Chapter 17. Sri Jiva Goswami’s Questions and Srila Nityananda Prabhu’s Answers
জয় জয় গোরাচাঁদ জয় নিত্যানন্দ ।
জয়াদ্বৈত গদাধর প্রেম-রসানন্দ ॥১॥
jaya jaya gorāchā̐da jaya nityānanda
jayādvaita gadādhara prema-rasānanda [1]
jaya jaya–All glory goracha̐da–to Goracha̐d! jaya–All glory nityananda–to Nityananda! jayadvaita–All glory to Advaita, gadadhara–Gadadhar, [and] prema-rasananda–the ecstatic joy of divine love! [1]
Translation:
All glory to Goracha̐d, Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhar, and the ecstatic joy of divine love!
জয় শ্রীবাসাদি ভক্ত নবদ্বীপ জয় ।
জয় নামসঙ্কীর্ত্তন প্রেমের নিলয় ॥২॥
jaya śrīvāsādi bhakta navadvīpa jaya
jaya nāma-saṅkīrtana premera nilaya [2]
jaya–All glory srivasadi bhakta–to Srivas and the devotees! jaya–All glory navadvipa–to Nabadwip! jaya–All glory nama-sankirtana–to the chanting of the Name, premera nilaya–the abode of divine love! [2]
Translation:
All glory to Srivas, the devotees, and Nabadwip! All glory to Nam-sankirtan, the abode of divine love!
বসিয়াছে নিত্যানন্দ শ্রীবাস-অঙ্গনে ।
গৌরপ্রেমে বারিধারা বহে দু’নয়নে ॥৩॥
basiyāchhe nityānanda śrīvāsa-aṅgane
gaura-preme vāridhārā vahe du’nayane [3]
nityananda–Nityananda basiyachhe–sat srivasa-angane–in the courtyard of Srivas, [and] gaura-preme–in divine love for Gaura, varidhara–streams of tears vahe–flowed du’nayane–from [His] two eyes. [3]
Translation:
Nityananda sat in the courtyard of Srivas, and in divine love for Gaura, streams of tears flowed from His eyes.
চারিদিকে বৈষ্ণব সজ্জন অগণন ।
গৌরপ্রেমপারাবারে মগ্ন সর্ব্বজন ॥৪॥
chāri-dike vaiṣṇava sajjana agaṇana
gaura-prema-pārābāre magna sarva-jana [4]
[There were] aganana–countless vaisnava–Vaisnava sajjana–sadhus chari-dike–in all directions, [and] sarva-jana–everyone [was] magna–immersed gaura-prema-parabare–in the ocean of divine love for Gaura. [4]
Translation:
There were countless Vaisnava sadhus in all directions, and everyone was immersed in the ocean of divine love for Gaura.
কতক্ষণে শ্রীজীব গোস্বামী মহাশয় ।
শ্রীযুগল-প্রেমে মত্ত, হইল উদয় ॥৫॥
kata-kṣaṇe śrī-jīva gosvāmī mahāśaya
śrī-yugala-preme matta, ha-ila udaya [5]
kata-ksane–At that time, sri-jiva gosvami mahasaya–Sri Jiva Goswami Mahasay matta udaya ha-ila–became mad sri-yugala-preme–with divine love for the Divine Couple. [5]
Translation:
At that time, Sri Jiva Goswami became mad with love for the Divine Couple.
দণ্ডবৎ প্রণমিয়া নিত্যানন্দপায় ।
শ্রীবাস-অঙ্গনে তবে গড়াগড়ি যায় ॥৬॥
daṇḍavat praṇamiyā nityānanda-pāya
śrīvāsa-aṅgane tabe gaḍāgaḍi yāya [6]
dandavat pranamiya–He prostrated [himself] nityananda-paya–at the feet of Nityananda, [and] tabe–then gadagadi yaya–rolled on the ground srivasa-angane–in the courtyard of Srivas. [6]
Translation:
He prostrated himself at the feet of Nityananda and rolled on the ground in the courtyard of Srivas.
যতনে শ্রীনিত্যানন্দ জিজ্ঞাসেন বচন ।
«কতদিন পরে যাবে তুমি বৃন্দাবন» ॥৭॥
yatane śrī-nityānanda jijñāsena vachana
«kata-dina pare yābe tumi vṛndāvana» [7]
yatane–With affection, sri-nityananda–Sri Nityananda vachana jijnasena–asked «kata-dina pare–«After how many days tumi yabe–will you go [to] vrndavana»–Vrndavan?» [7]
Translation:
Affectionately, Nityananda Prabhu asked, «When will you go to Vrndavan?»
জীব বলে, «প্রভু-আজ্ঞা সর্ব্বোপরি হয় ।
আজ্ঞা পাইলে করি আমি বৃন্দাবনাশ্রয় ॥৮॥
jīva bale, «prabhu-ājñā sarvopari haya
ājñā pāile kari āmi vṛndāvanāśraya [8]
jiva–Jiva bale–said, «prabhu-ajna–«The order of the Lord haya–is sarvopari–above all. ajna paile–When I receive Your order, ami–I vrndavanasraya kari–will take shelter in Vrndavan. [8]
Translation:
Jiva answered, «The order of the Lord is above all. When I receive Your order, I will take shelter in Vrndavan.
দুই এক কথা মোর আছে জিজ্ঞাসিতে ।
উত্তর দাও হে প্রভু এ দাসের হিতে ॥৯॥
dui eka kathā mora āchhe jijñāsite
uttara dāo he prabhu e dāsera hite [9]
mora achhe–I have eka–one [or] dui–two katha–questions jijnasite–to ask [You]. he–O prabhu–Lord, uttara dao–please answer [them] e dasera hite–for the benefit of this servant. [9]
Translation:
«I have one or two questions to ask You. O Lord, please answer them for the benefit of this servant.
এই নবদ্বীপধাম হয় বৃন্দাবন ।
তবে কেন বৃন্দাবন গমনে যতন» ॥১০॥
ei navadvīpa-dhāma haya vṛndāvana
tabe kena vṛndāvana gamane yatana» [10]
ei navadvipa-dhama–Nabadwip Dham haya–is vrndavana–Vrndavan. tabe–So, kena–why yatana–should I endeavour gamane–to go vrndavana»–to Vrndavan?» [10]
Translation:
«Nabadwip Dham is Vrndavan. So, why should I endeavour to go to Vrndavan?»
জীব-প্রশ্ন শুনি’ প্রভু করেন উত্তর ।
«বড় গুহ্যকথা এই শুন অতঃপর ॥১১॥
jīva-praśna śuni’ prabhu karena uttara
«baḍa guhya-kathā ei śuna ataḥpara [11]
suni’–Hearing jiva-prasna–Jiva’s question, prabhu–the Lord uttara karena–answered, «ei–«This [is] bada guhya-katha–a very confidential subject. suna–Listen atahpara–from now on. [11]
Translation:
Hearing Jiva’s question, Nityananda Prabhu answered, «This is a very confidential subject. Now listen.
্রভুর প্রকট-লীলা যতদিন রয় ।
দেখ যেন বহির্ম্মুখ জনে না জানয় ॥১২॥
prabhura prakaṭa-līlā yata-dina raya
dekha yena bahirmukha jane nā jānaya [12]
yata-dina–As long as prakata-lila–the manifest Pastimes prabhura–of the Lord raya–continue, dekha yena–see to it that bahirmukha jane–averse souls janaya na–do not know [about this]. [12]
Translation:
«As long as the Pastimes of the Lord remain manifest, see to it that averse souls do not know about this.
নবদ্বীপ বৃন্দাবন হয় এক তত্ত্ব ।
পরস্পর কিছু নাহি হীনত্ব মহত্ত্ব ॥১৩॥
navadvīpa vṛndāvana haya eka tattva
paraspara kichhu nāhi hīnatva mahattva [13]
navadvipa–Nabadwip [and] vrndavana–Vrndavan haya–are eka–one tattva–truth; paraspara kichhu nahi–neither one [is] hinatva–lesser [or] mahattva–greater [than the other]. [13]
Translation:
«Nabadwip and Vrndavan are one; neither one is lesser or greater than the other.
সেই বৃন্দাবনধাম রসের আধার ।
সে রস না পায় যার নাহি অধিকার ॥১৪॥
sei vṛndāvana-dhāma rasera ādhāra
se rasa nā pāya yāra nāhi adhikāra [14]
sei vrndavana-dhama–Vrndavan Dham [is] adhara–an abode rasera–of divine love, [but] se yara nahi–souls who have no adhikara–qualification paya na–do not attain se–that rasa–rasa. [14]
Translation:
«Vrndavan Dham is an abode of rasa, but unqualified souls do not attain that rasa.
কৃপা করি’ সেই ধাম নবদ্বীপ হয় ।
হেথা রস-অধিকার জীবে উপজয় ॥১৫॥
kṛpā kari’ sei dhāma navadvīpa haya
hethā rasa-adhikāra jīve upajaya [15]
sei–That dhama–abode krpa kari’–mercifully haya–manifests navadvipa–as Nabadwip, [and] hetha–here, jive upajaya–souls develop adhikara–the qualification rasa–for divine love. [15]
Translation:
«Vrndavan Dham mercifully manifests as Nabadwip, and here, souls develop the qualification to attain rasa.
রাধাকৃষ্ণ-লীলা হয় সর্ব্বরসসার ।
সহসা তাহাতে নাহি হয় অধিকার ॥১৬॥
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-līlā haya sarva-rasa-sāra
sahasā tāhāte nāhi haya adhikāra [16]
radha-krsna-lila–The Pastimes of Radha and Krsna haya–are sarva-rasa-sara–the highest of all rasas, [and] adhikara–qualification tahate–for them haya nahi–does not come sahasa–immediately. [16]
Translation:
«The Pastimes of Radha and Krsna are the highest of all rasas, and qualification for them does not come immediately.
কত জন্ম তপস্যা করিয়া হয় জ্ঞান ।
জ্ঞান পরিপক্কে পায় রসের সন্ধান ॥১৭॥
kata janma tapasyā kariyā haya jñāna
jñāna paripakke pāya rasera sandhāna [17]
tapasya kariya–Performing austerities kata janma–for many births haya–results in jnana–knowledge, [and] jnana paripakke–when knowledge matures, rasera sandhana paya–souls discover rasa. [17]
Translation:
«Performing austerities for many births results in knowledge, and when knowledge matures, souls discover rasa.
তাহাতে ব্যাঘাত বহু আছে সর্ব্বক্ষণ ।
অতএব সুদুর্ল্লভ রস মহাধন ॥১৮॥
tāhāte vyāghāta bahu āchhe sarva-kṣaṇa
ataeva sudurlabha rasa mahādhana [18]
achhe–There are sarva-ksana–always bahu–many vyaghata–obstacles tahate–in this regard, [and] ataeva–thus, mahadhana–the supreme wealth rasa–of rasa [is] sudurlabha–very difficult to attain. [18]
Translation:
«There are always many obstacles involved, and thus, the supreme wealth of rasa is very difficult to attain.
যেই সেই ব্রজে গিয়া নাহি পায় রস ।
অপরাধ-বশে রস হয় ত বিরস ॥১৯॥
yei sei vraje giyā nāhi pāya rasa
aparādha-vaśe rasa haya ta virasa [19]
yei sei–Everyone who giya–goes vraje–to Vraja paya nahi–does not attain rasa–rasa, [and] aparadha vase–as a result of offences, rasa–rasa haya–becomes ta virasa–tasteless. [19]
Translation:
«Not everyone who goes to Vraja attains rasa, and as a result of offences, rasa becomes tasteless.
ঘোর কলিকালে অপরাধ সর্ব্বকাল ।
জীবের জীবন স্বল্প বড়ই জঞ্জাল ॥২০॥
ghora kali-kāle aparādha sarva-kāla
jīvera jīvana svalpa baḍa-i jañjāla [20]
ghora kali-kale–During the darkness of the Age of Kali, aparadha–offences [are] sarva-kala–constant, [and] jivana–the life jivera–of a soul [is] svalpa–short [and] bada-i–extremely janjala–troublesome. [20]
Translation:
«During the darkness of Kali-yuga, offences are constant, and the life of a soul is short and extremely troublesome.
ইচ্ছা করিলেও ব্রজরস লভ্য নয় ।
অতএব কৃষ্ণকৃপা রসহেতু হয় ॥২১॥
ichchhā karileo vraja-rasa labhya naya
ataeva kṛṣṇa-kṛpā rasa-hetu haya [21]
ichchha karileo–Even if souls desire [it,] vraja-rasa–the rasa of Vraja labhya naya–is not attainable. ataeva–Therefore, krsna-krpa–Krsna’s mercy haya–is rasa-hetu–the [only] cause of rasa. [21]
Translation:
«Even if souls desire it, the rasa of Vraja is not attainable. The mercy of Krsna is therefore the only cause of attaining rasa.
রাধাকৃষ্ণ কৃপা করি’ জীবের উপর ।
বৃন্দাবন সহ সমুদিতে অতঃপর ॥২২॥
rādhā-kṛṣṇa kṛpā kari’ jīvera upara
vṛndāvana saha samudita ataḥpara [22]
krpa kari’–Being merciful jivera upara–to the souls, radha-krsna–Radha and Krsna atahpara samudita–have since appeared saha–with vrndavana–Vrndavan. [22]
Translation:
«Being merciful to the souls, Radha and Krsna have again appeared with Vrndavan.
একমূর্ত্তি রাধাকৃষ্ণ প্রভু গৌরহরি ।
শচীগর্ভে নবদ্বীপে এবে অবতরি’ ॥২৩॥
রস-অধিকার জীবে করেন প্রদান ।
অপরাধ বাধা কভু নাহি পায় স্থান ॥২৪॥
eka-mūrti rādhā-kṛṣṇa prabhu gaurahari
śachī-garbhe navadvīpe ebe avatari’ [23]
rasa-adhikāra jīve karena pradāna
aparādha bādhā kabhu nāhi pāya sthāna [24]
avatari’–Descending navadvipe–in Nabadwip sachi-garbhe–through Sachi’s womb eka-murti–in one form, radha-krsna–Radha and Krsna, gaurahari prabhu–as Lord Gaurahari, ebe–now pradana karena–give jive–souls adhikara–qualification rasa–for rasa. badha–The obstacle aparadha–of offences kabhu nahi paya–never has sthana–a place [in Nabadwip]. [23–24]
Translation:
«Descending in Nabadwip through the womb of Sachi Devi in one form, Radha and Krsna, as Lord Gaurahari, now give souls qualification for rasa. Offences are never an obstacle in Nabadwip.
হেথা বাস করি’ নাম করিলে আশ্রয় ।
রসে অধিকার জন্মে অপরাধ ক্ষয় ॥২৫॥
hethā vāsa kari’ nāma karile āśraya
rase adhikāra janme aparādha kṣaya [25]
vasa kari’–If souls reside hetha–here [and] asraya karile–take shelter nama–of the Name, [their] adhikara–qualification rase–for rasa janme–develops [and their] aparadha–offences [are] ksaya–eradicated. [25]
Translation:
«If souls reside here and take shelter of the Name, their qualification for rasa develops and their offences are eradicated.
স্বল্পদিনে কৃষ্ণপ্রেম হয় ত উজ্জ্বল ।
যুগল-রসের বার্ত্তা হয় ত প্রবল ॥২৬॥
svalpa-dine kṛṣṇa-prema haya ta ujjvala
yugala-rasera vārtā haya ta prabala [26]
svalpa-dine–Within a short time, krsna-prema–divine love for Krsna, ta ujjvala haya–shines [within them, and] varta–discussion yugala-rasera–of the Divine Couple’s rasa ta prabala haya–captivates [him]. [26]
Translation:
«Within a short time, divine love for Krsna shines within them, and they become captivated by discussion of the Divine Couple’s rasa.
তবে জীব গৌরকৃপা করিয়া অর্জ্জন ।
যুগল-রসের পীঠ পায় বৃন্দাবন ॥২৭॥
tabe jīva gaura-kṛpā kariyā arjana
yugala-rasera pīṭha pāya vṛndāvana [27]
arjana kariya–Attaining gaura-krpa–the mercy of Gaura, jiva–souls tabe–then vrndavana paya–reach Vrndavan, yugala-rasera pitha–the abode of the Divine Couple’s rasa. [27]
Translation:
«Attaining the mercy of Gaura, souls then reach Vrndavan, the abode of the Divine Couple’s rasa.
গূঢ়তত্ত্ব এই নাহি কহ যারে তারে ।
নবদ্বীপ-বৃন্দাবনে ভেদ হইতে নারে ॥২৮॥
gūḍha-tattva ei nāhi kaha yāre tāre
navadvīpa-vṛndāvane bheda ha-ite nāre [28]
kaha nahi–Do not tell yare tare–anyone ei–this gudha-tattva–confidential truth. ha-ite nare–There can be no bheda–difference navadvipa-vrndavane–between Nabadwip and Vrndavan. [28]
Translation:
«Do not tell anyone this confidential truth. There is no difference between Nabadwip and Vrndavan.
তোমার আশ্রয় এবে রসপীঠ হয় ।
অতএব বৃন্দাবন করহ আশ্রয় ॥২৯॥
tomāra āśraya ebe rasa-pīṭha haya
ataeva vṛndāvana karaha āśraya [29]
tomara–Your asraya–shelter haya–is ebe–now rasa-pitha–that abode of rasa. ataeva–Therefore, asraya karaha–take shelter vrndavana–in Vrndavan. [29]
Translation:
«Your shelter is now that abode of rasa. Therefore, take shelter in Vrndavan.
এই ধামে বৃন্দাবন হয় ত উদয় ।
তবু ব্রজধাম তব হউক আশ্রয় ॥৩০॥
ei dhāme vṛndāvana haya ta udaya
tabu vraja-dhāma tava ha-uka āśraya [30]
vrndavana–Vrndavan ta udaya haya–manifests ei dhame–in this abode. tabu–Still, vraja-dhama ha-uka–let Vraja Dham be tava–your asraya–shelter. [30]
Translation:
«Vrndavan is present here. Still, let Vraja Dham be your shelter.
ব্রজরস অধিকারে নবদ্বীপাশ্রয় ।
জীবের কর্ত্তব্য সদা বল্লভতনয় ॥৩১॥
vraja-rasa adhikāre navadvīpāśraya
jīvera kartavya sadā vallabha-tanaya [31]
vallabha-tanaya–O son of Sri Vallabha, kartavya–the duty jivera–of the soul [is] sada–always navadvipasraya–to take shelter in Nabadwip adhikare–to attain qualification vraja-rasa–for the rasa of Vraja. [31]
Translation:
«O Jiva, the duty of the soul is always to take shelter in Nabadwip to become qualified for the rasa of Vraja.
ব্রজরস প্রাপ্তিস্থলে বৃন্দাবন বাস ।
জীবের যথায় হয় রসের উল্লাস ॥৩২॥
vraja-rasa prāpti-sthale vṛndāvana vāsa
jīvera yathāya haya rasera ullāsa [32]
vraja-rasa prapti-sthale–In the place to attain the rasa of Vraja, jivera vasa haya–souls reside vrndavana–in Vrndavan [and] yathaya–there [experience] ullasa–the joy rasera–of [its] rasa. [32]
Translation:
«In the place to attain the rasa of Vraja (Nabadwip), souls reside in Vraja and experience the joy of its rasa.
নবদ্বীপ-কৃপা যবে লভে সাধুজন ।
তবে অনায়াসে লভে ধাম বৃন্দাবন» ॥৩৩॥
navadvīpa-kṛpā yabe labhe sādhu-jana
tabe anāyāse labhe dhāma vṛndāvana» [33]
yabe–When sadhu-jana–sadhus labhe–attain navadvipa-krpa–the grace of Nabadwip, tabe–then anayase labhe–they easily attain vrndavana dhama»–Vrndavan Dham.» [33]
Translation:
«When sadhus attain the grace of Nabadwip, they easily attain Vrndavan Dham.»
প্রভুর সিদ্ধান্ত শুনি’ জীব মহাশয় ।
পরম আনন্দে প্রভুচরণ ধরয় ॥৩৪॥
prabhura siddhānta śuni’ jīva mahāśaya
parama ānande prabhu-charaṇa dharaya [34]
suni’–Hearing siddhanta–the conclusions prabhura–of the Lord, jiva mahasaya–Jiva Mahasay dharaya–grasped prabhu-charana–the Lord’s feet parama anande–with geat joy. [34]
Translation:
Hearing the conclusions of Nityananda Prabhu, Jiva grasped His feet with great joy.
চরণ ধরিয়া বলে, «কথা এক আর ।
আছে মোর শুন প্রভু সর্ব্বসারাৎসার ॥৩৫॥
charaṇa dhariyā bale, «kathā eka āra
āchhe mora śuna prabhu sarva-sārātsāra [35]
dhariya–Grasping [His] charana–feet, bale–Jiva said, «mora achhe–«I have ara eka–another katha–question. suna–Please hear [it,] sarva-saratsara prabhu–O Supreme Lord! [35]
Translation:
Grasping His feet, Jiva said, «I have another question. Please hear it, O Supreme Lord!
এই নবদ্বীপে বাস করে বহুজন ।
সবে কেন কৃষ্ণভক্তি না করে অর্জ্জন ॥৩৬॥
ei navadvīpe vāsa kare bahu-jana
sabe kena kṛṣṇa-bhakti nā kare arjana [36]
kena–Why bahu-jana sabe vasa kare–do many souls who reside ei navadvipe–in Nabadwip arjana kare na–not attain krsna-bhakti–devotion to Krsna? [36]
Translation:
«Why do many souls who reside in Nabadwip not attain devotion to Krsna?
ধামে বৈসে তবু কেন অপরাধ রয় ।
আমার হইল এবে বিষম সংশয় ॥৩৭॥
dhāme vaise tabu kena aparādha raya
āmāra ha-ila ebe viṣama saṁśaya [37]
kena–Why vaise–do they reside dhame–in the Dham tabu–but aparadha raya–commit offences? ebe ha-ila–This has now become amara–my visama–troubling samsaya–doubt. [37]
Translation:
«Why do souls reside in the Dham but commit offences? This is now my troubling doubt.
কিসে তবে নিশ্চিন্ত হইবে বিষ্ণুজন ।
বল প্রভু বিশ্বধাম নিত্য নিরঞ্জন» ॥৩৮॥
kise tabe niśchinta ha-ibe viṣṇu-jana
bala prabhu viśva-dhāma nitya nirañjana» [38]
kise–How tabe–then visnu-jana nischinta ha-ibe–will devotees of the Lord become free from anxiety [about this]? bala–Please tell [me,] prabhu–O Lord, nitya niranjana visva-dhama»–O pure, eternal abode of the universe!» [38]
Translation:
«How will devotees of the Lord become free from anxiety about this? Please answer me, O Lord, O pure, eternal abode of the universe!»
নিতাই-জাহ্নবা-পদছায়া আশ যার ।
সে ভক্তিবিনোদ কহে অকিঞ্চন ছার ॥৩৯॥
nitāi-jāhnavā-pada-chhāyā āśa yāra
se bhakti-vinoda kahe akiñchana chhāra [39]
[So] kahe–speaks se akinchana chhara–the poor and fallen bhakti-vinoda–Bhakti Vinod, yara–whose asa–aspiration nitai-jahnava-pada-chhaya–is the shade of Nitai and Jahnava’s feet. [39]
Translation:
So speaks the poor and fallen Bhakti Vinod, whose aspiration is the shade of Nitai and Jahnava’s feet.