Lord Nityananda's Marketplace of the Holy Name

[Paramananda das]

Lord Nityananda's Marketplace of the Holy Name



(Dalaler Gita: "The Song of the Broker" or Khoda Nitai from Vaisnava-Siddhanta-Mala)



by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

_____________________________



(1)



boro sukher khabor gai

surabhi-kunjete namer hat khuleche / khoda nitai



I am singing news of the greatest happiness! In the grove of Navadvipa known as Surabhi Kunja, the Marketplace of the Holy Name has now been opened -- and Lord Nityananda Himself is the Proprietor.



(2)



boro mojar katha tay

sraddha-mulye suddha-nama sei hatete bikay



Such wonderful things are going on in that blissful marketplace! Sri Nityananda Prabhu is selling the pure Holy Name wholesale, merely for the price of one's faith.



(3)



jata bhakta-brnda basi'

adhikari dekhe' nama becche daro kasi'



Seeing the assembly of devotees eagerly waiting to purchase the Name, Lord Nityananda first examines each of them to test their qualification; then He sells them the Name by bargaining for His price accordingly.



(4)



jadi nama kinbe, bhai

amar sange calo, mahajaner kache jai



O my dear friends! If you really want to buy this pure Holy Name, then just come along with me, for I am now going to meet with this Nityananda Mahajana.



(5)



tumi kinbe krsna-nama

dasturi loibo ami, pürna ha'be kama



Thus, you will finally be able to acquire the pure Holy Name. I will also take my due commission, and in this way all three of us will fulfill our desires.



(6)



boro doyal nityananda

sraddha-matra lo'ye den parama-ananda



Sri Nityananda Prabhu is so extraordinarily merciful, accepting only one's faith in the Holy Name, He bestows the topmost divine bliss.



(7)



ek-bar dekhle cakse jal

'gaura' bole' nitai den sakala sambal



When Nitai sees a tear welling in someone's eye upon chanting the name of Gaura, He instantly gives His support to that person; indeed, He bestows all divine opulences.



(8)



den suddha krsna-siksa

jati, dhana, vidya, bala na kore apeksa



He gives that person genuine realization of the pure teachings of Sri Krishna as found in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. While displaying all this inconceivable mercy, He pays no attention to one's caste, material wealth, mundane knowledge, or physical ability.



(9)



amani chade maya-jal

grhe thako, bane thako, na thake janjal



Now, dear friends, please reject all of maya's entangling snares. If you are a householder, then just remain at your home; if you are renounced, then just live in the forest. Either way, nothing more will trouble you.



(10)



ar naiko kalir bhoy

acandale den nama nitai doyamoy



We no longer need to fear the terrible Age of Quarrel, for the most merciful Lord Nityananda gives the Holy Name to anyone and everyone -- even to the lowest among men.



(11)



bhaktivinoda daki' koy

nitai-carana bina ar nahi asroy



Bhaktivinoda loudly calls out and proclaims to all: "OTHER THAN THE LOTUS FEET OF LORD NITYANANDA, THERE IS NO SHELTER!"