Glory to Shri Chaitanya, the ever merciful.
Glory to Nityananda, the resort of all devotees.
Glory to Visvanvara, the image of kindness.
Glory to Advaita candra and glory to Viracandra, the ocean of love.
Glory to the devotees of Gaura.
Glory to Gauranga with all his devotees.
Listening to the episodes of Chaitanya brings devotion in the minds of people. O my listeners, listen to the episode of love attentively. Sankirtana was the ornament of Gauda, the listening to which brought sure love to the minds of the listeners. Harinama Sankirtana was the only strength to live in this Kaliyuga. Harinama brought every fulfillment of desires. He who had no faith in Hari nama, had no feelings of devotional love. He who wanted to attain Krishna, should do Harinama sincerely. Now I am going to describe the biography of Narottama. Prabhu started from Gauda for Vrndavana but he changed his plans and returned from Natsala. Once Prabhu said that he would not go to Vrndavana but would stay here. So Nityananda Prabhu humorously told Prabhu, "Once you accepted the life of an ascetic leaving Navadvipa. Now you have decided to stay on the bank of the Padmavati. It is good of you." Prabhu said, "Shripada, listen to me, the place which can give divine pleasure is the actual place of birth. You will know why I had left Vrndavana and come to Nilacala. When Sanatana will meet Rupa, they will guide the other Acaryas." Prabhu took his leave and came to a nearby village named Catnapura of Gauda. He met Sanatana there and after giving him advice, Prabhu went to Natsala. As Natsala was the place of Krishna, as soon as Prabhu visited the place, he became ecstatic in love which only Vrndavana could give. One day while dancing in the kirtana, suddenly Prabhu began to call a certain Narottama. By placing the weight of his body on the body of Nityananda, Prabhu began to shed a stream of tears. Thinking it as a trance, the devotees stopped kirtana and stood round Prabhu. They began to sing Krishnanama mildly and sweetly. Prabhu also taking the nama dropped on the ground and Nityananda became unable to hold the weight of Prabhu any longer. Prabhu began to cry taking the name of Mathura repeatedly which pierced the hearts of the devotees. Prabhu sat on the ground holding the neck of Nityananda. All the people of Natsala village came to see Prabhu who began to roll on the ground shouting the name of Mathura. Sometimes Prabhu began to shout the name of Radha, sometimes Lalita Visakha or Campakalata. Prabhu began to lament so helplessly that Nityananda thought as to why he had brought Prabhu to this village. He thought surely he would now lose Gaurachandra. He chalked out a new plan of doing sankirtana. This time they began to do the nama of Jagannatha loudly. This name brought Prabhu to his senses. Prabhu at once got up and began to call Narottama. Everyone decided to take Prabhu back to Nilacala. They thought that if once they could take Prabhu across the river Padmavati, they could save Prabhu. They understood that some great Bhagavata was about to take his birth. Prabhu held Nityananda and wet his body with his tears. Nityananda pacified Prabhu and asked him where they should go. Prabhu said, "Let us go to Nilacala, there are many duties to be done." Nityananda agreed. Prabhu said that there were certain causes behind going to Natsala. Nityananda said, "If Prabhu wished to go then, he would take him but what was the reason for calling a certain Narottama in the sankirtana?" Prabhu said, "Gauda is a nice place, you will like staying there. O Nityananda, listen carefully, I want to preserve the flow of sankirtana which is everything to me. Sankirtana has already been propagated in Navadvipa. Now, I am living in Nilacala leaving Gauda. After me I want to preserve it in its fullest form. I shall keep my love in Gauda Hata." Nityananda asked, "Prabhu how will you keep your love there? Is there any proper person to whom you can give it?" Prabhu said, "As long as you are alive, my love will not vanish. If I keep my love in a proper soul, it will survive unless it is lost. I have to deposit in such a person who will flood the universe with it." Shripada understood something and kept quiet. Prabhu asked, "Are you thinking about anything? You do not know yourself, when I went to Nilacala you cried alot and the love I have preserved lovingly. I shall keep my love on the bank of the Padmavati. I shall present her a suitable person named Narottama who will take his birth in love during my lifetime. Now I shall give it to Padmavati." Nityananda asked, "Prabhu where is Gadera Hata? Please take me there." Prabhu said, "Both the banks of Padmavati are very pleasant places and Padmavati is flowing between them." Nityananda became very happy to hear this and insisted on going there. In observing the beauty of Padmavati, Prabhu reached Kudodarapura village.
Next morning Prabhu went to the river Padmavati. First of all Prabhu took his bath and then began kirtana. At this time during kirtana Prabhu again shouted the name Narottama. Shripada said, "The devotees should be careful as Prabhu is doing something in ecstatic love." Hearing this the devotees were amazed. Nityananda stopped the kirtana. All the kirtana singers and Prabhu got down in the river for baths. Here Padmavati began to overflow her banks but by the loving touch of Prabhu her streams became still. All the people of the village became full of love. Now the water of Padmavati overflowed so much that the village became flooded. No one could understand as to why the village was flooded as it was not even the rainy season. Shripada said, "O Prabhu, it is good that you are distributing your love but cannot you see that the whole village has become flooded by the river?" Prabhu said, "Padmavati, take my love and keep it with you for Narottama." Padmavati said, "Prabhu, how can I know who is Narottama?" Prabhu said, "Whose touch will make you undulate, he will be Narottama. You will give this love to that Narottama." Padmavati became very glad and took the love from Prabhu. When Prabhu bade Padmavati farewell, the water logging of the village also vanished with her. The people were relieved. Nityananda told Prabhu that all the beauty of this village had tempted him to stay there. Prabhu said, "Well, you will help Narottama to get this love. I shall be very near to Narottama." After this Prabhu crossed the Padmavati and went to Nilacala.
The meaning of love is not clear to all. Who knows how love can be attained? Shri Rupa has explained it. I am ignorant about love. Only I am writing this episode being ordered by Prabhu. This is the beauty of the episode of Gadera Hata. Later I shall discuss the glory of love. The Vaishnava who is always respectful in listening to this love, can attain this love very easily.
Being faithful to the feet of Shri Jahnava and Viracandra, Nityananda dasa narrates Prem Vilasa.
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