Sri Gauranga Lila Smarana Mangala Stotram

[madanmohandas]

Thakur Bhaktivinoda's
Sri Gauranga Lila Smarana Mangala

When Phalguni's full moon was in the grips
Of Rahu, which forms the lunar eclipse;
Seven and fourteen hundred years the span,
Since when the era of Saka began,
(Or fourteen-eighty-six, the common year),
The great one in Mayapur did appear;
At eventide from Sachi's womb sublime,
Endued with transcendent powers divine,
His eviternal form did incarnate;
That Lord as Mishra's son I contemplate. 1

Visvambhar was his name given to be,
Beloved fair moon-like Gaura Hari;
And shone with dazzling lustre over all,
Within the nine islets in West Bengal;
In devout contemplation I engage,
On Gaura, cleanser of the Kali age. 2

To take upon himself the loving mood
Of Radhika, with her lustre endued,
In Mishra's house Sri Hari made advent,
With a fair form, charming and radiant.
And as he played his restless childhood games,
Delighted all the pious village dames;
I bow to him of golden form displayed,
Who as a child upon the courtyard played. 3

Once the great serpent, Ananta by name,
Gliding along, into the courtyard came,
And when the child did on the serpent rest,
His relatives were worried and distressed,
They urged him to desist in anxious woe,
And leave the dread serpent and let it go;
To Visvambhar, mighty divinity,
I bow in salutation constantly. 4

As a small child he wept repeatedly,
Until the ladies sang, 'Hari, Hari!'
And since it comforted and brought him peace,
The singing of Hari's name did increase;
He taught to his mother wisdom divine,
When he was found on lumps of earth to dine.
Hail him who singing of the name maintains,
Gaura, who cleanses all of Kali's stains. 5

In his childhood he was a restless boy,
Who in brahman's houses would pranks enjoy;
And when with other boys he gan to read,
They all to bathe in Jahnavi proceed;
The boys the brahmans there to splash began,
When roused to wrath, the boys away all ran;
I contemplate that fair limbed golden chief
Of restless performers of all mischief. 6

The roaming gem of brahman's food he ate,
Then showed abundant grace compassionate;
Abducted by a pair of wily thieves,
He mounts their shoulders and their way deceives;
I bow to him who makes good people glad,
And chastises the wicked and the bad. 7

Once, riding the back of a devotee
Of Shiva, he sang Rudra's high glory;
Which great joy and happiness did afford;
I bow to that Supreme Almighty Lord,
Who doth devotion for devotees bear,
Of radiant golden complexion fair. 8

The sweet meats offered to him with respect
By Lakshmi, he did lovingly accept,
And his auspicious blessing did impart,
To satisfy her tender loving heart.
Anon, returning on the Ganga-path,
Whence he supposedly had taken bath,
He showed his relatives the inky spots
Which covered his fair limbs with sable blots;
On Gauranga, of connoisseurs the chief,
I meditate, who is of hearts the thief. 9

While on a heap of dirty pots he sate,
A sermon to his mother did relate,
Expounding doctrines of philosophy,
Treating concepts of non-duality;
I bow to him, the true object adored,
The fair refulgent moon-like golden Lord. 10

[madanmohandas]

When once he struck his mother with a pot,
She swooned away and fainted on the spot;
Anxious to revive her with comforting,
A pair of fresh white coconuts did bring;
I bow to that fond child with lowered head,
Who is to his dear mother devoted. 11

When elder Vishvarup did home forsake,
The holy orders of sannyas to take;
He consoled his parents with his sweet word,
Which comfort and satisfaction conferred;
At father's death, his mother pacified,
And with compassion remained by her side;
Gauranga, joy's giver, I contemplate,
Who is to his mother affectionate. 12

The teacher Vallabha's daughter he wed,
Lakshmi, and when the rites were duly sped,
He took a journey with his students all,
To give learned lectures in East Bengal,
And when he did much wealth and honour earn,
Made ready with his students to return.
On Gauranga, righteousness incarnate,
The foremost of husbands, I meditate. 13

While there, the noble Tapan did commend,
And did to ancient Varanasi send;
Returning home he learned that his dear wife,
Languishing in severance lost her life;
With divine truth his mother he consoled,
And of Laksmi's antecedents he told.
On him who gives the joy of detachment,
Of tranquility the embodiment,
Whose limbs a fair lustre irradiate,
I always and eagerly meditate. 14

To comply with what his dear mother spake,
His second nuptial rites did undertake,
And married Vishnupriya with delight.
Then once, at the beginning of the night,
With his students he sat by Ganga's side,
And minished the champion scholar's pride.
Hail to the fair moon of Navadvip town,
Of learned ones the jewel in the crown,
The lordly lion of scholars sublime,
Who enacts wonderful exploits divine. 15

Who revels in scholarship and beguiles
The learned ones in the land of nine isles;
The logicians and occultists defies,
And all the twice-born who deem themselves wise.
To that fair-limbed Gauranga I prostrate,
Divine wisdom and beauty incarnate. 16

Who drank down a Vipra's foot-water pure,
Which did his fever and distemper cure;
That great Mahaprabhu I recollect,
Who doth virtue of caste status protect. 17

When at the shrine of the ancestral ghosts,
With his train worshipped the heavenly hosts;
There received from his preceptor divine,
The mantra where ten syllables combine;
Returning to Bengal his state concealed
By distemper, and secret truths revealed.
On fair-limbed Gauranga I meditate,
Novel love and devotion incarnate. 18

Deep in the state of devotion immersed,
With great ones like Advaita he conversed,
Advaita did to him for shelter go,
And joined with singing praise of Mura's foe;
Anon, when Nityananda had arrived,
He many deeds and diverse sport contrived;
Hail Gaura, who joy to the eye conveyed,
And then his six-armed form to him displayed. 19

Amazing grace on Gupta he bestowed,
When his form as the cosmic Boar he showed;
They annual rites of Vyas worship conclude,
While he assumed of Baladev the mood,
And called aloud to fetch him honey wine.
I contemplate that Supreme Lord divine. 20

Moon-like Advaita worshipped and adored
With love, knowing him as Krishna the Lord;
In the domicile of Shrivas, forsooth,
Was manifest supreme and perfect truth.
On him begirt by each associate,
Like Shridhar, I devoutly meditate. 21

[madanmohandas]

A moslem servant by Shrivas enrolled,
A vision, by his favour, did behold;
And attained to pure loving ecstasy,
And thence became a worthy devotee.
Him, the supreme Master and Lord of all,
Moon-like Gaura, I devoutly recall. 22

Ah me! his form as Shri Rama displayed,
What time the physician Murari prayed,
And glory of Raghu's Lord did recite,
Affording to the Lord supreme delight.
He corrected Mukunda, him to free
From his attachment to bad company.
I meditate on him who mercy shows,
And humours of the purest love bestows. 23

His two pure and innocent servants sent,
Who on his command to villages went,
And did the name of Gokul's Lord declare,
To all the townspeople, high and low there;
On that Supreme Being I meditate,
Pure grace and profound mercy incarnate. 24

Once, he did with his elder brother roam,
Intending to visit Advaita's home,
And as they both proceed along the road,
They rested in a sannyasi's abode,
Who kept with him a mistress concubine,
In Lalit-town, and offered them some wine.
The abode of devotion showed his grace,
And then the brothers quickly left that place,
My recollection to him I address,
The bestower of all auspiciousness. 25

When Advaita false doctrines gan to teach,
The primacy of monism to preach,
The Lord struck him and pulled him by the hair,
And forcefully dragged him from off his chair;
Then his monistic doctrine did reprove,
And urged him to treat only on pure love.
On him who doth delusion dissipate,
And purifies the mind, I meditate. 26

When he the Divine Goddess form assumed,
He fed milk that his devotees consumed;
Which in Chandrasekhar's home was displayed;
A unique sight to Vijay was conveyed.
On him of all potency the substrate,
With ardent devotion I meditate. 27

After awakening he bathes and takes
A light repast, and then his way betakes
To roam from village to village and town,
Including Godruma of high renown,
And with his attendant devotee train,
With little sleep, the glory song proclaim;
According to each period of day,
He doth with his companions exploits play.
On that fair Gauranga I meditate,
Joy's giver, through all time periods eight. 28

With Shrinivas and the devoted throng,
In procession they raise the glory song;
Chief brahmans like Jagadananda named,
Were from their sorry fallen state reclaimed,
And having cleansed and purified their hearts,
Full love ecstatic unto them imparts.
I recall that Gauranga and salute,
The shelter of the base and destitute. 29

Immersed in sentiments of love divine,
He spoke doctrines of devotion sublime,
Which lessons he did with mercy convey,
To wash the faults of ignorance away;
With the loving discourses that he gave,
Did Mukunda from his transgression save.
On Gauranga, forgiveness incarnate,
The gracious fair-limbed Lord, I meditate. 30

[madanmohandas]

When Chand Kazi, the great adversary
Of joy in singing of the Lord's glory,
Was absolved from his fault and his offence,
Our Lord began in all the towns to dance.
He sang of Krishna in sweet melodies,
Removing thus of Kali the disease;
And did with dancing fervour overwhelm
Of Navadvipa the entire realm.
On Gauranga the dancer incarnate,
Whose shapely arms are long, I meditate. 31

Gangadasa, and Muraripu hight,
The physician, and he all clad in white,
Shridhar, and all of his devoted train,
Full love and constant affection maintain.
The blessed Narayani, fortunate,
Received his grace and leavings off his plate.
I contemplate Gauranga, Lord divine,
Of transcendent beauty and form sublime. 32

When the son of Shrivas untimely died,
With the child, although dead, he did confide,
And caused the child to utter forth a speech,
The concepts of transmigration to teach;
Since Shrivas and his kin to him were dear,
He had them this auspicious discourse hear.
I bow to him, the Supreme Soul, who grants
All blessings upon his dear adherents;
And who, without trace of duplicity,
Uplifts the souls from their iniquity. 33

When sentiments of gopis he displayed,
The ignorant his conduct did upbraid,
He raised a stick to strike them in his hand,
And they, antagonised thus, vengeance planned.
On Gauranga, who is for those who hate,
A furious lion, I meditate. 34

To absolve them of their sin and abuse,
He chose to be a sannyasi recluse,
To Kantaka in Magha's month proceeds,
Receives from Keshava his hermits weeds.
Who is by wise and discerning adored,
As a worthy and honourable Lord;
I contemplate that Lord with shaven crown,
Henceforth as Shri Krishna Chaitanya known. 35

Thereupon his family he bereaves,
And the fair region of Navadvip leaves,
Obliged to Nityananda's ardent love,
They from Katowa wander forth and rove;
And as to Shantipur their way they took,
For Vraja's realm the surroundings mistook.
On him who with Nitai did ambulate,
The fair-limbed Gauranga I meditate. 36

The mother of the Lord was thither brought,
With vicissitudes of joy and and woe fraught;
She did for some days feed him there and tend,
And gave her consent that he forth should wend
Toward the holy shrine Shri Kshetra hight,
Thereon he ventured forth with vast delight.
On Gauranga, of blessed wandering,
I meditate, of anchorites the king. 37

Then with Nityananda he onward went,
Jagadananda, the intelligent
Damodar and Mukunda Datta too,
In the Lord's company the way pursue.
Mukunda sang with dulcet melodies,
Of the divine exploits with expert ease;
On Gauranga who loves those who prostrate,
Of exquisite beauty, I meditate. 38

He left the peopled path by Ganga's side,
And toward Ambulinga Mahesh hied,
Then entered Odra's realm in vast delight,
Of the Curd-thief at Remuna had sight;
Then to the city Kataka he came,
And saw the image Gopala by name.
On Gauranga, devotee-incarnate,
Fond of his votaries, I meditate, 39

Then coming to the Lonesome Mango tree,
He bowed to Rudra's linga form with glee,
And blest the forest of all creature's God.
In Kapotesh he left his hermit's rod,
But the rod Nityananda smashed and rent,
And down the current of the river sent.
On Gaura, in guise of man incarnate,
Who loves his devotees, I meditate. 40

When breaking of the rod was to him known,
He feigned anger and proceeded alone,
Leaving his companions he forward went
To see Blue mountain's Lord with merriment.
While traversing the path in ecstasy,
A vision of Krishna's beauty did see.
On Gauranga, the sublime golden God,
I meditate, who came without his rod. 41

[madanmohandas]

I'll add the rest tomorrow.

[madanmohandas]

Smarana Mangala 42

Arriving there, he revealed at that time,
The relishing of sentiments divine;
Sarvabhauma was by his favour graced,
And serving him, his faults were all effaced.
The Lord exercised his potent mercy,
And thus he became a great devotee.
On him, the form of truth I meditate,
Who doth meaning of scripture propagate. 42.

The Lord there did for a few days abide,
And then he to the southern regions hied;
At Kurma's shrine he met the devotee
Vasudeva, and cured his leprosy;
Then to Vijaya Nagar did remove,
And gave Ramananda the sea of love.
On Gauranga, sacred shines incarnate,
Affording joy to all, I meditate. 43

From region to region he held his way,
And love to all good people did convey;
At Ranga's shrine sometime he did abide,
Dwelt with Bhatta, with whom he did confide;
There learned ones he did with favour please,
And made them Krishna's ardent devotees.
I meditate on Gaura's form divine,
In Gopal's house the gem of joy sublime. 44

The Buddhists and the Jains he did berate,
And with the Tattvavadis held debate,
Doctrines on pure devotion he imparts,
That softened even Mayavadi's hearts;
All these by his potent influence gained,
Auspiciousness, and true worship attained.
And those by such diverse dogma beguiled,
To his own pure teaching he reconciled;
To him, the cleanser of doctrine, I bow,
Lord Gaura who doth like the fair moon glow. 45

While in the south great joy he did convey,
And washed the distain of Kali away;
He brought two texts on devotion from there,
And then with Krishna Das he did repair,
The road by Alala's fane did pursue,
And came at last to the great Mountain blue.
On Gauranga, with joy always elate,
Who safeguards his lovers, I meditate. 46

Whose limbs with a pure golden lustre glowed,
In Kashi Mishra's house took up abode,
Who was of learned twice-born ones foremost.
With Svarupa and the devotee host,
He relished the joy of the holy name,
At all times, and did all the souls reclaim.
On Gauranga, ecstasy incarnate,
With his beloved train, I meditate. 47

While Blue mountain's Lord on his car proceeds,
With singing Hari's qualities and deeds,
He danced with his lovers, going before,
And with a deluge of bliss flooded o'er,
And filled with delight his dear devotees,
And did with love king Gajapati please;
His Orya servants with joy endued,
The ecstasy of love's beatitude;
On Gauranga, pure love-joy incarnate,
Who revels in his bliss, I meditate. 48

From Odra to Gauda he did repair,
And left his Oriyan devotees there
At the border, and left his friends behind;
The son of Sachi I recall to mind. 49

To see Shrivas and Vasudev he comes,
And Raghava, and visits all their homes,
And then to Shantipur did ambulate;
On him, the fair Gaura, I meditate. 50

He then to Shri Vidyanagara went,
And gave Vidyavachaspati content;
Then Kuliya and Navadvip once more;
That Lord Gaura I fervently adore. 51

He is not attained by learning forsooth,
Nor beauty, pedigree, nor wealth, nor youth;
But upon those who humility show,
Great Lord Chaitanya doth his grace bestow,
As learned Devananda came to know;
Who honoured with service pure devotees,
With worship, and thereby the Lord did please.
I bow to Gaura who removes all stains,
By whose grace pure devotion one attains. 52

On the pretense of Vrindavan to see,
To West Bengal he travelled eagerly,
He met his mother and gave her content,
Then to Ramakeli town also went;
He met with Rupa and his elder there,
Alleviated all their deep despair,
Did from their obligations liberate,
In their service to the Islamic state;
And did thus to them his mercy display,
Then back to Orissa he took is way.
On the self-dependent Lord incarnate,
Who rescues his lovers, I meditate. 53

[madanmohandas]

Considering that it would be quite wrong,
To travel to Vrindavan in a throng,
Yet eager to visit the holy land,
To travel without a following planned;
And took Balabhadra alone to be
His attendant and only company.
By exercise of his strong influence,
He made bears, tigers, and animals dance.
I meditate on Gaura who enthralls,
With his own joy, the forest animals. 54

While in Vrindavan he wandered and strayed,
The hills, rivers and villages surveyed;
His antecedent deeds he did recall,
And into intense ecstasy did fall.
Wherefore his anxiety to relieve,
Bhadra persuaded him Vraja to leave.
On him, who to his friends is subjugate,
Humility's own self, I meditate. 55

While on the path he swooned in ecstasy,
Seen by a passing troop of cavalry
Of Afghan soldiers stationed in that place.
He granted them auspiciousness and grace,
And by his favour they later became
Great devotees and pure, well known to fame.
I meditate on him who doth remove
The stigma of mean extraction with love. 56

Thereon he did to the holy shrine go,
Where Ganga and the Sundaughter conflow;*
There met Rupa and taught the elements
Of sublime devotional sentiments;
The wise Vallabha also to him came,
And did pure love for Gokula's Lord gain.
On that Gauranga, scripture incarnate.
The gem-like preceptor, I meditate. 57.

The dry monists who dwelt in Kashi town,
He did in a deluge of pure love drown;
And showed his grace to his followers there,
And elaborate doctrines did declare
To Rupa's elder and urged him to write
Texts treating on ceremony and rite,
And on devotion to the Lord Vishnu,
And gave him power the work to pursue.
Hail to Gaura, the preceptor divine,
For aspirants of pure worship sublime. 58

The Shankara sannyasis, gratified,
Proclaimed his transcendent glory and cried,
'Oh fie on logicians who will not show
Honour, and to the Lord Gauranga bow!'
Then all the anchorites worshiped the Lord,
And his magnanimous glory adored.
On Gauranga, ecstasy incarnate,
Agitated by love, I meditate. 59

He then returned to Ksetra'a sacred shrine,
Affording Hari's lovers joy sublime,
He showered Ramananda with delights,
And Sarvabhauma's attachment requites;
He discoursed on the loving ecstasies
Of Hari, with his many devotees.
On him who tastes the accounts of Hari,
Gauranga, I meditate constantly. 60

Whose lotus-feet are bowed to by the Lords
Vidhi and Shiva, which them bliss affords.
Each year the great ones come from West Bengal,
To celebrate the grand car festival;
And gaining pure love's joy within the heart,
From Odra's fair realm once again depart.
I contemplate that king of anchorites,
Who his Bengali devotees delights. 61

To caution those his renounced devotees,
Who live a life of strict austerities,
Not in speech with females to be employed,
And all immoral conduct to avoid.
For some minor offence he was content,
To send young Haridas to banishment.
On Gauranga, holiness incarnate,
Of immaculate deeds, I meditate. 62

[madanmohandas]

One may by fate or his strong destiny,
Derived from an humble parentage be,
But if he wisely comprehends the truth,
He is a worthy preceptor, forsooth.
This fact was demonstrated and made known,
When grace to Pradyumna Mishra was shown.
I contemplate Gauranga like a bee,
Quaffing nectar, from inadvertence free. 63

Conquered by worship of his devotee,
He showed affection to Das Goswami,
And gave him knowledge of the principles,
And confidential worships' articles.
He did in his last years by the sea bide,
And kept Shri Das Goswami by his side.
Upon Gauranga, the friend incarnate,
Kind to those at his feet, I meditate. 64

The Puri known by Ramachandra's name,
Made it his pleasure his betters to blame;
And thus succumbed to the delusive spell,
And fell into Kali's contentious well.
Amogha was from all transgression free,
By the slight grace of Hari's devotee.
May Sachi's son straightway his favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 65

When Sanatan was plagued with oozy sores,
The Lord's gracious touch his beauty restores;
His understanding also purified,
And forbade him to commit suicide.
On Gauranga, the mighty potentate,
The Lord of Navadvip, I meditate. 66

He saved Gopinath from the punishment
Of the king for alleged embezzlement,
As Ramananda's younger was distressed,
The Lord saved him, and a sermon addressed
On right conduct for servants of the state,
How that they should not misappropriate
The wealth belonging to the treasury,
And always avoid such iniquity.
On Gauranga, righteousness incarnate,
Who blesses his lovers, I meditate. 67

He relished the dainties from his country,
Brought by dear Raghava repeatedly;
On Gaura, the Supreme Self incarnate,
Who receives gifts of love, I meditate. 68

Adhering to his strict sannyasi vow,
Would not the gift of fragrant oil allow,
Which Jagadananda would consecrate.
On him, the Great Master, I meditate. 69

Before the portal of Jagannath's shrine,
The Mighty Lord grants audience divine;
While gazing there by Garuda's column,
An eager lady on his shoulder clomb,
To relish with an unrestricted sight,
Which satisfied Hari with pure delight.
May Sachi's son straightway his favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 70

[madanmohandas]

The god-like Puri was to him most dear,
Who like a preceptor he did revere;
His servant Govinda his grace attained,
And always by his side to serve remained;
Svarupa he inspired with the mood,
Of the sweet amorous beatitude.
May Sachi's son straightway his favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 71

Dawn-red raiment his radiant limbs enfold,
Whose body shines like a mountain of gold;
With torrents of tears teeming from his eyes,
He utters, 'Radha', and 'Krishna', and cries.
May Sachi's son straightway his favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 72

Who sings with joy Hari's name as he wends,
Along the paths and byroads with his friends;
And dancing slowly in their company,
He says, 'O people, sing Hari , Hari!'
May Sachi's son straightway his favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 73

The secret meaning of scripture was shown,
By wise sages previously unknown;
The essence of scripture's deep principles
Of love, he set forth in ten articles.
May Sachi's son straightway his favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 74

[madanmohandas]

The Vedic texts are deemed self-evident,
As have in pure succession made descent;
Which first that Hari is supreme decree;
He is possessed of omnipotency;
He is the source of bliss and rapture’s store,
That souls stand in between the sea and shore;
Some bound by Nature and some bound no more.
That souls and worlds subsist in him alone,
That all is one with him and yet not one;
The means to perfection are said to be,
The nine-fold disciplines of pure Bhakti;
The goal whereof is to achieve the bliss
Of Krishna’s love than which nought better is.
These articles of faith to ten reduced,
Where by the moon-like Gauranga adduced. 75

The self-accomplished Veda was expressed
To Brahma, and others by Hari blest;
Which, received as valid testimony,
Affirms the nine articles certainly.
Unaided reason is not competent
To conceive of the divine argument,
But reason guided by scripture’s mandate,
Is competent these truths to contemplate. 76

Hari is one and the exclusive truth,
All deities are his aspects forsooth;
Thus Vidhi, Shiva, and Suresha bring
Their homage and their devout offering.
The radiant and transcendental light
Of his supreme person is Brahman hight;
His emanations constitute the whole,
World father and indweller of the soul.
That Hari as Radha’s beloved know,
Who does with divine cloud-like lustre glow. 77

Hari abides in his glorious state,
Possessed of divine powers tripartite;
The life force in which all beings subsist,
Whereby all creatures flourish and exist;
His subjective own-power intrinsic,
And Nature insentient, extrinsic;
And as these potencies in three divide,
He does each their respective functions guide,
While he remains immutable and free,
The primal being in his own glory. 78

His own subjective person generates
The power that with joy exhilarates;
His power of intrinsic consciousness,
Animates the will and pure sentience;
And thro’ his existential power subsists
His realms divine and all that there exists.
All hail to him who revels in the sea
Of Vraja’s rapture and felicity. 79

As sparks to fire, souls are separate
Atoms of consciousness that emanate
From Hari; like the sun and the sun rays,
Distinction and non distinction displays.
Hari is always master of the whole,
The souls are always subject to control,
And even when they liberation gain,
As entities dependent still remain. 80

Of a sense of their true interest devoid,
In seeking selfish pleasures e’er employed,
And since they have the Lord Krishna despised,
With bonds of illusion they are chastised,
With subtle and gross body thus constrained,
With many an affliction they are pained.
Now raised by mighty deeds to heaven go,
And now, for sins, are sent to hell below. 81

When having wondered thus and roamed like this,
In perpetual metempsychosis,
The soul by some good fortune may acquaint
Itself with an ecstatic Vaisnav saint;
Who the sweet taste of Hari’s love conveys,
Whence the soul gins to emulate his ways.
The sweet accounts of Krishna cultivates,
Then gradually illusion dissipates.
And realising its own nature pure,
The sweet taste of ecstasy does procure. 82

All consciousness and matter emanates,
Which his evolving power generates,
From Hari who remains immutable,
Supernal, transcendent, ineffable.
The doctrine that mutation does maintain
In Brahman is error and Kali’s stain.
According to revelation’s decree,
All is one with and different from Hari.
Whence love eternal attains perfection,
With mutual exchange of affection. 83

To hear and sing of Krishna’s name and fame,
To bow, and contemplation to maintain,
Worship through rituals and servitude,
Pure friendship and a devout attitude;
To wait on him with services divine,
The soul in self surrender to resign.
The aspirant when this practice begins,
And daily follows the nine disciplines,
A deep regard for worshiping attains,
And love immaculate for Hari gains. 84

The aspirant who worship thus maintains,
To his own inherent nature attains;
The sweet amorous sentiment perceives,
And divine service in Vraja conceives;
Enrolled as one of the attendant train
Of Radha and Krishna, the highest gain.
The soul enjoys pure transcendental bliss,
Incomparable wealth of happiness;
The blessing of sacred service receives,
And entrance into the love-sport achieves. 85

Who is the Lord? And what is he forsooth?
What is the soul? What is the world in truth?
Whoso the scripture’s meaning contemplates,
With diligence to Hari dedicates
His worship; to customs indifferent
Of worldly virtue; offenceless, intent
Of Hari’s name to quaff the ecstasies,
In company with Hari’s devotees. 86

Whoe’er this Dasa Mula cultivates,
Which the ten basic articles relates,
All ignorance abandons and attains
Fulfilment, and divine sentiment gains.
In holy company he does confide,
Pleased with the pure devotees to abide. 87

[madanmohandas]

Thus gave he his instructions such as these,
To his devotees, round his feet like bees;
The streams of tears o'er his tall form descend
From his wide eyes; the universal friend;
The embodiment of pure love's delights,
The best of all the renounced anchorites.
May Sachi's son straightway his favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 88

He was refuge of his Bengali train,
Who virtue of caste and status maintain;
Shelter to the simple and meek in heart
In Orissa; on them did grace impart;
And in the western provinces, forsooth,
Showed favour to those eager for the truth.
May Sachi's son straightway his favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 89

Ah me! while he in Mishra's house remained,
In moods of severance his heart was pained,
His arms and legs became elongated,
As if his limbs had been all disjointed;
In abstraction he rolled upon the ground,
And stammered inarticulated sound.
May Sachi's son straightway his favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 90

Again, beyond the high stone wall he passed,
And wandered outside, then fell down at last,
Among a herd of small Kalinga kine,
And swooned away in ecstasy divine.
Thus he was perturbed and agitated,
With his limbs like a turtle contracted.
May Sachi's son directly favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 91

In Vraja's recollection he would groan,
And grind his soft cheeks on the walls of stone;
And the red blood trickled in piteous chase,
From injuries sustained upon his face;
In his derangement he would often say,
'Where and why hath my Krishna gone away?'
May Sachi's son directly favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 92

He ran in ecstasy along the strand,
To mount Chataka, an hillock of sand;
As if going to Vraja hastily,
The king of mountains Govardhan to see.
His followers gained on him from the rear,
And were perturbed at once with joy and fear.
May Sachi's son directly favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 93

He affords to all creatures happiness,
And raised Raghunath Das from his distress,
He did from the well of worldliness save,
A holy stone and Goonja necklace gave.
To that Gaura who like the moon doth glow,
With deep love and salutation I bow. 94

[madanmohandas]

He insubstantiality exposed
Of Doctrines to pure devotion opposed;
Incongruous sentiments disallowed,
And avoided the atheistic crowd.
He took his joy in the good company,
Of his pure devotees' society,
And related with each associate.
To him, the fair-limbed Gaura, I prostrate. 95

He did to worldlings grant Lord Vishnu's name,
Which purifies of Kali's age the stain;
He gave to his intimate devotees
The sweet humours of loving ecstasies.
To that Gaura, who like the moon doth glow,
With deep love and salutation I bow. 96

All offence against the name and the blame,
Are nullified taking Chaitanya's name;
And seeking refuge with him all attain,
The gift of devotion, the highest gain.
To that Gaura, who like the moon doth glow,
With deep love and salutation I bow. 97

Thus in his beauteous moon-bright form sublime,
The Lord Shri Krishna Chaitanya divine,
For four and twenty years his deeds displayed,
While as a householder at home he stayed;
For the same years again he took delight,
In holy orders of an anchorite.
To that Gaura in prostration I fall,
The universal preceptor of all. 98

In household life he clothed and fed the poor,
And gratified the chance guests at his door;
He gave the happiness to everyone,
Of deep study and high education.
May that Gauranga straightway favour show,
And recollection of his feet bestow. 99

The first years of his sannyasa were spent
Ostensibly on pilgrimage, but went
Distributing humours of ecstasy,
To the distant regions of the country.
His latter years in Shri Ksetra he stayed,
And his wondrous divine exploits displayed,
Wherein many emotions were expressed;
Hail him! by mystic power manifest. 100

Alas, alas! with grief the whole world cried,
When he disappeared in the eventide,
During the singing of the holy name,
In the courtyard of Gopinatha's fane;
From the eyes of his devotees withdrew;
Hail to his sports unmanifest to view! 101

The devotee who always doth recite,
This song of Gaura's praise with vast delight,
It does his tender heart with love o'erwhelm,
Especially in Gaura's sacred realm.
Shri Krishna Chaitanya Chandra divine,
The jewel in the worthy twice-born line,
Immersed in love, his gracious favour shows,
And worship of the divine pair bestows. 102

During Karttik, in the year of our Lord
Four hundreds and six, beloved, adored,
This song which cleanses the world and makes pure,
Was composed by Bhaktivinod Thakur. 103

To relish the sweet loving exploits rare,
Of Vrishabhanu raja's daughter fair,
Nanda's son in Bengal did incarnate,
To her this work I humbly dedicate. 104

Here ends the Shri Gauranga Lila Smarana Mangala Stotram by Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
The year of our Lord 406 answering to 1892 of the common era.

This rendering into English heroic couplets completed in the year of our Lord 534 (2021)