Fourth Sarga
Pleasure Pastimes at the House of Śrī Advaita
1
When Śrī Advaita, together with the other saintly brāhmaṇas, whose composure was shattered by relishing the sublime qualities of Hari, heard from Ācārya Ratna the news of Gaura's renunciation of the world, they wept most pitiably with cries of anguish.
2
Thus the Lord of all embodied beings, who vanquishes the woes of His bhaktas, resolved to set forth for the abode of Advaita Ācārya.
3
As the Lord whose form was a festival for eyes of the people, wandered about Rāha- deśa, spoke sweetly to the munificent avadhūta as follows:
4-7
"Kindly go by way of the Gaṅgā's bank to the enchanting town of Navadvīpa. First utter My name with great devotion to My mother, and kindly speak to her about Śrī Kṛṣṇa's character, qualities and so forth so that she may feel peace and happiness. Then summon all My beloved vaiṣṇavas, headed by Śrīvāsa, to wait until I come at the house of the Ācārya in Śāntipūra." After hearing these orders from Gaura Jagadīśvara, Śrī Nityānanda at once swiftly departed in jubilant spirits for Navadvīpa, which was blessed by the opulences of goddess Lakṣmī. When Nityānanda entered auspicious āśrama of Śrīvāsa's hākura, and reported the instruction of Gaura Keśava to Śrīvāsa and the other bhaktas.
8
Then Śrī Nityānanda, the ocean of mercy, bowed with folded hands to the lotus feet of Śrī Śacī Devī, and through His devotion, gave peace to her mind.
9-13
Nityānanda ate the foods she had cooked and then took rest sufficiently. On the following day, accompanied by all the bhaktas, including brāhmaṇas, śūdras and even lowly physicians like myself, that mahātmā departed for Śāntipūra and the home of Advaita. Śacī also in gladness and consummate love went with great haste to Advaita's house thinking all the while of her son, the Ultimate Supreme Person. Throughout that day all of the bhaktas stayed there and ate the highly sanctified prasādī food given by the blessed Mahātmā Śrī Advaita, the plenary portion of Śrī Śiva. On the next day, Mahāprabhu came from Puṣpagrāma, and all of the bhaktas rejoiced in a grand festival of saṅkīrtana, considering that Gaurāṅga's auspicious presence was the actual festival. Becoming wholly immersed in transcendental trance, they wept, they trembled, and their forms became covered by pulakas.
14
The Navadvīpa-bāsīs saw that Gaura Hari's golden body was dressed in saffron cloth, and He held the staff of a sannyāsi. He glowed with great reddish-gold potency like Mount Meru.
15
His servants fell flat like rods to the ground, and offered obeisances to Nṛhari. They appeared like the senses of the body offering homage to the life-force. Then those great souls took delight as they contemplated the lotus flower of His lovely countenance.
16
Tears cascaded from their eyes, covering their bodies, which became covered by pulakas, and their throats became choked-up out of jubilation. The all-opulent Lord, the ocean of mercy, glanced over them, and by the shower of those glances their bodies became adorned.
17
By His touch, by His smiles, by His speech, by the firm grip of His hands, Śrī Gaurāṅga, whose face with its smiles of love resembled a divine lotus, made the devotees very happy, and they felt that all their desires were fulfilled.
18
Their hearts were engladdened and their hairs and every limb of their bodies became covered by pulakas. Suddenly Gaura Bhagavān with the bhaktas appeared to be Śrī Viṣṇu, the Lord of all godly beings accompanied by the demigods.
19
With the touch His lotus feet the peerless guru beautified the excellent residence of Advaita. Seated on a fine seat Gaura shone with fierce rays like the sun.
20
With faltering voice He sang pastime-songs of Śrī Hari, and as His body glistened with the ornaments of His tears, He appeared like the sage Nārāyaṇa-deva amidst the Ṛṣis at Badarikāśrama.
21
When Śrī Śacī-mātā arrived with great respect the merciful Lord fell at her feet, then He said, "He Mā!, certainly I always reside at your side."
22
Then the Lord, who is the enjoyer of the fruits of sacrifice, who takes pleasure in satisfing His devotees' dearly cherished desires, enjoyed amongst them the four kinds of foods presented by the great Advaitācārya.
23
After resting the night there, He rose towards its end, and dancing with His people, He sang verses about Kṛṣṇa in sweet melodies.
24
Then in the pure light of dawn, in a gentle mellow tone, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya instructed Śrīvāsa and the other exalted brāhmaṇas , "Go now to your respective āśramas.
25
"Now I shall depart to take darśana of Śrī Puruṣottama Jagannātha, who is the original Lord of all the devatās and even Lord Viṣṇu. There I shall behold the face of Śrī HariIn the company of Sārvabhauma, the chief of the twice-born men.
26
"Now with your hearts free from envy incessantly perform Hari-kīrtana. Also attentively observe Ekādaśī and stay awake throughout the night absorbed hearing Śrī Nāma and discussing Hari-kathā."
27
In the presence of Advaitācārya, Gaura Hari warmly embraced all of them with His beautiful arms and sent them forth. Then, His eyes brimming with tears of prema, the Lord also departed.
28
But Haridāsa, holding grass between his teeth, then fell flat like a rod on the earth at the very soles of the Lord's feet.
29-31
Seeing this, Gaurāṅga's heart was agitated, and with tears in His eyes said, "Just as you have fallen at My feet, so I shall fall at the lotus feet of Jagannātha Swāmī. Then I will speak to Him in such a way that surely You shall receive His mercy." So saying, Śacī-nandana warmly embraced Haridāsa again and again and released him with love. Then the best of the twice-born, the great Advaitācārya, addressed the Supreme Lord, who had accepted the role of the spiritual master of all sentient beings:
32
"He Nātha! I have heard that Your Lordship is now leaving. How can it be that love for You has not awakened in Me? O Lord, please show Your mercy upon Me!" Gaura Keśava replied:
33-34
"You have such love for Me; how can I possible leave?" So saying, He warmly embraced Advaita. As the Lord was departing in company with Śrī Gadādhara and the other vipras, who were His devout followers endowed with firm affection for Him, the exalted brāhmaṇa named Gopīnātha Ācārya addressed Śrī Hari lovingly:
35-36
"O Lord, fulfiller of desires, I have a desire to see Your transcendental body." Hearing these words, Gaurāṅga took off His outer garment and revealed His slender body, which possessed a glittering effulgence like molten gold. It appeared as if the clouds had parted, revealing Mount Meru shining in the moonlight.
37
Having seen Gaura, heard from Gaura, and offered obeisances to Gaura, that noble brāhmaṇa departed, and then the all-opulent Lord also departed with great jubilantion for Puruṣottama Kṣetra.
38
One who hears of Śrī Hari's glorious departure for Puruṣottama Dhāma obtains parama-premānanda, the lofty pinnacle of blissful love for the lotus feet of the Lord.
39
Whatever benefit is achieved by having directly darśana of Lord Jagannātha, the master of Puruṣottama Kṣetra, a man can obtain simply by regularly reciting these pastimes of Gaura Hari.
Thus ends the Fourth Sarga entitled "Pleasure Pastimes at the House of Śrī Advaita," in the Third Prakrama of the great poem Śrī Caitanya Carita.