Bhakti Ratnakara
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BHAKTIRATNAKARA 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 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 I would like to describe some aspects of Sri Gopala Bhatta's life and character.66 Sri Gopala was a great devotee and lover of the Lord who had taken Gauracandra as his life and soul.67 Srinivasa Acarya, the monarch in the realm of love, was the most favorite disciple of Sri Gopala Bhatta. 68 The followers of Srinivasa 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 Sri Krsna Caitanya and nothing else.71 The real glory of Gauracandra in this world was that he could be dominated by those devotees who had nothing but Him within their hearts.72 Sri Krsna caitanya 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 Vaisnava 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