Second Sarga
The Vista of Mathurā Maṇḍala
1
Then Gaura Prabhu travelled to Prayāga. There as Mahāprabhu beheld the Deity of Bindu-Mādhava He became overwhelmed by premānanda-sudhā as He danced in the company of His people.
2
Then He saw the imperishable banyan tree named Akṣaya-vaṭa, and bathed in the Triveṇī, thus teaching the standard for humanity. After Gaurāṅga had bathed in the Yamunā, He began to dance like a playful lion.
3
Crying out with deep thundering roars, all the hairs of His body thrilled with rapture, and He became bathed by His own love-tears. After some time the Lord crossed the river and saw the forest of Agra.
4
In that forest was the town of Reṇukā. In that very spot the great soul Paraśurāma, the son of Jamadagni, and Reṇukā and master of all warriors, took his birth. The Lord visited that sacred tract of land.
5
After seeing the Yamunā river, which forever flows through the forest of Vṛndāvana. Advancing further to Rājagrāma, He became overwhelmed with feelings of ecstasy as He looked upon the realm of Gokula.
6
After looking over the forest of Mahāvana, Gaura saw Mathurā, the capital, which was endowed with great opulence and designed with exquisite craftmanship.
7
Throughout this earth, Śrī Mathurā is the most worshipable spot. Indeed, it is the most worshippable of all the abodes of the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, for it is there that svaya Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa the original Personality of Godhead manifested Himself in this world. Undoubtedly Mathurā Dhāma is itself able to award prema-bhakti.
8
Simply by glancing over that place, the Golden Lord experienced all the transformations of Kṛṣṇa-prema. While laughing, dancing, weeping and rolling about upon the earth, His body became covered by large thrill bumps which appeared like kadamba flowers.
9
A certain eminent brāhmaṇa was observing these activities of Śrī Hari. Suddenly his own composure also became wholly shattered by emotions of Kṛṣṇa-prema. As that fortunate soul fell at the feet of Gaura Jagadīśvara, his voice became choked, and his hair-follicles erupted.
10
The Lord said, "May I know your grace's identity? By the influence of good fortune, I have seen your composure devastated by the symptoms of prema." That vaiṣṇava, his heart engladdened, replied to Prabhu, "O Bhagavān! O ocean of mercy! I am Your eternal servant.
11
"I am known as Kṛṣṇa Dāsa, but by name only do I have that honour. However, I am now rendered fortunate by Your darśana. O jewel of compassion! Kindly purify me with the dust from the feet of the vaiṣṇavas, O youthful son of Nanda! Golden Lord!"
12
Hearing this, Śrī Prabhu became immersed in a sea of transcendental bliss and said, "Most certainly You are a bonafide servant of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, indeed you are conversant with the confidential pastimes of Kṛṣṇa's dhāma. O pure soul! Kindly narrate all of them to Me."
13
But the brāhmaṇa replied to the Lord, "Hear me, O Keśava Prabhu! If You are actually pleased with this bhakta, then by your heart's desire place Your two feet within my heart and reveal to me Śrī Madhu Maṇḍala."
14
Śrī Hari drank deep of his nectarine words and replied in a deep resonant voice like a thundercloud, "By My order, may the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and every delightful aspect of His holy abodes be revealed to you."
15
Then fell joyously at Prabhu's lotus feet, the learned brāhmaṇa said, "O ocean of compassion! Just place Your feet upon my head, and I shall certainly show all of the holy places to Your Grace."
16
So saying, intoxicated by Gaura-rasa, and agitated by feelings of prema, Kṛṣṇa Dāsa danced and wept. And the master of the gopīs, sang śloka after śloka describing the glorious water-sports which Śrī Śyāmasundara played in Yamunā with the gopīs who were weary from rāsa-dancing.
17
Throughout that night, Śrī Gaura Hari took pleasure in narrating the world- enchanting playful sportive pastimes of Vraja, and sang with devotional feeling of the transcendental dance pastimes of Śrī Rādhikā-Ramaṇa.
Thus ends the Second Sarga entitled "The Vista of Mathurā Maṇḍala," in the Fourth Prakrama of the great poem Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Caitanya Carita.