A Brief Sketch of the Career of Raghunatha Dasa Goswami

[madanmohandas]

An Outline of the Career of Raghunath Das Goswami

Here is a brief account to glorify
The life and acts of Sri Dasa Gosai.
For fuller knowledge I would recommend,
To each sympathetic reader and friend,
To peruse chapter six with minute care*,
Of the Last Part, and ye will find it there;
In close study of that chapter engage
Of Chaitanya Charitamrita's page!

All hail to Raghunath who fled away,
And left his wealthy parents in dismay,
Although they kept him guarded and confined,
The fetters of worldliness could not bind.
For heavenly opulence he had no care,
And though his wife was like an angel fair,
He left her and his great prosperity,
The moon-like face of Chaitanya to see.
He left his family in sore distress,
Being no more than nineteen years, I guess.
He first to Panihati village went,
And at the feet of Nitai humbly bent,
On Nitai's order held a festive treat,
Of chipped rice, yogurt, and bananas sweet;
And by lord Nityananda's favour won
The mercy of chaste Sachi's noble son;
He thence proceeded to the holy place
Of Jagannath, eager to gain his grace,
And meeting there his lord Gauranga Ray,
He fell prostrate and could do naught but cry.
He then was handed over to the care
Of Damodar, who did to him declare,
The mysteries of worship in the mind,
Leaving all pride and power of wealth behind.
From that day forth he was well known to fame,
As the Raghunath of Svarup by name.
His fastings and his practices austere,
'Tis said, were carved in stone, and most severe.
Thus he, dispassionate, there did remain,
And stern rules of a recluse did maintain.
And Gaurachandra gave to him his own
Necklace of goonja beads, and a small stone
From Govardhan, which were to him most dear,
Which he when meditating used to wear.
But when Gaura withdrew himself and left
This world, he felt despondent and bereft.

Anon he to Vrindavan did repair,
And dwelt with Rupa and Sanatan there;
They urged him, in his grief and mental strife,
With fond affection, not to take his life;
For, since the time when Gaura left this world,
He was in acute melancholy hurled;
But thence to lovely Radha kund he came,
Immersed in nectar of the holy name.
Thus the great Das Goswami dwelt for years
By Radha kund, augmenting it with tears,
In flights of rapture many a verse composed,
And Radha's glory to the world exposed.
In such texts as 'A Collection of Prayers',
Or that which the name of 'Pearl Story' bears;
And other works, eloquent and refined,
Such as the famous 'Teachings to the Mind';
The wondrous story of the toll booth game,
'Daana-chintaamani-keli' by name.
And if it be some titles here are missed,
Vide the 'Stavaavali' for the list.

[madanmohandas]

You might, Nitai, think this is worth an appendix. It was done pretty much from memory without book, so it might not be very authentic.