[Nectar] Madhai's prayers to Nityananda Prabhu

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Nityananda Charitamrita, Madhya Khanda Chapter 10

By Vrindavana Dasa Thakura

 

Nityananda Prabhu happily wandered all over Nadia in the mood of a

young boy. Nityananda Prabhu was naturally most ecstatic. He wandered

all over Nadia without any pride.

 

"I made Nityananda bleed." Lamenting constantly like this, Madhai

would beat his chest with his hands. "The body in which Sri Gauranga

enjoys His pastimes, I, the most sinful, have beaten that very same

body." Remembering this, Madhai would swoon anew. He had no other

activity except crying. One day seeing Nityananda Prabhu alone, Madhai

fell down and caught hold of His feet. He washed Lord Nityananda's

feet with the tears of love streaming from his eyes, and taking straw

in his mouth, began to offer prayers,

 

"O Lord, as Vishnu, You maintain the entire universe. As Ananta, You

hold untold universes on Your hoods. You are the epitome of devotional

service. Lord Siva and Parvati always remember You. You bestow Your own

devotional service to all. There's no one more dear to Lord Gauranga

than You. By Your mercy alone, the most powerful Gaura happily carries

Krishna as a matter of pastimes. You chant the glories of Krishna with

Your unlimited mouths. You teach people that devotional service is the

highest duty. The great sage Narada forever sings Your glories. Lord

Gauranga is Your only wealth. Your other name is Divider of River

Kalindi. King Janaka received transcendental knowledge by worshipping

You.

 

"You are the embodiment of all religious principles and You are the

original Personality of Godhead. The Vedas describe You as Adideva, or

the Primeval Lord. You are the father of the universe and master of all

mystic perfections. You are the great archer Lakshmanacandra. You are

the destroyer of atheists and the master of all who savor devotional

mellows. You know the internal mood and mission of Lord Gauranga. By

seeing You, Mahamaya herself became worshipable. The innumerable

universes desire the shadow of Your lotus feet. You are the devotee of

Lord Gauranga and the source of pure devotional service. You are

everything to Sri Gauranga. You are the omnipotent Personality of

Godhead.

 

"You are the companion, the friend, the resting place, the umbrella,

and the life and soul of Sri Gauranga. No one is more dear to Krishna

than You. You are the origin of all the incarnations of Sri

Gauracandra. O Lord, You save the fallen souls and You destroy the

lives of the atheists. You always protect the Vaishnavas and You teach

everyone the principles of Vaishnavism. By Your mercy, Lord Brahma

creates the cosmic manifestation. Your consorts Revati and Varuni

eternally serve you. You are the cause of everything, yet You are aloof

from all things. You hold the Lord of countless universes on Your

chest. Your transcendental body, the reservoir of all happiness, is as

soft as the petals of lotuses. Lord Krishna enjoys His pastimes with

your body. I have harmed such a transcendental body. There is none more

sinful than I am. Shame on me! Shame on me!

 

"Lord Siva and Parvati along with millions of chaste women worship

Your transcendental form as their very life. Worshipping Your form

destroys one's material bondage. It is I who injured such a body. By

adoring Your divine form, King Citraketu became the foremost Vaishnava

and spent a happy and prosperous life. People in innumerable universes

meditate upon Your transcendental body. I am so sinful: I tried to harm

this body. Service to Your divine form freed the sages at Naimisharanya

headed by Saunaka from material bondage. Being envious of this body,

Indrajit was destroyed. Being envious of this body, Dvivida was killed.

Jarasandha was destroyed by offenses to this body. Since I cut such a

body, I have no hope of good fortune.

 

"What to speak of wounding, just for insulting Your transcendental

personality, You crushed Rukmi, the brother-in-law of Lord Krishna.

Romaharshana Suta, who had a life span equal to Lord Brahma,

disregarded You by not welcoming You and was burnt to ashes. By

insulting You, King Duryodhana was unable to survive; rather he died

along with his entire family.

 

"By providence renowned devotees could easily know You as the cause

of all causes. Queen Kunti, Yudhishthira, Bhishma, Vidura and Arjuna

confirm your supremacy and greatness. By neglecting You, one's life

is doomed. Then where will I, the most sinful, go?" While praying,

Madhai floated in love of God. Falling to the ground, he placed the

lotus feet of Lord Nityananda on his chest and continued, "O Lord

Nityananda, You are the protector of the surrendered souls. You are the

wealth, life and soul of Madhai. All glories to the son of Padmavati!

All glories to Nityananda, the treasure of the Vaishnavas! All glories

to the most blissful Nityananda who never gets angry. It is befitting

to forgive a person who has surrendered unto You. I am the most

abominable dog-eater and ungrateful ass. O Lord, please forgive all my

offenses."

 

Hearing the humble prayers of Madhai, Nityananda Prabhu smiled and

said, "Get up, get up, Madhai. You're My servant. I've manifested

myself in your body. Can an affectionate father feel sad if his child

hurts him? I took your striking Me like this. Anyone who hears your

prayers to me will definitely become devoted to My lotus feet. You're

the recipient of My Lord's mercy. As far as I'm concerned, I don'

take even a hint of your offenses. Whoever worships Sri Gauranga is my

life and soul. I deliver such a person millennium after millennium. If

someone worships Me alone without worshipping Sri Gauranga, I will feel

unbearable distress."