A summary of
Sri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya
in twenty Sanskrit verses
Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur
srutich chhandogyakhya vadati paramam brahma-purakam
smrtir vaikunthakhyam vadati kila yam visnu-sadanam
sitadvipam chanye virala-rasiko yam vraja-vanam
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [1]
The sruti known as Chhandogya calls it ‘the city of the Supreme Absolute’. The smrti calls it ‘Vaikuntha’, the abode of Lord Visnu. Others know it as ‘the white island’. The rare relishers of rasa call it ‘the forest of Vraja’. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse brahma nija-kucharitat moha-janitat
krpa-sindhum gauram satata-manu-taptah samabhajat
prabhus tasmai gudham nija-hrdaya-vanchham samavadat
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [2]
In one of its regions, Brahma, constantly repenting for his misbehaviour caused by bewilderment, worshipped Gaura, the ocean of mercy. The Lord then fulfilled the deepest desire in Brahma’s heart. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse gauri giri-vara-suta visva-janani
sachi-sunor drstva bhajana-visayam rupam atulam
svasimante pradat prabhu-charana-renum bhagavati
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [3]
In one of its regions, Bhagavati, the golden-complexioned daughter of the Himalayas, the mother of the universe, beheld the unparalleled form of the object of her worship, the son of Sachi. She then placed the dust of the Lord’s feet upon the parting in her hair. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse vajri nija-kumati-taptah susurabhim
samasritya premna druma-tala-samipe hari-padam
bhajan saksad gaurad varam ati-subham prapa vibudho
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [4]
In one of its regions, the wielder of the thunderbolt, Lord Indra, remorseful for his impudence, took shelter of beautiful Surabhi, lovingly worshipped the feet of the Lord beside a tree, and attained a most auspicious boon from Gaura Himself. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse saptarsi-gana-bhajanakrsta-hrdayah
aho! gaurah sarddha-prahara-samaye pradurabhavat
varam tebhyah pradach charama-samaye yad dhitakaram
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [5]
In one of its regions, His heart attracted by their service, Gaura appeared to the seven sages at noon, and, oh, bestowed upon them a pleasing boon at the perfect time! I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse kaschid dvija-kula-patih puskara-matih
svavarddhakyat tirtha-bhramana-visaye sakti-rahitah
dadarsagre tirtham parama-subhadam puskaram api
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [6]
In one of its regions, a brahman chief, who longed for Puskara Tirtha but because of his old age lacked the ability to make the pilgrimage there, saw the supremely auspicious Puskara Tirtha before him. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse kolakrti-dhrg ati-chitram makha-patim
svabhaktaya pritya ratim ati-visuddham tribhuvane
dadau sri-gaurange svabhajana-balakrsta-hrdayo
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [7]
In one of its regions, the Lord of sacrifice, who bears the dazzling form of a boar, His heart was drawn by the power of His devotee’s service, affectionately bestowed upon His devotee the purest thing in the three worlds — love for Sri Gauranga. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse kunje nija-bala-vrto ’yam rtu-patih
natantam chaitanyam svagana-pariyuktam samabhajat
lata-gulmakirne phala-kusuma-bhara-pranamite
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [8]
In one of its regions, the king of the seasons, checking his own power, worshipped Sri Chaitanya, who, along with His associates, was dancing in a grove whose creepers and shrubs, laden with fruits and flowers, bowed to Him. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse jahnur bhajana-samaye subhra-salilam
samayatam drstva pratikula-tarangam samapibat
amunchat tam bhaktya punar api munir jahnu-tanayam
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [9]
In one of its regions, Jahnu Muni, upon seeing the Ganga’s glistening waters approaching during his worship, drank her distracting waves. He then released her again as his daughter because of the devotion (of King Bhagirath). I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse ramo dasaratha-suto laksmana-yutah
pura sita-sarddham katipaya-dinam ganga-puline
avatsit tretayam muni-nikaro modadruma-tale
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [10]
In one of its regions, in the Treta-yuga of a previous era, the son of Dasarath, the wealth of the sages, Rama, with his other half, Sita, and Laksman, resided for a few days on the bank of the Ganga beneath a pleasure tree. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse narayanam api param narada-munir
dadarsayam saksat sakala-bhajaniyam sura-varam
apasyat tam paschat parama-purusam gaura-vapusam
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [11]
In one of its regions, the sage Narad directly beheld the greatest of Gods, Narayan, who is supremely worshippable to all, and then saw the Supreme Lord in His golden form. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse partho drupada-tanaya-sevita-padah
avatsit sabhratah katipaya-dinam gaura-krpaya
maharanye punye muni-nikara-sevye hari-sakhah
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [12]
In one of its regions, by the grace of Gaura, the Lord’s friend Arjuna, served by Draupadi and accompanied by his brothers, resided for a few days in a large, auspicious forest that is worshipped by hosts of sages. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yad ekamse rudrah svagana-sahitah prema-galitah
natan mandam mandam kara-damaru-vadya-pramuditah
aho! gayatyuchchaih satatam api visvambharam asau
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [13]
In one of its regions, Rudra, lost in divine love, gently dances with his associates, enlivened by the sound of damarus. Oh! How he continuously sings about Visvambhar in this place! I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yatha sthane sthane jala-parivrtas tirtha-nikarah
virajante sasvat sakala-muni-sevya hy agha-harah
tatha devah sarve girisa-paramesthi-prabhrtayo
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [14]
An abundance of holy places, surrounded by water, shine eternally throughout this land. Attended by Siva, Brahma, and all the other gods, these places destroy all sin and are worshippable to all the sages. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yatha praudha maya svapati-sahita vaisnava-ripun
jadanandam datva hari-niyama-kartri chhalayati
mrsa-sastracharair mada-vichalitan mohayati cha
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [15]
Here, Praudha Maya, the Lord’s warden, along with her husband, deceives the enemies of the Vaisnavas by giving them material happiness and bewilders those who are blinded by pride in their futile study of the scriptures. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yatha vaisa kali danuja-dalani sambhu-ramani
harer bhaktan snehat kapata-rahita palayati cha
paranandam gauram bhajati niyatam prema-galita
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [16]
Here, Kali, the wife of Sambhu and destroyer of the demons, sincerely protects the devotees of the Lord out of affection for them. Lost in divine love, she eternally worships Gaura in ecstasy. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
yatha vani saksat prabhu-charana-sevasaya-rata
dvijatibhyo vidyam nikhila-naya-sastradi-visayam
dadaty esa nityam vibudha-tatini-tira-visaye
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [17]
Saraswati, the goddess of speech, whose heart is given to the service of the Lord’s feet, eternally resides on the bank of the Ganga in this land and personally bestows upon the brahmans knowledge of all the scriptures on conduct and other subjects. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
harih srimad-radha-dyuti-kavalitah parsada-vrtah
sachi-garbhodbhutah kali-kalusa-nasodyata-manah
yatha namnah sankirtanam ati-pavitram samakarot
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [18]
Adorned with the lustre of Sri Radha, the Lord appeared here from the womb of Sri Sachi. Intent on purging the filth of Kali, He engaged in supremely purifying chanting of the Name, accompanied by His associates. I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
aho! bhaktah kechit parama-ramaniye jana-pade
natantam gaurangam nija-jana-balaka-parivrtam
yatha pasyanty addha hari-bhajana-siddhau svanayanair
navadvipam vande tam iha paramananda-nilayam [19]
Oh! Here, some devotees, expert in the service of the Lord, directly see with their own eyes Sri Gauranga dancing amidst His associates and their wives in this supremely beautiful city! I bow here to Nabadwip, the abode of supreme joy.
navadvipe yo vai krta-nivasatir dvaidha-rahitah
idam stotram bhaktya pathati hari-pujadi-samaye
chidanande saksat pranaya-sukha-bhavam bhagavati
sachi-sunau krsne parama-ramaniyam sa labhate [20]
One who resides in Nabadwip without duplicity and recites this prayer with devotion at the time of worshipping the Lord, genuinely attains the supremely delightful joy of love for the Lord, the embodiment of spiritual ecstasy — the son of Sachi, who is Krsna Himself.