Paramanada Puri's Well

[madanmohandas]

Paramanda Puri's Well. In blank verse
Ch.Bh.Antya 3

Upon a day the Master came and sat
With Puri Gosai in his monastery,
In confidence and pure intimacy,
Since Paramanda Puri and the Lord
Bore mutual and deepest affection.
Which friendship as of old we may compare,
That love which Shri krishna and Arjun bare.
In close and intimate society,
The discourses on Krishna's deeds prolong.
And thus the Master and Puri Gosai,
Delighted in each other’s company.
At Puri Gosai's dwelling was a well,
But still the water in the well was bad;
The Master who is the inner witness,
Was quite aware of the causes of this.
Still, questioning Puri, the Master said,
'Be pleased to tell me, for I wish to hear,
How is the water in this here your well?'
Said Puri, 'Extremely unfortunate;
The water of this well is thick with mud.'
'Alas, alas! the Master then exclaimed,
And then in words like these began to say,
'Lord Jagannath is being very mean;
Whoso touches the water in this well,
Is absolved from the guilt of all his sins.
Therefore, Lord Jagannath has, by his tricks,
Defiled the water so that none might drink.'
The Great Master, saying so, then got up,
His graceful arms upraised began to pray,
'Oh Jagannatha! Thou great and mighty One,
Grant Thou this boon in favour unto me;
Let Ganga's water enter in this well.
Down in the nether regions Ganga flows,
And there the title Bhogavati bears;
Command her, Lord, the well to enter in.'
When this speech all the devotees had heard,
They raised aloud the cry of Hari's name.
Anon the Master to his dwelling went,
And all the devotees retired to rest.
Thereupon the great goddess Ganga came,
Bearing the stern command upon her head,
And with her pure and sanctifying stream,
She filled the well with water pure and clean.
At early dawn arising, all beheld
The miracle at how the well was now
With pellucid and spotless water filled.
Astonied, they raised cries of 'Hari bol!'
And Puri Gosai joyfully awoke.
All understood that Ganga had indeed,
In glory filled anew the water well.
Then they began to circumambulate,
To show their deep respect and reverence.
And the Great Master, having heard the news,
Eftsoons came there the miracle to see.
The Master said, 'Hearken ye devotees!
Who bathes, or drinks the water from this well,
Truly truly, I say he has attained
The fruit of bathing in the Ganga's stream;
And cleansed therein and made supremely pure,
Devotion to Lord Krishna will procure.'
When this speech all the devotees had heard,
They raised aloud the cry of Hari's name.
With the Great Master, in exuberance,
They lave, and drink of those waters divine,
That Paramanada Puri's well now filled.