Chaitanya Mangala
100,055 words
This page relates Song 40 of the Danda-bhanga-lila of the Madhya-khanda of the Chaitanya Mangala by Locana Dasa Thakura (1520 A.D.) translated into English. This book contains songs narrating the activities (pastimes) of Lord Chaitanya and represents a Sanskrit biography written as a narrative poem which can be sung in various ragas.
Song 40
Refrain: O my brothers, please sing. Sing and hear the glories of Lord Gaura. O! O! O! Please yearn to attain the lotus feet of Lord Gaurāṅga. O! O! O! O! Whatever you see, whatever you see in this material world is all false. Therefore, O my brothers, please sing and hear the glories of Lord Gaura.
116. In this way, visiting and visiting many temples, Lord Gauracandra walked on the path,
117. At village after village He would stop, vitī the trmple, and dance.
118. Now please one hear a pastime of Lord Nityānanda, the king of avadhūtas.
119. Placing His sannyasa danda in Lord Nityānanda’s hand, Lord Gaura Harī went ahead. Lord Nityānanda followed somewhat behind.
120. Overcome with ecstatic spiritual love, Lord Gaura ran ahead. Overcome with love for Lord Kṛṣṇa, Lord Gaura forgot Himself.
121. Gadādhara and the others kept pace with Lord Gaura. Seeing this, Lord Nityānanda lagged farther and farther behind.
122. Slowly, slowly walking, Lord Nityānanda thought and thought. "Now My Lord holds a daṇḍa in His hand.
123. "Rejecting His beautiful flute that charms the three worlds, He now holds a daṇḍa. How can I tolerate that?
124. "My Lord accepted sannyāsa. He shaved His head. That brought sorrow to everyone."
125. Thinking and thinking in this way, Lord Nityānanda felt His suffering grow more and more. Finally He held up the daṇḍa and broke it.
126. The broken daṇḍa He threw into the water. Afraid of Lord Gaura, Lord Nityānanda stayed behind and slowly, slowly walked.
127. After some time They both met. lord Gaura said: "Why do I not see My daṇḍa?"
128. Stepping back from Lord Gaura, Lored Nityānanda gave no reply. Surprised, Lord Gaura thought in His heart.
129. Again Lord Gaura asked: "Where is My daṇḍa? Not seeing My daṇḍa, I fell great sorrow in My heart."
130. Hearing these words, Lored Nityānanda Rāya said: "When I gazed at Your daṇḍa in My hand, My heart burst into flames.
131. "You accepted sannyāsa. You shaved Your head. And now You carry on Your shoulder a daṇḍa, a burdensome daṇḍa that must bring great sorrow to Your shoulder.
132. "I could not tolerate that. I broke Your daṇḍa and threw it into the water. Now You may do whatever You do." With a voice choked with emotion, Lord Nityānanda spoke these words.
133. Hearing these words, Lord Gaura became unhappy. Angrily He said: "You do everything backward.
134. "The demigods made their home in My daṇḍa. Why did You break it?
135. "You are a wild man. You have no steady intelligence. You act like a wild man. You have the heart of a child.
136. "You don’t have any scholarship. You never follow the rules of religion. You reject varṇāśrama. You do everything backward.
137. "You don’t think it’s wrong to torment the demigods and varṇāśrama. If I tell You all this You only become angry."
138. Hearing these words, Lord Nityānanda smiled. In a voice choked with emotion He said to Lord Gaura:
139. "I never gorment the demigods or varnasrama. I may have acted well, or I may have acted ill. You decide.
140. "The demigods reside in Your daṇḍa. How can I tolerate Your carrying the demigods on Your shoulder?
141. "You acted well, and I acted ill. Why should I argue with You?
142. "I committed an offense. Please forgive Me this one time. By chanting Your holy name this whole world will become delivered.
143. "You are famous as Patita-pāvana (the purifier of the fallen). Therefore please forgive My offense.
144. "Simply by chanting Your holy name everyone in this world will become delivered. Your accepting sannyāsa brought great sorrow to Your devotees.
145. "You shaved the hair of Your head, hair that delighted everyone. That act brought great sorrow to Your devotees hearts.
146. "Seeing their sorrows, I feel My heart burst into flames. You don’t need to ask Me. All the devotees are witness to this sorrow.
147. "Because of the sorrow it brought to Your devotees, I broke Your daṇḍa and threw it away. It was not a daṇḍa. It was an iron lance pushed into My heart."
148. Hearing these words, Lord Gaura spoke no reply. His face was withered and sorrowful, but His heart was actually filled with joy.
149. Lord Nityānanda knows all the rasas of love for Lord Gaura Mahāprabhu. That is why He broke the daṇḍa. So says Locana dāsa.