SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA: CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Morning Pastimes in Nabadwip

yakhana yaha mane pade gauranga-charita
taha likhi, ha-ileo krama-viparita [1]

yakhana–Whenever yaha taha–anything gauranga-charita–about Gauranga's Pastimes pade–comes mane–to mind, likhi–I write [it] down, ha-ileo–even if it is krama-viparita–out of sequence. [1]

I write whatever comes to my mind about Gauranga's Pastimes, whenever it does, even if it is out of sequence.

sachi ai eka-dina bada yatna kari'
gora-avasista-patra more dila dhari' [2]

eka-dina–One day, sachi ai–Mother Sachi bada yatna kari'–very affectionately dhari' dila–gave more–me gora-avasista-patra–the plate with the remnants of Gora's meal. [2]

One day, Mother Sachi very affectionately gave me the plate of Gora's remnants.

ami khailama yena amrtasvadana
gauranga-prasada pana ahladita mana [3]

[My] ahladita mana–heart was delighted pana–by receiving gauranga-prasada–Gauranga's remnants, [and when] ami–I khailama–ate [it, it was] yena–like amrtasvadana–the taste of nectar. [3]

I was delighted to receive Gauranga's prasad, and as I ate it, I felt as though I was tasting nectar.

kabhu ki kariba ami se bhuri bhojana
abona achyuta saka, aiyera randhana [4]
mocha ghanta, kachu-saka tahe phula-badi
manachaki, nimba-patola, ara dadhi-badi [5]

kabhu ki ami kariba–Will I ever eat se–such bhuri–delicious bhojana–food [again]? aiyera–Sachi's randhana–cooking [consisted of] abona achyuta saka–wild spinach, mocha ghanta–banana flower, kachu-saka tahe phula-badi–taro with balls of fried dal, manachaki–ground taro, nimba-patola–patol with neem, ara–and dadhi-badi–balls of fried dal in yoghurt. [4–5]

Will I ever eat such delicious food again? Mother Sachi made wild spinach, banana flower, taro with balls of fried dal, ground taro, patol with neem leaves, and patties of fried dal in yoghurt.

ananda-mati–Joyful bhojane–after eating, chalilama–I walked, hamsa-gati–moving like a swan, nitai-gauranga-gana-sange–in the company of Nitai, Gauranga, and Their associates. yai–We walked ganga-tire tire–along the banks of the Ganges hari-nama-ganera prasange–engaged in chanting the Lord's Name [and] pai–arrived gadigachha grama–in the village fof Gadigachha. [6]

Joyful after eating, I walked like a swan in the company of Nitai, Gauranga, and Their associates. Walking along the banks of the Ganges and chanting the Lord's Name, we arrived in the village of Gadigachha.

govinda–Govinda vaya–played mrdanga–the drum, vasu-ghosa–Vasudev Ghos gaya–chanted nama–the Name, [and] gadadhara–Gadadhar [and] vakresvara–Vakresvar nache–danced. suni'–Hearing rava–the sound haribola–of 'Haribol!' [and] hulu-dhvani–cheering chari-dike–in the four directions, sabe–everyone matoyara–become mad gora-preme–with love for Gora. [7]

Govinda Ghos played mrdanga, Vasudev Ghos chanted the Name, and Gadadhar and Vakresvar danced. Hearing the sound of 'Haribol!' and cheering in all directions, everyone became mad with love for Gora.

jani nahi–I do not know [how to] nacha–dance [or] gana–sing. tabu–Still, nachi–I dance— urdhva-pani–with upraised arms! gauranga–Gauranga pasi'–enters [my] ange–body [and] nachaya–makes me dance. sura-tala-bodha nai–I do not have a sense of rhythm or tune. tabu–Still, nachi–I dance! tabu–Still, gai–I sing! ki jani–I do not know ki–what [my] gaura-sasi–moon-like Gaura jane–thinks. [8]

I do not know how to dance or sing. Still, I dance—with my arms upraised! Gauranga enters my body and makes me do so. I do not have any sense of rhythm or tune. Still, I dance! Still, I sing! I do not know what my moon-like Gaura thinks.

asi'–We came gadigachha grame–to the village of Gadigachha [and] pasi'–entered gopa-palli majhe–a neighbourhood of cowherds. gora–Gora bale–said, "bhakta-gana–"Devotees, suna–listen! aji–Today modera vicharana–our walk [will be] vicharana–a walk daha-kule–around the bank of this lake. sayana kariba–We will rest vrksa-mule–at the base of this tree. [9]

We came to the village of Gadigachha and entered a neighbourhood of cowherds. Gora said, "Devotees, listen! Today we will walk around the bank of this lake, and then we will rest under this tree.

achhe–There are kutuhale–happy gabhi–cows ei vata-vrksa-tale–under this banyan tree. vihara kariba–Let us play gopa-saha"–with the cowherd boys!" bahu–Many gopa-gana–cowherds aila–came [over and] dila–offered dadhi–yoghurt, chhana–curd, [and] nani–butter. [Our] patha-srama–tiredness from the path ara rahila na–remained no longer. [10]

"There are happy cows under this banyan tree. Let us go and play with the cowherd boys!" Many cowherd boys then came over and offered us yoghurt, curd, and butter, and our tiredness from walking was gone.

pradyumna–Pradyumna range–joyfully aila–came over sange–with nrsimhanandera–Nrsimhananda, [and] purusottamacharya–Purusottam Acharya (Svarup Damodar) milila–joined [us]. vadya-rave–At the sound mrdangera–of the mrdanga, sabe–everyone chhadi'–left [their] grha–homes [and] aila–came over. hari-dhvani–The sound of 'Hari' uthila–arose gagane–in the sky. [11]

Pradyumna joyfully came over with Nrsimhananda, and Purusottam Acharya joined us there. Hearing the sound of the mrdanga, everyone left their homes and came over, and the sound of 'Hari' resounded in the sky.

bhima-name gopa eka parama udara
agrasara hana bale, "sunaha gohara [12]

eka–A parama–very udara–cordial gopa–cowherd bhima-name–with the name Bhima agrasara hana–came forward [and] bale–said, "gohara–"Dear sir, sunaha–please listen. [12]

A very cordial cowherd boy named Bhima came forward and said, "Dear sir, please listen.

amara janani syama goyalini dhanya
ganga-nagarera sadhu goyalara kanya [13]

amara–My janani–mother syama–Syama [is] dhanya goyalini–a pious milkmaid [and] kanya–a daughter sadhu goyalara–of a virtuous milkman ganga-nagarera–from Ganga Nagar. [13]

"My mother Syama is a pious milkmaid and a daughter of a virtuous milkman from Ganga Nagar.

sachi aike ma baliya sada kare seva
se samparke tumi amara matula ha-iba [14]

baliya–She calls sachi aike–Sachi Ai ma–'Mother' [and] sada–always seva kare–serves [her.] se samparke–According to this relationship, tumi–You ha-iba–would be amara–my matula–maternal uncle. [14]

"She calls Sachi Ai 'Mother' and always serves her. So, You are my uncle.

chala mama mora ghare chala dala lana
sri-krsna-kirtana kara anandita hana [15]

mama–Dear Uncle, chala–let's go mora ghare–to my house! chala–Let's go lana–with [Your] dala–party [and] anandita hana–happily sri-krsna-kirtana kara–chant the Name of Sri Krishna. [15]

"Dear Uncle, let's go to my house! Come with Your party and happily chant the Name of Sri Krishna.

dadhi-dugdha yaha kichhu rakhiyachhe ma
saba khaoyaiba ara tipe diba pa" [16]

khaoyaiba–I will feed [You] yaha kichhu saba–all dadhi-dugdha–the yoghurt and milk [my] ma–mother rakhiyachhe–has stored ara–and tipe diba–massage [Your] pa"–feet." [16]

"I will feed You all the yoghurt and milk my mother has in store and massage Your feet."

nachhoda ha-iya yabe sakale dharila
gopa-preme gora gopa-grhete chalila [17]

yabe–When nachhoda ha-iya–Bhima became insistent [and] dharila–requested [this] sakale–of everyone, gora–Gora chalila–went gopa-grhete–to the cowherd's house gopa-preme–out of love for the cowherd boys. [17]

When Bhima became insistent and requested this of everyone, Gora went to his home out of love for the cowherd boys.

syama goyalini tabe ulu-dhvani diya
sakalake goyala-ghare dile basaiya [18]

syama goyalini–The milkmaid Syama tabe–then ulu-dhvani diya–cheered [and] sakalake basaiya dile–seated everyone down goyala-ghare–in [her] cowshed. [18]

The milkmaid Syama cheered and seated everyone in her cowshed.

syama bale, "pandita dada, kemana achhena ma?"
"bhala bhala" bali' gora nachaila ga [19]

syama–Syama bale–said, "pandita dada–"Learned elder brother, kemana–how achhena–is ma?"–Mother?" gora–Gora bali'–said, "bhala–[She is] well, bhala–[She is] well," [and] ga nachaila–caused [His] body to dance. [19]

Syama said, "Learned elder brother, how is Mother?" Gora replied, "She is well, she is well", and began to dance.

kala-pata pati' syama deya dadhi-ksira
bhakta-gana lana nimai bhojane base dhira [20]

syama–Syama pati'–laid out kala-pata–banana leaves [and] dadhi-ksira deya–served yoghurt and condensed milk. nimai–Nimai, lana–with bhakta-gana–the devotees, dhira–respectfully base–sat down bhojane–to eat. [20]

Syama laid out banana leaves and served yoghurt and condensed milk. Nimai and the devotees respectfully sat down to eat.

bhojana samapi' chale sei dahera tire
hari-guna-gana sabe kare dhire dhire [21]

[After] sabe–everyone samapi'–finished bhojana–eating, [they] dhire dhire–slowly chale–went sei dahera tire–to the edge of the lake, hari-guna-gana kare–chanting the glories of the Lord. [21]

After everyone finished eating, they strolled over to the edge of the lake, chanting the glories of the Lord.

ramadasa gopa asi' kare nivedana
"dahera jala pana nahi kare gabhi-gana [22]

gopa–The cowherd boy ramadasa–Ramadas asi'–came over [and] nivedana kare–said, "gabhi-gana–"[Our] cows pana kare nahi–do not drink jala–water dahera–from this lake. [22]

A cowherd boy named Ramadas came over and said, "Our cows do not drink water from this lake.

nakra eka bhayankara bedaya dahera jale
jala na khaiya gabhi dake hamba bola" [23]

eka–A bhayankara–fearsome nakra–crocodile bedaya–comes out dahera jale–of this lake's waters, [and our] gabhi–cows, khaiya na–not drinking jala–the water, hamba bola dake"–moo." [23]

"A fearsome crocodile comes out of this lake, and our cows moo because they cannot drink the water."

taha suni' gora kare sri-nama-kirtana
kirtane akrsta ha-ila nakra tata ksana [24]

[When] suni'–He heard taha–this, gora–Gora sri-nama-kirtana kare–chanted the Name, [and] nakra–the crocodile tata ksana–immediately akrsta ha-ila–became attracted kirtane–to the chanting. [24]

When Gora heard this, He chanted the Name, and the crocodile immediately became attracted to the chanting.

sighra kari' uthiya aila gora-paya
pada-sparse deva-sisu paridrsya haya [25]

sighra kari'–The crocodile quickly uthiya–got out [of the water and] aila–came [over] gora-paya–to Gora's feet. pada-sparse–Upon touching [His] feet, paridrsya haya–the crocodile turned [into] deva-sisu–a child god. [25]

The crocodile quickly got out of the water and came over to Gora's feet. Upon touching them, the crocodile turned into a child god.

kandi' sei deva-sisu karena stavana
nija duhkha-katha bale ara karaya rodana [26]

kandi'–Crying, sei deva-sisu–the child god stavana karena–prayed [to the Lord]. bale–He told [the Lord] nija duhkha-katha–the tale of his sorrow ara–and rodana karaya–wept. [26]

Crying, the child god prayed to the Lord. He recounted the tale of his sorrow and wept.

deva-sisu bale, "prabhu durvasara sape
nakra-rupe bhrami ami, sarva-loka kanpe [27]

deva-sisu–The child god bale–said, "prabhu–"O Lord! durvasara sape–As a result of a curse by Durvasa Muni, ami–I bhrami–have been wandering nakra-rupe–in the form of a crocodile, [and] sarva-loka–everyone kanpe–trembles. [27]

The child god said, "O Lord! Cursed by Durvasa Muni, I have been wandering in the form of a crocodile, making everyone tremble.

kamyavane muni-vara sutiya achhila
chanchalata kari' tara jata kati nila [28]

[Once, when] muni-vara–the great sage sutiya achhila–was resting kamyavane–in Kamyavan, chanchalata kari'–I mischievously kati nila–cut off tara–his jata–dreadlocks. [28]

"Once, when the great sage was resting in Kamyavan, I mischievously cut off his dreadlocks.

krodhe muni kahe, 'tumi pana nakra-rupa
chari yuga thaka karma-phala-anurupa' [29]

muni–The sage kahe–said krodhe–angrily, 'tumi pana–'Take nakra-rupa–the form of a crocodile [and] karma-phala-anurupa thaka–undergo the befitting results of [your] actions chari yuga'–for four ages.' [29]

"The sage angrily said, 'Take the form of a crocodile and suffer the results of your actions for four ages.'

tabe kandilama ami minati kariya
daya kari' muni more kahila dakiya [30]

tabe–Then ami–I kandilama–cried [and] minati kariya–prayed [to the sage, and] muni–the sage daya kari'–graciously dakiya–called more–for me [and] kahila–spoke [to me]. [30]

"I cried and prayed to the sage, and he graciously called me over and spoke to me.

'ore deva-sisu yabe sri-nanda-nandana
navadvipe ha-ibena sachi-prana-dhana [31]
tanhara kirtane tomara sapa-ksaya habe
divya deha peye tabe tripistapa yabe' [32]

'ore–'O deva-sisu–child god! yabe–When sri-nanda-nandana–the son of Sri Nanda ha-ibena–becomes sachi-prana-dhana–the life and wealth of Sachi navadvipe–in Nabadwip, tomara sapa-ksaya habe–you will be freed from [my] curse tanhara kirtane–by His chanting; peye–you will get divya deha–a heavenly body, [and] tabe–then yabe–go tripistapa'–to the abode of the gods.' [31–32]

"'O child god! When the son of Sri Nanda becomes the life and wealth of Sachi in Nabadwip, you will be freed from my curse by His chanting; you will get a heavenly body and go to the abode of the gods.'

jaya jaya sachi-suta patita-pavana
dina-hina agatira gati mahajana [33]

jaya–Glory! jaya–Glory sachi-suta–to the son of Sachi, patita-pavana–the saviour of the fallen, mahajana–the Supreme Soul, gati–the shelter dina-hina agatira–of the humble, lowly, and shelterless! [33]

"Glory to the son of Sachi, the saviour of the fallen, the Supreme Soul, the shelter of the humble, lowly, and shelterless!

chaudda bhuvane ghose sukirti tomara
ama hena adhamere karile uddhara [34]

tomara–Your sukirti–glories ghose–resound chaudda bhuvane–throughout the fourteen worlds! uddhara karile–You have saved ama hena adhamere–a soul as fallen as myself! [34]

"Your glories resound throughout the fourteen worlds! You have saved a soul as fallen as myself!

ei navadvipa-dhama sarva-dhama-sara
ekhane ha-ile kali-pavanavatara [35]

avatara ha-ile–You have descended ekhane–here, ei navadvipa-dhama–in Nabadwip Dham, sarva-dhama-sara–the best of all abodes, kali-pavana–as the saviour for the Age of Kali. [35]

"You have descended here, in Nabadwip Dham, the best of all abodes, as the saviour for the Age of Kali.

kali-jiva uddharibe diya hari-nama
asiyachha, mahaprabhu tomake pranama [36]

uddharibe–You will deliver kali-jiva–the souls of Kali-yuga diya–by giving hari-nama–the Name of the Lord. asiyachha–You have come, mahaprabhu–O Mahaprabhu! pranama–I bow tomake–to You. [36]

"You will deliver the souls of Kali-yuga by giving the Name of the Lord. You have come, O Mahaprabhu! I bow to You.

chari yuga achhi ami nakra-rupa dhari'
ebe uddharile tumi patita-pavana hari [37]

ami–I achhi–have been [here] chari yuga–for four ages, dhari'–bearing nakra-rupa–the form of a crocodile. hari–O Lord! patita-pavana–O saviour of the fallen! ebe–Now tumi–You uddharile–have delivered [me]. [37]

"I have spent four ages in the form of a crocodile. O Lord! O saviour of the fallen! Now You have delivered me.

tava mukhe hari-nama parama madhura
sthavarasthavara jiva tarile prachura [38]

tava mukhe–From Your mouth, hari-nama–the Name of the Lord [is] parama–extremely madhura–sweet. tarile–You have delivered prachura–innumerable jiva–souls, [both] sthavarasthavara–moving and inert. [38]

"From Your mouth, the Name of the Lord is extremely sweet, and You have delivered innumerable souls, both moving and inert.

ajna deo yai ami tripistapa yatha
mata pita dekhi' sukha paiba sarvatha" [39]

ajna deo–Give [me] permission, [and] ami–I yai–will return tripistapa–to the abode of the gods. dekhi'–Seeing [my] mata pita–mother and father yatha–there, paiba–I will feel sarvatha–completely sukha"–happy." [39]

"Give me permission, and I will return to the abode of the gods. Seeing my mother and father there, I will be completely happy."

eta bali' pranamiya deva-sisu yaya
kirtanera rola tabe uthe punaraya [40]

bali'–Having said eta–this, deva-sisu–the child god pranamiya–bowed [and] yaya–left, [and] rola–the sound kirtanera–of the chanting tabe–then uthe–arose punaraya–again. [40]

Having said this, the child god bowed and left, and the sound of the kirtan arose again.

madhyahna ha-ila dekhi' sarva bhakta-gana
prabhu-sange mayapura karila gamana [41]

dekhi'–Seeing [that] madhyahna ha-ila–it was midday, sarva bhakta-gana–all the devotees gamana karila–went mayapura–to Mayapur prabhu-sange–with the Lord. [41]

Seeing that it was midday, all the devotees went back to Mayapur with the Lord.

mahaprabhura ei lila ye kare sravana
brahma-sapa-mukta haya sei mahajana [42]

sei ye mahajana–The great souls who sravana kare–hear ei–this lila–Pastime mahaprabhura–of Mahaprabhu haya–become brahma-sapa-mukta–free from brahmans' curses. [42]

The great souls who hear this Pastime of Mahaprabhu become free from brahmans' curses.

sei ha-ite 'gora-daha' nama parachara
kaliya-dahera nyaya ha-ila tahara [43]

sei ha-ite–Since then, tahara nama–its name 'gora-daha'–'Gora's lake' parachara ha-ila–has spread nyaya–like [the name] kaliya-dahera–of Kaliya's lake. [43]

Since then, the lake has become widely known as 'Gora Daha', like Kaliya Daha in Vraja.

sei 'daha' darsane sparsane papa-ksaya
krsna-bhakti labha haya sarva-vede kaya [44]

sarva-vede–All the Vedas kaya–say [that] papa-ksaya haya–sins are removed [and] krsna-bhakti–devotion to Krishna [is] labha–attained darsane–by seeing [or] sparsane–by touching sei–this 'daha'–lake. [44]

All the Vedas say that sins are removed and devotion to Krishna is attained by seeing or touching this lake.

sei gopa-gana dekha mahapremanande
gaurange karila hetha mama bali' skandhe [45]

sei gopa-gana–The cowherd boys dekha–saw [this Pastime] hetha–here, [and] mahapremanande–with the joy of intense divine love, bali'–they called gaurange–Gauranga mama–uncle [and] skandhe karila–held [Him] on [their] shoulders. [45]

The cowherd boys saw this Pastime here, and with the joy of intense divine love, they called Gauranga 'uncle' and held Him on their shoulders.

sakale dekhila prabhura purvahna-vihara
tanhi madhye dekhe rama-krsna-lila-sara [46]

sakale–Everyone dekhila–saw prabhura–the Lord's purvahna-vihara–morning Pastimes, [and] tanhi madhye–within them, dekhe–they saw rama-krsna-lila-sara–the essence of Balaram and Krishna's Pastimes. [46]

Everyone saw the Lord's morning Pastimes, and within them, they saw the essence of Balaram and Krishna's Pastimes.

dekhe govardhana tatha manasa-jahnavi-puline
krsna-go-charana-lila ati samichina [47]

[Everyone] ati samichina–actually dekhe–saw govardhana–Govardhan [and] krsna-go-charana-lila–Krishna's cowherding Pastimes tatha–there manasa-jahnavi-puline–on the bank of the Manasa Ganga. [47]

They actually saw Govardhan and Krishna's cowherding Pastimes there on the bank of the Manasa Ganga.

gopa-gana janila ye nimani-charita
sri-nanda-nandana-lila nija samihita [48]

gopa-gana–The cowherd boys janila–understood ye–that nimani-charita–the Pastimes of Nimai [are] lila–the Pastimes [of] nija–their samihita–dear sri-nanda-nandana–son of Sri Nanda. [48]

The cowherd boys understood that the Pastimes of Nimai are the Pastimes of their dear Krishna, the son of Sri Nanda.

Translator's Note
Introduction
In Praise of Sri Sri Prema-vivarta
Sri Sri Prema-vivarta:
1 Invocation of Auspiciousness
2 The Composition of this Book
3 First Obeisances
4 Gaura's Greatness
5 Transformations of Ecstasy in Service
6 The Journey of the Soul
7 The Name is for Everyone
8 Give up Deceit
9 Proper Renunciation
10 Caste and Class
11 The Light of Nabadwip
12 Glories of the Vaisnavas
13 Eagerness to see Sri Gaura
14 Contradictory Transformations
15 Morning Pastimes in Nabadwip
16 What is Love?
17 Different Practices for Different Devotees
18 Sri Ekadasi
19 A Collection of Hidden Truths about the Name
20 The Glories of the Name
+ The Ten Offences to the Holy Name
+ Glossary