An excerpt from the second chapter of Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, in which the gift of Nityananda Prabhu and the obstacles to receive it are described.
bada‑i dayalu prabhu nityananda-raya
gaura-tattva prakashila jivera hiyaya [20]
All-merciful Nityananda Prabhu revealed the truth about Sri Gauranga in the souls’ hearts.
tara ajna peye maya chhade avarana
subhakta pandita-gana paya sastra-dhana [21]
Receiving His order, Maya removed her veil, and the scholarly devotees discovered the scriptures’ wealth.
ihate sandeha yara na haya khandana
se abhaga vritha kena dharaya jivana [22]
Those whose doubts are not dispelled by the scripture’s conclusions are unfortunate. Why do such persons continue their meaningless lives?
ye kale ishvara yei kripa vitaraya
bhagyavanta jana tahe bada sukhi haya [23]
When the Lord blesses a fortunate soul, the soul immediately becomes happy.
durbhaga lakshana ei jana sarva-jana
nija buddhi bada bali kariya ganana [24]
ishvarera kripa nahi karaya svikara
kutarke mayara garte pade bara-bara [25]
Everyone should know the symptoms of misfortune: considering one’s own intelligence very great, one does not accept the Lord’s mercy and through sophistry falls into Maya’s traps again and again.
esa he kalira jiva chhada kutinati
nirmala gauranga-prema laha paripati [26]
“Come, O souls of Kali-yuga! Give up duplicity and accept pure love for Sri Gauranga in full.”
ei bali nityananda dake bara-bara
tabu ta durbhaga jana na kare svikara [27]
Saying this, Nityananda calls the souls again and again. Still, the unfortunate do not accept it.
kena ye emana preme kare anadara
vichara kariya dekha ha-iya tatpara [28]
Let us carefully consider why people disregard divine love.
sukha-lagi sarva jiva nana yukti kare
tarka kare yoga kare samsara bhitare [29]
Everyone pursues happiness in various ways. In this world, some souls study logic, and others practise yoga.
sukha-lagi samsara chhadiya vane yaya
sukha-lagi yuddha kare rajaya rajaya [30]
Some leave home and go to the forest, and others wage wars between nations.
sukha-lagi kamini-kanaka pachhe dhaya
sukha-lagi silpa ara vijnana chalaya [31]
Some run after women and wealth, and others pursue the arts and sciences.
sukha-lagi sukha chhade klesha shiksha kare
sukha-lagi arnava madhyete dubi mare [32]
Some give up on happiness and learn to be miserable, and others drown themselves in the ocean.
nityananda bale daki duhata tuliya
esa jiva karma-jnana-sankata chhadiya [33]
Raising His arms, Nityananda calls, “O souls! Come! Give up the misery of exploitation and calculation!”
sukha-lagi cheshta tava ami taha diba
tara vinimaye ami kichhu na la-iba [34]
“You are searching for happiness. I will give that to you, and I will not take anything from you in return.
kashta nai vyaya nai na pabe yatana
sri-gauranga bali nacha nahika bhavana [35]
“You will not undergo any trouble, loss, or pain. Simply chant, ‘Sri Gauranga’ and dance without a care.
ye sukha ami ta diba tara nai sama
sarvada vimalananda nahi tare bhrama [36]
“The happiness I will give you is unparalleled. It is pure, eternal joy, free from all illusion.”
ei rupe prema yache nityananda-raya
abhaga karama-doshe taha nahi chaya [37]
Nityananda Prabhu begs everyone to accept divine love in this way, yet the unfortunate, as a result of their sins, do not want it.
gauranga nitai yei bale eka-bara
ananta karama-dosha anta haya tara [38]
But the sins, be they unlimited, of anyone who once chants, “Gauranga-Nitai” are absolved.