Song 36

(Pūravī-sindhuḍā rāga)

138. Seeing the shaving was now done, Lord Gaura accepted sannyāsa on an auspicious day and an auspicious moment.

139. At the junction of Capricorn and Aquarius, the guru Keśava Bhāratī recited the sannyāsa mantra.

140. As the Vaiṣṇavas in thw four directions chanted Lord Hari’s holy names, the sannyāsī Keśava Bhāratī whispered the sannyāsa mantra in Lord Viśvambhara’s ear.

141. When Lord Viśvambhara heard the sannyāsa mantra, the hairs of His body stood erect. He was tossed by waves of ecstatic love for Lord Kṛṣṇa, waves that were now greater by hundreds and hundreds of times.

142. Tears flowed from His reeddish eyes without stop. He slapped His arms. He let out a roar.

143. "The sannyāsa is done." He joyfully said. Again and again He loudly laughed in the bliss of spiritual love.

144. At that time Keśava Bhāratī said: "Please hear, O Nimāi. What shall be Your name?"

145. As the Vaiṣṇavas were assembled around him, that best of the sannyāsīs considered what name to give.

146. As he was about to speak the name he had chosen according to his own intelligence, an auspicious voice spoke from the sky.

147. Hearing this voice, everyone became filled with wonder. "Give Him the name Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya.

148. "Manifesting a dreamlike form, Goddess Mahāmāyā has covered all living entities. In this way everyone’s intelligence is covered.

149. "By her power everyone is asleep and dreaming. The Supreme Lord will now personally awaken (caitanya) everyone.

150. "This person is lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. Because He is Lord Kṛṣṇa who will teach everyone about Lord Kṛṣṇa, I give Him the name Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya."

151. Hearing this divine voice, everyone became filled with bliss. Everyone called out, "Hari!"

152. Following his command, Lord Gaura happily and devotedly served His guru Keśava Bhāratī Gosvāmī. In this way the day passed.

153. When evening came the Vaiṣṇavas gathered and performed saṅkīrtana of chanting Lord Hari’s holy names. Dancing with His guru, Lord Gaura enchanted all the worlds.

154. Filled with the bliss of spiritual love, Lord Gaura and Keśava Bhāratī danced. Everyone chanted, "Hari!"

155. Filled with the bliss of spiritual love, They both forgot Themselves. They both thought the bliss of Impersonal Brahman very insignificant.

156. In this way the night blissfully passed. When morning rose, Lord Gaura requested permission to depart.

157. He circumambulated His guru. Then He offered oebisances. "If I go to Jagannātha Purī, I will attain an auspicious situation."

158. Lord Gaura placed this request before His guru’s feet. Keśava Bhāratī’s heart trembled.

159. Tears of sorrow flowed from his eyes. At thr time of bidding farewell, he embraced Lord Gauracandra.

160. "You are the supremely independent Personality of Godhead. Because You are compassionate, with Your own feet You will wander this world.

161. "You have shown how a disciple should be devoted to his guru. Now You will establish the religion of saṅkīrtana (chanting Lord Hari’s holy names) in this world.

162. "Manifesting Your mercy, You will deliver everyone in the world. You tricked me into offering You sannyāsa.

163. "O Lord Viśvambhara, please deliver me also. In Your heart please agree to my request."

164. After touching His guru’s feet, Lord Gaura departed. Walking on the path, He was overcome with spiritual bliss and love.

165. With great joy and love He called out, "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa!" One moment He wept. The next moment He loudly laighed.

166. Like the celestial Gaṅgā flowing from the summit of Mount Sumeru, a flooding river of tears flowed from His eyes onto His chest.

167. Defating the filaments of the kadamba flowers, the hairs of his body stood erect. From head to foot, His body seemed adorned with brambles.

168. One moment He wildly ran. Another moment He sang "Kṛṣṇa!" with great love.

169. Another moment He became stunned and fell to the ground. Another moment He called out, "Haribol!" and leapt in the air.

170. One moment He felt the ecstasy of the gopīs. Another moment He felt the ecstasy of dāsya-rasa (service to the Lord). One moment He was calm and peaceful. Another moment He swiftly ran.

171. Overcome with bliss, He did not know if it was day or night. However, when He came to Rāḍhade śa, He could not find even the scent of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s holy name.

172. Not hearing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s holy names, Lord Gaura felt sorrow rise in His heart. At that moment He decided to enter the water.

173. Seeing this, everyone was struck with grief and remorse. "Lord Gaurāṅga has gone to Goloka. O dear friends, what will happen now?

174. Then heroic Lord Nityānanda said: "With My own power I will rescue Lord Caitanya."

175. At that moment some boys came, herding cows. Lord Nityānanda entered their hearts.

176. Approaching the riverbank, one boy suddenly began to call out, "Hari!"

177. Hearing this, Lord Gaura-Harī ran to the boy, grasped his hand, and urged him: "Chant! Chant! Chant!

178. "May the Supreme Lord be merciful to you. By making Me hear Lord Hari’s holy name you made My life perfect."

179. Now Lord Gaura was joyful. His heart floated in bliss. Begging alms, He had something to eat, and then He continued on His journey.

180. Filled with bliss, He did not know if it was day or night. In this way three days passed until again He placed some food and water in His mouth.

181. Filled with spiritual bliss and love, the days and nights passed in this way. Then Lord Gaura bid farewell to Śrī Candraśekhara Acārya.

182. Lord Gaura said: "We will see each other again. We will see each other soon. Please don’t be unhappy."

183. Speaking these words, Lord Gaura quickly departed. Weeping and weeping, Śrī Candraśekhara continued on his path.

184. As if from a single mouth, the people of Navadvīpa heard that Śrī Candraśekhara had returned.

185. Locana dāsa says: "I have no power to describe the scene when Śrī Candraśekhara returned to Navadvīpa.