What is the Process to Understand Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Appearance?

Śrīmatī Vṛṣabhānu-nandinī – The Daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu

By Swami Bhaktivijñāna GiriPublished On: August 19, 2025Tags: Guru-tattva, Songs and Prayers20.9 min read

Overview

Today being the auspicious appearance day of Śrīla B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja, we present the first chapter of Śrī Bhakti Gaurava Vilāsa (The Pastimes of Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha) - a summary of the life of Narasiṅgha Mahārāja rendered in Sanskrit poetry along with Bengali verse translations. This first chapter begins with a maṅgalācaraṇa (auspicious invocation), Namaskāra (offering of obeisance), and Vastu-nirdeśa (an indication of the subject matter of the work, then proceeds with a narration of the early life of Swami Narasiṅgha up to his initiation by Śrīla Prabhupāda. Subsequent chapters will be posted later.

🔗 Read the definitive biography of Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja here.

श्रीश्रीगुरुगौराङ्गौ विजयतः

श्रीश्रीभक्तिगौरव विलासः
Śrī Śrī Bhakti Gaurava Vilāsa
(The Pastimes of Swami Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha)

Prathama Vilāsaḥ
(First Chapter)

TEXT 1
जयति जयति श्रीगुरुवरःनृसिंहः
यतीश्वरः सततमेकसुभक्तिमग्नः ।
श्रीरूपमतपरिरक्षा निष्णातवीरः
आचार्यसिंहो जयति साधुजनप्रियः ॥१ ॥

jayati jayati śrī-guru-varaḥ-nṛsiṁhaḥ
yatīśvaraḥ satatam eka-su-bhakti-magnaḥ
śrī-rūpa-mata-parīrakṣā-niṣṇāta-vīraḥ
ācārya-siṁho jayati sādhu-jana-priyaḥ

jayati jayati – glories, glories; śrī-guru-varaḥ – the best of gurus; nṛsiṁhaḥ – Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja; yatīśvaraḥ – the lord of ascetics; satatam – always; eka – exclusive; su-bhakti – pure devotion; magnaḥ – absorbed; śrī-rūpa – Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī; mata – philosophy; parīrakṣā – protection; niṣṇāta – expert; vīraḥ – valiant; ācārya-siṁha – the glorious lion-like ācārya; jayati – victory; sādhu-jana-prīyaḥ – dear to the sādhus.

Glories, glories to the best of gurus, Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja, the master of renunciants, always absorbed in exclusive pure devotion, a valiant expert deeply immersed in the protection of Śrī Rūpa’s doctrine, the victorious lion-like ācārya who is dear to the sādhus.

Bengali Verse Translation
(জয়) গুরুবর নরসিংহ,, ন্যাসীগণের মহাগ্রীম,
একনিষ্ঠ ভক্তিতে নিমগ্ন ।
শ্রীরূপ-সিদ্ধান্ত-রক্ষা, করেন সুবীরদক্ষ,
সাধুপ্রিয় জয় সিংহাচার্য ॥

(jaya) guru-vara narasiṅgha, nyāsī-gaṇera mahāgrīma,
eka-niṣṭhā-bhaktite nimagna
śrī-rūpa-siddhānta-rakṣā, karena suvīra-dakṣa,
sādhu-prīya jaya siṁhācārya

TEXT 2
जयति जयति श्रीगुरुवरःनृसिंहः
नवद्वीपे स्थितः श्रीगौरगदाधराभ्याम् ।
संकीर्तनालसविलासितवाग्विलासे
सेवारतो भवति भक्तिमयेन चिते ॥२॥

jayati jayati śrī-guru-varaḥ-nṛsiṁhaḥ
navadvīpe sthitaḥ śrī gaura-gadādharābhyām
saṅkīrtanālasa-vilāsita-vāg-vilāse
sevārato bhavati bhakti-mayena cite

jayati jayati – glories, glories; śrī-guru-varaḥ – the best of gurus; nṛsiṁhaḥ – Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja; navadvīpe – in Navadvīpa; sthitaḥ – resides; gaura-gadādharābhyām – with Śrī Śrī Gaura-Gadādhara; saṅkīrtana – congregational chanting; ālasa – delightful; vilāsita – adorned with charm; vāg – voice; vilāse – elegance; sevā – service; rata – engaged; bhavati – is; bhakti-mayena – with full devotion; cite – heart.

Glories, glories to the best of gurus, Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja, who resides in the eternal Navadvīpa in the association of Śrī Śrī Gaura-Gadādhara. During Their saṅkīrtana–līlā, while They are engaged in Their sweet mutual talks, he is absorbed in serving Them with a heart full of devotion.

Bengali Verse Translation
নবদ্বীপে নিত্যবাস, গৌর-গদাধর-পাশ,
মধুরসংকথা-সংকীর্তনে ।
ভক্তহৃদয় বিকাশী, সেবিতানুরাগরাশি,
লীলাসেবা মগ্ন সদা মনে ॥

navadvīpe nitya-vāsa, gaura-gadādhara-pāśa,
madhura-saṅkathā-saṅkīrtane
bhakta-hṛdaya-vikāśi, sevitānurāga-rāśi,
līlā-sevā-magna sadā mane

TEXT 3
जयति जयति श्रीगुरुवरःनृसिंहः
गिरिवरे राधाकुण्डेसुसेवासततः ।
गान्धर्विकागोविन्दसुखार्चनरतः
गुरुजनसेवायांकुशलोऽतिवरः सः ॥३॥

jayati jayati śrī-guru-varaḥ-nṛsiṁhaḥ
giri-vare rādhā-kuṇḍe-su-sevā-satataḥ
gāndharvikā-govinda-sukhārcana-rataḥ
guru-jana-sevāyāṁ-kuśalo’ti-varaḥ saḥ

jayati jayati – glories, glories; śrī-guru-varaḥ – the best of gurus; nṛsiṁhaḥ – Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja; girivare – at Govardhana, the best of mountains; Rādhā-kuṇḍa – in Rādhā-kuṇḍa; su-sevā – beautiful service; satataḥ – always; gāndharvikā – Śrī Rādhā; govinda – Kṛṣna; sukha – happily; arcana – worship; rataḥ – absorbed; guru-jana – his gurus; sevāyāṁ – serving; kuśalaḥ – expertly; ati-varaḥ – most; saḥ – he.

Glories, glories to the best of gurus, Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja, who is always engaged in wonderful service at Govardhana and Rādhā-kuṇḍa, happily absorbed in the worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda, and most skilled in assisting his gurus in their divine service.

Bengali Verse Translation
রাধা-কুণ্ডে গোবর্ধনে, নিত্য-সেবা-পরায়ণে
কিশোর-কিশোরী-প্রিয়ার্চনে ।
গুরু-বর্গ-সেবা-দক্ষ, দিব্য-কার্যে অনুরক্ত,
অনুরাগী সদা সেবাজনে ॥

rādhā-kuṇḍe govardhane, nitya-sevā-parāyaṇe
kiśora-kiśorī-priyārcane
guru-varga-sevā-dakṣa, divya-kārye anurakta,
anurāgī sadā sevā-jane

TEXT 4
निर्दया यद्वदायान्ति साहसिकैव दुर्मताः ।
कामक्रोधलोभाद्या मां ताडयन्ति निरन्तरम् ॥४॥

nirdayā yadvad āyānti sāhasikaiva durmatāḥ
kāma-krodha-lobhādyā māṁ tāḍayanti nirantaram

nirdayā – merciless; yadvat – just as; āyāṇti – approach; sāhasikā – thugs; iva – like; durmatāḥ – cruel; kāma – lust; krodha – anger; lobha – greed; ādya – etc; mām – me; tāḍayanti – beat; nirantaram – without respite.

Just as merciless thugs come bursting in, cruel lust, anger, greed and their cohorts relentlessly batter me.

Bengali Verse Translation
যেমনি নির্দয় দুষ্টেরা সাহসে ধায় আয় ।
কাম-ক্রোধ-লোভাদি মোরে নিরন্তর ঘায় ॥

yemani nirdaya duṣṭera sāhase dhāya āya
kāma-krodha-lobhādi more nirantara ghāya

TEXT 5
तानहं स्वकृते मूढः स्वयमाह्वयतो मुहुः ।
मत्तो मूढतमो लोके कोऽस्ति मे सदृशः परः ॥५॥

tān-ahaṁ svakṛte mūḍhaḥ svayam-āhvayato muhuḥ
matto mūḍhatamo loke ko’sti me sadṛśaḥ paraḥ

tān – them; aham – I; svakṛte – by my own doing; mūḍhaḥ – foolish; svayam – myself; āhvayate – invite; muhuḥ – again and again; matta – insane; mūḍhatamaḥ – most foolish; loke – in the world; kaḥ – who asti – is there; me – me; sadṛśaḥ – resemble; paraḥ – any other.

Yet foolishly, by my own deeds, I continue to summon them. Who else in this world is as insane and most foolish like me?

Bengali Verse Translation
নিজ কর্মে ডাকি আনি বারংবার বৃথা ।
আমার মতো মূঢ় আর কে আছে সত্য? ॥

nija-karme ḍāki āni bāraṁbāra vṛthā
āmāra mato mūḍha āra ke āche satya?

TEXT 6
अनन्तानर्थदुःखेन मलिनं मे मनः सदा ।
स्मरामि गुरुदेवस्य लीलाः शुद्ध्यै पुनः पुनः ॥६॥

anantānartha-duḥkhena malinaṁ me manaḥ sadā
smarāmi gurudevasya līlāḥ śuddhyai punaḥ punaḥ

ananta – unlimited; anartha – unwanted mental miseries; duḥkhena – by the miseries; malina – contaminate; me – my; manaḥ – mind; sadā – constantly; smarāmi – I remember; gurudevasya – of my guru; līlāḥ – pastimes; śuddhyai – for purification; punaḥ punaḥ – again and again.

My mind is always polluted by the misery of endless anarthas. Thus, I remember the pastimes of my Gurudeva again and again in order to purify myself.

Bengali Verse Translation
অনন্ত অনর্থ ভরা কলুষিত মন ।
গুরুদেব লীলায় পান শোধনের জন ॥

ananta anartha bharā kaluṣita mana
gurudeva līlāya pāṅ śodhanera jana

TEXT 7
श्रीगुरोश्च प्रसादेन वैष्णवानां च संस्मृतेः ।
लिख्यते चरितं दिव्यं भक्तिरस्तु मयि स्थिरा ॥७॥

śrī-guroś ca prasādena vaiṣṇavānāṁ ca saṁsmṛteḥ
likhyate caritaṁ divyaṁ bhaktir astu mayi sthirā

śrī-guroḥ – Śrī Guru; ca – and; prasādena – by the mercy; vaiṣṇavānām – the Vaiṣṇavas; ca –and; saṁsmṛteḥ – remembrance of; likhyate – is being written; caritam – life; divyaṁ – divine; bhaktiḥ – devotion; astu – may there be; mayi – in me; sthirā – firm.

By the mercy of Śrī Guru and by remembrance of the Vaiṣṇavas, I write about his divine pastimes so that firm devotion may awaken within me.

Bengali Verse Translation
শ্রী-গুরু-কৃপা আশ্রয়ে, বৈষ্ণব-স্মৃতি-সাথে ।
লীলা-লেখন করি আমি, ভক্তি উদয় হৃদে ॥

śrī-guru-kṛpā āśraye, vaiṣṇava-smṛti-sāthe
līlā-lekhana kari āmi, bhakti-udaya-hṛde

TEXT 8
न मे काव्यविधिः कश्चित् न वा व्याकरणं मतम् ।
दोषैः समाकुलं कर्म विनिन्द्यम् मे कृतम् एतत् ॥८॥

na me kāvya-vidhiḥ kaścit na vā vyākaraṇaṁ matam
doṣaiḥ samākulaṁ karma vinindyaṁ me kṛtam etat

na – not; me – I; kāvya – poetry; vidhiḥ – process; kaścit – even a little; na vā – nor even; vyākaraṇam – grammar; matam – knowledge; doṣaiḥ – faults; samākulaṁ – full; karma – work; vinindyaṁ – worthy of criticism; me – of me. kṛtam – created; etat – this;

I have no understanding of the process of poetry, nor even Sanskrit grammar. This work of mine is full of defects and worthy of criticism.

Bengali Verse Translation
কাব্য-বিদ্যা-ব্যাকরণে, নাই মোর বোধ তথা ।
দোষে পূর্ণ রচনা, নিন্দার যোগ্য যথা ॥

kāvya-vidyā-vyākaraṇe, nāi mora bodha-tathā
doṣe pūrṇa racanā, nindāra yogya yathā

TEXT 9
एतां रचनीकां दृष्ट्वा पण्डिताः कवयश्च ये ।
हस्यं कुर्वन्ति मे यत्नं विगर्ह्योपहसन्ति च ॥९॥

etāṁ racanīkāṁ dṛṣṭvā paṇḍitāḥ kavayaś ca ye
hasyaṁ kurvanti me yatnaṁ vigarhyopahasanti ca

etām – this; racanikām – composition; dṛṣṭvā – having seen; paṇḍitāḥ – learned scholars; kavayaḥ – poets; ca – and; ye – who; hasyam – laughter; kurvanti – perform, express; me – my; yatnam – attempt; vigarhya – having censured; upahasanti – ridicule; ca – and.

Seeing this composition, those who are scholars and poets will laugh at my attempts, ridiculing me and reproaching it.

Bengali Verse Translation
রচনাটি দেখে মোর পণ্ডিত-কবি-গণ ।
হাসিয়া নিন্দিয়া মোরে করে অপহাসন ॥

racanāṭi dekhe mora paṇḍita-kavi-gaṇa
hāsiyā nindiyā more kare apahāsana

TEXT 10
कोऽयं म्लेच्छो प्रमद्वरम् विद्वान् कविश्च मानयन् ।
किमस्य धृष्ट्युद्भूतम् अहो व्यर्थं प्रयतनं ॥१०॥

ko’yaṁ mleccho pramadvaram vidvān kaviś ca mānayan
kim asya dhṛṣṭya-udbhūtam aho vyarthaṁ prayatanaṁ

ko-ayam – who is this; mleccha – foreigner; pramadvaram – foolish; vidvān – a scholar; kaviḥ ca – and a poet; mānayan – pretending to be; kim – what; asya – of this person; dhṛṣta – audacity; udbhūtam – arisen; aho – oh!; vyarthaṁ – useless; prayatanaṁ – endeavour.

(They will say) “Who is this foolish foreigner who pretends to be a scholar and a poet? What audacity has arisen in him! What a useless endeavour!”

Bengali Verse Translation
কে এই মূঢ় যবন, কবি-জ্ঞানী হতে চায় ।
কি দুঃসাহস জাগে তার! বৃথাই কপট দেখায় ॥

ke ei mūḍha yavana, kavi-jñānī hate cāya
ki duḥsāhasa jāge tāra! vṛthā-i kapaṭa dekhāya

TEXT 11
सतीर्था मां निन्दिष्यन्ति – अस्माकं श्रीगुरुं वेत्ति ।
पतितोऽयं महादम्भी धिक् तं ध्वंसयातु भृशम् ॥११॥

satīrthā māṁ nindiṣyanti – asmākaṁ śrī-gurum vetti?
patito’yaṁ mahādambhī dhik taṁ dhvaṁsayātu bhṛṣām

satīrthā – godbrothers; māṁ – me; nindiṣyanti – will criticise; asmākaṁ – our; śrī-guruṁ – guru; vetti –knows; patita – fallen; ayaṁ – he; mahā-dambhī – most proud; dhik – fie; taṁ – him; dhvaṁsayātu – let him die; bhṛśam – thoroughly.

Some godbrothers will criticise me thus: “He alone thinks he knows our guru? He is fallen and so proud! To hell with him! Let him thoroughly perish!”

Bengali Verse Translation
গুরুভাই বলে – “ওহে! গুরুর স্বরূপ জানে সে? ।
পতিত, মহাদম্ভী! ক্ষয় হোক, সর্বনাশ হে!” ॥

gurubhāi bale – ohe! gurura svarūpa se jāne?
patita, mahādambhī! kṣaya hok, sarvanāśa he!

TEXT 12
मूर्खो वदति विष्णाय धीरो वदति विष्णवे ।
उभयोस्तु समं पुण्यं भावग्राही जनार्दनः ॥१२॥

mūrkho vadati viṣṇāya dhīro vadati viṣṇave
ubhayos tu samaṁ puṇyaṁ bhāva-grāhī janārdanaḥ

mūrkhaḥ – a fool; vadati – says; viṣṇāya – to Viṣṇā (the incorrect dative form); dhīraḥ – a wise person; vadati – says; viṣṇave – to Viṣṇu (correct dative form); ubhayos – of both; tu – indeed; samaṁ – equally; puṇyam – merit; bhāva-grāhī – one who accepts the inner mood; janārdanaḥ – Lord Janārdana

(Yet, in response I say:) A fool will incorrectly address the Lord saying, viṣṇāya, whereas a scholar will correctly say viṣṇave. However, both will achieve the same benefit, since Lord Janārdana accepts one’s devotional mood. (Nārada Pañcarātra)

Bengali Verse Translation
মূর্খ বলে ‘বিষ্ণায়’, ‘বিষ্ণবে’ বলে ধীর ।
দুই বাক্য পরিগ্রহ করে কৃষ্ণ বীর ॥

mūrkha bale ‘viṣṇāya’ ‘viṣṇave’ bale dhīra
dui vākya parigraha kare kṛṣṇa vīra
(Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 11.107)

TEXT 13
जगदानन्द इत्याह न जानामि हितं भुवि ।
यद् रोचते मया लिखे तत्र मे न विचारणा ॥१३॥

jagadānanda ity āha na jānāmi hitaṁ bhuvi
yad rocate mayā likhe tatra me na vicāraṇā

Jagadānanda – Śrī Jagadānanda Paṇḍita; iti – thus; āha – na jānāmi – I do not know; hitaṁ – beneficial; bhuvi – world; yad – whatever; rocyate – please; mayā – to me; likhe – write; tatra – therein; me – to me; na – not; vicaraṇā – consideration.

As Śrī Jagadānanda Paṇḍita has said, “I do not know what is beneficial for the world. Whatever pleases me, I write. I have no consideration about this.”

Bengali Verse Translation
আমি বলি – জগতের হিত নাহি জানি ।
যাহা যাহা ভাল লাগে তাই লিখে আনি ॥

āmi bali – “jagatera hita nāhi jāni
yāhā yāhā bhāla lāge tāi likhe āni”
(Śrī Prema Vivarta 2.7)

TEXT 14
सदोषं निर्दोषम् अपि लीलाम् गुरोः प्रवक्ष्यामि ।
तस्मात् क्षमां याचे नित्यं वैष्णवेभ्यो नमो नमः ॥१४॥

sadoṣaṁ nirdoṣam api līlāṁ guroḥ pravakṣyāmi
tasmāt kṣamāṁ yāce nityaṁ vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

sadoṣam – with faults; nirdoṣam api – or even without faults; līlāṁ – the pastimes; guroḥ – of my guru; pravakṣyāmi – I narrate; tasmāt – therefore; kṣamām – forgiveness; yāce – I beg; nityam – always; vaiṣṇavebhyaḥ – to the Vaiṣṇavas; namo namaḥ – repeated obeisances.

Whether with faults or without, I describe the pastimes of my guru. Therefore, I constantly beg forgiveness from the Vaiṣṇavas – obeisances to them again and again.

Bengali Verse Translation
সদোষ বা নির্দোষ, করি গুরুর লীলা-ব্যাখ্যান ।
তাই তো করি সদা বৈষ্ণবেরে প্রণাম ॥

sadoṣa vā nirdoṣa, kari gurur līlā-vyākhyāna
tāi ta kari sadā vaiṣṇavere praṇāma

TEXT 15
सौभाग्यं मम तद् यद् वै सारग्राही सुवैष्णवाः ।
दोषान् मम समालक्ष्य क्षमां कुर्वन्तु सदयः॥१५॥

saubhāgyaṁ mama tad yad vai sāragrāhī su-vaiṣṇavāḥ
doṣān mama samālakṣya kṣamāṁ kurvantu sadayāḥ

saubhāgyaṁ – good fortune; mama – my; yat – that; tad yat vai – that which indeed; sāragrāhī – essence-seeking; su-vaiṣṇavāḥ – true (excellent) Vaiṣṇavas; doṣān mama – my faults; samālakṣya – having observed; kṣamām – forgiveness; kurvantu – may they do; sadayāḥ – with mercy.

It is my great fortune that upon noticing my faults, true Vaiṣṇavas who are sāragrāhīs (essence-seekers), may kindly forgive them.

Bengali Verse Translation
ভাগ্য মোর যে বৈষ্ণবেরা, সারের আস্বাদী ।
দেখিয়া দোষ করেন কৃপা, অশেষ অনুগ্রাহী ॥

bhāgya mora ye vaiṣṇavera, sārera āsvādī
dekhiyā doṣa karena kṛpā, aśeṣa anugrāhī

TEXT 16
मद्गुरुश्रद्धान्वितोऽपि दोषान् हित्वा स गच्छति ।
एतद् ग्रन्थं क्षमायोग्यं अन्ये मा पठयेन् क्वचित् ॥१६॥

mad-guru-śraddhānvito’pi doṣān hitvā sa gacchati
etad granthaṁ kṣamā-yogyaṁ anye mā paṭhayen kvacit

mad – my; guru – guru; śraddhānvita – endowed with faith; api – even; doṣān – faults; hitvā – overlook; sa – he; gacchati – proceeds; etad – this; grantham – composition; kṣamā – forgiveness; yogyam – worthy; anye – others; mā – not; paṭhayen – read; kvacit – in any case.

One who possesses some faith in my Gurudeva will disregard the faults of this work and look upon it as worthy of forgiveness. Others should not even bother reading it.

Bengali Verse Translation
আমার গুরুতে বিশ্বাস অটুট, যার প্রাণে ।
ত্রুটি দেখেও সে দেখে ক্ষমাযোগ্য গানে ॥
অন্য জনে পড়ে নাই, রাখুক গ্রন্থ পাশে ।
ভক্তি-বাণী শোনে শুধু গুরুভক্তের ভাষে ॥

āmāra gurute viśvāsa aṭuṭa yāra prāṇe
truṭi dekhe-o se dekhe kṣamāyogya gāne
anya jane paḍe nāi, rākhuka grantha pāśe
bhakti-vāṇī śone śudhu guru-bhaktera bhāṣe

TEXT 17
श्रील स्वामी नरसिंहः संन्यासिनामनुत्तमः ।
इदानीं तस्य शुभाग्यचरितं कथयाम्यहं ॥१७॥

śrīla svāmī narasiṁha sannyāsinām-anuttamaḥ
idānīm tasya subhāgya-caritaṁ kathayāmy-ahaṁ

śrīla – revered; svāmī narasiṁhaḥ – Swami Narasiṅgha; sannyāsinām – of sannyāsīs; anuttamaḥ – the best of; idānīm – now; tasya – of him; subhāgya – auspicious; caritaṁ –life; kathayāmi – I narrate; ahaṁ – I.

Now I shall narrate the auspicious life of Swami Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha, the best of sannyāsīs.

Bengali Verse Translation
শ্রীল স্বামী নরসিংহ সন্ন্যাসীর উত্তম ।
এবার বলি তাঁর শুভ জীবনের কথা ॥

śrīla svāmī narasiṁha sannyāsīra uttama
ebāra bali tāṅra śubha jīvanera kathā

TEXT 18
अन्नदायां तिथौ पुण्ये प्रादुर्भूमिर अभूद् ध्रुवम् ।
प्रभुपादस्य दयितः स्वामी नारसिंहो यतिः ॥१८॥

annadāyāṁ tithau puṇye prādurbhūmir abhūd dhruvam
prabhupādasya dayitaḥ svāmī nārasiṁho yatiḥ

annadāyāṁ – on Śrī Annadā Ekādaśī; tithau – day; puṇye – auspicious; prādurbhūmir – manifestation; abhūd – took place; dhruvam – certainly; prabhupādasya – of Śrīla Prabhupāda; dayitaḥ – dear; svāmī nārasiṁho – Swami Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha; yatiḥ – the sannyāsī.

Swami Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja, the dear disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda, appeared on the auspicious day of Śrī Annadā Ekādaśī.

Bengali Verse Translation
ভক্তি-গৌরব-নরসিংহ, প্রভুপাদ-প্রিয় ।
অন্নদা-একাদশীতে, লাহে জন্ম দিব্য ॥

bhakti-gaurava-narasiṁha, prabhupāda-priya
annadā-ekādaśīte, lāhe janma divya

TEXT 19
भाद्र-मासे शुभे राम-नक्षत्रे पुनर्वसौ च ।
हृषीकेश-प्रभे दिव्ये प्रादुर्बभूव मे प्रभुः ॥१९॥

bhādra-māse śubhe rāma-nakṣatre punarvasau ca
hṛṣīkeśa-prabhe divye prādurbabhūva me prabhuḥ

bhādra-māse – in the month of Bhādra; śubhe – auspicious; rāma –Śrī Rāma; nakṣatre – in the constellation; punarvasau – the constellation Punarvasu; ca – and; udite –risen; hṛṣīkeśa – Lord Hṛṣīkeśa; prabhe – under the authority; divye – divine; prādurbabhūva – appeared; me – my; prabhuḥ – master.

In the auspicious month of Bhādra, presided over by Lord Hṛṣīkeśa, during the rise of Punarvasu, the constellation of Śrī Rāma, my master made his appearance.

Bengali Verse Translation
হৃষীকেশের ভাদ্র মাসে পুনর্বসু উদয়ে ।
শ্রীরাম-নক্ষত্র দিনে, জন্মিল সদয়ে ॥

hṛṣīkeśera bhādra māse punarvasu udaye
śrī-rāma-nakṣatra-dine, janmilā sadaye

TEXT 20
रामचन्द्रेण इवाचारशीलदाक्षिण्यसागरः ।
दिव्यगुणाकरः स स्याद् दयासिन्धुर् महात्मनाम् ॥२०॥

rāmacandra ivācāra-śīla-dākṣiṇya-sāgaraḥ
divya-guṇākaraḥ sa syāt dayā-sindhur mahātmanāṁ

rāmacandra – Śrī Rāmacandra; iva – like; ācāra-śīla – in conduct and character; dākṣiṇya-sāgaraḥ – an ocean of kindness; divya – divine; guṇa – qualities; ākaraḥ – a mine; saḥ – he; syāt –was; dayā-sindhu – ocean of mercy; mahātmaṇāṁ – among great souls.

He was, like Śrī Rāmacandra, an ocean of proper conduct, noble character, and kindness; He was a mine of divine virtues and a sea of compassion among great souls.

Bengali Verse Translation
রাম-সম গুণশীল, করুণার সাগর ।
দিব্য-গুণের খনি, সজ্জনের দয়াধর ॥

rāma-sama guṇa-śīla, karuṇāra sāgara
divya-guṇera khani, sājjanera dayādhara

TEXT 21
म्लेच्छदेशे बहिर्दूरात् भारतात् परतः स्थिते ।
सागरतीरनगरे स जातः करुणानिधिः ॥२१॥

mleccha-deśe bahir dūrāt bhāratāt parataḥ sthite
sāgara-tīra-nagare sa jātaḥ karuṇā-nidhiḥ

mleccha-deśe – in the land of the Mlecchas; bahir dūrāt – very distant; bhāratāt – from India; parataḥ – beyond; sthite – located; sāgara-tīra – on the shore of the ocean; nagare – in a city; sa – he; jātaḥ – born; karuṇā-nidhiḥ – ocean of mercy.

In a foreign land, far beyond India, in a city upon the seashore, that person, who is an ocean of mercy, was born.

Bengali Verse Translation
ভারতের বাহির দেশে, সাগরতীর পুরে ।
জন্মে করুণা-নিধি, বিদেশস্থলে দূরে ॥

bhārata-bāhira deśe, sāgara-tīra-pure
janme karuṇā-nidhi, videśa-sthale dūre

TEXT 22
‘कॉर्पस्-क्रिस्टि’पुरे जातः सेनानीकुलसंभवः ।
यस्मिन् प्रूषदेशीयानाम् वंशः पूर्वम् प्रवर्तितः॥२२॥

‘korpus-kristi’pure jātaḥ senānī-kula-saṁbhavaḥ
yasmin prūṣa-deśīyānām vaṁśaḥ pūrvam pravartitaḥ

korpus-kristi-pure – in the city of Corpus Christi; jātaḥ – born; senānī-kula – military family; saṁbhavaḥ – descended; yaḥ – who; prūṣa-deśajāyāḥ – coming from the land of Prussia; sa – he; vaṁśaḥ – lineage; pūrvam – previously; pravartitaḥ – originated.

He appeared in Corpus Christi, in a military family whose lineage previously hailed from the country of Prussia.

Bengali Verse Translation
কর্পুস কৃষ্টি পুরে, সেনা-বংশে জন্মগ্রাহী ।
প্রুশ্য-দেশী বংশজ, তাঁর পূর্ব-পরিচয়ী ॥

korpus kṛiṣṭi-pure, senā-vaṁśe janma-grāhī
pruśya-deśī vaṁśajā, tāṅra pūrva-paricayī

TEXT 23
बाले स हृदि शुद्धात्मा ईशभक्त्याऽभिपूरितः।
यद्यपि आसीद् ख्रीष्टीयः कुलं तस्य न धर्मज्ञम् ॥२३॥

bāle sa hṛdi śuddhātmā īśa-bhaktyā’bhipuritaḥ
yadyapi āsīd khrīṣṭīyāḥ kulaṁ tasya na dharma-jñam

bāle– in childhood; sa – he; śuddha-ātmā –a pure soul; īśa-bhaktya – devotion towards God; abhipuritaḥ – filled; hṛdi – in the heart; yadyapi – although; āsīd – were; khrīṣṭīyāḥ – Christians; kulaṁ – family; tasya – his; na – not; dharma-jñam – religious understanding.

As a boy, he was pure in heart and filled with devotion towards God. Although his family were Christians, they did not have any understanding of religion.

Bengali Verse Translation
ছোটবেলায় ঈশচিন্তায় পবিত্র ছিল মন ।
খ্রীষ্টীয় বংশ হ’লেও, ছিল না আচরণ ॥

choṭa-belāya īśa-cintāya pavitra chila mana
khrīṣṭīya vaṁśa ha’leo, chila nā ācaraṇa

TEXT 24
बलिष्ठो विकटाङ्गश्च साहसी च तेजस्वी च ।
युवत्कालेऽपि जन्तूनां त्रातुः कर्माकारयत् ॥२४॥

balīṣṭho vikatāṅgaś ca sāhasī ca tejasvī ca
yuvat-kāle’pi jantūnāṁ trātuḥ karma akārayat

baliṣṭha – strong; vikaṭāṅgaḥ – well-built; ca – and; sāhasī – adventurous; ca – and; tejasvī – radiant; ca – and; yuvat – youth; kāle’pi – even at that time; jantūnām – of people; trātuḥ – of a rescuer; karma – the act; akārayat – he performed.

Strong, well-built, adventurous, and radiant, even in his youth he performed deeds of rescuing people.

Bengali Verse Translation
শক্তি-সাহসে ভরা ছিলেন ছোটবেলা হতেই ।
যুবক বয়সেও প্রাণ বাঁচাতেন জলে ডুবিতেই ॥

śakti-sāhase bharā chilena choṭa-belā hatei
yuvaka vayase-o prāṇa vāñcātena jale ḍubitei

TEXT 25
नैवास्य लौकिकी विद्या मनोऽबद्धं कदाचन ।
बाल्यात् प्रभृति वैराग्यं स्वभावेन्नैव जाग्रति ॥२५॥

naivāsya laukikī vidyā mano’baddhaṁ kadācana
bālyāt prabhṛti vairāgyaṁ svabhāvenaiva jāgrati

naivāsya – he was not; laukikī – mundane; vidyā – knowledge; manaḥ – mind; abaddham – fix; kadācana – at any time; bālyāt – from childhood; prabhṛti – beginning; vairāgyam – detachment; svabhāvena – by his nature; eva – indeed; jāgrati – was awakened.

His mind was never drawn to mundane education; from childhood itself, renunciation naturally awakened within him.

Bengali Verse Translation
জড়-বিদ্যায় প্রীতি নাই, নব আগ্রহ কভু নাই ।
বাল্য হতেই জাগে মনে, সহজ ত্যাগে চিত্ত যায় ॥

jaḍa-vidyā prīti nāi, nava āgraha kabhu nāi
bālaya haite jāgre mane, sahaja tyāge citta yāya

TEXT 26
गृहं त्यक्त्वा स निर्यातो परमार्थविचारकः ।
सत्यस्य परमं तत्त्वं ज्ञातुमेव प्रवव्राजे ॥२६॥

gṛhaṁ tyaktvā sa niryāto paramārtha-vicārakaḥ
satyasya paramaṁ tattvaṁ jñātum eva prava-vrāje

gṛham – home; tyaktvā – renouncing; saḥ – he; niryātaḥ – left; paramārtha – supreme goal of life; vicārakaḥ – as an inquirer; satyasya – of truth; paramam – highest; tattvam – reality; jñātum – to ascertain; eva – indeed; prava-vrāje – he went forth.

Leaving home, he departed as a seeker of the Supreme Truth, to discover the highest principle of reality.

Bengali Verse Translation
ঘর-সংসার, বন্ধু ত্যাজি, চলিলেন অন্বেষক ।
পর-তত্ত্ব খুঁজি তিনি, ঘুরিলেন স্থান-চরক ॥

ghara-saṁsāra, bandhu tyāji, calilena anveṣaka
para-tattva khuṅji’ tini ghurilena sthāna-caraka

TEXT 27
अनेकदुःखसङ्घर्षान् अनुभूय पुनः पुनः ।
मृत्युोरपि मुखो यत्र रक्षां चक्रे जनार्दनः ॥२७॥

aneka-duḥkha-saṅgharṣān anubhūya punaḥ punaḥ
mṛtyor api mukho yatra rakṣāṁ cakre janārdanaḥ

aneka – many; duḥkha – distress; saṅgharṣān –hardships; anubhūya – experiencing; punaḥ punaḥ – again and again; mṛtyoḥ – death; api – even; mukhe – mouth; yatra – where; rakṣām – protected; cakre – did; janārdanaḥ – Lord Janārdana, who maintains His devotees.

Again and again, he endured many hardships and dangers. Even when he was almost within the jaws of death, Lord Janārdana always saved him.

Bengali Verse Translation
দুঃখ-বিপদ সইয়া অনেক, পৌঁছল মৃত্যুদ্বারে ।
সদা রাখে জনার্দন, তাহারে বিপদভারে ॥

duḥkha-vipada sahiyā aneka, pauṅchala mṛtyu-dvāre
sadā rākhe janārdana tāhāre vipada-bhāve

TEXT 28
शैलात् प्रायश्च पतितुम् क्षुधया क्षीणः बद्धः च ।
तथापि तस्य रक्षार्थं भगवान् करुणानिधिः ॥२८॥

śailāt prayaś ca patitum kṣudhayā baddhaḥ eva ca
tathāpi tasya rakṣārthaṁ bhagavān karuṇā-nidhiḥ

śailāt – from a cliff; prayas – almost; ca – and; patitum – to fall; kṣudhayā – hunger; baddhaḥ – imprisoned; eva ca – and even; tathāpi – nevertheless; tasya – his; rakṣārtham – for the sake of protection; bhagavān – the Lord; karuṇā-nidhiḥ – ocean of mercy.

He almost fell from a cliff, was weakened by hunger, and was even imprisoned – yet still, to protect him, the Lord, who is an ocean of mercy, intervened.

Bengali Verse Translation
শৈল শিখর হতে, প্রাণ গেল প্রয়ি ।
ক্ষুধায় ক্লিষ্ট দেহে, পড়লেন কারাগারে ॥
তথাপি তাঁরে রক্ষিতে, করুণাসিন্ধু হরি ।
প্রভু করিলেন লীলা, দিব্য দয়ায় ভরি ॥

śaila śikhara hate, prāṇa gela prayi
kṣudhāya kliṣṭa dehe, paḍalena kārāgāre
tathāpi tāre rakṣite, karuṇā-sindhu hari
prabhu karilena līlā, divya dayāya bhari

TEXT 29
बद्धोऽपि स योगस्य शिक्षां प्राप शिक्षकात् ।
तत्र कौशलं च प्राप्य बभूव योगनिपुणः॥२९॥

baddho’pi yoga-śikṣāṁ sa prāpānyaḥ bandī-śikṣakāt
tatra kauśalaṁ ca prāpya babhuva yoga-nipuṇaḥ

baddha – imprisoned; api – although; yoga-śikṣām – instructions on yoga; sa – he; prāpa – received; anyaḥ – another; bandī – prisoner; śikṣakāt – from a teacher; tatra – in that place; kauśalaṁ – proficiency; ca – and; prāpya – having attained; babhūva – he became; yoga-nipuṇaḥ – an expert in yoga.

Although he was incarcerated, he learned yoga from another prisoner who was a teacher, and he became most expert in this.

Bengali Verse Translation
বন্দী হ’য়ে শিখিল যোগ, শিক্ষক হইতে ।
সেইখানেই নিপুণ হ’য়ে রইল যোগ-চিতে ॥

bandī ha’ye śikhila yoga, śikṣaka ha’ite
seikhāne-i nipuṇa ha’ye ra’ila yoga-cite

TEXT 30
‘संफ्रांसिस्कपुरीं’ गत्वा, भक्तान् दृष्ट्वा स तत्र हि ।
जन्मन्यस्मिन् प्रथमतः महाप्रसादम् अश्नुवन् ॥३०॥

‘saṁphrānsiska’ purīṁ gatvā bhaktān dṛṣtvā sa tatra hi
janmany-asmin prathamataḥ mahā-prasādam aśnuvan

saṁphrānsiska-purīṁ – the city of San Francisco; gatvā – went; bhaktān – devotees; dṛṣṭvā – saw; sa– he; tatra – there; hi – indeed; janmani – life; asmin – in this; prathamataḥ – first; mahā–prasādam – the mahā–prasādam of the Lord; aśnuvan – partook.

Going to the city of San Francisco, he saw the devotees; in this very life, for the first time, he partook of the Lord’s prasāda.

Bengali Verse Translation
সঁফ্রান্সিস্কা নগরীতে, ভ্রমি’ দেখেন ভক্তগণ ।
এই জন্মে প্রথম পাইলেন, প্রসাদেরই ভাগ্যপণ ॥

‘saṁphrānsiska’ nagarīte, bhrami’ dekhena bhakta-gaṇa
e janme prathama pailena prasāderi bhāgyapana

TEXT 31
हवाईद्वीपं गत्वैव योगकुञ्जे वसेत् पृथक् ।
योगध्यानपरः काले तपसा क्लेशयन् तनुम् ॥३१॥

havāi-dvīpaṁ gatvaiva yoga-kuñje vaset pṛthak
yoga-dhyāna-paraḥ kāle tapasā kleśayan tanum

havāyi-dvīpaṁ – the island of Hawaii; gatvā eva – having gone; yoga-kuñje – in a hut for yoga; vaset pṛthak – he lived alone; yoga-dhyāna-paraḥ – absorbed in yoga and meditation; kāle – at that time; tapasā – through austerity; kleśayan tanum – afflicting the body.

He then went to the island of Hawaii and lived alone in a hut to perform yoga. There, absorbed in meditation and yogic practice, he subjected his body to great austerity.

Bengali Verse Translation
হাওয়াই দ্বীপে গিয়া এক যোগ-কুটিরে ।
ধ্যানযোগে লীন হয়ে কঠোর তপ করে ॥

hāoyāi dvīpe giyā eka yoga-kuṭire
dhyāna-yoge līna ha’ye kaṭhora tapa kare

TEXT 32
निजवृत्तिं परित्यज्य ययौ पश्चात् कृष्णाश्रमम् ।
तत्र तस्मिन संकीर्तने मार्गेषु कृतवान् अपि ॥३२॥

nija-vṛttiṁ parityajya yayau paścāt kṛṣṇāśramam
tatra tasmin saṅkīrtane mārgeṣu kṛtavān api

nija-vṛttim – his own activities; parityajya – having given up; yayau – he went; paścāt – later; kṛṣṇa-āśramam – to a Kṛṣṇa āśrama; tatra – there; tasmin – at that place; saṅkīrtane – congregational chanting of Hari’s Name; mārgeṣu – on the streets; kṛtavān – engaged in; api – also.

Later, he went to a Kṛṣṇa āśrama, where he gave up his former life and began to engage in saṅkīrtana on the streets.

Bengali Verse Translation
নিজজীবন ত্যাগ করিয়া গেল কৃষ্ণ আশ্রমে ।
সেখানে হরিনাম গাইলেন সঙ্কীর্তনে ॥

nija-jīvana tyāga kariyā gela kṛṣṇa āśrame
sekhāne hari-nāma-gāilena saṅkīrtane

TEXT 33
तस्माद् द्वीपाद् अगच्छद् वै ‘सुरपुरीं’ स युवकः।
तत्र श्रीप्रभुपादस्य कृपया लभते दृढम् ॥३३॥

tasmād dvīpād agacchad vai ‘sura-purīṁ’ sa yuvakaḥ
tatra śrī-prabhupādasya kṛpayā labhate pūrṇam

tasmād dvīpāt – from that island; agacchat – went; vai – indeed; sura-purīm – the ‘City of Angels’ or Los Angeles; sa – that; yuvakaḥ – young man; tatra – there; śrī-prabhupādasya – of Śrīla Prabhupada; kṛpayā – the mercy; labhate – achieved; pūrṇam – firm.

From that island, that young man went to the City of Angels, and there, he achieved the full mercy of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Bengali Verse Translation
তস্মাৎ দ্বীপ থেকে সেই, সুর-পুরী গেল ।
তত্র প্রভুপাদ লভি’, নিত্য-গুরু মেল ॥

tasmāt dvīpa theke sei, sura-purī gela
tatra prabhupāda labhi’ nitya-guru mela

TEXT 34
दीक्षां गृहीत्वा स तदा जगद्गुरुदासोऽभवत् ।
यस्य प्रभोः प्रसादेन दिशो नाम व्यवर्धत ॥३४॥

dīkṣāṁ gṛhītvā sa tadā jagat-guru-dāso’bhavat
yasya prabhoḥ prasādena diśo nāma vyavardhata

dīkṣāṁ – initiation; gṛhītvā – accepted; sa – he; tadā – then; jagat-guru-dāsa – Jagat-Guru Dāsa; abhavat – became; yasya – by he; prabhoḥ – master; prasādena – by the mercy; diśa – directions; nāma – the Holy Name; vyavardhata – spread.

Taking initiation, he became known as Jagat-Guru Dāsa, the servant of that master who distributed the Holy Name in all directions.

Bengali Verse Translation
শ্রীগুরু-পদ ধরি’ নিলেন দীক্ষা তাঁর ।
জগৎ-গুরু-দাস নামে হলেন পরিচার ॥
যিনি হরিনাম বিকীর্ণ করিলেন ধরায় ।
তাঁহার দাস হ’য়ে ভক্তি পাইলেন সদায় ॥

śrī-guru-pada dhari’ nilena dīkṣā tāṅra
jagat-guru-dāsa nāme halena paricāra
yini hari-nāma vikīrṇa karilena dharāya
tāṅhāra dāse ha’ye bhakti pāilena sadāya

TEXT 35
जगद्गुरुदासं तं प्रणम्य विनयान्वितः ।
स्वलीलाप्रथमां चैव वर्णयामि कथां मुदा ॥३५॥

jagad-guru-dāsaṁ taṁ praṇamya vinayānvitaḥ
sva-līlā-prathamāṁ caiva varṇayāmi kathāṁ mudā

jagad-guru-dāsam – Jagad Guru Dāsa; tam – that; praṇamya – having offered obeisance; vinaya-anvitaḥ – with humility; sva-līlā – of his pastimes; prathamām – the first part; ca – and; eva – indeed; varṇayāmi – I narrate; kathām – the narration; mudā – with joy.

Thus, offering obeisance unto that Jagad-guru Dāsa, I humbly narrate the first chapter of his pastimes.

Bengali Verse Translation

নিজেরে দাস বলিয়া করি প্রণতি ।
জগদ্‌গুরু দাসের চরণে মিনতি ॥
গুরু লীলা প্রথম পর্ব আমি গাই ।
বিনীত ভৃত্য হয়ে আনন্দে ভাই ॥

nijere dāsa baliyā kari praṇati
jagad-guru dāsera caraṇe minati
guru-līlāra prathama parva āmi gāi
vinīta bhṛtya haye ānande bhāi

इति श्रीश्रीभक्तिगौरवविलासस्य प्रथमोऽध्यायः समाप्तः।
iti śrī-śrī-bhakti-gaurava-vilāsasya prathamo’dhyāyaḥ samāptaḥ

Thus ends Chapter One of Śrī Śrī Bhakti Gaurava Vilāsa

About the Author: Swami Bhaktivijñāna Giri

Swami B.V. Giri is a senior disciple of Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha Mahārāja. Receiving dīkṣā and sannyāsa initiation in the year 2000, he has been the main editor, translator and researcher for many books and articles written by Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha and many that he's authored himself. He is currently residing in Vṛṇdavana where he is engaged translating and publishing articles and books of our acāryās.