Sriman Navadvipa-dhama-vandana

A summary of

Sri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya

in twenty Sanskrit verses

Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur

śrutich chhāndogyākhyā vadati paramaṁ brahma-purakaṁ
smṛtir vaikuṇṭhākhyāṁ vadati kila yaṁ viṣṇu-sadanam
sitadvīpaṁ chānye virala-rasiko yaṁ vraja-vanaṁ
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [1]

The sruti known as Chhandogya calls it ‘the city of the Supreme Absolute’. The smrti calls it ‘Vaikuntha’, the abode of Lord Visnu. Others know it as ‘the white island’. The rare relishers of rasa call it ‘the forest of Vraja’. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe brahmā nija-kucharitāt moha-janitāt
kṛpā-sindhuṁ gauraṁ satata-manu-taptaḥ samabhajat
prabhus tasmai gūḍhāṁ nija-hṛdaya-vāñchhāṁ samavadat
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [2]

In one of its regions, Brahma, constantly repenting for his misbehaviour caused by bewilderment, worshipped Gaura, the ocean of mercy. The Lord then fulfilled the deepest desire in Brahma’s heart. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe gaurī giri-vara-sutā viśva-jananī
śachī-sūnor dṛṣṭvā bhajana-viṣayaṁ rūpam atulam
svasīmante prādāt prabhu-charaṇa-reṇuṁ bhagavatī
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [3]

In one of its regions, Bhagavati, the golden-complexioned daughter of the Himalayas, the mother of the universe, beheld the unparalleled form of the object of her worship, the son of Sachi. She then placed the dust of the Lord’s feet upon the parting in her hair. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe vajrī nija-kumati-taptaḥ susurabhiṁ
samāśritya premṇā druma-tala-samīpe hari-padam
bhajan sākṣād gaurād varam ati-śubhaṁ prāpa vibudho
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [4]

In one of its regions, the wielder of the thunderbolt, Lord Indra, remorseful for his impudence, took shelter of beautiful Surabhi, lovingly worshipped the feet of the Lord beside a tree, and attained a most auspicious boon from Gaura Himself. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe saptarṣi-gaṇa-bhajanākṛṣṭa-hṛdayaḥ
aho! gauraḥ sārddha-prahara-samaye prādurabhavat
varaṁ tebhyaḥ prādāch charama-samaye yad dhitakaraṁ
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [5]

In one of its regions, His heart attracted by their service, Gaura appeared to the seven sages at noon, and, oh, bestowed upon them a pleasing boon at the perfect time! I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe kaśchid dvija-kula-patiḥ puṣkara-matiḥ
svavārddhakyāt tīrtha-bhramaṇa-viṣaye śakti-rahitaḥ
dadarśāgre tīrthaṁ parama-śubhadaṁ puṣkaram api
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [6]

In one of its regions, a brahman chief, who longed for Puskara Tirtha but because of his old age lacked the ability to make the pilgrimage there, saw the supremely auspicious Puskara Tirtha before him. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe kolākṛti-dhṛg ati-chitraṁ makha-patiṁ
svabhaktāya prītyā ratim ati-viśuddhāṁ tribhuvane
dadau śrī-gaurāṅge svabhajana-balākṛṣṭa-hṛdayo
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [7]

In one of its regions, the Lord of sacrifice, who bears the dazzling form of a boar, His heart was drawn by the power of His devotee’s service, affectionately bestowed upon His devotee the purest thing in the three worlds — love for Sri Gauranga. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe kuñje nija-bala-vṛto ’yaṁ ṛtu-patiḥ
naṭantaṁ chaitanyaṁ svagaṇa-pariyuktaṁ samabhajat
latā-gulmākīrṇe phala-kusuma-bhāra-praṇamite
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [8]

In one of its regions, the king of the seasons, checking his own power, worshipped Sri Chaitanya, who, along with His associates, was dancing in a grove whose creepers and shrubs, laden with fruits and flowers, bowed to Him. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe jahnur bhajana-samaye śubhra-salilāṁ
samāyātāṁ dṛṣṭvā pratikūla-taraṅgāṁ samapibat
amuñchat tāṁ bhaktyā punar api munir jahnu-tanayāṁ
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [9]

In one of its regions, Jahnu Muni, upon seeing the Ganga’s glistening waters approaching during his worship, drank her distracting waves. He then released her again as his daughter because of the devotion (of King Bhagirath). I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe rāmo daśaratha-suto lakṣmaṇa-yutaḥ
purā sītā-sārddhaṁ katipaya-dinaṁ gāṅga-puline
avātsīt tretāyāṁ muni-nikaro modadruma-tale
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [10]

In one of its regions, in the Treta-yuga of a previous era, the son of Dasarath, the wealth of the sages, Rama, with his other half, Sita, and Laksman, resided for a few days on the bank of the Ganga beneath a pleasure tree. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe nārāyaṇam api paraṁ nārada-munir
dadarśāyaṁ sākṣāt sakala-bhajanīyaṁ sura-varam
apaśyat taṁ paśchāt parama-puruṣaṁ gaura-vapuṣaṁ
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [11]

In one of its regions, the sage Narad directly beheld the greatest of Gods, Narayan, who is supremely worshippable to all, and then saw the Supreme Lord in His golden form. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe pārtho drupada-tanayā-sevita-padaḥ
avātsīt sabhrātaḥ katipaya-dinaṁ gaura-kṛpayā
mahāraṇye puṇye muni-nikara-sevye hari-sakhaḥ
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [12]

In one of its regions, by the grace of Gaura, the Lord’s friend Arjuna, served by Draupadi and accompanied by his brothers, resided for a few days in a large, auspicious forest that is worshipped by hosts of sages. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yad ekāṁśe rudraḥ svagaṇa-sahitaḥ prema-galitaḥ
naṭan mandaṁ mandaṁ kara-ḍamaru-vādya-pramuditaḥ
aho! gāyatyuchchaiḥ satatam api viśvambharam asau
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [13]

In one of its regions, Rudra, lost in divine love, gently dances with his associates, enlivened by the sound of damarus. Oh! How he continuously sings about Visvambhar in this place! I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yathā sthāne sthāne jala-parivṛtās tīrtha-nikarāḥ
virājante śaśvat sakala-muni-sevyā hy agha-harāḥ
tathā devāḥ sarve girīśa-parameṣṭhi-prabhṛtayo
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [14]

An abundance of holy places, surrounded by water, shine eternally throughout this land. Attended by Siva, Brahma, and all the other gods, these places destroy all sin and are worshippable to all the sages. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yathā prauḍhā māyā svapati-sahitā vaiṣṇava-ripūn
jaḍānandaṁ datvā hari-niyama-kartrī chhalayati
mṛṣā-śāstrāchārair mada-vichalitān mohayati cha
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [15]

Here, Praudha Maya, the Lord’s warden, along with her husband, deceives the enemies of the Vaisnavas by giving them material happiness and bewilders those who are blinded by pride in their futile study of the scriptures. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yathā vaiṣā kālī danuja-dalanī śambhu-ramaṇī
harer bhaktān snehāt kapaṭa-rahitā pālayati cha
parānandaṁ gauraṁ bhajati niyataṁ prema-galitā
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [16]

Here, Kali, the wife of Sambhu and destroyer of the demons, sincerely protects the devotees of the Lord out of affection for them. Lost in divine love, she eternally worships Gaura in ecstasy. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

yathā vāṇī sākṣāt prabhu-charaṇa-sevāśaya-ratā
dvijātibhyo vidyāṁ nikhila-naya-śāstrādi-viṣayām
dadāty eṣā nityaṁ vibudha-taṭinī-tīra-viṣaye
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [17]

Saraswati, the goddess of speech, whose heart is given to the service of the Lord’s feet, eternally resides on the bank of the Ganga in this land and personally bestows upon the brahmans knowledge of all the scriptures on conduct and other subjects. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

hariḥ śrīmad-rādhā-dyuti-kavalitaḥ pārṣada-vṛtaḥ
śachī-garbhodbhūtaḥ kali-kaluṣa-nāśodyata-manaḥ
yathā nāmnaḥ saṅkīrtanam ati-pavitraṁ samakarot
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [18]

Adorned with the lustre of Sri Radha, the Lord appeared here from the womb of Sri Sachi. Intent on purging the filth of Kali, He engaged in supremely purifying chanting of the Name, accompanied by His associates. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

aho! bhaktāḥ kechit parama-ramaṇīye jana-pade
naṭantaṁ gaurāṅgaṁ nija-jana-balākā-parivṛtam
yathā paśyanty addhā hari-bhajana-siddhau svanayanair
navadvīpaṁ vande tam iha paramānanda-nilayam [19]

Oh! Here, some devotees, expert in the service of the Lord, directly see with their own eyes Sri Gauranga dancing amidst His associates and their wives in this supremely beautiful city! I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.

navadvīpe yo vai kṛta-nivasatir dvaidha-rahitaḥ
idaṁ stotraṁ bhaktyā paṭhati hari-pūjādi-samaye
chidānande sākṣāt praṇaya-sukha-bhāvaṁ bhagavati
śachī-sūnau kṛṣṇe parama-ramaṇīyaṁ sa labhate [20]

One who resides in Nabadwip without duplicity and recites this prayer with devotion at the time of worshipping the Lord, genuinely attains the supremely delightful joy of love for the Lord, the embodiment of spiritual ecstasy — the son of Sachi, who is Krsna Himself.