Sri Sri Chaitanya Bhagabat

(Continued from P. 291, May 1929.)

Chapter XIII—(Continued)

35. Saraswati herself is the speaker on his tongue.
    Can a mortal withstand him in controversy?”
36. Thousands of eminently learned Bhattacharyyas
    Pondered over it in their minds laying aside all work.
37. One all sides all the people raised the clamour—
    'We shall now know the measure of everybody's intelligence.'
38. All these events the great body of students
    Narrated in the presence of their Teacher Gauranga.
39. "A great scholar, the victors of Pandits of all directions having gained over Saraswati, makes a triumphal
    progress through all parts of the country displaying their written confession of his supremacy.
40. "He is numerously escorted by elephants, horses, conveyances and attendants;
    And is now stopping at Navadwip.
41. "He has thrown out challenge to meet in controversy his rivals at Navadwip.
    And demands a written confession of his victory from all learned bodies if his challenge is not accepted."
42. Gaur, that Jewel among teachers, on hearing the tidings from His disciple
    Began smilingly to speak these words, embodying the real truth.
43. "Attend, all brethren, I am telling you the truth
    The Supreme Lord does not tolerate Conceit in any form.
44. The Lord surely withdraws all those quality Intoxicated by whose possession one indulges in vanity.
45. The tree that bears fruits and the person who is possessed of truly Good qualities
    Are always humble by nature.
46. "Haihai Nahush , Ben, Bon, Narak, Ravana,
    All whom you have ever heard as having been the greatest conquerors,-
47. "Consider well, where is the person whose vanity is not broken to pieces?
    The Supreme Lord never tolerates egotism.
48. "Wherefore, all the vanity of learning that he has
    Will be completely taken away even at this place and you will witness it.
49. Saying this with a smile the Lord with the company of His disciples
    Came merrily to the bank of the Ganges in the evening.
50. After touching with reverence the water and making obeisance to the Ganges
    Gauranga Sri Hari sat down with His disciples
51. The students forming themselves into many a group
    Took their seats on all sides in a most beautiful manner.
52. In an endless pastime of discourses on religion and the Shastra
    The Lord sat delighted on the bank of the Ganges.
53. Without telling anything, the Lord thought within Himself "in what manner shall I overcome the Victor of all quarters?
54. "This Brahman cherishes most inordinate vanity -- 'There is no one in the world who is my rival!'
55. 'If I vanquish him in view of the people He will become thereby as one dead in this world.
56. 'All the persons will slight the Brahman. They will plunder him of everything and the Bipra will die of grief.
57. "In order that the Brahman may experience no pain but his pride may be gone I will conquer this Victor of all directions in a private place.
58. As the Lord thought thus, presently the conqueror of all quarters
    Turned up there at that hour of evening.
59. The night was free from the least obscurity due to the full moon. Who can describe the beauty that reposed on the Bhagirathi?
60. The Lord was on the bank of the Ganges with His pupils,
    Whose beauty captivates the minds of all in the countless words.
61. The Holy-moon like face was ever lit up with a smile. His two beautiful eyes shed constantly a supremely gracious glance.
62. The charming teeth scorned the sheen of pearls, the lips were tinged with red. All limbs were exceedingly soft and full of tender mercy.
63. His beautiful head was adorned with a profusion of graceful curls,
    With the mane of a lion, broad elephantine shoulders and magnificent dress.
64. His Holy form was vast in stature with beautiful bosom
    Which was graced by the presence of Sri Ananta in the likeness of the sacrificial thread.
65. The divine forehead was marked with the charming tilak pointing upwards.
    His twin beautiful arms depended to the knee.
66. With the cloth tied up in the manner worn by yogis,
    Resting His right foot between the folds of the left thigh,
67. The Lord was engaged in the act of explaining the Shastras,
    Disproving what was affirmed and proving what was negatived.
68. All the disciples in many a circling group sat around Him in beautiful array.
69. The conqueror of all quarters was delightfully surprised by the unique sight.
    He thought in his mind, 'He seems like Nimai Pandit!'
70. The conqueror of all quarters, remaining unobserved,
    Gazed on the beauty of the Lord without taking off his eyes.
71. He enquired of His disciples, "what is His name?"
    The student replied, "He is the famed Nimai Pandit."
72. Then making obeisance to the Ganges that good Brahman
    Made his way into midst of the assembly of the Lord.
73. On seeing him the Lord with a slight smile
    Invited him affectionately to take a seat.
74. The conqueror of all quarters was most fearless,
    Yet was filled with awe on beholding the Lord.
75. This is the nature of the power of the Lord's real-self
    That the very sight of Him produces spontaneous dread.
76. The Lord after exchanging a few words with the Brahman
    Began to ask him about other subjects in a joyous mood.
77. The Lord said, 'There is no limit to the excellence of your poetic power;
    There is no subject that you cannot describe.
78. Recite something in praise of the Ganges
    By listening to which the sin of all may be absolved.'
79. Hearing the words of the Lord the conqueror of all quarters
    Began forthwith to describe the holy stream.
80. The Brahman poured out his eulogy so Fast
    And in such diverse ways that it baffled the understanding of all.
81. It was as if many a cloud thundered into the ear,
    Such was the solemn delivery of his noble verse.
82. Saraswati herself was installed on his tongue.
    What-so-ever he uttered carried perfect conviction.
83. Who with the powers of mortal could impeach him?
    There was no one so learned who could even understand.
84. All the disciples of the Lord, who counted by the thousand,
    Were struck dumb as they listened to the narrative.
85. 'Rama! Rama! How wonderful!
    Marvelled the disciples, 'can such words manifest themselves in mortal man?
86. All the wonderful rhetorical embellishments that are in the world—
    There was no part of the poetic description that had anything else save the same.
87. Even for them who were most highly versed in all the Shastras,
    It was most difficult to understands his utterances.
88. In this manner the conqueror of all quarters, through well-high a quarter of the night,
    Went on with his wonderful recitation and yet did not finish.
89. Then after the victor of all parts had ended and had leisure to attend Sri Gaurasundar spoke laughingly.
90. 'The purpose of the employment of your words
    Cannot be understood unless you yourself explain.
91. 'Wherefore be pleased to favour us with your own exposition of them,
    Whatever words you use to explain anything carry high conviction.'
92. Hearing the words of the Lord that steal the minds of all
    The good Brahman began to explain.
93. No sooner did he state his meaning The Lord took a triple exception, opposing the beginning, the middle and the end.
94. The Lord said, 'In using all these verbal embellishments
    It is insuperably difficult to be correct by the standard of the Shastras.
95. 'Will you tell me the purpose,' said Gauranga Sri Hari, 'That you have in view in employing them?’
96. The conqueror of all quarters, the great pet child of Saraswati,
    Was left without inspiration and his intelligence disappeared.
97. The Brahman talked at random and failed to explain anything. Gauranga Sundar pointed out the defects of everything that he said.
98. All his genius most inexplicably deserted him.
    The Brahman did not understand what he himself said.
99. The Lord said, 'Let it alone, recite something else'.
    But he no longer possessed the old power of recital.
100. His bewilderment in the presence of the lord was no wonder,
     Before whom even the Veda suffers hallucination.
101. Ananta himself, the Four-Faced One, He with five mouths;
     By the glance of all of whom the infinity of the worlds is produced;--
102. In whose presence even these suffer delusion,
     What wonder was the confusion of the Brahman is the presence of the lord.
103. Lakshmi, Saraswati and all the diverse spiritual powers of the Lord-
     Whose shadows delude these countless worlds--
104. Even they feel deluded in the presence Divine;
     Wherefore they always keep behind their Lord.
105. In whose presence even Shesha, author of the Veda, suffers bewilderment.
     What for Him was this delusion of the conqueror of all quarters?
106. All these deeds are impossible for mortal man,
     Whence I assert that all His acts are true.
107. All the activities that are exhibited by the Lord are at bottom
     For the Purpose of delivering miserable Jivas.
108. As the conqueror of all quarters was entering the state of defeat
     The students made ready to indulge in derisive laughter.
109. But the Lord forbade them all. He spoke kindly to the Brahman,
110. 'May you betake yourself auspiciously towards your lodgings today.
     I will discuss everything tomorrow.
111. You must be feeling fatigued by your long recitations.
     The night is also far advanced. So you should think of retiring to rest.
112. Such is the tender behaviour of the Lord. Even one whom He vanquishes suffers no pain.
113. The Lord vanquished all the Professors who lived at Navadwip.
     But mollified them all in the end.
114. 'To your home today and look up the books.
     Be prepared to answer What I ask tomorrow.'
115. Even when he won he did not kill the spirits of the vanquished.
     So all were pleased with Him, such was His funny way.
116. Wherefore all the pundits that lived at Nabadwip
     Loved the Lord very much in their minds.
117. The Lord returned home in the company of His pupils.
     The conqueror of all quarters was much ashamed at heart.
118. The Brahman was stricken with grief and thought within himself,
     'Saraswati herself bestowed the boon on me.
119. 'Among all those who are well versed in Nyaya, Sankhya, 'Patanjala, Mimansa, Vaisheshika, Vedanta,
120. 'I found none in the world 'Who could even argue with me, let alone the question of victory.
121. 'The Brahman teaches Vyakarana which is fit study for infants.
     He has beat me sure, such is the contrivance of Providence.
122. 'It seems that the boon of Saraswati is to go by default.
     This also has filled my mind with a great suspicion.
123. 'Is it that some offence has been committed against the goddess
     And, therefore, my genius has suffered this failure?
124. "I will surely ascertain the reason of it today.'
     Saying this the Brahman seated himself to silent recital of the Mantra.
125. After mentally repeating the Mantra the Brahman lay down to rest in a fit of grief.
     Saraswati appeared before him in a dream.
126. Casting her glance of mercy of the fortunate Brahman
     Saraswati began to tell him the most hidden secret.
127. Said Saraswati, " Listen, worthy Brahman, I am going to disclose to you the secrets of the Vedas.
128. 'If you give these out to anybody your life will surely be cut short.
129. 'He by whom you have been vanquished
     Is verily the Lord of the infinity of the worlds.
130. 'Whose lotus feet I tend perpetually as handmaid
     And in Whose presence I feel ashamed to appear.
131. 'By her deluded who is ashamed to abide in the view of the Lord
     Those possessed of perverted judgements talk deliriously of "I and mine".
132. 'It is I myself who speak on your tongue, O Brahman.
     My power avails not in the view of the Lord.
133. 'What of me? The Divine Sheshadeva
     Who expatiates on the Veda with a thousand mouths,
134. 'Whom the Gods headed by Aja and Bhaba worship,
     Even Shesha, confesses delusion in the presence of the Lord.
135. 'The great one Who transcends everything, is eternal, pure, indivisible, irreducible, Who dwells in the hearts of all in all His plenitude.
136. Work, knowledge, learning, all that is either good or bad,
     The visible and the unseen -- how enumerate them all to you?
137. By whom all are completely absorbed.
     You have seen face to face even the self-same Lord in the form of a Brahman.
138. Lo! All those from Brahma downwards, who are subject to happiness and sorrow,--
     Know, Bipra, all this takes place by His command.
139. All Divine manifestations in this mundane world of whom you have ever heard,
     Fish, Tortoise and all the rest are nothing, O Bipra, but this Brahman.
140. It is He Who as the Boar firmly established the world.
     He protected Prahlad in the form of man-lion.
141. He in the form of the Dwarf is the life of Bali.
     From Whose lotus feet the Ganges has her birth.
142. It is he who appeared in Ayodhya, Killed Ravana by endless pastimes.
143. Him we call the son of Vasudeva and Nanda
     Even He is now this son of a Brahman indulging in tasting learning.
144. Does even the Veda itself know of His manifestation in the world?
     One may know if only He makes Himself Known, otherwise who has power to know?
145. Of the Mantras that you ever repeated to me in silence
     Conquest of all quarters is not the proper reward.
146. The proper reward that inheres in my Mantra you have received only now.
     You have seen the Lord of the endless worlds face to face.
147. Hie thee, Bipra even to His feet
     And surrender yourself to Him.
148. 'Don't regard as empty dream these words.
     I have divulged to you the hidden things of the Veda under the influence of the Mantra.'
149. Saying this Saraswati vanished out of sight.
     The highly fortunate Brahman awoke from sleep.
150. The worthy Bipra, immediately he woke up.
     In earliest dawn proceeded to the presence of the Lord.
151. The Brahman coming up to the Lord made prostrated obeisances.
     The Lord also lifted the Brahman to His arms.
152. The Lord said, 'why, brother, what behaviour is this?
     The Brahman replied, "Even as Thy merciful glance."
153. The Lord asked, "Being yourself the conqueror of all quarters,
     Why then do you behave thus towards Me?"
154. Said the Victor of quarters, 'Deign to listen, King of Brahmans.
     'All activity is crowned with success by serving only Thee.
155. 'Thou art Narayana in the Form of Bipra in this age of Strife.
     Who possesses the power of recognising Thee?