24. Nityananda pastimes from Sri Caitanya Bhagavata with commentary (Madhya 4.52-76)

Shri Chaitanya-bhagavata

Madhya-khanda -

By 

Vyasa Avatara Shrila Vrindavana dasa Thakura

Chapter Four: The Revelation of Nityänanda's Glories 

 TEXT 52

tara bale, 'krsna giyachena gauda-dese gaya kari'  giyachena kateka divase'

"They said, 'Krsna has gone to Gauda-desa. After visiting Gaya a few  days ago. He returned there.'

"When I made inquiries, some responsible persons told Me, 'Krsna has  left Mathura-mandala and gone to Navadvipa-mandala in Gauda-desa.  He had come to Gaya a few days before and has again returned to  Nadia."

TEXT 53-54

nadiyaya suni' bada hari-saìklrtana keha bale, 'ethaya  janmila narayana'

patitera trana bada suni nadiyaya  suniyaailuì muìi pataki ethaya"

"I heard that in Nadia there is extensive congregational chant- ing of  Lord Hari's glories. Someone said, 'Lord Narayana has taken birth here.' I  have also heard that fallen souls are delivered in Navadvlpa, therefore I,  being most sinful, have come here."

Nityananda said, "I am afflicted with a burden of sinful activities. I have  heard from people that Lord Narayana has taken birth in Navadvipa-Sri  Mayapur and has inaugurated hari-saìkirtana. I am fallen, so 1 have  come here to You with a desire for deliverance."

TEXT 55-56

prabhu bale,—"amara-sakala bhagyavan tumi-hena  bhaktera haila upasthana

aji krtakrtya hena manila amara dekhila ye tomara  ananda-varidhara"

The Lord said, "We are all fortunate to have a great devotee like You  amongst us. We consider that today our lives have In- come successful  for we have seen Your flowing tears of love."

 TEXT 52

 The Lord replied, "Today we are most fortunate. Our lives have  become successful by the arrival of a servant of the Lord like You

and by seeing Your tears of love."

The word upasthana (upa—"near" + sthd—"to remain" + an— Midve—  anat) means "presence" or "come near."

TEXT 57

hasiya murari bale,—"tomara tomara uha ta'na bujhi  kichu amara-sabara"

Murari smiled and said, "You understand Yourselves, but we do not  understand anything that You are saying."

Murari smiled and said, "The conversation that took place be- tween  Gaura and Nityananda—only They could understand. None of us could  enter into those topics."

The phrase amara-sabara  means "all of us."

TEXT 58

srivasa balena,—"uhaamara hi bujhi?

madhava-sanhara yena doìhe donha puji"

Srivasa said, "What can we understand of that? It is like Madhava and  Saìkara worshiping each other."

Srivasa said, "We are unable to understand Their (Mahaprabhu and  Nityananda's) conversation. This present situation is similar to when Hari  and Hara formerly bewildered people by worshiping each other."

TEXT 59

gadadhara bale,—"bhala balila pandita sei bujhi, yena  rama-lahsmana-carita"

Gadadhara said, "O Pandita, whatever you have said is correct. I think  Their characteristics resemble those of Rama and Laksmana."

 Gadadhara said, "Srivasa Pandita has spoken the truth. I think Their  sentiments were also similar to those aroused when Rama and Laksmana  met each other."

TEXT 60

keha bale,—"dui-jana yena dui kama" keha bale,—  ''dui-jana yena krsna-rama''

Someone said, "These two are just like two Cupids." Someone else said,  "These two are like Krsna and Balarama."

Some persons said, "Both Gaura and Nityananda are just like Kamadeva.  They are the basis of all beauty and qualities of this world." Others said,  "These two are Krsna and Balarama."

TEXT 61

keha bale,—"ami kichu visesa najani krsna-kole yena  'sesa' ailaapani"

Someone said, T don't know so much, but it appears that Lord Sesa is  lying on the lap of Krsna."

Some others said, "I cannot understand much, but 1 think that Sesa has  personally taken shelter of Krsna's lap."

TEXT 62

keha bale,—"dui sahhayena hrsnarjuna sei-mata  dehhilama sneha-paripuma"

Someone said, "They are just like the two friends Krsna and Arjuna,  because They are filled with such affection."

Some of them said, "Their friendship and affection is similar to that  found between Krsna and Arjuna."

TEXT 63

keha hale,—"dui-jane bada paricaya kichui na bujhi,  saba tharethore kaya"

 Someone else said, "It seems They are quite known to each other. I  cannot understand anything They speak through Their

gestures."

Yet others said, "They are so compatible that Their affection for each  other cannot be understood by ordinary people. We only see a

few gestures."

TEXT 64

ei-mata harise sakala-bhahta-gana nityanandadarasane  karena kathana

In this way all the devotees happily discussed the meeting with

Nityananda.

TEXT 65

nityananda gauracandra donhe darasana ihara sravane  haya bandha-vimocana

Anyone who hears about the meeting between Nityananda and  Gauracandra is freed from material bondage.

TEXT 66

sarigi, sahha, bhai, chatra, sayana, \ahana nityananda  bahi anya nahe kona jana

Nityananda alone serves the Lord as His companion, friend, brother,  umbrella, bed, and carrier.

No one other than Nityananda Prabhu can become Gaurasundaras  companion, friend, brother, umbrella to shelter from the sunrays, bed on  which to rest, and carrier for moving about. Only Nityananda is fully  capable of serving Gaurasundara. In Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 5.123124)  it is stated: "He serves Lord Krsna, assuming all the following  forms: umbrella, slippers, bed- ding, pillow, garments, resting chair,  residence, sacred thread and throne. He is thus called Lord Sesa, for He  has attained the ultimate end of servitude to Krsna. He takes many  forms for the service of Krsna, and thus He serves the Lord."

 TEXT 67

nana-rupe seve prabhu apana-icchaya yare dena  adhihara, sei jana paya

He serves the Lord in various ways out of His own sweet will. Only one  who is favored by Him can be qualified to serve the Lord.

Just by the mercy of Nityananda, a living entity becomes qualified to  serve Sri Gaurasundara. He is the source of all qualifica-tion for serving  the Lord. When, out of compassion, He bestows the qualification on  others, they also become qualified.

TEXT 68

adi-deva mahayogi isvara vaisnava

mahimara anta iha na janaye saba

Even the greatest Vaisnava and yogi, Lord Mahadeva, does not know the  limit of His glories.

.

Even Mahadeva is incapable of understanding the limits of Nityananda  Prabhu's glorious service. Although Rudradeva is most self-controlled and  in the category of supreme controller, he is unable to serve Gaura in all  respects like Nityananda.

TEXT 69

najaniya ninde' taìra caritra agadha paiya o visyyubhakti  haya tara vadha

The progress of anyone who blasphemes Him without under- standing  the depth of His characteristics is obstructed, even if he achieves  devotional service to Visnu.

Even if by some good fortune they achieve devotion to Visnu, those who  are bereft of Nityananda Prabhu's service and who blas- pheme Him,  being unable to appreciate His unfathomable pastimes, will be checked in  their progress.

 TEXT 70

caitanyera priya deha—nityananda rama hau mora  prana-natha—ei manaskama

My only desire is that Nityananda Rama, who is most dear to Caitanya,  may be the Lord of my life.

Another reading of priya deha is pìya seha, which means "also dear."  The phrase priya deha indicates that His body is nondifferent from that  of the Lord.

TEXT 71

taìhara prasade haila caitanyete mati tanhara ajìaya  likhi caitanyera stuti

By His mercy my mind became attracted to Lord Caitanya, and by His  order I am writing this glorification of Lord Caitanya.

TEXT 72

'raghunatha,' 'yadunatha'—yena nama bheda ei-mata  bheda—'nityananda', 'baladeva'

Just as Raghunatha and Yadunatha are different names for the same  person, I know that Nityananda and Baladeva are different only in  name.

Just as Raghava Ramacandra and Yadava Krsna are nondifferent yet  Their names are different due to Their different pastimes, in the same  way due to the difference in the pastimes of Nityananda and  Gaurasundara from those of Baladeva and Krsna, They are different in  name.

TEXT 73

samsarera para haìa bhahtira sagare ye dubibe se  bhajuha nitai-candere

 Those who wish to cross the ocean of material existence and drown  in the ocean of devotional service should worship Lord Nityananda.

TEXT 74

ye va gaya ei katha haiya tatpara sagosthire tare varadata  visvambhara

Anyone who attentively chants these topics receives with his associates  benedictions given by Visvambhara.

Mahaprabhu awards benedictions to those persons, along with their  friends, who engage in the service of Gauracandra and sing His glories  under the direction of Nityananda.

TEXT 75

jagate durlabha bada visvambhara-nama sei prabhu  caitanya—sabara dhana-prana

The name of Visvambhara is very rare in this world. That Lord is Sri  Caitanya, the life and soul of all.

Sri Caitanyadeva is the all-in-all for the entire world and the life and soul  of the fourteen worlds. The name Visvambhara is very rare in this world.  This Visvambhara is Sri Caitanya. Those who sing the glories of taking  shelter at the lotus feet of Nityananda, the dearmost servant of Sri  Visvambhara, are also rare. Such good fortune is not possibile for  everyone. That is why the name of Visvambhara is rare.

TEXT 76

sri krsna-caitanya nityananda-canda jana vrndavanadasa  tachu pada-yuge gana

Accepting Sri Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu as my life and soul, I,  Vrndavana dasa, sing the glories of Their lotus feet.