Ninth Sarga
The Lord Accepts the Worship of His Devotees
1
Hearing this narration, the great soul Dāmodara became very joyous and furthered inquired from physician Murāri, Kindly tell me whether Mahāprabhu saw in dream the very amazing all-pervasive and original form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
2
Murāri Gupta then further narrated the history of Śrī Gaura Kṛṣṇa to the Paṇḍita whose saintly personality appears like a great festival for men of pure minds. He said, "On many occasions this new Kṛṣṇa saw in dreams the original form of Kṛṣṇa as He is, completely attired in sublime apparel enriched by ornaments."
3
At night His heart wholly overwhelmed with love, the illustrious lord wept. Filled with wonder His Śacī Mātā asked him, "Dear son, what's the matter with You? Today You seem to have entered another world." Hearing her, Gaurāṅga took a moment to collect His equilibrium, and replied:
4
"I dreamt today of a boy. His lustre resembled the dark-blue-black torrential rain- clouds of the rainy season. On His head a crest of peacock flumes shone. His arms were adorned by excellent golden bangles, and His lustrous brow encircled by curling locks. In His hands He held a bamboo flute, and His yellow garments were brilliant like the sunrays.
5
Seen this boy, I am overwhelmed by ecstatic love for Him. I weep, and thus My body is covered by tears. Since that moment I have filled with boundless joy." Hearing her son's ambrosial words, Śacī Devī also became filled with jubilation, and her gentle face was covered by smiles.
6
Viśvambhara's body erupted with rows of pulakas and His teardrops flowed in rivulets forming lakes of prema. After a short time passed, He strolled, radiating effulgence to the bright and sanctified residence of Paṇḍita Śrīvāsa.
7
There shone the avadhūta, His face covered by tears of prema. His heart burned a single desire that all the people of the worlds should taste the bliss of Kṛṣṇa-bhakti. Then he saw the six-armed form of Śrī Hari, which is very rarely seen on this earth, which is filled with inconceivable potencies, which is endowed with two eyes blossoming like lotuses, and a presence filled with munificence.
8
His right three hands held a splendid club, a cakra, and a conch, and His left three hands held an excellent flute, a beautiful bow, and a thousand-petalled lotus. His form, which had the lustre of molten golden, was further enriched by the effulgent Kaustubha gem on His chest, and around His cheeks swung divinely dazzling shark- shaped earrings.
9
Shining on His forehead was a lovely jewel. Around His graceful neck swung a garland of blue lotuses and a necklace of emeralds set in shining white silver. His golden dhotī glittered with the rays of the sun. Seeing all this, Nityānanda Prabhu was helplessly attracted.
10
Then Nityānanda beheld a form of Kṛṣṇa as the divine Kāmadeva absorbed in playing enchanting melodies upon His muralī, then the excellent four-armed form of Śrī Viṣṇu, and a moment later, He saw Gaura Hari's two-armed form, which is just suitable for the people of this age. His heart flooded with gladness and Nitāī laughed for joy.
11
Thus seeing this original form of Śrī Hari, which is very difficult to perceive even for the residents of heaven, the avadhūta Lord at once began to dance. Embracing His associates, He became drenched with a fresh shower of tears.
12
His two cheeks became beautified as He laughed long and loudly, and due to drinking the Vāruṇī beverage His radiant eyes became intoxicated. He wore a garment of a deep-blue hue, and He held a plow, a club, and a rod for driving cows. All glories to Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa's elder brother as He overflows with Gaura-rasa!
13
Prabhu addressed Śrīvāsa, Rāma, the physician Murāri, and Nārāyaṇa, "Go now to Śrī Advaita's residence and inform that best of brāhmaṇas that Nityānanda-avadhūta is here and that he should come to meet with him."
14
Hearing Śrī Hari's words the bhaktas set out feeling glad to have the chance to see Advaita's lotus feet. When they arrived in Śāntipura on the beautiful bank of the sky- born river, they bowed down to Advaita and told Him of their order from Śrī Hari, which awards unlimited purificatory benefit.
15
The Ācārya was thrilled and delighted to hear of the astonishing power of Gaura Prabhu. Beginning to sing and dance, he plunged into a vast ocean of joy, and repeatedly dove and surfaced in that ocean.
16
Having rested for two days in Śāntipura, they felt a hankering to see Gaurāṅga's lotus feet, and led by the Ācārya, the bhaktas set forth for their lord's home in Navadvīpa. Then, sitting at the lotus feet of Gaura Hari they at once told Him all that had happened to them.
17
At an all-auspicious moment the Ācārya arrived and thus he beheld that face whose eyes are shaped like the elongated petals of the lotus. Seeing that, Advaita roared like a lion having attained the shelter of Mukuṇḍa, who removes affliction from the heart of a surrendered soul.
18
Seated on a fine seat in the heart of Śrīvāsa Thākura's temple, suddenly Śrī Hari shone with effulgent golden rays like the dawning sun delighting the eyes of all.
19
Seeing that moon-like face, their hearts melted with joy and headed by the Ācārya, the great souls began to sing. They presented Lord Gaura with nicely prepared foods, valuable gifts and fine clothing, and fell before Him on the earth bowing in jubilation.
20
Accepting that worship, the illustrious Lord took pleasure in their association, at once blissfully returned those garments and exquisite garlands as prasādam. to them. Accepting that mercy, the devotees began to sing and dance in great bliss.
21
Saturated with immense bliss their bodies became covered by pulakas. Their consciousness was drowned in the jewel-churning ocean of bliss, and they felt no separation between themselves and others. Thus all inauspiciousness was dispelled, and the devotees considered the happiness of kaivalya to be insignificant.
22-23
Absorbed from dawn 'til dusk in singing and dancing, they then embraced the night. Out of joy they had become unaware of the passing of day and night. But at dawn, by the order of Gaura Jagadīśvara, and led by the best of physicians, Mukuṇḍa Datta, those eminent chiefs of the twice-born, returned home vibrating hari-nāma. They all joyously described in full to their women-folk the behaviour of Śrī Hari, who had appeared as a guru to uplift the souls of this world of darkness.
Thus ends the Ninth Sarga entitled "The Lord Accepts the Worship of His Devotees," in the Second Prakrama of the great poem Śrī Caitanya Carita.