An invitation to Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Originally published in Sri Gaudiya Darsan:
Volume 1, Issue 8, Sunday, 11 March 1956
bhramite habe na ara — e-chhar bhuvana
anitya e deha-rathe chadiya mrtyura pathe
himsra-sarddula-purna samsara-kanana
bhramite habe na ara e-chhara bhuvana [1]
You do not have to wander any longer in this miserable world, riding along the path of death in the chariot of this temporary body within the forest of material existence, which is filled with ferocious tigers. You do not have to wander any longer in this miserable world.
anchale anchala ba̐dhi’ yauvanera sadha sadhi’
‘grha-vrata’ name sudhu hale parichita
janma-janmantara dhari’ grha parikrama kari’
bujhile ki maya-bhumi — kantaka-avrta? [2]
Getting married and pursuing the desires of youth, you have known the ‘vow of household life’ in name only. Continuing in this way birth after birth, circling about in household life, have you realised that the land of Maya is covered with thorns?
arao karitechha mana bhramanera ayojana —
desa hate videsete grama-gramantare,
ekhano meteni asa arao ba̐dhitechhe vasa —
du’dinera pantha-sala — prthivira pare? [3]
Still your mind is making arrangements to continue your wandering from country to country and village to village, when even now your desires have never been fulfilled? Still you are going to build a residence — a mere temporary inn which lasts but a few days — upon this earth?
mahamaya-moha-ghore ara kata-kala ore!
anitya o grhatire — karabi bhramana,
dara-putra-paribara asara-anitya chhara
bile — khale — a̐stakude mile ki ratana? [4]
Hey! How much longer will you wander in the darkness of Mahamaya’s illusion in that temporary home? Your wife, sons, and family are worthless, temporary, and miserable. Will you find a jewel within a swamp, trench, or rubbish heap?
paye dhari’ kahi sara bhramite habe na ara
nahi hetha bharasara — eka-bindu jala,
nahi asa santvanara, achhe sudhu hahakara
samasta samsara bhara — jalanta-anala [5]
Clasping your feet, I tell you this essential truth: you do not have to wander any longer. There is not one drop of the water of hope here. There is no hope of any solace but only cries of distress here. The burdens of material existence are like a blazing fire.
bhramite habe na ara samsara-kanane
«ai sona», gaura-jana dake sarva-jane [6]
You do not have to wander any longer in the forest of material existence. The devotees of Gaura call everyone: «Hey, listen!
«aya aya tvara kari’ bala-vrddha nara-nari
divya-chintamani-dhama — gaura-janma-bhumi
pranayi-bhakta sane jivanera subha-ksane
gauranga-janma-dine aya parikrami’ [7]
«Men and women, young and old, come immediately! Come to the divine abode made of wish-fulfilling gemstone, the land of Sri Gauranga’s advent! Come and circumambulate this land in the company of loving devotees at the most auspicious time in life: the day of Sri Gauranga’s advent.
dhama-parikrama kare sanga habe chira-tare
ananta janama dhare brahmanda-bhramana,
dure yabe bhava-roga khandibe sakala bhoga
bhuloke-goloka-labha»dake gaura-jana [8]
«Circumambulate this divine abode and your prolonged wandering throughout this universe for innumerable births will end. The disease of material existence will go away, all your suffering will be cut away, and you will attain Goloka on this earth.» So call the devotees of Gaura.
bhramite habe na ara e-chhara bhuvana [9]
You do not have to wander any longer in this miserable world.
<Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Those days have gone by, when I guided the parikrama, singing and dancing in the front. I was mad when I guided the parikrama: I became almost mad to sing and dance in the Name of Gauranga. I would do so almost without any fatigue. Those days have gone by. Now I cannot go.
Devotee: We can get a palanquin. Then you can come with us.
Srila Sridhar Maharaj: Gauraharibol, Gauraharibol, Gauraharibol … I am pleased to think that so many of you will dance somewhere in Gaura Mandal taking the Name. That makes me more proud. We feel more proud to think that so many souls are adding to the glorious opulence of Gaura Dham, as foretold by Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur: «The day is not far off when the devotees from the Western countries will mix with the Eastern devotees, and they will chant and dance together in the Name of Gaurasundar and Nityananda.»