Glory to Gaurachandra, Nityananda, Advaita Candra and the devotees of Gaura.Glory to Gadadhara.Glory to Nityananda, the Lord of Shri Jahnava.Glory to Viracandra, a personification of love.By holding the feet of Shri Jahnava and Viracandra, I, being Nityananda dasa, am ready to tell all that I know because if I can attain the favor of Shri Gauranga all my accomplishments will be fulfilled. I am the only son of my parents who used to live in Khanda. I do not know what qualities were in me that Thakurani took me into her confidence and because she favored me a great extent she used to take me everywhere with her. Prabhu had instructed me twice by pointing out the qualities by which love of Gaura could remain in this world. Prabhu said to me, "When I am no more in this world what will be the doctrine of love? Take Narottama and Shrinivasa as the personifications of love and describe their characters and reveal their doctrines with utmost sincerity." What am I to do as Prabhu directed a worthless person like me to write all these things? Thakurani then directed me in this connection and gave me the courage to write in three parts. I therefore bow and apologise at the feet of the devotees of Krishna because I repeat again that I am most incapable for this job. There is no elaboration in my writing as I am bound by his order. If anyone cares to hear all this then I am grateful to him but if one does not care to hear then I am not at all hurt.Shri Rupa Gosvami and his follwers accepted the lives of ascetics and decided to stay in Vrndavana. They used to follow stiff religious methods which according to the previous Shastras were the ways of attaining Krishna. The disciple of Shri Rupa, Shri Jiva, being ordered by Rupa went to Vrndavana after giving up all his services. The disciple of Dasa Gosvami (Rupa) had been Kaviraj. Kaviraj and Jiva had been ordered to follow ascetic life while remaining in family life. They had been directed to stay in Gauda. They had been directed to stay at Gauda and to serve the vaishnavas and also to preach the Vaishnava religion to all. According to the Vaishnava Gosvamis, he who has taken refuge at the feet of Krishna, can get the right of meditating and worshipping as an ascetic in household life. The confidants of Radha once gave up all household duties and were all eager to serve Krishna by disobeying the local customs; for this reason the older persons would say that they had intentionally given up their conjugal lives and surrendered to Krishna. In other words they had given up all pleasures due to Krishna. But he who has obtained accomplishments in this connection, can obtain Krishna in both inward and outward bodies. In this case the Mahajanas gladly accepted the opinion of that accomplished person as granted. Gopala Mahanta and others who had been devotees of Chaitanya were also spiritually accomplished which could not be accomplished by others. All the Thakuranis were the very favorites of Chaitanya. According to the scholarly persons the methods of their meditation were very difficult to understand. Gauranga was in favor of Sadhana more than mantra diksha. Some of the devotees of Prabhu became eager to follow the former method (sadhana). Prabhu Gauranga used to teach his devotees to practise sadhana by the help of divine inspiration which could entitle the devotees as Bhagavatas. The Vaishnavas should be eager to attain Krishna by any means because running after Krishna is the way to attain Krishna. The vaishnavas should give up false pride and always be humble and polite. There are two methods, one remaining in the hermitage and the other remaining outside the hermitage. The Vaishnavas could follow any one of these two types according to their own choice. I do not know what was the opinion of the former Mahajanas about the acceptance of these two types of lives but the Gosvamis have clearly explained the methods and activities to be followed by the persons remaining in the hermitage. Some try to act differently to what he thinks in his mind. It is called the hidden desire. Actually he wants to enjoy family life by not involving himself so much in it. The Gosvamis think that to perform religious practises or sadhana he must be neutral in his family life. The attainment of favor from Krishna can be possible only for a person who tries to avail it by making all the members of his family interested in worshipping Krishna. Devotion and sincere worshipping cannot be performed by anyone if he is governed by a particular stipulation. In this case he remains in constant fear whether he has done anything wrong to God or not and there is every chance of his doing wrong. A person who wants to be righteous in his worship to Krishna but does not give up his false vanity, he is able to do various activities but not able to worship properly. According to the Vaishnavas, person belonging to the upper, lower and middle classes can obtain the right of worshipping Krishna if he has religious qualities. But Shri Chaitanya is above all qualities and there is no other guru like him in all the three worlds. The method of worshipping performed by Chaitanya is beyond the knowledge of anyone, even the Shastras. He has given mantra diksha to many disciples. The Shastras have quoted the theory that Prabhu has delivered mankind from damnation and the Mahajanas have to accept this. Who can explain why He does not make many disciples in the true sense of the word? Who can understand what His real object is? Who can understand to whom He will give his divine love and favor? Being ignorant and foolish the people can only wrongly judge Him but their religion is completely nil. If they can surrender themselves fully to Him as their only guru, they are sure to attain His favor. Even some of His disciples have failed to attain true devotion only because they are not so sincere to their religion. If a disciple can attain His true favor, no one in this world can harm him. A true disciple should try to propagate religion which his religious master has ordered and follow it properly himself. He should not try to preach his own doctrines disobeying his Acarya. He can obtain the capacity of worshipping if he surrenders to the feet of his guru employing all his strength, thought and speech. There is another side of this mentality, someone may think that he has surrendered employing all his strength, speech and thought to the feet of his guru but he does not know how to apply the principle in actual practise. Sometimes he decides to do something but in his mind he is inclined to do this. Sometimes he thinks that there is no one so accomplished like himself. These are the barriers of attainig true devotion. According to the Shastras he who accepts Krishna fully in his mind, his guru as his strength and the words of the Vaishnavas as final can realise the fact that he can somehow claim that he practises religious activities. How can he who is deaf and dumb know what is right and what is wrong? In this case only his good fortune can save him. A being who regards himself as only a small portion of the vast universe, he can be exempted from the guilt of sin. He who tries to be honest and truthful in his mind and habits and be sincere to the feet of Krishna and never tries to disobey his guru and tries to accept the Vaishnava religion to be the best of all, can attain love and devotion to God. A human being should be humble and polite in his outward behavior and should always be eager to listen to the lessons given by the wise men and should try to give up worldly pleasures after he had enjoyed family life for a long time. These are the directions of Dasa Gosvami to the persons belonging to the hermitage. I have never seen such a person like Dasa Gosvami who has given up worldly pleasures like if it was something nasty, he has given up family life by completely dedicating himself to the feet of Shri Chaitanya and whose religious practises were as hard as stones.Now I will tell another incident, please listen attentively. When my respected Thakurani decided to go to Vrndavana I also wanted to go with her and so I requested her to take me along. Due to her favor I got the permission to go along with her. She had to bear many sufferings on her journey but remained steady throughout the journey. Having reached Vrndavana, she became ecstatic in love and began to weep with emotion. She paid a visit to the cottage of Shri Rupa Gosvami who became happy to meet her and took her to all the holy places in Vrndavana. All the Gosvamis accompanied them and explained to her all the sports which had occured in the various places. She observed the idols of Govinda, Gopinatha and Madana Mohana. She arranged for a great festival and gathered many items. I saw with my own eyes all the Gosvamis eating happily there. One day while sitting in the cottage, Thakurani told Shri Rupa Gosvami, "Tell me about the qualities of Sanatana, Lokenath and Gopala Bhatta." Shri Rupa said, "Sanatana is my elder brother. How dare I describe his qualities? He is like a Prabhu to me and I have learnt all from him. Lokenath is a great ascetic who follows strict principles of stoicism and lives in seclusion avoiding any second person to keep his company. He is the very favorite of Shri Chaitanya and a great scholar. Gopala Bhatta, a great friend of mine, is a versatile genius to whom Gaura is his life. Bugarva Acarya is a man of extraordinary qualities and a favorite disciple of Gadadhara Pandita. All of them are very kind to me, a worthless person. O my respected Thakurani, what shall I say about myself? There is no one as worthless as me." Listening to him Thakurani replied, "You are empowered by Shri Chaitanya and I have come here only to see you. I have seen all the places in Vrndavana, now I would like to hear about all the books written by you. Please make me happy by letting me listen to all the books on sports, namely Bhakti-rasamrta Sindhu, Vidagdha Madhava, Danakeli Kaumudi and Lalita Madhava." I do not know as to why Thakurani requested Shri Rupa to read from his books. She said, "Bhagavata is silent about some particular sports but I am eager to listen to them." Thakurani again requested Shri Rupa to bring the books and read from them so Shri Rupa brought his books. All the Gosvamis took their seats to listen and I also took a seat along with them. Shri Jiva began reading from the books while sitting on a seat. While listening to the books along with all the Gosvamis Thakurani became overwhelmed with emotion. Radha and her confidants wearing golden crowns on their heads and carrying cans of butter, curd, milk and thin layers of milk used to go through the kunjas and Krishna would go there and request Radha to give him what they were carrying. Radha and her confidants had laughed at him and Krishna forcefully ate all they carried. Radha told Krishna, "O Krishna, I know that you are the king of the kunja in Vrndavana." Lalita said, "I shall report you to king Kandarpa." Radhika told Krishna, "I am the daughter of Vrishabhanu and I know that you are the son of Nanda. You keep your cows in the forest and play the flute, your job is only to rob the curd and milk of the Gopinis. Your habit is to talk to the gopinis and touching their bodies. I shall tell all to the king." While saying all this Radha became shy and entered into the kunja in a huff. Krishna intentionally played the flute whose sweet sound stole the minds and hearts of the gopinis. After coming to her senses Radhika told Lalita, "O my dear sakhi, who is there in the three worlds who is the most beloved of Krishna?" Lalita said, "It is known to all that you are the most favorite of Krishna." Hearing this Bishakha said, "To me the flute is the most favorite to Krishna because it is always used to taste the nectarlike saliva of Krishna and his flute playing steals the hearts of the gopinis." Hearing this Radhika said, "I shall give up this my life and be a flute in my next life. I shall go to Govardhana who is the tree of fulfillment (kalpataru) and there I can have my desires fulfilled." On hearing this explanation from Shri Rupa, Thakurani out of ecstasy began to weep and fell to the ground. What can I say about the sweetness of this topic which is so full of love? No one can stick to his way of life after hearing the sweet words from a cuckoo like voice.In this way Thakurani spent some days in Vrndavana and one day went to visit Madan Mohana. She was overwhelmed to see the beautiful posture of Madana Mohana and the soft movements of his eyebrows just like the bow of the God of Love (Kama). She began to think the beauty of Krishna seemed pale as he did not have Radha by his left side. No one could understand her mind but Madana Mohana. That night in her dream Madan Mohana appeared before her and told her with a smile, "What do you think Jahnava, now tell me. Go to your place and your desires will be fulfilled. Take the initiative of building a idol of Radhika which is a little taller and send it to me. Then only will you get your desires. Do not be sorry and think it is my desire. From today I shall be waiting for you." Thakurani began to think as to how she would be able to carry out the order of Krishna. She became worried but did not tell anyone. The next day she told the Gosvamis that she wanted to visit Radha Kunda again. They all gladly accepted her wish. In the morning Thakurani went to the kunda and observing it her mind became a bit calmed. Then she visited the place of Raghunatha Gosvami who bowed at her feet by stretching himself flat on the ground. Thakurani told him, "I am very eager to meet you." Kaviraj bowed at the feet of Raghunatha. They all sat down and discussed the sports of Krishna. They all performed the act of going round the kunda and stayed there.One night at when dawn was about to break Raghunatha Gosvami was sitting there and suddenly he began laughing. I asked him about the glory of the kunda. He told me, "Well, listen to me. Vrndavana is only meant for the sport of Radha Krishna; and Krishna, place and sport are all the same. Mainly this kunda is where Radhika and Krishna performed wonderful sports." Saying all this he became ecstatic in emotion and again I requested him to tell me some more. He said, "Krishna is eternal, this place is eternal and all his lady loves have taken different forms. Be careful while listening to the different sports of Krishna in the different places. If you can read the books of Rupa Gosvami you can become familiar with all the sports of Krishna. Radha Krishna has done their eternal sports in Vrndavana and these eternal sports cannot be observed by all. Only the confidants of Radha and Krishna can see the parakiya love (doctrine of Vaishnava philosophy of love) which is a wonderful thing." I asked repeatedly about Vrndavana. Raghunath Gosvami said, "The distance between Vrndavana and the bank of the kunda is probably eight crosas and Govardhana is two crosas from the kunda. From Vrndavana, Sanketa is eight crosas and Nandiswara is two crosas. Yavata is one crosa from Vrndavana and the come and go between these two places can be done in only a trice." I desired to know how the confidants of Radha Krishna and also their devotees could come and go from all these places. Gosvami said, "O my dear Nityananda dasa, listen to me. The places where Krishna has done his sports... according to the Shastras the characteristic of Vrndavana is like a lotus and Mahaprabhu has established the theory that Vrndavana used to reveal itself in two ways, that is closed and opened. It used to close itself in pleasure (Vilasa) and open itself in sport (Lila). Only the favored devotees of Krishna can understand its real meaning." I said, "O my Prabhu, who will favor me to make me understand what is meant by divine accomplishments?" Raghunath said, "Sport is meant by eternal Krishna and his eternal companions and divine accomplishments are meant by accomplishments through religious austerities and through divine favors. Mahaprabhu is himself Krishna, that Vrajendra Kumara, and His companions are the eternal companions of Krishna. All of the companions are empowered by Mahaprabhu and were absorbed in observing the sports of Prabhu and in serving Prabhu. The religious austerities practised by the Vaishnavas is the real way to attain divine accomplishments." I asked him, "O my Lord, kindly explain to me how a Vaishnava can attain divine accomplishemts." Raghunath said, "I shall take you to Rupa who has written many books in which he has indicated different methods of being accomplished. I hope you will get some satisfaction from hearing him because Rupa has been empowered by Prabhu Chaitanya himself which has helped Rupa to write numerous authentic books and he has preached the theories of Chaitanya everywhere." You have seen how many companions he has. You have seen how humble he is when he used to bow at the feet of Thakurani. What shall I say as I am an ignorant person? Kindly enable me to attain the gracious feet of Chaitanya. My whole life has gone in vain as I have not as yet practised any religious austerity. Now kindly bless me and help me to grasp the feet of Gaura tightly in my mind all the time." Thakurani began to cry holding the hands of Raghunath who told her, "Accept me as your servant. As I have taken my birth in a rich family how can I ask you to give me the assurance of attaining the feet of Shri Chaitanya yet be kind to a worthless fellow like me who has not at all worshipped your feet for a single day and enable me to obtain your favor?" Thakurani said, "Please do not talk like that as I feel ashamed. Be kind to me and enable me to became as humble as you are. I am also a worthless woman who has never learnt about love and devotion. I think that my life has become futile for this reason. I hope I am able to meet all of you the next time. Please help me to fulfil this desire." She paid her respects to the kunda and prayed to it to give her a place on its bank someday and took her leave of it. Raghunatha began to cry helplessly at the time of her leaving and Thakurani also took her leave crying. She returned to the cotttage of Rupa Gosvami in Vrndavana and reported to him all that had happened in the kunda. She stayed there for two days and visited the temple of Madan Gopala. At night while Thakurani and Rupa Gosvami had been sitting together, Thakurani asked Rupa, "Have you written anything about the sixty four elements of devotion in your books? What is the method of practising all these elements? What is the process of worshipping according to these elements? How can I do this without being guilty of making any mistakes?" Rupa explained everything very clearly to her which made her very happy.On another day she announced before all the Gosvamis her decision of leaving Vrndavana and returning to her own country and this made them all very sad. She went to the temple of Madan Mohana and asked his permission also. As soon as she finished her prayer, the flower garland of Madana Mohana fell off His neck. The priest of the temple gave it to her and she wore it around her neck. She prayed again and again to Madana Mohana to give her the opportunity to come there again and worship His feet.In the morning on the eve of her departure all the Gosvamis told her about the things they had on their minds. They followed her on her journey for some distance. On the way she visited the temple of Govinda and told the Gosvamis, "I am feeling very sorry at having to leave you all. Please pray to Him that I may come here again and be happy to see you all." Sanatana Gosvami very humbly told her, "May I get your favor and the gracious feet of Chaitanya Prabhu as I am a worthless fellow who has spent his whole life in useless activities." Thakurani pacified him by saying, "Do not be so humble. I always pray to you as I want your well being." Rupa told her, "Please enable me to dedicate myself to the feet of Gauranga." Lokenath told her, "There is no one as helpless as me. What qualities do I possess that Gauranga should favor me? You are the most fortunate lady for having the favor of Gaura but what about me who has nothing to hope for in this life?" In this way all of them told their sorrows to her. Thakurani told them all, "Now listen to my sorrows. All of you must pray to him that I may come to Vrndavana again soon and meet all of you." They all started walking with her and crying. At last Rupa requested her, "Please send Shrinivasa Acarya to Vrndavana." Thakurani told Rupa, "Shrinivasa is in his own country and he is the sole successor of the property of love of Prabhu Gauranga. I shall try my best to meet him and send him to Vrndavana very soon." Then Thakurani finally took her leave and for the rest of the journey kept on singing the praises of the Gosvamis of Vrndavana.One day I asked her, "How will I be able to get the remnants of the food of the Vaishnavas. I know that great powers lie in the drinking of the water that is used to wash the feet of the Vaishnavas." "That is a very interesting question," said Thakurani. "Namely by touching the feet of the Vaishnavas, drinking the water that is used for their feet washing and eating the remnants of the food of the Vaishnavas, all this I have to explain to you secretly. He who does all these things will possess the right of worshipping in the correct way. You have to worship a pure Vaishnava if you want to gain something otherwise all is in vain. If anyone tries to disobey the orders of Mahaprabhu, He has nothing to do with that person. Prabhu always forbade anyone to drink the water of his feet and he would feel sorry if anyone of his disciples tried to drink it. Some would drink the water against Prabhu's will or some without knowing. Prabhu would forbade Govinda to do this but the devout believer Kalidasa Mahasaya used to drink the water of the feet of the Vaishnavas of all types. Prabhu knew that it was the habit of Kalidasa and would sing the praise of Kalidasa. Once when Prabhu was standing neat the lion embossed gate of Nilacala and washing his feet, Kalidasa took the pleasure of drinking the water of Prabhu's feet. As he had already drunk a handful of water, Prabhu forbade him to do so again. The ocean of love, Prabhu Gauranga, feared it would be harmful to his disciple. Prabhu Gauranga himself pointed the bad effect of this on any other person. He said that according to the Shastras, a guru can give the water of his own feet to his disciples."Thakurani travelled all the way discussing all these things with me. One day she said to me, "Do not get married as you have heard what all the Mahajanas have said about family life, and being charmed by worldly pleasures and affections, people used to become so involved in all these activities that they would forget devotion and worship. Sometimes a person may pose to be a virtuous man but in practise he never proves himself competent. This time he is sure to be a laughing stock. If anyone tries to be indifferent to material world and is sincere in his devotion to the feet of his guru, he is sure to attain the favor of Krishna. Some get this favor in this life and some in the next life. So why do you allow your mind to be disturbed by the thorn of unhappiness during these lives? If you can remain indifferent to this material world and attain the favor of your guru then you can succeed in accomplishing the religious practises (Sadhana Siddha). Mind it, my boy, all Vaishnavas Gosvamis are the eternal companions of Krishna and so you have to behave humbly with them. You should regard your gurus, Krishna and the vaishnavas all the same. Someone accepts the devotion of the vaishnavas as final whereas some tries to regard himself as superior to the Vaishnavas. In this case the latter will never get the favor of his guru. You may possess many devotional qualities but should never express your vanity outwardly."In this way Thakurani reached her own country. Viracandra Raya came to meet her. They were both very glad to meet each other in Khanda. Prabhu Viracandra bowed at her by lying prostrate on the ground and asked about the well being of Vrndavana. While telling him all that had happened in Vrndavana she became ecstatic. Narahari, Shri Mukunda, Shri Raghunandana and others began to weep in joy for getting their entities. Thakurani addressed Narahari asking him to find Shrinivasa and send him to Vrndavana at once. In the morning she started for her home with Narahari and the others. She then advised me to go to my own house and follow the words she had told me. She told me, "Follow my advise and remain with these devotees and this will make me happy. You should take with you some companions wherever you go and sometimes I shall call you to accompany me to some places." Thakurani then went away and I remained here.After a few days Narahari arrived with Shrinivasa, who was so beautifully looking that Raghunandana and others became happy to meet him. Thakurani asked him about his whereabouts and he replied that he lived in Cakhandi with his parents. Thakurani told him, "Go to Vrndavana as it is the order of Shri Rupa. I visited Vrndavana and Shri Rupa told me all about you, do not delay as it is the wish of Prabhu Gauranga." That day I saw Shrinivasa with my own eyes and I found him very sincere in carrying out the orders of Shri Rupa.There was a disciple of Thakurani named Shri Chaitanya dasa who was very famous as Aulia to everyone. He went to Vrndavana and became ecstatic in love. He one day visited the place where Shri Gopala Bhatta used to live. Gopala Bhatta asked Aulia about the well being of his country. Chaitanya dasa asked him, "Do you know anything about Shrinivasa Acarya? I know that Thakur Mahasaya used to live at Gadera Hatta. Now tell me do you know anything more about him?" Gopala Bhatta heard all and told him with a smile, "My house is twelve crosas from Vishnupura and I was very happy there under the rule of the king named Vira Hamvira. Hamvira is a disciple of Shrinivasa Acarya. The king has offered many villages, lands and wealth to Acarya and requested Acarya to settle there. Shrinivasa got married in the month of Phalguna and he is a very efficient man and has no child. But most probably his wife has not got her menstruation as far as I know. Gadera Hatta is situated at a far away distance and I have heard many things about Thakur Mahasaya. I have heard that Thakur Mahasaya has arranged a great festival in the name of Gauranga and being indifferent to his own family life, he used to absorb himself in serving the Vaishnavas. I know that he is indiffernt to worldly pleasures, besides this I do not know any more about him." Then he became silent. In this way having spent his time happily in Vrndavana, Chaitanya dasa returned to his own country (Khanda), and reported everything to Shri Raghunandana. Then he went to meet Shri Isvari and reported the well being of Vrndavana and all the Gosvamis. Chaitanya dasa went to meet the king who eagerly asked him about the well being of Jiva Gosvami. The king bowed to him with folded hands and asked, "When shall I be able to meet him?" The king along with Chaitanya dasa went to the place of Thakura Mahasaya who gladly welcomed them and asked them to take their seats. Aulia began to talk about Vrndavana and the Gosvamis. Acarya became very happy to hear about his own Prabhu. Acarya asked many questions about Vrndavana and about Gosvami and took the hands of Chaitanya dasa and bowed at his feet. He again requested Chaitanya dasa about Gosvami and lamented by saying, "How unfortunate I am, as I am afraid as to whether I will be able to see those feet again. Prabhu has become so cruel to Shrinivasa who is my Prabhu in life and death." Now, O listeners, listen to me. The eternal story of Shri Chaitanya has been manifested in the world through Shrinivasa. Having got such powers from Shri Chaitanya, yet Shrinivasa could not disobey the orders of Shri Rupa Gosvami as he was Shrinivasa's guru. He knew the strength of Shri Rupa who was not an ordinary man. I have written all these things according to his directions. The words of my Prabhu are all in me and I am only carrying out his orders. Those who virtuously try to listen to all these episodes, I am always grateful to them.I, being Nityananda dasa, have taken the task of writing the book Prem Vilasa due to the favor of Shri Jahnava and Viracandra Prabhu.
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