SRI SRI PREMA-VIVARTA: CHAPTER TWO

The Composition of this Book

chaitanyera rupa guna sada pade mane
parana kandaya, deha phanpaya saghane [1]

chaitanyera–Sri Chaitanya's rupa–form [and] guna–qualities sada–always pade–come mane–to [my] mind, [and thus my] parana–heart kandaya–cries, [and my] deha–body saghane–constantly phanpaya–swells. [1]

Sri Chaitanya's form and qualities always come to my mind, and thus my heart cries, and my body constantly swells.

kandite kandite mane ha-ila udaya
lekhani dhariya likhi chhadi' laja bhaya [2]

kandite kandite–As I cry, dhariya–I hold lekhani–a pen [and] likhi–write [what] udaya ha-ila–arises mane–in [my] mind, chhadi'–leaving aside [my] laja–shame [and] bhaya–fear. [2]

As I cry, I hold a pen and write what comes to mind, leaving aside my shame and fear.

namete 'pandita' matra, ghate kichhu nai
chaitanyera lila tabu likhibare chai [3]

[I am] 'pandita'–a 'pandit' (scholar) namete–in name matra–only. kichhu nai–There is nothing ghate–in [my] pot (head). tabu–Still, chai–I want likhibare–to write chaitanyera lila–about Sri Chaitanya's Pastimes. [3]

I am a pandit in name only. There is nothing in my pot. Still, I want to write about Sri Chaitanya's Pastimes.

gosani svarupa bale, "ki likha pandita"
ami bali, "likhi tai yahate pirita [4]

svarupa gosani–Svarup Damodar bale–said [to me,] "pandita–"O Pandit, ki–what likha"–are you writing?" ami–I bali–said, "likhi–"I write tai yahate–about whom pirita–I love. [4]

Svarup Damodar asked me, "O Pandit, what are you writing?" I replied, "I am writing about whom I love.

chaitanyera lila-katha yaha pade mane
likhiya rakhiba ami ati sangopane" [5]

ami–I likhiya rakhiba–will write down yaha–what pade–comes mane–to mind chaitanyera lila-katha–about Sri Chaitanya's Pastimes ati sangopane"–very confidentially." [5]

"I am very confidentially writing down whatever comes to my mind about Sri Chaitanya's Pastimes."

svarupa balena, "tabe likha prabhura charita
yaha padi' jagatera habe bada hita" [6]

svarupa–Svarup Damodar balena–said, "tabe–"Then likha–write prabhura charita–about the Pastimes of the Lord yaha–that jagatera bada hita habe–the world will be greatly benefitted padi'"–by reading [about]." [6]

Svarup Damodar said, "Then write about the Pastimes of the Lord that the world will be greatly benefitted by reading about."

ami bali, "jagatera hita nahi jani
yaha yaha bhala lage tai likhe ani" [7]

ami–I bali–replied, "jani nahi–"I do not know [what is] hita–beneficial jagatera–for the world. likhe ani–I write tai yaha yaha–whatever bhala lage"–appeals [to me.]" [7]

I replied, "I don't know what is beneficial for the world. I just write whatever I like."

svarupa chhadila more batula baliya
eka basi' likhi ami prabhu dheyaiya [8]

svarupa–Svarup chhadila–left, baliya–considering more–me batula–mad. basi'–Sitting eka–alone, ami–I likhi–write, dheyaiya–meditating prabhu–on the Lord. [8]

Svarup left, considering me mad. Sitting alone, I write, meditating on the Lord.

dekhichhi aneka lila thaki' prabhu-sange
kichhu kichhu likhi tai nija mano-range [9]

dekhichhi–I saw aneka–many lila–Pastimes [while] thaki'–living prabhu-sange–with the Lord, [and] likhi–I write kichhu kichhu tai–some of them, nija mano-range–as is pleasing to my mind. [9]

I saw many Pastimes while living with the Lord, and I write about some of them, as is pleasing to my mind.

mana kande, prana kande, kande duti ankhi
yakhana yaha mane pade takhana taha likhi [10]

[My] mana–mind kande–cries, [my] prana–heart kande–cries, [my] duti ankhi–two eyes kande–cry, [and] yakhana–when yaha–something pade–comes mane–to mind, takhana–then taha likhi–I write it down. [10]

My mind cries, my heart cries, my eyes cry, and whenever something comes to mind, I write it down.

prabhu more hasya kari' kaila eka-dina
"dvarakara patesvari tumi ta' pravina [11]

eka-dina–One day, prabhu–the Lord hasya kari'–smiled more–at me [and] kaila–said, "tumi–You [are the] ta' pravina–renowned patesvari–queen dvarakara–of Dvaraka. [11]

One day, the Lord smiled at me and said, "You are the renowned queen of Dvaraka.

ami ta' bhikhari ati, more seva kena
kata sata sannyasi paibe ama hena" [12]

ami–I [am] ta' ati bhikhari–a poor beggar. kena–Why more seva–do you serve Me? paibe–You will find kata sata–hundreds sannyasi–of sannyasis ama hena"–like Me." [12]

"I am a poor beggar. Why do you serve Me? You will find hundreds of sannyasis like Me."

muni bali, "rekhe dao tomara chhalana
radha-pada-dasi ami, o katha balo na [13]

muni–I bali–said, "rekhe dao–"Stop tomara–Your chhalana–tricks. ami–I [am] radha-pada-dasi–a maidservant of Radha's feet. o katha balo na–Do not say that. [13]

I said, "Stop Your tricks. I am a maidservant of Radha's feet. Do not speak that way.

amara radhara varna kariyachha churi
vraje laye yaba ami tomaya chora dhari' [14]

churi kariyachha–You stole varna–the complexion amara radhara–of my Radha, [You] chora–thief! ami–I dhari'–am going to catch tomaya–You [and] laye yaba–bring [You back] vraje–to Vraja. [14]

"You stole the complexion of my Radha, You thief! I am going to catch You and bring You back to Vraja.

ami chai radha-pada, tumi phela theli'
dvaraka pathao more, ei tomara keli [15]

ami–I chai–want radha-pada–Radha's feet, [but] tumi–You theli' phela–push [me] aside [and] pathao–send more–me dvaraka–to Dvaraka. ei–This [is] tomara–Your keli–play. [15]

"I want Radha's feet, but You want to push me aside and send me to Dvaraka. This is Your play.

tomara sannyasi-giri ami bhala jani
modera vanchiya radha sevibe apani" [16]

ami–I bhala jani–understand well tomara–Your sannyasi-giri–act as a sannyasi. modera vanchiya–You will trick us [and] sevibe–serve radha–Radha apani"–Yourself." [16]

"I understand perfectly Your act as a sannyasi. You want to trick us and serve Radha Yourself."

aha–Oh! se chaitanya-pada–Sri Chaitanya's feet [are] sampada–the wealth bhajanera–of devotion. kotha–Where gela–have they gone ebe–now, chhadi'–leaving ama–me? amake pheliya–They have thrown me away [and] gela–left, [but] mora mrtyu ha-ila na–I have not died. ami–I gadagadi yai–wallow soke–in lamentation. [17]

Oh! Sri Chaitanya's feet are the wealth of devotion. Where have they gone, leaving me alone? They have thrown me away and left, but I have not died. I simply wallow in lamentation.

eka-dina–One day, sisu-kale–in [our] childhood, du-janete–we hatahati karinu–fought hand to hand kondale–in a quarrel pathasale–at school. duhkhera bhare padiya–I became filled with sadness [and] kandilama–cried eka-dina rati–that day and night ganga-tire–on the bank of the Ganga mayapure–in Mayapur. [18]

One day, in our childhood, we fought hand to hand in a quarrel at school. I became filled with sadness and cried all day and night on the bank of the Ganga in Mayapur.

sadaya ha-iya–Compassionately, natha–the Lord asiya–came [to me] parabhata ha-ite na–before dawn gadadharera sangete–with Gadadhar [and] dakena–called out, "jagadananda!–Jagadananda! abhimana–Pride [is] bada–very manda–bad. chhadiya–Give up [your] vakrata–crookedness [and] katha balo"–speak [to Me]." [19]

Compassionately, the Lord came to me before dawn with Gadadhar and called out, "Jagadananda! Pride is very bad. Be straightforward and speak to Me."

heri'–Seeing prabhura–the Lord's vadana–face, dura kari'–I did away with [my] abhimana–pride [and] jijnasilama–asked, "kena–"Why kasta tumi paile–have You taken [such] trouble [and] chali'–walked [here,] kada bhumi–across the hard ground nadiyara–of Nadia, eta ratre–so late at night? tomara hena kasta–Have You taken such trouble mo lagi'"–for me?" [20]

Seeing the Lord's face, I gave up my pride and asked, "Why have You taken such trouble and walked here, across the hard ground of Nadia, so late at night? Have You taken such trouble for me?"

prabhu–The Lord bale–said, "chala–"Let's go! chala–Let's go! nisi–The night avasana bhela–has ended. giya–Come grhe–to [My] house [and] bhojana karaha–eat. jani'–Knowing [of] tava–your duhkha–sadness mane–at heart, ami–I anasane chhilama–fasted. chhadi'–I left [My] sayya–bed [and] sayana–laid bhumite–on the ground. [21]

The Lord replied, "Let's go! Let's go! The night has ended. Come to My house and eat. Knowing you were sad, I also fasted. I left My bed and laid on the ground.

kali khela kariba ullase"–At that time, gadadhara–Gadadhar aila–came amara ghara–to my room, [and then] duhe–we ainu–came tallase–to search tomara–for you. haila–It is bhala–good [that your] mana–pride gela–has gone. ebe–Now chala–let's go nija grhe–to My house, [and] kali–tomorrow khela kariba–we will play [together] ullase"–happily." [22]

"Gadadhar came to My room, and then we came here to search for you. It is good that your pride is gone. Now let's go to My house, and tomorrow we will play together happily."

dhari'–I grasped gadai-charana–Gadai's (Gadadhar's) feet [and] dhiri dhiri–slowly uthilama–got up. thelite pari na–I could not disobey prabhu-ajna–the Lord's order. giya–I went prabhura grhete–to the Lord's home, khai–ate kichhu–something, piya–drank [some] jala–water, [and then] suilama–rested dui chari danda–for forty-eight to ninety-six mintues. [23]

I grasped Gadai's feet and slowly got up. I could not disobey the Lord's order. I went to His home, ate something, drank some water, and then rested for an hour or so.

prate–In the morning, sachi-jagannatha–Sachi and Jagannath dila–gave more–me dudha-bhata–some milk and rice [and] pathaya–sent [me] padite–to study sange–with prabhu–the Lord. tabe–Then, yabe–when ailama–I came grhe–home padiya suniya–after reading and listening, prabhu–the Lord asi'–came mora grhe–to my house [and] khaya–ate [with me]. [24]

In the morning, Sachi and Jagannath gave me some milk and rice and sent me to school with the Lord. When I came home after studying, the Lord came over and ate with me.

prema–Love kondalera pare–after a quarrel haya–is yena–like suddha–pure hema–gold. kata sukha ha-ila–I was so happy manete–within [my] heart, [and] prabhu–the Lord bale–said, "tumi–"You rago–got angry [and] ami–I ragi–got angry ei lagi'–for this reason, [and now our] prema–love paraspara–for one another vrddhi bhela"–has increased." [25]

Love after a quarrel is like pure gold. I was so happy within my heart, and the Lord said, "Both you and I became angry out of love, and now our love for one another has increased."

bhajile na–If you do not serve e hena gaurangachanda–Gaurangachand, [then you are] paramada–crazy. bhajile–If you serve [Him,] parama sukha haya–you feel the greatest joy. tenha–He [is] thakura–the Deity dayara–of mercy. ki–How could keha–anyone bhulibe–forget tanke–Him? vitaraya–He bestows eta–such daya–mercy dase–upon [His] servants. [26]

If you do not serve Gaurangachand, then you are crazy. If you serve Him, you will feel the greatest joy. He is the Deity of mercy. How could anyone forget Him? He bestows such mercy upon His servants.

chaitanya–Chaitanya [is] amara–my prabhu–master. kabhu na chhadi–I shall never leave chaitanye–Sri Chaitanya. sei–He [is] isvara–the Lord mora pranera–of my heart. uthe–I arise [and] kola dii–embrace take ye–anyone who bali' dake–calls out, "chaitanya"–"Chaitanya!" sei–They [are] sodara–a dear brother mora pranera–of my heart. [27]

Chaitanya is my master. I shall never leave Him—He is the Lord of my heart. I arise and embrace anyone who calls out, "Chaitanya!" They are a brother dear to my heart.

dekhi na–I do not look nayane–with [my] eyes [at] mukha–the face tara yei jana–of anyone who balila na–does not call out, "ha–O chaitanya–Chaitanya, [my] prana-dhana"–life and wealth!" darasane–By seeing tara yeba–anyone who bhulila–has forgotten chaitanye–Chaitanya, yadio–even if se–they [are] devi–a goddess [or] deva–god, [I have] kuprabhata–an inauspicious morning. [28]

I do not look at the face of anyone who does not call out, "O Chaitanya, my wealth and life!" Seeing anyone who has forgotten Chaitanya, even if they are a god or goddess, spoils my morning.

prahara kariba–I will beat yasti–with a stick tare–anyone who chhadiya–leaves chaitanye–Chaitanya [and] manya kare–honours anya–another sannyasire–sannyasi. [I will throw] aguna–fire mukhe–in the mouth tara yei–of anyone who chhadiya–leaves aside chaitanya-katha–discussion of Chaitanya [and] bale–speaks [about] anya–irrelevant, vrtha–meaningless itihasa–subjects. [29]

I will beat with a stick anyone who leaves Chaitanya and honours another sannyasi. I will throw fire into the mouth of anyone who leaves aside discussion of Chaitanya and speaks about irrelevant, meaningless subjects.

yadi–If tahe yahe–that by which chaitanyera sukha–Chaitanya is pleased ghate–results [in my] duhkha–sadness, [then] mora bhoga ha-u–let me endure duhkha–such sadness chira–forever. kabhu yadi–Whenever se–He tyaje–gives up svasukha–His own happiness [and] bhaje–follows yati-dharma–the duties of a renunciant, ami–I [am] vibhora–overwhelmed duhkhete–with sadness tahe–by that. [30]

If what pleases Chaitanya makes me sad, then let me endure such sadness forever. But, when He gives up His own happiness and follows the duties of a renunciant, I am overwhelmed with sadness.

eka-dina prabhu mora khelite khelite
chalila alaka-tire nibida vanete [31]

eka-dina–One day, khelite khelite–while playing mora–with me, prabhu–the Lord chalila–went nibida vanete–into the dense forest alaka-tire–on the bank of the Alaka River. [31]

One day, while playing with Me, the Lord went into the dense forest on the bank of the Alaka.

ami ara gadadhara achhilama sange
bakulera gachhe suka paksi dhare range [32]

gadadhara–Gadadhar ara–and ami–I achhilama–were sange–with [Him]. range dhare–The Lord playfully caught suka paksi–a parrot bakulera gachhe–in a bakul tree. [32]

Gadadhar and I were with Him. The Lord playfully caught a parrot in a bakul tree.

suke dhari' bale, "tui vyasera nandana
radha-krsna bali' kara ananda vardhana" [33]

dhari'–Holding suke–the parrot, bale–He said, "tui–"You [are] nandana–the son vyasera–of Vyasa. bali'–Tell [us about] radha-krsna–Radha and Krishna, [and] vardhana kara–increase [our] ananda"–joy." [33]

Holding the parrot, He said, "You are the son of Vyasa. Please delight us by speaking about Radha and Krishna."

suka taha nahi bale, bale, "gaurahari"
prabhu tare dure phele kopa chhala kari' [34]

suka–The parrot bale nahi–did not speak taha–about Them. [Instead,] bale–he called out, "gaurahari"–"Gaurahari!" kopa chhala kari'–Feigning anger, prabhu–the Lord phele–threw tare–him dure–away. [34]

The parrot did not do this, and instead called out, "Gaurahari!" Feigning anger, the Lord threw the parrot away.

tabu suka "gaura gaura" baliya nachaya
sukera kirtane haya premera udaya [35]

tabu–Still, suka–the parrot baliya–chanted, "gaura gaura"–"Gaura! Gaura!" [and] nachaya–danced, [and] premera udaya haya–divine love arose sukera kirtane–through the parrot's kirtan. [35]

Still, the parrot continued chanting, "Gaura! Gaura!" and danced, and his kirtan gave rise to feelings of divine love.

prabhu bale, "ore suka e ye vrndavana
radha-krsna bala hetha sunuka sarva-jana" [36]

prabhu–The Lord bale–said, "ore–O suka–parrot! e ye–This [is] vrndavana–Vrindavan. bala–Speak radha-krsna–about Radha and Krishna hetha–here sarva-jana sunuka"–so that everyone may hear." [36]

The Lord said, "O parrot! This is Vrindavan. Speak about Radha and Krishna so that everyone may hear."

suka bale, "vrndavana navadvipa ha-ila
radha-krsna gaurahari-rupe dekha dila [37]

suka–The parrot bale–said, "vrndavana–Vrindavan ha-ila–has become navadvipa–Nabadwip, [and] radha-krsna–Radha and Krishna dekha dila–have revealed [Themselves] gaurahari-rupe–as Gaurahari. [37]

The parrot said, "Vrindavan has become Nabadwip, and Radha and Krishna have revealed Themselves as Gaurahari.

ami suka ei vane gaura-nama gai
tumi mora krsna, radha ei ye gadai [38]

ami–I [am] suka–a parrot, [and] gai–I chant gaura-nama–the Name of Gaura ei vane–in this forest. tumi–You [are] mora–my krsna–Krishna, [and] ei ye gadai–Gadai [is] my radha–Radha. [38]

"I am a parrot, and I chant the Name of Gaura in this forest. You are my Krishna, and Gadai is my Radha.

gadai-gauranga mora pranera isvara
ana kichhu mukhe na aise atahpara" [39]

gadai-gauranga–Gadai and Gauranga [are] isvara–the Lords mora pranera–of my heart. atahpara–Thus, ana kichhu na–nothing else aise–comes mukhe"–from [my] mouth." [39]

"Gadai and Gauranga are the Lords of my heart. Thus, nothing else comes from my mouth."

prabhu bale, "ami radha-krsna-upasaka
anya nama sunile amara haya soka" [40]

prabhu–The Lord bale–said, "ami–"I [am] radha-krsna-upasaka–a worshipper of Radha and Krishna, [and] sunile–if I hear anya–other nama–names, amara soka haya"–I become upset." [40]

The Lord said, "I am a worshipper of Radha and Krishna, and if I hear anyone else's name, I become upset."

eta bali' gadaiyera hatati dhariya
mayapure phire aila sukere chhadiya [41]

bali'–Saying eta–this, dhariya–the Lord grasped gadaiyera–Gadai's hatati–hand [and] phire aila–went back mayapure–to Mayapur, chhadiya–leaving sukere–the parrot. [41]

Saying this, the Lord took Gadai's hand and went back to Mayapur, leaving the parrot behind.

suke bale, "gao tumi yaha lage bhala
amara bhajana ami kari chira-kala" [42]

suke–The parrot bale–said, ["You may] "gao–sing yaha–whatever bhala lage–appeals tumi–to You, [but] ami–I kari–will do amara–my bhajana–worship chira-kala"–forever." [42]

The parrot said, "You may sing whatever You like, but I will continue my worship forever."

madhura chaitanya-lila jage yara mane
mora dandavat bhai tanhara charane [43]

bhai–Brother, mora dandavat–I bow charane–at the feet tanhara yara–of anyone in whose mane–heart madhura chaitanya-lila–the sweet Pastimes of Sri Chaitanya jage–arise. [43]

Brother, I bow at the feet of anyone in whose heart the sweet Pastimes of Sri Chaitanya arise.

gadai gaurange muni "radha-syama" jani
sola-krosa "navadvipe" "vrndavana" mani [44]

muni–I jani–know [that] gadai–Gadai [and] gaurange–Gauranga [are] "radha-syama"–Radha and Syam. mani–I know [that] sola-krosa–the thirty-two miles "navadvipe"–of Nabadwip [are] "vrndavana"–Vrindavan. [44]

I know that Gadai and Gauranga are Radha and Syam, and that the thirty-two miles of Nabadwip are Vrindavan.

yasoda-nandane ara sachira nandane
ye jana prthak dekhe se na mare kene [45]

kene–Why [do] se ye jana–those who dekhe–see prthak–a distinction yasoda-nandane ara sachira nandane–betwen the son of Yasoda and the son of Sachi mare na–not die? [45]

Why do those who see a distinction between the son of Yasoda and the son of Sachi not die?

navadvipe na paile yei vrndavana
vrtha se tarkika kena dharaya jivana [46]

kena–Why [do] se yei tarkika–speculators who paile na–do not find vrndavana–Vrindavan navadvipe–within Nabadwip dharaya–continue [their] vrtha–meaningless jivana–lives? [46]

Why do speculators who do not find Vrindavan within Nabadwip continue their meaningless lives?

gaura-nama gaura-dhama gauranga-charita
ye bhaje tate mora akaitava prita [47]

mora akaitava prita–I sincerely love tate ye–those who bhaje–worship gaura-nama–Gaura's Name, gaura-dhama–Gaura's abode, [and] gauranga-charita–Gauranga's Pastimes. [47]

I sincerely love those who worship Gaura's Name, Gaura's abode, and Gaura's Pastimes.

radha-krsna–Radha and Krishna's aparupa–extraordinary nama-rupa-dhama-lila–Names, Forms, Abode, and Pastimes kabhu nahi–never sparse–touch hiya–the hearts tara ye–of those who janmiya–take birth gaudete–in Gauda [but] bhaje na–do not worship gaura-rupa–Gaura's Form, gaura-nama–Gaura's Name, gaura-lila–Gaura's Pastimes, [and] gaura-dhama–Gaura's Abode. [48]

Radha and Krishna's extraordinary Names, Forms, Abode, and Pastimes never touch the hearts of those who take birth in Gauda but do not worship Gaura's Form, Gaura's Name, Gaura's Pastimes, and Gaura's Abode.

Translator's Note
Introduction
In Praise of Sri Sri Prema-vivarta
Sri Sri Prema-vivarta:
1 Invocation of Auspiciousness
2 The Composition of this Book
3 First Obeisances
4 Gaura's Greatness
5 Transformations of Ecstasy in Service
6 The Journey of the Soul
7 The Name is for Everyone
8 Give up Deceit
9 Proper Renunciation
10 Caste and Class
11 The Light of Nabadwip
12 Glories of the Vaisnavas
13 Eagerness to see Sri Gaura
14 Contradictory Transformations
15 Morning Pastimes in Nabadwip
16 What is Love?
17 Different Practices for Different Devotees
18 Sri Ekadasi
19 A Collection of Hidden Truths about the Name
20 The Glories of the Name
+ The Ten Offences to the Holy Name
+ Glossary