Sixth Sarga
The Material World Compared to a Forest,
and the Glories of Śrī Advaita
1
Then on the next day, the widely renowned personality Śrī Advaita Ācārya came to Navadvīpa to see Lord Viśvambhara.
2
After taking bath and performing worship of His Śālagrāma-śīlā, Śrī Advaita went to see Mahāprabhu. And as long as He was in Navadvīpa, He resided in Śrīvāsa Thākura's āśrama
3-4
Placing a flower on the end of His staff, the son of Śacī spoke with a smiling face, "Thus I have performed worship of My club. With this club, I shall always chastise the wicked who are hateful to my devotee. Without doubt, My devotee is more dear to Me than My very life.
5
"There is presently a man who is inimical to my devotees. I have already afflicted him with leprosy, and in the future I shall force him to enter the hells where the demonic stay.
6
"This I shall do before long. I am speaking the truth. I shall destroy that man and his followers, turning them into swine who eat stool.
7
"I desired to set forth for the forest, yet this very place is indeed like a great forest. Some men resemble tigers while others are like stones.
8
"Some men resemble trees, and others are like grasses. Some resemble animals. By this analogy, the material world can be perceived to be a very great forest.
9
"But men who are attached to drinking the honey of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet are to be celebrated as the benefactors of all these kinds of living beings.
10
"We have heard that the great devotee Advaita Ācārya has arrived. But why hasn't He come here? We should go to the place where He is staying."
11
At that moment, the Ācārya Himself arrived there and presented gifts at the lotus feet of the Lord.
12
After presenting those gifts, He fell flat to the ground before Gaura Kṛṣṇa. Taking Him by the hand, Prabhu said, "It is on account of Your desire that I have come to this world."
13
After He had thus spoken and given great joy to Śrī Advaita, Śrī Gaurāṅga sat down on a cot. Then by the order of the Lord, the Ācārya began to dance.
14
Seeing that dancing, the illustrious Lord felt pleased and said to Him, "Your sons are praying to Me for the most rare gift of prema-bhakti.
15
"Dear one, for Your sake I shall bestow that gift on them." Hearing this, the Ācārya replied in great exultation, "O Bhagavān, these boys shall become servitors of Your feet. If they are recipients of affection from You, the vessel of kindness, then what can be difficult for them to achieve?"
16
Next as everyone became seated in the bright moonlit night near the wielder of the cakra, the mighty-armed Lord spoke further:
17
"O Kamalākṣa, lotus-eyed one, You are my supreme devotee. I have descended to earth on Your account. Now be happy by Your dancing and singing."
18
Hearing the Lord's words, Śrīman Śrīvāsa Paṇita humbly submitted in a mild tone at the His lotus feet:
19
"How is He Your bhakta? This is only Your mercy, Prabhu." Hearing this, the all- opulent Lord angrily rebuked him, saying:
20
"Are Uddhava and Akrūra not My very dear bhaktas? Is the Ācārya therefore inferior to them? Is this what you intend to say?
21
"Is there anyone else in this land of Bhārata equal to or greater than this Ācārya? O brāhmaṇa, you have now become a fool!"
22
Upon hearing these words of Bhagavān, Śrīvāsa became silent out of fear.
23
Then the Lord said, "Do you never discuss the science of the self amongst your good selves? Do you not find it pleasing?
24
"In that case, it is certainly better not to award prema to you. This is the truth."
25
After hearing this, Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita replied to the Jagadīśvara. This forgetfulness of mine has been Your blessing on me, so that I may never again speak in that way."
26
Murāri declared, "O Bhagavān, I do not know the science of the self." The Lord answered, "Indeed you do know, for you have heard it from Kamalākṣa."
27
Hearing these words of the Lord, the hearts of the noble bhaktas at once became very elated. Becoming intoxicated by the nectar from Śrī Śrī Hari-Hara's lotus feet, they incessantly sang and danced as if participating in a flourishing festival.
Thus ends the Sixth Sarga entitled "The Material World Compared to a Forest and the Glories of Śrī Advaita," in the Second Prakrama of the great poem Śrī Caitanya Carita.