish all ran to see Him. Even the birds and beasts ran to see Him. Tears streamed from every eye.

20. Abandoning their families, saintly ladies ran to see Him. Everyone said: "Look! Look! There is Lord Harī of Vraja!"

21. Saying this, they ran after the Lord. They did not bind their hair. They became like wild people. This happened as the Lord traveled from place to place.

22. On every path everyone ran after Him in this way. Everyone floated in a nectar ocean of ecstatic love.

23. In one place Lord Gaura-Harī saw a stag and a doe playing.

24. Seeing the stag and doe’s playing, the Lord gave out a mocking, mocking laugh, as if He were mocking the actions of ordinary men.

25. He said: "Animals are wild with greed, illusion, lust, and anger. Any human who does not worship Lord Kṛṣṇa is like those animals."

26. Surrounded by His companions, the Lord mocked humans whose intelligence is like that of the animals.

27. He said: "In an animal’s body knowledge of Kṛṣṇa is not possible. Any human who does not worship Lord Kṛṣṇa is an animal. This I say."

28. Teaching in this way, the guru of the worlds traveled on the path. Lord Viśvambhara was like a kalpa-vṛkṣa tree.

29. Coming to the river that bears the name Cira, the Lord bathed and performed pious rituals.

30. Happily He worshiped the demigods and pitās. Then He entered a temple to see the Deity.

31. After worshiping the Deity, Lord Viśvambhara quickly descended a hill. Near the hill was a brāhmaṇa’s home.

32. At that time one of the brāhmaṇas in the Lord’s group of pilgrims, seeing the brāhmaṇas of that place, in his heart found fault with them.

33. Although the actions of the brāhmaṇas in that place were certainly proper and righteous, when he saw them, that brāhmaṇa thought these people were not true brāhmaṇas.

34. Seeing this person did not respect the brāhmaṇas, Lord Viśvambhara revealed the devotion his heart bears for the brāhmaṇas.

35. Suddenly a great fever blazed in the Lord’s body. Seeing the fever, everyone became afraid at heart.

36-37. The Lord said: "Listen. Listen everyone. Fid I commit an offense when I worshiped the demigods and pitās? I do not know. Did I offend one of My fellow pilgrims? When offenses mar auspicious deeds the result is great suffering.

38. "Something must be done to stop this fever. If I drink water that has washed a brāhmaṇa’s feet, My body will become cool again.

39. "Water that has washed a brāhmaṇa’s feet removes all sins. It will kill this fever. How can I cure this fever by My own power?"

40. A brāhmaṇa from that place stood up and washed his feet

41. When Lord Viśvambhara drank the water that bhad washed that brāhmaṇa’s feet, the fever fled far away. In this way the Lord revealed to all His great devotion to brāhmaṇas.

42. The brāhmaṇa who offended the brāhmaṇas of that place then wisely said: "You saved Me from the great sufferings that would have come from the offense I committed in My heart.

43. "I thought these brāhmaṇas acted wrongly, and therefore I offended them in my heart. You saved me from the sufferings that would have come from the offense in my heart.

44. "You revealed Your great devotion for the brāhmaṇas. I am an offender. Please forgive my offense.

45. "You are the Supreme Lord who dearly loves the brāhmaṇas. You are the person most qualified to be a devotee of the brāhmaṇas. On Your chest You bear the mark of Bhṛgu Muni’s foot.

46. "With Your own mouth You preach the glory of devotion to You. In this way You deliver the world.

47. "Glory to dear Lord Viśvambhara! Glory to the king of the brāhmaṇas! They who serve you attain all perfection.

48. "Obeisances to merciful Lord Gaura-Hari, who is dearly loved by the brāhmaṇas! Obeisances to the Lord who establishes the true religion!"

49. Hearing these words of His fellow pilgrim, the Lord forgave the offenses of all the pilgrims there.

50. He said: "The brāhmaṇas of this place worship Lord Kṛṣṇa. Do not shun them. Do not stay far away from them.

51. "Anyone who does not worship Lord Kṛṣṇa is not a true brāhmaṇa. The Purāṇas teach:

52. caṇḍālo’pī muneḥ śreṣṭho viṣṇu-bhakti-parāyaṇaḥ viṣṇu-bhakti-vihīnas tu dvijo’pī śvapacādhamaḥ

"‘A so-called outcaste who is devoted to Lord Viṣṇu is the best of sages, but a so-called brāhmaṇa who has no devotion to Lord Viṣṇu is the lowest outcaste.ṃ "

53. After speaking these words, the Lord showed that He was satisfied with His brāhmaṇa companion. He kindly forgave that brāhmaṇa’s offense.

54. In this way the Lord showed His devotion to the brahmanas. Againa and again crossing holy rivers, the lord proceeded on His journey.

55. At these rivers He would bathe, worship the devas, perform pious rituals for His father’s benefit, and then coninue on His journey.

56. Then He came to a very holy place named Rājagiri. There He bathed at Brahma-kuṇḍa and gave charity.

57. There He worshiped the devas and pitās. Then He hurried to see Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints.

58. There He met a sannyāsī who was a great devotee of the Lord, a sannyāsī named Iśvara Purī.

59. To Him Lord Viśvambhara offered obeisances and said: "I am very fortunate to see your two feet."

60. Falling sown before that sannyāsī’s feet, and overcome with emotion, the Lord spoke these words. Tears streamed from the Lord’s merciful reddish eyes.

61. "How will I be able to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death? Please give Me devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

62. "I do not see any way to attain that devotion but by accepting initiation from a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. All the words spoken by the Purāṇa’s and by the mouths of the great devotees bear witness to this truth."

63. Hearing these words, in a secluded place Iśvara Purī repeated to the Lord the mahā-mantra.

64. Thus attaining Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mahā-mantra, Lord Viśvambhara felt bliss in His heart. The hairs of His body stood erect.

65. Tears streamed form His eyes. The hairs of His body stood erect. He called out: "Rādhā! Rādhā!" He was tossed by waves of bliss.

66. His heart became rapt in thinking of Vraja. His heart was plunged in the sweet nectar of mādhuryarasa.

67. His body became wild with the love Rādha. feels for Lord Kṛṣṇa. Loudly He called: "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!"

68. He called out: "Vṛndāvana! Govardhana!" and laughed. With great joy He roared: "Kālindī! Yamunā!"

69. One moment He called out: "Balarāma! Śrīdāmā! Sudāmā!" The next moment He called out: "Nanda! Yaśodā!"

70. "White and dark surabhī cows!" He roared in a deep voice. The next moment He called out: "Gopī friends!" The Lord had became wild.

71. One moment Ṝe placed a straw between His teeth and became like a servant. The next moment He was filled with pride. "I am He", He declared.

72. "I lifted Govardhana Hill. I killed Aghāsura. I killed Pūtanā and a host of demons."

73. The next moment He manifested a three-foldbending form, a form with a flute at His mouth. From the four directions all who saw were filled with wonder.

74. Tears streamed from His eyes. His voice was choked with emotion. With sweet words He said to His guru:

75. "By your mercy I have attained the goal of My life. From today My life of materialism has fled."

76. In this way the Lord showed the perfect example of devotion for one’s guru. Then the Lord proceeded on His journey. Seeing the Phalgu river, he gently, gently smiled.

77. Remembering the pastimes He enjoyed there in ancient days, He felt both happy and said. Remembering Sītā-devī, He became wild with emotion.

78. He worshiped the devas and pitās. He bathed and gave charity. He offered piṇḍa to his forefathers.

79. To a brāhmaṇa He gave the remnants of what was offered to the pitās. Going south, He visited Udīcī.

80. Going north, He visited Jihvā-lola. There He worshiped the devas and pitās. He gave wealth in charity.

81. Happy at heart, He then came to Gayā. He was very anxious to see Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints.

82. On sixteen altars the Lord offered piṇḍa. He longed to see Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints.

83. Having performed all these rituals, with a happy heart He hurried to see Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints.

84. With a happy heart He thought: "With My own eyes I will see Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints."

85. In this way He approached Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints. Joyfully falling down like a stick, He offered respectful obeisances.

86. Lord Gaurāṅga said: "Listen. Listen, everyone. In what way does My heart now gaze at Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints?

87. "With My eyes I now see Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints. Why, as I see Them, does ecstatic spiritual love not arise within Me?"

88. Saying these words, with a happy heart Lord Mahāprabhu performed an abhiṣeka of Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints.

89. Then Lord Viśvambhara Harī manifested ecstatic devotion. O great devotees, please hear the ecstatic saymptoms He manifested.

90. At the beginning of His manifestation of ecstatic love, He trembled and the hairs of His body stood erect. Then flooding rivers of tears flowed from His eyes. The next moment He became stunned.

91. Overcome with ecstatic love, Lord Viśvambhara gazed at Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints. Celebrating a great, great festival of ecatatic love, He danced.

92. Thus after offering piṇḍa at Gayā and after seeing Lord Viṣṇu’s footprints, Lord Viśvambhara joyfully danced with His brāhmaṇa companions.

93. The next day in His heart He firmly decided to go on a journey to Mathurā.

94. To His brāhmaṇa companions He said: "You should all go to see Vṛndāvana."

95. Hearing this, the companions were stunned. They had little money to make the journey.

96. The Lord said to them: "A human being who tries to enjoy material pleasures must again be born in the material world. Not knowing this truth, the materialists are very eager to act for their material benefit.

97. "If one worships Lord Kṛṣṇa, then one’s human life is a great success. If one does not worship Lord Kṛṣṇa, then one drowns in an ocean of sorrows."

98. After giving these instructions, Lord Gaura-Harī left Gayā and began His journey to Vṛndāvana.

99. As He was traveling with His companions, a voice spoke from the sky.

100. Rumbling like a new cloud, to enlighten Lord Viśvambhara, the voice spoke these words:

101. "Listen. Listen, O Mahāprabhu Viśvambhara. Don’t go to Vṛndāvana. Return to Your home.

102. "When You accept sannyāsa You will travel to many holy places. At that time You will go to Vṛndāvana."

103. With His own ears hearing this message from the demigods, Lord Viśvambhara ended the journey with His brāhmaṇa companions.

104. Lord Mahāprabhu journeyed to His own home. Walking and walking, His feet carried Him to Nadīyā.

105. Bidding farewell to His pilgrim companions, He entered His home. He bowed down before Mother Śacī’s feet.

106. With a joyful heart Śacī embraced her son. Tears of love and joy streamed from her two eyes.

107. The people of Nadīyā’s villages joyfully ran to see the Lord. They trembled. The hairs of the bodies stood erect.

108. Waves of bliss tossed Viṣṇupriyā’s heart. She had no power to hold the bliss that filled her body. The bliss in her body had no end.

109. In this way Lord Gaura joyfully returned to His own home. Locana dāsa sings this song praising Lord Gaura’s pastimes.

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