Bhakti Ratnakara chapter one

[Paramananda das]

this is the auspiscious invocation of Bhakti Ratnakara: Sri Bhakti Ratnakara By Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur Chapter 1

Glorification of the Vaisnava Prabhus

O my Lord Gaurahari, You are the abode of  auspiciousness which is as beautiful as the kirtana of Krsna. You are the ocean  of elegance, bestower of constant flow of devotion and mountain of love which is  as bright as gold. Your beautiful features give soothing relief to the eyes of  every living being and you are mankind's salvation from all kinds of misfortune.  You are the center of the Lila Vilasa, and the life of the devotees. Be kind to  me.1

O my Prabhu, Sri Gopala Bhatta, the bee at the  lotus like feet of Sri Gaura. You are the sun which destroys the darkness of  illusion, the ocean of kindness and the greatest of all the brahmanas. You are  the son of Sri Venkata Bhatta and a valuable ornament of divine love and  devotion. You are the destroyer of worldly miseries and a resort of happiness to  the misery stricken people. O Lord save me.2

O my Prabhu, Srila Gopala Bhatta, a bee at the  lotus like feet of Mahaprabhu. You are the most skillful devotee of the Lord. O  my Prabhu Srinivasa, whose complexion is as golden as Sri Sacinandana, you are  the king amongst all the brahmanas. Please bless me.3

I constantly worship the companions of Srinivasa  Prabhu who is like the wishing tree of devotional love of Sri Krsna Caitanya  Candra. 4

My dear listeners, please repeatedly and joyfully  hear the Bhaktiratnakara which is the life of all Vaisnavas and the destroyer of  all miseries and misfortunes.5

Glorification of Sri Gaura Sundara and his companions

All glories to Sri Krsna Caitanya, the God of  Gods who was a lover of devotion and whose beautiful features fascinated the  whole world.6

He was the husband of Laksmi and son of mother  Saci and Jagannatha. He was the life and soul of Nityananda, Advaita and  Gadadhara. 7

O my Lord, even the Vedas have glorified you and  there is no one who is not attracted by Your lila.8

You are the guru, the power of devotion and an  incarnation of Lord Visnu. You have manifested your Vilasa through these  features. 9

The experts in Vaisnava religion always try to  glorify your vilasa which in their opinion is the source of well being and good  fortune.10

I worship these Vaisnava gurus without  considering their education and culture; Srivasa and his devotional companions,  Advaita Prabhu and his devotional followers, Prabhu Sri Nityananda and his  associates, Sri Gadadhara and his followers and Sri Krsna Caitanya the Lord  Himself.11

Krsna used to show his vilasa through six  channels: Guru, Krsna, devotee (bhakta) power (sakti) incarnation (avatara) and  revealment (Prakash).12

Except by His favor no one had the ability to  understand the mysterious ways of the Lord's divine lila.13

You are the Lord Himself, the only resort of all  living beings. I dare not speak a word against Your will. 14

All glories to Sri Guru Krsna Caitanya, the mine  of valuable gems like kindness and the giver of devotional love.15

All glories to Nityananda Rama who was the Ocean  of kindness and mercy, the rescuer of the universe and friend of the poor and  unfortunate.16

You are the original embodiment of Mahaprabhu  Krsna Caitanya and the only person who can fulfil the desires of mankind.17

All glories to Sri Advaita Deva the kind hearted  savior of all mankind.18

You are a part (amsa avatar) of Krsna Caitanya. I  have not the audacity to attempt to describe your glory.19

All glories to Sri Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami who  was the greatest inheritor of the Power of Mahaprabhu and whose devotional  qualities overflowed their boundaries.20

All glories to Srivasa Pandita who was the  greatest of all the devotees and whose devotional character was unobtainable  even by the Gods.21

All glories to Sri Svarupa, Vakreswara, Sri  Murari and Haridasa.

All glories to Narahari, Gauradasa, Suklambara,  Sri Mukunda, Vasu, Madhava and Sankara.23

All glories to Vidyanidhi Pundarika and Vasudeva  Sarvabhauma Battacarya.24

All glories to Gadadhara Dasa Pandita, Jagadisa  and Kashishwara.25

All glories to Sri Paramananda Bhattacarya and  Krsnadasa Brahmacari. 26

All glories to the son of the Acarya, Dvija  Haridasa and lotus eyed Rai Ramananda.27

All glories to Lokanatha, Sri Bhugarbha, Sanatana  and Rupa.28

All glories to Kashi Misra, Gopinatha,  Sastidhara, Abhirama, Vamsi and Saranga. 29

All glories to Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati, Sri  Gopala Bhatta and the other sons of Sri Venkata.30

All glories to Raghunatha Bhatta, Raghunatha Dasa  and Sri Raghava, the inhabitants of Govardhana.31

All glories to Sri Hrdayananda, son of Acarya,  Ciranjiva Sena and Sri Raghunandana.32

All glories to Kanu, Dhananjaya, Vijaya, Ramai,  Sri Subuddhi Misra and Sri Jiva Gosvami.33

All glories to Bhagavata Acarya, Madhava,  Sridhara and Dasa Vrndavana.34

All glories to Krsna dasa Kaviraja Mahasaya and  Srinivasa Acarya.

All glories to Sri Thakura Mahasaya, Narottama  and Hari

Syamananda. 36

All glories to the innumerable devotees of Sri  Caitanya candra.37

Sri Krsna Caitanya was the life of all his  devotees who were very fortunate, having received his favor. 38

Unlimited descriptions rush to mind in describing  the characters of the devotees of Mahaprabhu Caitanya who was always inclined to  fulfil the desires of those devotees.39

Gauracandra behaved lovingly with His devotees on  whose supplication He had agreed to incarnate in this world.40

The lila that Gaurahari enacted in the Kaliyuga  was beyond the comprehension of Brahma, Siva and other demigods.41

That beautiful lila of Sri Caitanya was divided  into three segments beginning, middle and final.42

The first portion dealt with Sri Caitanya as a  scholar , middle portion dealt with the revealment of the glory of kirtana.43

The last portion dealt with Gauracandra's life in  Nilacala as a sannyasi after he commanded Nityananda to take responsibility for  Gaudadesh.44

The Kali Yuga was grateful for the presence of  Sri Krsna Caitanya as a glorious sannyasi along with His associates Nityananda  and Advaita.45

Prabhu Advaita and Nityananda, the incarnation of  Haladhara Balarama, were the inseparable bodies of Sri Caitanya.46

Who could realize the devotional sincerity of  Nityananda and Advaita, who always used to swim in the ocean of love of Sri  Caitanya?47

Who does not wish to hear the nectarine  conversations of Nityananda and Advaita?48

Long live these two great devotees of Sri  Caitanya! I wish I had the power to sing their glories in countries near and  far.49

In Navadvipa, Mahaprabhu Gauracandra, Nityananda  and Advaita performed many delightful pastimes.50

The devotees of Mahaprabhu relished these  nectarine pastimes continuously.51

The Universe was purified by these transcendental  lilas of Gauranga, but the enemies of the Vaisnavas were ever deprived of the  pleasure of those pastimes.52

Those who received the favorable touch of the  Lord's devotees sank deep in the ocean of devotional love.53

Mahaprabhu had done two types of sport namely  appearance (prakat) and disappearance (aprakat). Sometimes Mahaprabhu appeared  and sometime disappeared before his devotees.54

But while in appearance or in disappearance,  Mahaprabhu behaved the same with his devotees. 55

All the Vaisnava scriptures have described the  Nadia Vihara of Sacinandana.56

In Caitanya Bhagavata it is stated: Gaurarai is  enacting His lila even today in Nadia, but only a fortunate person gets the  opportunity to observe it.57

Mahaprabhu's devotion to Nadia Dharma is a known  fact. Whoever denies it is simply a sinner.58

Daily we worship that Caitanya, Advaita and  Nityananda who revealed themselves wearing the Brahmasutra and existed with  their external companions in the abode of religion.59

Sri Vrndavana Candra Gaura took the pleasure in  strolling through Nadia followed by devotees of many different religious  sects.60

Navadvipa and Vrndavana were non different. In  one place Mahaprabhu exhibited his pastimes and in the other place Syama.

Navadvipa and Vrndavana seemed to be two  different places only to those who had no knowledge of the real identity of  Mahaprabhu as the incarnation of Shyama.62

Only those who regarded both Gaura and Krsna as  their life and soul, could understand that Navadvipa was identical with  Vrndavana.63

By getting the favor of Mahaprabhu one could  realize that the vilasa of Navadvipa was non different from the vilasa of  Vrndavana.64

Long live the devotees of Mahaprabhu. Now please  listen to my narration. 65

[Paramananda das]

I would like to describe some aspects of Shri Gopala Bhatta's life and character.66

Shri Gopala was a great devotee and lover of the Lord who had taken Gaurachandra as his life and soul.67

Shrinivasa Acarya, the monarch in the realm of love, was the most favorite disciple of Shri Gopala Bhatta. 68

The followers of Shrinivasa Acarya also became very famous for their devotional attachment to the Lord.69

I want to elaborately describe the lives of those devotees for whom Gauranga and his associates were the only refuge.70

O listeners, I request you again and again to think only of Shri Krishna Chaitanya and nothing else.71

The real glory of Gaurachandra in this world was that he could be dominated by those devotees who had nothing but Him within their hearts.72

Shri Krishna chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the life of His devotees and the devotees were the only concern of the Lord.73

According to the wish of Mahaprabhu, the devotees took birth in different places and the Lord could meet them from time to time.

The expert writers of Vaishnava literature have described the meetings of Mahaprabhu with His devotees.75

Those who deny the truth of the relationship between the Lord and His devotees are sure to perish.76

I advise both devotees and lay men to accept this as universal truth and not to try to speculate on it.77

The sincere desire of the devotees is certainly more powerful than the Lord Himself, for Mahaprabhu adores the devotional qualities of His own servants.78

Sometimes Mahaprabhu would go to meet his devotees, and at other times the devotees would go to meet Him.79

The particulars about the ancestors of Shri Gopala Bhatta

Mahaprabhu met Shri Gopala Bhatta in South India.80

I shall summarize the history of the Bhatta family: Shri Gopala Bhatta was the son of Shri Venkata Bhatta.81

Shri Venkata Bhatta lived in the south and was a renowned brahmin scholar of all sastras.82

Trimalla, Venkata and Shri Prabodha nanda were three brothers of whom Shri Gaura candra was the very life and soul.83

Formerly they were worshippers of Shri Laksmi Narayana, but by the favor of Mahaprabhu they later became great devotees of Radha Krishna.84

During his visit to the South, Mahaprabhu Gaurahari spent four happy months in the house of the Bhattas.85

In the book Chaitanya Charitamrita, there was a beautiful description of the Lord's Southern tour.86

There was no mention of Gopala Bhatta in the Chaitanya Charitamrita but his family is mentioned.87

In Chaitanya Charitamrita (madhu kanda 9/82-83) there is mention of a Vaishnava named Shri Venkata Bhatta who respectfully invited Mahaprabhu to his house.88

He washed the feet of the Lord and drank the water with all the members of his family.89

It was said that Gopala, the son of Venkata became ecstatically emotional by drinking that water.90

Although he tried to control his body it shivered in ecstatic love.91

Gopala was a beautiful young man whose complexion was as bright as a golden champaka flower. 92

His lotus like face had large eyes and eyebrows and his nose and forehead bore the bright tilaka of the Vaishnavas.93

How beautiful were his ears and neck. How beautiful were his hands, chest and thin waist.94

How beautiful were his shank, knees, reddish feet. He wore bright clothes and was decorated with many ornaments.95

Everyone was fascinated by his ever increasing beauty and his manliness.96

Having received Mahaprabhu - his life and soul - Gopala engage himself most gladly in the Lord's service.97

I worship Shri Gopala Bhatta Prabhu who was the best of all brahmanas and was engaged with utmost sincerity in the service of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.98

I am unable to describe how Gaurahari favored Shri Gopala Bhatta.

[Paramananda das]

The character of Shri Gopala Bhatta

Nevertheless I shall attempt to describe the character of Gopala who was always engaged in the service of Shri Mahaprabhu.100

He was not satisfied to see Mahaprabhu as an ascetic but he lamented privately.101

He addressed Providence with a choked voice, "O Providence, why was I born in this far away place?102

"Why have you forced me to see Mahaprabhu in the dress of an ascetic and deprived me from observing His pastimes in Nadia?103

"How cruel you are to allow Him the life of a renunciate when I long to see Him as Vrajendra Nandana, the Lord of Shri Radhika."

Lamenting in this way he wept like a mad man and breathed a heavy sigh as hot as fire.105

Forgiving Providence, Gopala then lamented that the ill fortune was his own fault.106

Having spent himself in lamentation, Gopala remained reticent yet Gaurahari could understand the state of Gopala's mind.107

When Gopala fell asleep, the Lord of Navadvipa appeared to him in a dream.108

Lord Gaurasundara strolling through the streets of Navadvipa and he was there with him.109

Nityananda and Advaita took him lovingly in their arms but when they were about to tell him something, he woke up from his sleep.

Gopala looked around in bewilderment and them went impatiently to find Shri Gaura.111

Mahaprabhu was delighted and revealed Himself in the form of a cowherd boy with a blue complexion.112

The divine beauty remained but in a few moments the blue complexion turned golden.113

The glow of Gaurasundara's beauty enchanted the universe. How beautiful was that hair that curled across His shoulders.114

His forehead was decorated by Vaishnava tilaka, his eyebrows were dramatically raised and his magnificent glance stole the hearts of all the ladies.115

His beautiful face defeated the pride of the autumn moon and His smile showered nectar.116

His beautiful dhoti was wrapped with three folds and decorated with various ornaments, His gestures and postures were fascinating.117

The garland of malati flowers hanging round Nimai's neck enchanted Gopala.118

He fell to the feet of Mahaprabhu and again looked at his face with expectation, but the Lord had reassumed His ascetic form.119

Mahaprabhu Gaurachandra pacified Gopala and gave him direct instructions.120

He ordered him to go to Vrndavana as soon as possible for there he would meet two valuable jewels namely Rupa and Sanatana.121

"Tell them about My desire," said Mahaprabhu. "In Vrndavana, you will get many disciples from all over the world."122

Having instructed Gopala, Mahaprabhu took him in his lap and soaked his body with tears from His own eyes.123

Mahaprabhu advised Gopala to keep the instructions confidential and not discus them with anyone. Gopala was very happy with that.124

Shri Venkata Bhatta was satisfied seeing the sincerity with which Gopala served Shri Gauranga.125

He dedicated his son to the gracious feet of Gaurachandra and became truly happy. Thereafter Gopala spent his days and nights with Shri Gaurahari.126

The thought that Mahaprabhu would leave their house after four months made the three brothers morose.127

Trimalla, Venkata and Shri Prabodha nanda wondered how they could spend their days without Mahaprabhu.128

"Who will joke with us" they asked each other. "Who will accompany us while we bathe in the river Kaveri?129

"Who will perform san kirtana in the temple of Ranganatha and who will give worthless fellows like us the gem of devotion?130

Without Mahaprabhu's presence these crowds will all disperse and the holy place shall be vacant."131

Though tears streamed silently down their faces, they did not disclose their worries to any one.132

At the end of the scheduled four months when Mahaprabhu actually left their houses, they cried out in despair.133

As the Lord left their house, the Bhatta's fell on the ground at His feet.134

Mahaprabhu pacified the three brothers by embracing them affectionately.135

After pacifying Gopala, Mahaprabhu continued on His Southern tour. At last He reached Nilacala where He met His associates and devotees.136