Eighteenth Sarga
The Sannyāsa Mantra
1
After a few days, Bhagavān, who had accepted the duties of a human being, said, "In a dream, I saw a certain exalted brāhmaṇa come to Me.
2
"Brightly smiling, he spoke the sannyāsa mantra into My ear. After hearing it I became troubled, and thus I weep by day and night.
3-4
"How can I abandon Śrī Hari, the Lord of My life? No one else is suitable for Me?" Hearing this, Murāri replied, "He Bhagavān, You are Yourself the original Supreme Lord, You can contemplate the sannyāsa-mantra - `tat tvam asi' - in terms of the sixth form of Sanskrit compound words. Thus the meaning will become, `You are His (Kṛṣṇa's),' Be happy!"
5
Then the Master spoke, "My mind is still depressed. What shall I accomplish by the power of sound?" So saying, He wept.
6
Hearing this, all the bhaktas were perturbed. Their hearts felt anguish at the thought of separation from Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, like the enchanting-eyebrowed gopīs of Vraja when their beloved Kṛṣṇa departed for Māthurā.
7-8
Then, after several days, the very powerful sādhu Keśava Bhāratī arrived in Navadvīpa. Due to great renunciation, his person was brilliant like the sun. Due to the pious credits earned by him in previous births, he could see Gaura Kṛṣṇa, whose bodily lustre glittered like molten gold.
9
Seeing the lotus-eyed Gaura Hari, whose heart was immersed in Kṛṣṇa-prema, that venerable renunciate became filled with joy.
10
When the Supreme Lord, whose entire being was fully saturated with premānanda, observed that perfect master of renunciation in His presence. He rose from His seat and bowed down before him.
11
When the highly perceptive Keśava Bhāratī saw that Gaura's form was flooded by streams of tears of prema, his heart felt satisfied and he addressed the Lord as follows:
12
"Either You are Śukadeva or else Prahlāda - this is my determined opinion. Or, can You be the all-opulent Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Lord and cause of all causes?"
13
Hearing such high praise offered to Himself, the Lord became agitated, and weeping with redoubled strength He became drenched by currents of tears of prema.
14
Observing these extraordinary devotional symptoms, that exalted renunciate was astonished, and he asserted, "Your grace, You are Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the supreme Master of this cosmic manifestation. Of this there can be no doubt."
15
Śrī Śacīnandana felt despondent when he heard himself so greatly glorified, , and after offering obeisances to the great sannyāsī, He departed for His own home.
16
Then that person who purifies the hearts of all-living beings, who is the reservoir of all opulence, of limitless beauty, wealth, knowledge, strength, fame, and renunciation, and who is the shelter for the goddess of fortune, determined to renounce His prosperous home.
17
Then Mukuṇḍa Datta announced to the vaiṣṇavas, "Noble twice-born men! For as long as He remains here, look to your full satisfaction upon Śrī Nātha, the source of this cosmic manifestation.
18
"After a short time the jagad-guru will give up His home and depart." When they heard this statement from that discerning person, the hearts of all the Gaura-bhaktas became very agitated.
19
Then the Lord spoke to Śrīvāsa, the bull among the twice-born, "In order to increase the love that all you great souls bear for Me, I am now leaving for another country.
20
"In the same way that gentlemen sometimes board a boat and journey to another country, later bringing wealth back for their friends, so shall I.
21
"From that other country I shall send an uninterrupted flow of prema so that you may fully behold Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the worshipable Deity of all gods."
22
After listening to the words of Śrī Hari, Śrīvāsa replied to, "He Nātha! How shall I continue to live in Your separation?"
23
Hearing this, Bhagavān said, "O best of enlightened men, I reside eternally within your temple. Do not create some perplexity in your mind."
24
Hearing these words from Gaura Hari, that best of the twice-born felt baffled, and he thought, "He is the all-pervasive Supreme Lord. Who is capable of controlling him?"
25
Then at dusk, out of kindness Śrī Hari accompanied by Haridāsa went to Murāri's home. At once Murāri fell at the Lord's feet.
26
After offering respectful obeisances to the Lord. With a satisfied mind, Murāri led Him to a seat. He also bowed to the feet of Haridāsa and then situated himself nearby Śrī Gaurāṅga.
27
That ocean of compassion said to Murāri, "Hear Me. Because you are always detached, therefore you must strictly follow My instruction.
28
"With great attention hear My words. Today I am giving you instructions. Just fix your mind upon them.
29
"The great and noble Advaita Ācārya is the plenary portion of Mahā Viṣṇu, and the shelter of all pure qualities. Therefore respectfully render Him assistance with full endeavour.
30
"Thus have I made known to you this most confidential information, whereby you can realize the perfectional stage of transcendental happiness." So saying, the Lord, who is always affectionate to His bhaktas, departed for His home.
31
On the next day, Gaura Kṛṣṇa went to the peerless town of Kaṇṭaka and awarded sannyāsa to Śrīman Keśava Bhāratī.
32
Accepting as His guru, He gave complete fulfilment to that person who was conversant with all the Vedas.
33
He who hears attentively this narration of Śrī Hari at once gives up the legion of sins residing in the heart. Then accepting shelter at the soles of Śrī Nṛhari's feet, that soul thus attains the incomparable boon of Hari-bhakti and detachment from all that does not lead to Śrī Hari's noble shelter.
Thus ends the Eighteenth Sarga entitled "The Sannyāsa Mantra," in the Second Prakrama of the great poem Śrī Caitanya Carita.