Srila Kavi-karnapura's Sri Caitanya-carita

1 Glory to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who has come to the town of Navadvipa! His form is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss. He is dark Krsna, who danced with the fair gopis in Vrndavana forest. How have His limbs now become fair by tightly embracing them?

2 I offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who with showers of sweet nectar golden splendour of His limbs, showers that stop all sufferings, and with streams of honey from His lotus feet, again and again washes this world.

3 We worship Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whose long arms reach His knees, whose limbs are decorated by a great circle of light, whose playful glance almost touches His ears, whose cheeks are splendid, and who plays like a hundred lions.

4 Everyone should serve Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who with the glorious nectar splendour of His jewel toenails washes away the sleepy ignorance of the three worlds, and with the flooding waves of His love cools the three worlds.

5 With the splendid nectar of His dancing feet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fills the three worlds. I think that nectar is His eternally new mercy. Everyone should worship that mercy again and again.

6 His splendour is supremely glorious and sweet. His great mercy is supremely perfect. His intelligence is glorious and perfect. Please bow down before Lord Gauranga's feet.

7 What wise philosopher is able to describe even a tiny fragment of the wonder that is the ocean of Lord Gauranga's transcendental qualities, the splendour of His handsomeness, and His intelligence and other virtues? Doubling His own powers again and again, even Lord Gaurangacandra Himself cannot describe these things.

8 Only a person whose heart trembles with love and who has heard them from the mouths of they who are like bumblebees at the Lord's lotus feet can describe the pastimes of Lord Krsna, who is the life's Lord of Vraja's beautiful girls, pastimes that are sweet with youthfulness and rich with handsomeness and charming playfulness.

9 Who is Lord Caitanya? He is the Supreme Person whose feet are worshipped by the jewels on the crowns of Brahma and other great demigods, who are themselves the crest jewels of the heavenly cities. Who am I? I am a restless fool. They who are pious and wise never turn from the great mercy Lord Caitanya offers.

10 Although I am bewildered at heart, I have somehow seen or heard of many of Lord Caitanya's pastimes. How can an insignificant person like myself hope to describe them? I can describe them only if I am filled with Lord Caitanya's mercy.

11 What does it matter that I cannot glorify all the Lord's pastimes? By glorifying the Lord's pastimes as far as one is able, a person becomes very fortunate. A person who glorifies the Lord's pastimes as far as he is able is never to be mocked or derided. No one has the power to describe all the pastimes of the Supreme Lord.

12 Even if my book is full faults, the wise, who become intoxicated by hearing songs about the Lord's lotus feet, will still accept it. I have not a moment's worry that they will not like it.

13 The master of the lives of the beautiful women in beautiful Vrndavana flooded the world with the nectar waves of His pastimes. Again and again He tasted the nectar of His pastimes. Unwilling to stay away from these pastimes, He has again come to this world.

14 Thus, on the pretext of mercifully teaching the worlds, again and again the Lord tasted the nectar of these pastimes. When the Lord finally left this world, the devotees, now the most unhappy of persons, feel to the ground.

15 Again and again they pitifully cried, "O Gauranga! O beloved! O Lord! O friend of the fallen! O life of the devotees! O treasure of the devotees!" Hearing their words breaks one's heart into a hundred pieces.

16 The devotees were tormented by the fires of the Lord's absence. They saw the entire universe empty, as if it had been completely destroyed. Tears tore their hearts with a hundred wounds. Again and again they screamed "Alas! Alas!"

17 O Lord more dear than life, the touch of Your feet made the earth most happy and fortunate. Now that You are gone, the earth is drowning in flames of sufferings.

18 Ah, what long austerities did the earth perform so the nectar from Your feet filled her with nectar. Alas! Alas! Now that You have gone the earth explains the meaning of her name "she is bears all burdens."

19 O Lord, O beloved, O Lord of the heart, O ocean of mercy, O limitless one, O forgiver of sins, O dear one, O dear one, alas, alas, now we are all dead! In the absence of Your feet everyone has become poor and wretched. Everyone sighs pitifully, like a host of tortured sinners.

20 They who love the Lord's feet are most fortunate. Alas, alas, they who attained the Lord's association and are now separated from Him are most unhappy and unfortunate. They are like walking corpses.

21 Alas, what is the identity of they who, once smelling the sweet fragrance of the Lord's glorious lotus feet, do not at once renounce everything in this world? Are these persons all animals? Are they all trees and vines? Alas, alas, are they all unconscious stones?

22 They who find their happiness in drinking the nectar found at the Lord's lotus feet leave behind their homes, wealth, and relatives. They are the greatest of saints, saints who act like poor beggars wandering in the forests and mountains.

23 Alas, alas, alas, alas, who, having once drunk with his eyes the nectar of His lotus feet, smelled the sweetness of His love, drunk from the ocean of His love, and tasted the sweetness of His words, can bear to be separated from Lord Caitanya?

24 Intoxicated by the fragrance of His lotus feet, even today everyone has left behind all material bonds and become rapt in singing the holy names and dancing. Who can tolerate the flames of separation from Him?

25 Did someone see His sublimely merciful feet? Are the people hard like thunderbolts? Is love for Him standing among us? Alas, alas, our fate is that we must suffer in separation from Him.

26 I think the world has become a bottomless abyss where all the people have fallen into a great fire of sufferings and no one remains alive. Alas, alas, crooked fate is very strange.

27 By hearing only briefly of the Lord's dear virtues how many people have become free, even now, from death? They who again and again gaze upon the Lord and hear about Him experience happiness at every moment. Alas, alas, we live without seeing and hearing of Him. How sinful we must be!

28 Filled with the nectar of the Lord's feet, with His holy name, and with the great glory of His many virtues, the earth was once very fortunate, but now the same earth is burning in the fires of the Lord's separation. We will never be able to understand the cruel pastimes of fate.

29 Breathing long and hot sighs, loudly lamenting, their bodies emaciated, and tears streaming from their eyes as they weep pitifully, the devotees faint again and again as they remember the virtues of their dear Lord. This is all very astonishing.

Chapter Two

1 Splendid with many glittering jewels, and more fortunate and glorious than all the planets of heaven, the earth goddess placed the city of Navadvipa in her realm and set many great jewels within it.

2 Is this a host of glories that she had accumulated in one place, or is this the famous city of Navadvipa that the earth goddess, the trees that are the hairs of her body standing erect in ecstasy, has placed within her realm?

3 In her heart thinking, "When will the Lord come?" The earth goddess blossomed with expectation. Overcome by a host of desires, she followed the path walked by the devotees' lotus feet.

4 The earth is again home to sacred Mathura, which is now disguised as Navadvipa. Who can describe all the pious deeds the earth goddess must have performed that now the nectar touch of the Supreme Lord's feet fills her heart with bliss?

5-6 Flowing from the Supreme Lord's lotus feet, the beautiful, sacred, and sweeter-than-nectar Ganges river flowed past the demigod Siva's matter locks, locks decorated with a crescent moon and a chaplet of skulls, and eagerly entered the realm of Navadvipa.

7 Even though it was famous as the river of the heavenly worlds, the Ganges flowed upon the earth. Even though is was liquid by nature, it dried up the entire ocean of repeated birth and death. Even though it flowed from the dark form of Lord Krsna, it was clear and fair. Even though it flowed with winding currents, it destroyed the winding illusions of material life.

8 Eager to attain the fragrance of the Supreme Lord's lotus feet, the beautiful Ganges flowed through the land of Navadvipa.

9 In Navadvipa lived many saintly and devoted brahmanas who regularly performed the duties prescribed in the Vedas, and who were like the personified rules of Sruti and Smrti.

10 In Navadvipa lived many saintly and powerful physicians and many saintly vaisyas devoted to their prescribed duties. Everyone who lived there was filled with peerless glory and splendour.

11 Impelled by divine love, saintly Advaita Prabhu, the most glorious of the devotees, decorated the land of Navadvipa. Everyone was able to gaze upon Him.

12 Very generous, learned in all the Vedas and Agamas, the best of the devotees, and the moon of the brahmanas, saintly Srivasa stayed always in Navadvipa.

13 Intelligent, born in an exalted family, learned, and travelled to the father shore of many different branches of learning, glorious Jagannatha Misra was like a crown decorating the brahmanas of Navadvipa.

14 Virtuous, pure-hearted, exalted, intelligent, and learned in the Vedas, Nilambara Cakravati gave his daughter in marriage to Jagannatha Misra.

15 That daughter, who was named Saci, was very virtuous and exalted. Even the dear wife of the demigod Indra was not as glorious, pure, and exalted as she.

16 Standing by saintly Purandara Misra's side, Saci shone like a crescent moon or like the other Saci by the side of King Indra.

Note: Purandara Misra is another name of Jagannatha Misra.

17 This saintly couple stayed at home and performed the duties of household life. In time they had eight daughters, who all died, one after the other.

18 Very unhappy, this saintly couple took shelter of the Supreme Lord's merciful lotus feet and begged for a child.

19 Then the fortunate couple gave birth to a very handsome son named Visvarupa. The mother became very happy, and the father also showed great pleasure in his smiling face. Their seeming poverty mocked the greatest wealth.

20 Visvarupa was very handsome. He was splendid like the moon. Very quickly He crossed to the father shore of the ocean of all branches of learning.

21 He was very intelligent. When He was only a young boy He became learned in all the Vedas and Agamas. Goddess Sarasvati became His submissive maidservant. She always danced on the tip of His tongue.

22 After a little time beautiful-eyed Saci become especially beautiful. She became like the eastern horizon just before the rising of the moon.

23 Saintly, fortunate, glorious Saci held in the beautiful nectar ocean of her womb a handsome and glorious moon that was about to rise there.

24 After thirteen months passed in this way the very auspicious month of Phalguna, which is the place of happiness for all the worlds, came at last.

25 Thinking, "The Lord will now come", Springtime, the king of all seasons, came early. He was very eager to see the Lord.

26 Wishing to accompany her hero, the goddess of the beauty of spring placed her foot in the forest, a foot decorated with anklets of wandering buzzing bees, a foot resting upon the vines and new buds.

27 Thinking, "the Lord will appear," the goddess of spring carefully arranged her garments and ornaments. When her husband approached, she sweetly smiled. She yearned to see Him.

28 The beauty of spring gently smiled and that smile maddened the cuckoos and made them coo very sweetly and playfully. That smile made the flowers bloom and filled them with sweetness and honey.

29 The beauty of spring tied in braids the sweetness of the tamala forest that was her hair, and made the black bees and blossoming vines that were here eyebrows dance with joy.

30 Her beautiful eyes wide open, she made a crown of new flowers. Garlanded with lavanga flowers, she built a cottage of lotus stems.

31 She happily decorated her kesara-bud breasts with asoka flowers, kunkuma, sweet flower-pollen and sandal paste.

32 Then the ten directions became clear and pure, the sky became clear and pure, very pure breezes blew, everyone's heart became clear and pure, and the rivers' waters also became clear and pure.

33 Then, pleasing everyone in the world, happily embracing the full-moon day, and again and again kissing the face of the eastern horizon, the full moon shone with great splendour.

34 It was springtime, the best of seasons. It was the bright fortnight. It was the full-moon day, the best of days. Everything was virtuous and auspicious.

35 Wildly happy with the appearance of spring, the cuckoos sand the word "Glory!" The bees gracefully danced. A breeze blew from the south.

36 Bearing the scents of many bunches of flowers and many drops of warm water mixed with lotus pollen, and embracing each vine one by one, a gentle breeze blew from the Malaya Hills.

37 When the time came for the appearance of supremely auspicious Lord Caitanya, the world became peaceful and pure. With His transcendental power the Lord defeated the darkness of this world.

38 When Lord Caitanya appeared all directions were filled with splendour. It was as if many moons and many lightning flashes had suddenly fallen on the earth.

39 When Lord Caitanya appeared there was an eclipse of the moon and everyone loudly chanted "Haribol!" Had it not been for the eclipse there would not have been this chanting of the Lord's holy names.

40 Thinking, "Why do we need you? There already is another moon shining on the earth." Rahu happily swallowed the nectar moon in the sky.

41 Filled with the desire to enjoy pastimes of eternal love, the Supreme Lord wished to appear in that chanting of His holy names. Look! He has flooded the universe with the nectar of His holy names.

42 Gazing at the playful sprout of their newborn son's glory, the mother and father became plunged in an ocean of joy.

43 Enabled by many past pious deeds, Jagannatha Misra gazed at his son and became filled with bliss. Then he gave honestly attained wealth in charity to many exalted brahmanas.

44 Simply by the Lord's appearance all the planets became exalted and favourable. The astrological sign was Leo and the principal star was Purva-phalguni.

45 Then the entire universe became very beautiful. It became like a great treasury filled with jewels. In this world nothing can be beautiful without the touch of the Supreme Lord.

46 The full moon and the springtime became doubly beautiful. The became the servants of the moonlike face of the Supreme Lord, the Lord who fulfils the most rare and unattainable of desires.

47 The beauty of unsleeping red lotus flowers again and again served the Lord's eyes. The restless black bees worshipped His eyebrows. The splendour of newly blossoming flowers worshipped His ears.

48 With great beauty a new sesame flower served the Lord's nose. A round mirror served the charming circle of the Lord's cheeks.

49 The new bandhuka flowers, the hosts of new buds, and the red coral all worship the Lord's soft lips, which charm all the worlds.

50 The bright and beautiful autumn moonlight serves the Lord's world-enchanting smile. Eager to become glorious like the Lord's teeth, the pearls' splendour also worships the Lord's smile.

51 The splendour of the peerless golden conchshell takes shelter of the Lord's neck, which is graceful with three folds of skin. The splendour of new and glistening molten gold serves the Lord's graceful arms.

52 The beauty of many blossoming red lotus flowers with splendid and soft petals shines in the Lord's soft and graceful hands. The buds of the campaka flowers have taken shelter of the Lord's graceful fingers.

53 The splendour of a host of great jewels worshipped His nails. The glory of golden Mount Meru worshipped His broad chest.

54 The graceful and heroic slenderness of the lion's waist worshipped His waist. The graceful flower bud worshipped His navel.

55 The splendour of the golden banana trees worshipped His gently tapering thighs. The beauty of the red lotus flowers worshipped the soft soles of His feet.

56 Saci and Jagannatha Misra were very pleased to see these auspicious qualities of the Lord, and Nilambara Cakravati was also very pleased in his heart.

57 All the pure-hearted people became very happy. "This child will deliver many in both His father's and mother's family. He will bring them great joy," they said.

58 Then joyful, noble-hearted Jagannatha Misra performed the birth ceremony for his child. Again and again he worshipped the brahmanas with gifts of flowers, betel nuts, fragrances and sandal paste.

59 In time Jagannatha Misra, who was honoured by the entire world, happily performed his son's standing-up ceremony. Day after day the boy grew, and day after day His parents' happiness overflowed.

60 In time the Lord began to playfully crawl about with His knees to the ground. The touch of the Lord's limbs removed all the sufferings the earth felt because of His long absence.

61 How many times did His sweet, playful, childish words plunge the swan of His father's heart in the waves of an ocean of nectar?

62 Because the whole world would become filled with this boy's chanting of His own holy names and with a host of His other beautiful nectar pastimes,, His noble-hearted and joyful father gave Him the name Visvambhara (the maintainer of the worlds).

63 His form splendid like a mountain of molten gold, His smiling face graceful like the moon, His forehead decorated with moving black locks of hair, and His garments the wind, the infant Lord was splendidly manifested.

64 In His childhood the Lord grew like a gradually increasing new moon. He was like a very great and delightful jewel from the ocean of all sweetness.

65 His bracelets, belt, and necklace of coral, pearls, and jewels sweetly tinkled as again and again He danced.

66 In the course of time slowly placing His very sweet lotus feet on the ground, the infant Lord, who is an ocean of mercy, gave relief to the earth, who had suffered from His long absence.

67 Eager to play with the other boys, the charming boy Lord enjoyed a mock fight, hitting and being hit, with new and tender twigs as the childish weapons.

68 One day, seeing her child playing in this way with the boys, kind-hearted Mother Saci became angry and decided to catch her son. By a trick she suddenly appeared before Him.

69 Seeing her, the angry child Lord broke many clay pots. Seeing this, frightened Saci tied Him up.

70 One day, climbing onto a heap of rejected clay pots, the child Mahaprabhu preached to His mother the philosophy of jnana-yoga.

71 Seeing her son in that unclean place, she became upset and said, "O dear one, leave this unclean place, bathe, and come sit on my lap."

72 Hearing His mother's words, the child Mahaprabhu reflected on the nature of matter and eternal spirit and then said, "O mother, please hear My words. Please abandon the illusion in your bewildered heart."

73 "This universe that you see, a universe filled with moving and unmoving beings, is only an illusion and nothing more. O mother, how can an illusion be pure or impure? What you have said is a very surprising and unusual idea."

74 "There are not many selves. 'I' and 'mine' do not really exist. Only the one self always exists. All else is illusion.

75 "Only one self lives in the bodies of demigods, men, and demons, bodies made of the five elements, earth, water, air, fire and ether.

76 "Therefore everything is naturally pure. How can anything be impure in this world?" When He had spoken these words, intelligent Saci at once grasped her son with both hands.

77 Taking Him along, she bathed her son in the Ganges' water, and in that way she became pleased. After some time Mother Saci scolded her son with many words.

78 "O foolish one, why again and again do You go to the impure places? Why do You act so badly?" Hearing His mother's words, the Lord became angry. His eyes became red and restless with anger.

79 "Have I not told you many times? Nothing is impure. Everything is spiritual. Still, you rebuke Me again and again." After speaking these words, the Lord struck His mother with a clod of earth.

80 Struck in this way, delicate Saci at once fell to the ground. Crying our, "O mother!", and His heart melting, the Lord sat on her lap.

81 Coming quickly, many women sprinkled water on her face. At once she became conscious. The shower of nectar that was the touch of Her son's limbs filled her with happiness.

82 One kind-hearted woman who was fond of joking said to Lord Mahaprabhu, who is loved by all the worlds, "If You give Your mother a coconut, she will become healthy again."

83 Hearing her words, the Lord at once left. In a moment He returned with two coconuts attached to their stalks.

84 Seeing the Lord bring these difficult-to-gather fruits, the brahmana ladies became surprised. "How did You get these fruits?", they said.

85 The Lord angrily rebuked them, "What is surprising about this? One need not be Brahma or Siva to gather coconuts."

86 One night, as she rested in the same room with her small son, Saci thought she saw many people approach her house. She said to her son:

87 "Go quickly to Your father's room!" Saying, "So be it", the boy left, and from far away, suddenly came the sweet sound of tinkling anklets on beautiful lotus feet.

88 Both mother and father heard the tinkling of anklets on lotus feet, a tinkling like the buzzing of bees flying over lotus flowers blossoming out of season.

89 Frightened, the both said, "That is the tinkling of anklets!" Delighted by the sound of the anklets, Jagannatha Misra approached his son and embraced Him.

90 In time Visvarupa, the Lord's elder brother, attained His sixteenth year. He had crossed to the farther shore of all virtues. He saw the Supreme Lord present everywhere in this world.

91 He was noble-hearted, all-knowing, peaceful, self-controlled, attached to the Lord's lotus feet, and unattached to the world of matter.

92 Deciding to arrange an auspicious marriage for his son, father Jagannatha Misra searched for a suitably beautiful and virtuous bride. That very moment Visvarupa knew everything of His father's plans.

93 Understanding His father's desire, noble Visvarupa left home, crossed the Ganges and began a great journey. He renounced everything.

94 Visvarupa, who was an ocean of virtues and who had renounced all material duties, accepted sannyasa and wandered here and there. They who do not desire anything in this worthless material world are never bewildered.

95 Hearing of this, father Jagannatha Misra and mother Saci lamented loudly and fell unconscious in their grief. Later, becoming a little consoled, the gave all blessings to their son. They earnestly desired His welfare.

96 They said, "Our son has taken sannyasa at a very young age. O fate, please be kind to Him, so that He may remain always pious and religious."

97 In this way the unhappy couple lamented again and again. Still, their younger son made them very happy. Placing Him on their laps, they became very happy to have the touch of His body.

98 The Lord was an ocean of mercy. His heart melted with love. With the vines of His arms He embraced His mother and father. He spoke to them a nectar flood of life-giving words.

99 He said, "O mother, My peaceful and renounced elder brother has now left both you and father. From this moment I shall always serve both you and father."

100 Hearing these profound and sweet nectar words, the Lord's parents became flooded with happiness. The hairs of their bodies stood erect.

101 The touch of the Lord's limbs flooded with nectar first their hearts and then the pathway of their eyes.

102 The kind Lord always served and pleased them. He diligently studied His lessons, and again and again He played with the other boys.

103 One day, seeing that his son was very independent, father Jagannatha rebuked Him again and again. As that night he slept, very fortunate and pure-hearted Jagannatha saw a dream.

104 "You say, 'My son is very independent. His heart yearns only to play.' In this way You will not honour the person who has come before you in a golden form.

105 "A foolish animal, unable to know what is valuable and what is not valuable, sees and touches a great jewel, but does not know its true nature. It is bewildered. How can it know?"

106 With these words a brahmana, his eyes red with anger, rebuked Jagannatha Misra in that dream. When saintly-hearted Jagannatha awakened, he was filled with wonder. He told everyone what he had heard.

107 Hearing of this dream, the people became filled with wonder. With their hearts and words they became convinced that Jagannatha's son was the Supreme Personality of Godhead. "He is the Supreme", they said.

108 One day, standing in His home, His bodily effulgence dispelling all darkness, the Lord said to His mother:

109 "O mother, please listen, and I will tell what should be done." Saci accepted His words and said, "O dear one, whatever You say shall certainly be done. O dear one, please say it."

110 The Lord said, "O mother, never eat on ekadasi." Saci, who was decorated with great good fortune, accepted her son's order.

111 Once rejecting some betel nuts, the Lord said to His mother, "O mother, please protect your son's body. I am trembling."

112 Then Lord Mahaprabhu fell, like many millions of lightning flashes, to the ground. Seeing that He was unconscious, agitated Saci sprinkled Him with Ganges' water again and again.

113 Then the Lord became conscious again. He opened His glistening lotus eyes and He stood up. He shone like an autumn moon.

114 Hearing of this, father Jagannatha expressed his surprised. He said, "What is this? What is this?"

115 Who can understand the Lord's heart, intentions, true nature, and pastimes? Even powerful Brahma and Siva and even all the Vedas cannot understand Him.

116 In the brief time He stayed at His guru's home all branches of learning eagerly entered Him. They were like rivers flowing into the ocean.

117 In time the Lord's father became old, infirm, and feverish. Seeing His father like this, the unhappy Lord took him to the Ganges' shore.

118 Unhappy at heart, the Lord placed to His chest His father's feet and said, "O father, how can you leave me, a child, all alone? Where will you go?"

119 Hearing the Lord's pleasing nectar words, at the last moment father Jagannatha, the best of brahmanas, said to his son, "If You place me at Lord Raghunatha's feet I shall be happy."
120 Then mother Saci clasped her husband's lotus feet. With a choked voice she lamented again and again. She showered him with the tears from her eyes.

121 She said, "O master, will you leave me and make me cry like an unhappy kurari bird? Where will you go? Your servant-girl is very unhappy."

122 As the people chanted the Lord's holy names and the demigods in heaven showered sumanah flowers, father Jagannatha left this world at that place by the Ganges.

Chapter Three

1 Kamadeva crowned as the ruler of the kingdom of youth Lord Caitanya, whose graceful and youthful limbs were a nectar flood of youthful handsomeness.

2 The Lord studied under a cheerful, learned, expert teacher named Visnu dasa. By considering this pandita His teacher, the Lord gave great mercy to him. How can anyone be the Lord's teacher?

3 The Lord also studied diligently under the grammarian Ganga-dasa, who was the teacher of many brahmanas.

4 Happily joking with His devotees, the Lord manifested His pastimes. He was a jewel shining among the brahmanas of the world.

5 One day the fair Lord went to saintly Vanamali Acarya's home, where He enjoyed the nectar of discussing the scriptures.

6 After their conversation the Lord departed. On the pathway a certain girl who was like a golden vine or a stream of nectar became the guest of His eyes.

7 Walking with her friends on their way to bathe in the Ganges, that girl who was the daughter of Vallabhacarya and was also and incarnation of Goddess Laksmi, entered the path of the Lord's eyes.

8 Seeing His eternal beloved, the Lord became plunged in an ocean of happiness. Who does not become happy when he falls in love?

9 Seeing the goddess of fortune, the Lord who is an ocean of mercy became happy at heart. A golden necklace is not beautiful without the ornament of a rare and precious jewel.

10 One foot still in childhood, the goddess stood at the boundary of adolescence. Gazing at the Lord, she became filled with restlessness and shyness. She rejoiced again and again.

11 Joking with His friends and gazing at her, the Lord approached His beloved. The Supreme Lord who enjoys confidential, eternal and delightful pastimes, shone with great splendour.

12 On another day the great-hearted, modest, and pure devotee named Vanamali Acarya came to the Lord's home. Bowing down before Mother Saci, he said to her:

13 "Vallabhacarya's young daughter is fortunate, virtuous, beautiful, graceful, and pious. She is like Goddess Laksmi descended to the earth. O beautiful lady, she should be married to your son."

14 "O beautiful one, if you wish, this beautiful faultless jewel of a girl, who is glorious like a goddess, will be, without any further effort, at once married to your jewel of a son."

15 Hearing these words, Mother Saci became silent. She said nothing. Not believing the words she heard, she was not inclined to arrange this marriage for her son.

16 Not hearing any words from Mother Saci, Vanamali Acarya became unhappy and left. The unhappiness in his heart written all over his face, he happened to see Lord Mahaprabhu.

17 Seeing saintly Vanamali Acarya, moon-faced Lord Caitanya, the young moon of Navadvipa, who was glorious like thousands of moons, became happy, bowed down before him, tightly embraced him, and spoke to him the following words:

18 "O noble-hearted one, where did you go? Why are you so unhappy?" He replied, "I went to see Your mother's feet. Now I am unhappy."

19 Hearing this, the Lord, who is an ocean of mercy, did not give any reply, but merely returned to His home. He was now very unhappy with His mother.

20 Returning home and now speaking words like thunder, the Lord asked His mother, "O mother, what words did you speak that Vanamali Acarya is now so unhappy?"

21 "Why did you not agree with whatever he said? Why were you not pleased with what he said? To please a saintly person is to perform a very pious deed."

22 Understanding that her son had just agreed to the proposal, mother Saci happily sent a messenger to bring Vanamali Acarya at once. What is not quickly accomplished by the Lord's desire?

23 Hurriedly entering, Vanamali Acarya bowed before Mother Saci and said, "What does the goddess command?" He bowed his head and said, "Order me. I am your servant."

24 Mother Saci said, "O dear one, you proposed this marriage and now you may make the arrangement that it will be performed. You are very dear to us. You are a friend. You are our kinsman."

25 Hearing Saci's words, saintly and pure-hearted Vanamali Acarya, who was learned in all the scriptures, at once left to make arrangements for the wedding.

26 His heart filled with happiness, he hurried to the home of Vallabhacarya, who at once rose from his seat to honour his saintly visitor.

27 Offering a nice seat to his guest, who was the jewel of brahmanas, saintly and humble-hearted Vallabhacarya asked the following question:

28 "You have always been kind to me. Now you have come to my h0ome. What is your mission? O noble-hearted one, please tell."

29 Hearing these words, saintly and pure-hearted Vanamali, whose bodily hairs were now erect with joy, and who had come to arrange the Supreme Lord's wedding, spoke the following auspicious words:

30 "Jagannatha Misra's son is filled with virtues. He is a Kamadeva among men. His handsome form charms the people of the three worlds.

31 "Collecting together all the handsomeness in the world, the expert creator Brahma created the nectar form of Jagannatha Misra's son.

32 "Creating the moonlike face of Jagannatha Misra's son, the creator Brahma could understand that he had made the best of all faces. Again and again with his four mouths he declared, "Well done! Well done!"

33 "The handsome form of Jagannatha Misra's son pleases all the people of the world. As a kalpa-vrksa tree is the perfect match for a kalpa-valli vine, and as precious jewel is the perfect match for a precious pearl, so He is the perfect match for your daughter."

34 Hearing these words, saintly and famous Vallabhacarya thought for a moment and then spoke to the jewel of the brahmanas the following friendly and auspicious words:

35 "O noble-hearted one, great good fortune has now come upon me. As you have spoken, so may it be. Your proposal is very pleasing to my heart.

36 "If a person like this becomes the husband of my daughter, then either the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very kind to me, or I must be very fortunate, or my daughter must have performed many pious deeds. That is my conclusion."

37 "As the union of a precious jewel and a golden necklace is very glorious, so the union of these two will be very glorious."

38 Please to hear these humble words, Vanamali Acarya said, "They who are saintly and humble like you attain all suspiciousness."

39 His heart trembling with happiness for the wedding to come, the very fortunate and exalted brahmana Vanamali Acarya returned to Saci's home and told her everything.

40 When she learned of all this, mother Saci felt her body become filled with happiness. Thinking of how personified good-fortune had come to her, in a secluded place she said to her jewel son:

41 "Now is the happy and auspicious time of Your marriage." Hearing this, the most wise Lord at once understood what was to be.

42 By Mother Saci's order many beautiful ingredients for the ceremony were brought to a secluded place. The time of the ceremony, a time decorated with auspicious arrangements of the stars, came.

43 There were tumultuous waves of mrdanga music. There was jubilant dancing.

44 With sounds everywhere of brahmanas chanting the Vedas, sounds of mrdangas, sounds of "Jaya!" and the scents of sandal paste, aguru, asusira and incense, that time shone with great splendour.

45 As the nectar moon-god shines with his wife Rohini by his side, so the Supreme Lord shone with the splendid goddess of fortune, a jewel placed among the brahmanas of the earth, by His side.

46 Then the Lord gave garlands, sandal paste, and betel nuts to the brahmanas, who with smiling faces dove into an ocean of happiness.

47 Accompanied by many brahmanas and brahmanis, and bearing scents and fragrant garlands, wise Vallabhacarya approached and gave his blessings to Lord Mahaprabhu.

48 Then, as dawn was decorated with the glorious sun, the Lord bathed and properly performed nandimukha-sraddha to worship the pitas.

49 Then there was a great sound of brahmanas reciting the Vedas, musicians playing mrdangas and panavas, and beautiful girls trilling ululas.

50 When the brahmana ladies worshipped her, Mother Saci told them, "What is the use of worshipping me? I am only a woman who has lost the lotus feet of her husband. Better that you worship my son."

51 Hearing His mother's sad words, the Lord remembered His father. Overcome with grief, He shed great-pearl tears that flowed from His eyes to His broad chest.

52 Accompanied by the other ladies, mother Saci gazed at her son. She said, "O son, why do you make this auspicious moment inauspicious with these tears from Your eyes?"

53 Hearing these words, the Lord gave out a long sigh. His broad chest wilting and the moon of His face fading like the moon at daybreak, the Lord spoke the following sad words:

54 "I have neither wealth nor followers. O mother, you have described My plight. I am very poor and miserable. Tell Me: What should I do?"

55 "At once distribute to the brahmanas and devotees what you see of wealth, betel nuts, fragrant flower garlands, garments, and ornaments.

56 "I have no father. I am weak. O mother, what shall I say? Although We have the power to perform duties to please the demigods, still We perform these worldly duties instead."

57 When she heard this, mother Saci comforted her son with many sweet words. Then she anointed His chest with sandal and aguru.

58 Decorated with ornaments, flower garlands, and fragrant ointments, glorious with the sweetness of the three worlds, filled with the glory of handsomeness, and His face sweetly smiling, the Lord shone with great splendour.

59 Then the brahmana Vallabhacarya performed the duties to please the pitas and demigods. Then he decorated his daughter with many valuable ornaments.

60 Then many brahmanas were sent to bring the bridegroom, who was the most handsome of men. To Him they spoke the following auspicious and elegant words:

61 "O child, may Your path always be auspicious". Then the happy Lord entered a palanquin and travelled in the company of His relatives and the brahmanas and devotees.

62 Then the Lord entered Vallabhacarya's home, which was splendid with many shining lamps. Vallabhacarya considered himself very fortunate.

63 Vallabhacarya honoured the Lord of Navadvipa by worshipping Him with padya and other offerings. His form the most graceful and handsome in the three worlds, Lord Mahaprabhu shone with great splendour.

64 His broad arms splendid with golden armlets and bracelets, charming Lord Gauracandra eclipsed the handsomeness of golden Mount Meru and the handsomeness of the kalpa-druma tree of all glory and splendour.

65 Then Vallabhacarya offered his nicely decorated daughter, who was splendid like the autumn moonlight destroying the darkness of all directions, to Lord Mahaprabhu.

66 The girl gazed at the Lord's lotus feet, which she had long yearned to attain. She was splendid like beautiful Goddess Laksmi when that goddess voluntarily accepted Lord Narayana as her husband.

67 Decorated with many sumanah flowers, They gazed at each other, Their glances exchanging the nectar of Their love. They were like the wonderful glory of two glistening moons.

68 Properly sitting to offer his daughter to the Lord, learned Vallabhacarya offered padya to the bridegroom. With eyes of love he offered the affection that was in his heart.

69 Then pure-hearted Vallabhacarya offered arghya decorated with madhuparka to the Lord, and then he offered a beautiful seat to the Lord, who is the greatest of the greatest and whose transcendental form is the most glorious.

70 Then Vallabhacarya offered his daughter to the glorious Supreme Lord. Vallabhacarya became very happy in his heart. The hairs of his body stood erect with his joy.

71 When the glorious wedding festival came to an end, the Lord, who is a great ocean of mercy, departed with His beloved. His face shone like the moon filled with moonlight.

72 Lord Mahaprabhu, who maintains all the universes removed everyone's suffering and showered happiness on everyone in the world. Taking with Him the beautiful goddess of fortune, who had appeared in the form of Vallabhacarya's daughter, the Lord went to His own home.

73 Accompanied by a host of brahmana ladies and filled with happiness because of her son's wedding, Mother Saci made her son and His bride enter Their home.

74 Jubilant Mother Saci gave abundant wealth, many precious garments, and much sandal paste to the brahmanas. When all this was done exalted Mother Saci became very happy.

75 Residing at home, the Lord was always enchanted by His beloved, the beautiful goddess of fortune. Reminded by His mother, he carefully fulfilled the duties of household life.

76 Touching the limbs of her beloved, Vallabhacarya's daughter became flooded with streams of nectar. The tree of desire in her heart blossoming into many flowers, she shone with great splendour.

77 Are these two lotus buds growing on the lake of her chest? Are they two beautiful fruits growing on the vine of her necklace? Are the two baby koka birds playing in the ocean of beauty? Are they the two bulging frontal lobes on Kamadeva's elephant?

78 Are they two golden pitchers the creator Brahma fashioned to show his skill in making beautiful things? The two jewellery cases of her youthful breasts bringing great happiness to the Lord, Vallabhacarya spoke to Him the following words:

79 Employing her face, shy and gentle glances, splendid smiles, and smiling cheeks white like madhuka flowers, she stole the heart of He who was already the ruler of her heart.

80 Employing her large flower-bud breasts, slender waist marked with three folds of skin, and graceful hips and thighs, this beautiful girl stole the heart of He who was already the ruler of her heart.

81 In this way she made the cool nectar stream of her beauty flow before fair Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

82 How many days did the Lord, an ocean of mercy, stay there to give His mercy to the people? Finally, accompanied by the devotees rich in the wealth of His mercy, He went on a journey.

83 Wherever the Lord, splendid like a hundred moons and unlike any person ever seen before, went, the people became enchanted by gazing at the nectar of His handsomeness.

84 Although again and again they drank with their eyes the sight of the moon of the Lord's face, a moon rising from the nectar ocean of His handsomeness, the people still could not reach the farther shore of their thirst.

85 They said among themselves, "Whose son is He? Who is the happy and pious woman that carried Him in Her womb?

86 "He is Kamadeva personified. He is twice as handsome as Kamadeva. No one like Him has ever come before our ears and eyes."

87 Drinking with their eyes the nectar of the Lord's face, the women said, "Who is this person? With the glory of His limbs He crushes the pride of Kamadeva.

88 "What peerless vine of playfulness has sprouted from the treasure of His good fortune? He brings a bliss that places Goddess Rati in the shadows.

89 Hearing the enchanted women speak, the Lord who is a young moon shining in Navadvipa gave them a splendid glance.

90 Simply by hearing His holy name the people cross the great ocean of repeated birth and death. Who can describe the great mercy Lord Mahaprabhu grants when He walks on the pathway of one's eyes?

91 Bathing in her waters, the merciful Lord made the earthly Ganges very fortunate. Accompanied by many saintly devotees, Lord Mahaprabhu stayed by her shore and touched her waters.

Note: The word Padmavati (Ganges) here refers to the eastern part of the Ganges, which flows through East Bengal (Bangladesh).

92 Flooded with the nectar of the Lord's touch, the tall-banked earthly Ganges at once became like the Ganges in the world of the devas.

93 With the hands that were her waves, the eyes that were the saphari fish in her waters, and the hips that were her broad banks, the beautiful doe-eyed goddess of the Ganges always pleased her Lord.

94 Walking like an intoxicated elephant, the Lord who delights the saintly devotees enjoyed many blissful pastimes that charmed the hearts of the people in the world.

95 The gentle-hearted Lord, who was splendid like ten million moons and whose moonlike face delighted all the people, stayed there for a few months. The He enjoyed pastimes of teaching.

96 Meanwhile, the goddess of fortune stayed at home. Always thinking of the Lord of her life, she diligently served her mother-in-law, massaging and washing her lotus feet, and pleasing her in many ways.

97 For a long time she yearned for the return of the Lord of her life. She served Him, cleaning and anointing the Lord's house.

98 Hearing her words sweet and pure like a cooling flood of nectar, Saci thought her son's bride was like another goddess of fortune personified.

99 Staying with her daughter-in-law and loving her as she loved her own son, Saci became rapt in thinking of her son's return. In this way a long time passed.

100 As the Lord enjoyed pastimes, the goddess of fortune became rapt in thinking of Him. She was afflicted with the disease of His absence.

101 Then, pushed by destiny, a very cruel, wicked, and hard-hearted snake plunged its sharp fangs into the feet of the goddess of fortune, feet fragrant like autumn lotus flowers.

102 Seeing what had happened, Saci tried to drain the poison. Filled with love for her daughter-in-law, Saci stayed always with her and tried to care for her.

103 Many different attempts were made to counteract the poison. They all failed. Understanding that this was all ordained by fate, everyone became bewildered and unhappy.

104 Thinking that this was all arranged by the Supreme Lord Himself, Saci took her delicate limbed daughter-in-law to the Ganges shore. Overcome with love and burning with grief, Saci created another Ganges of her tears.

105 Then a splendid airplane descended from the sky, the demigods in heaven showered flowers, and the goddess of fortune, tightly embracing her husband's lotus feet, left her body.

106 Grieving Saci placed her daughter-in-law on her lap. Weeping, she spoke these heavy words in a choked voice:

107 My son, who is now far away and who is very dear to you, gave you to me. Now I am the home of all sufferings. Will I ever see my son's face again?

108 You loved Him. You served Him with great respect and devotion. How is it that You could not see Him now?

109 You called me mother. Why do you now not reply with words of happiness or fear, or with smiles, devotion, or shyness? I am weeping with grief. Why do you not speak to me?

110 If you do not have even a little love for me, still it is my son who is the Lord of your life. O girl who speaks sweetly, it is because you did not see Him that you left?

111 O affectionate one, He who is the Lord of your life was always affectionate to you, still, you have not even a little love for Him. O mother, why have you done this?

112 O girl with the beautiful eyebrows, O girl whose eyes filled with tears as you waited for your husband's return, please glance at frightened me and shyly wipe the tears from my eyes.

113 Your heart burning with pain in the absence of He who is the Lord of your life, every day you frightened and embarrassed me. You should be ashamed.

114 The lotus flower of your heart blossomed in the moonlight of your Lord's face. O hard-hearted one, how can you gaze at His face and then go away? Where will you go?

115 O cruel-hearted snake, my daughter-in-law was very gentle at heart. Why did you bite her and make her leave me? You have not the slightest touch of any kindness.

116 Her limbs were soft like a sirisa flower. Her limbs were so soft they were troubled by the slight touch of a bunch of flowers. Now those limbs are burning with tears. O snake, how could you have burned those limbs with the unbearable fire of your poison. Now I also am dead.

117 In this way unhappy Saci grieved. With tears from her eyes again and again she washed the moon of her daughter-in-law's face.

118 Weeping, she returned home and with difficulty resumed her household duties. Unhappy, she thought, "How can I look at my jewel son when his home no longer holds His bride?"

119 After delivering the people of Bangladesh, the fair moon of Lord Caitanya returned home. He yearned to removed His mother's sufferings.

120 Saci did not become happy when she saw her long-absent son. The unbearable absence of her daughter-in-law made her suffering very great.

121 Then the Lord offered dandavat obeisances and touched the dust of His mother's feet. He gazed at her, saw that she was unhappy, and asked what had happened.

122 Showering her with the nectar of His words, the Lord said to His mother, "O mother, why are you unhappy? Please tell."

123 The stream of tears flowing from her eyes spoke to Him. Smiling Lord Mahaprabhu at once understood.

124 Your daughter-in-law was not a human girl. She came to this earth to fulfil a mission and now she has returned to the world of spirit.

125 I know why she came to the earth and also why she left. O mother, please give up your bewilderment.

126 Hearing these words, Saci became happy. She was happy with her son, her good fortune, and her kinsmen. She was happy like the wife of Indra.

127 Her thoughts filled with plans for her jewel-son's marriage, glorious Saci met with Kasinatha, the best of brahmanas.

128 At once she said to the brahmana, "I wish to arrange for my son's marriage. Please ask the great brahmana named Sanatana to give his daughter to my son."

129 Hearing these words, the brahmana at once went to Sanatana and happily repeated Saci's suggestion for the auspicious marriage.

130 Hearing these words, and then conferring with his kinsmen, Sanatana became happy. "A time should be arranged," he said.

131 After hearing these words the brahmana happily returned and told Saci everything. When she heard it, fortunate Saci became filled with happiness.

132 Then the brahmana Sanatana sent a messenger who bowed down before Saci and said, "Sanatana requests that his beautiful and virtuous daughter be given to your son."

133 "The girl Visnupriya is appropriately named. May your son marry her. May the two of Them be happy like Siva and Parvati."

134 When the messenger returned and told all he had heard, the learned brahmana Sanatana became filled with eternal bliss.

135 His heart trembling with joy, the brahmana famous for his purity collected many auspicious articles. Setting an early date for his daughter's wedding, he was filled with happiness.

136 Then, at an auspicious moment, noble-hearted Sanatana fulfilled all the desires of the saintly brahmanas.

137 Then he gave gifts of betelnuts, sandal paste, and flower garlands to many exalted brahmanas. Accompanied by them, he went to his son-in-law and blessed Him with many mantras.

138 At sunrise of the following day the Lord bathed in the Ganges and performed His daily duties. For how long did the brahmanas anoint Him with sandal paste and fragrances?

139 They said, "O saintly one, all glories to You! Now is the auspicious time of Your wedding." Hearing these words, the merciful Lord mounted a beautiful palanquin.

140 Sitting on the palanquin the Lord's glorious form at once defeated the white autumn clouds, the ocean of milk, and the summit of Mount Sumeru.

141 The hairs of his body erect with joy, Sanatana approached his son-in-law, offered Him padya, a seat, and other gifts, and placed his daughter before Him.

142 Then the brahmana ladies respectfully offered arati to the Lord with auspicious incense and lamps, and then Sanatana offered his daughter to the Lord's lotus feet.

143 Then there was a great sound of patahas, dhakkas, and mardala drums, there were graceful calls of "Victory!" and there was a shower of flowers. Smiling at each other, the Lord and His bride shone with great splendour.

144 Accompanied by the music of instruments and calls of "Victory!", the Lord took His bride home. Then joyful Saci invited the jewel of girls into her home.

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