THE WISH-FULFILLING TREE OF DEVOTION

tam srimat-krsna-chaitanya-devam vande jagad-gurum
yasyanukampaya svapi mahabdhim santaret sukham [1]

I offer my obeisance unto the Guru of the world, Sri Krishna Chaitanyadev, by whose mercy even a dog happily swims across a great ocean.

jaya jaya sri-krsna-chaitanya gaurachandra
jaya jayadvaita jaya jaya nityananda [2]

Glory to Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Sri Gaurachandra! Glory to Advaita and and glory to Nityananda!

jaya jaya srivasadi gaura-bhakta-gana
sarvabhista-purti-hetu yahara smarana [3]

Glory to Srivas Thakur and all the Lord’s devotees! Remembering them fulfils all of one’s desires.

sri-rupa, sanatana, bhatta raghunatha
sri-jiva, gopala-bhatta, dasa-raghunatha [4] e-saba-prasade likhi chaitanya-lila-guna
jani va na jani, kari apana-sodhana [5]

By the mercy of Sri Rupa, Sanatan, Raghunath Bhatta, Sri Jiva, Gopal Bhatta, and Raghunath Das, I am describing the Pastimes and glories of Sri Chaitanya. Knowingly or unknowingly, I do so for my own purification.

malakarah svayam krsna-premamara-taruh svayam
data bhokta tat-phalanam yas tam chaitanyam asraye [6]

I take shelter of Sri Chaitanya, who is Himself the immortal tree of divine love for Krishna, Himself its gardener, and Himself the distributor and enjoyer of its fruits.

prabhu kahe, “ami ‘visvambhara’ nama dhari
nama sarthaka haya, yadi preme visva bhari” [7]

The Lord said, “My name is Visvambhar (‘He who fills the world’), and My name will be fulfiled if I fill the world with divine love.”

eta chinti’ laila prabhu malakara-dharma
navadvipe arambhila phalodyana-karma [8]

Thinking thus, the Lord took up the work of a gardener and started an orchard in Nabadwip.

sri-chaitanya malakara prthivite ani’
bhakti-kalpataru ropila sinchi’ ichchha-pani [9]

Sri Chaitanya, as a gardener, brought the wish-fulfilling tree of devotion to the earth, planted it, and sprinkled it with the water of His will.

jaya sri madhava-puri krsna-prema-pura
bhakti-kalpatarura teho prathama ankura [10]

Glory to Sri Madhavendra Puri, who is filled with divine love for Krishna! He was the first sprout of the wish-fulfilling tree of devotion.

sri-isvara-puri-rupe ankura pusta haila
apane chaitanya-mali skandha upajila [11]

This sprout grew in the form of Sri Isvar Puri and the gardener Sri Chaitanya Himself arose as its trunk.

nijachintya-saktye mali hana skandha haya
sakala sakhara sei skandha mulasraya [12]

By His inconceivable power, the Lord was the gardener and became the trunk of the tree and the support of all its branches.

paramananda puri, ara kesava bharati
brahmananda puri, ara brahmananda bharati [13] visnu-puri, kesava-puri, puri krsnananda
sri-nrsimhatirtha, ara puri sukhananda [14] ei nava mula nikasila vrksa-mule
ei nava mule vrksa karila nischale [15]

Paramananda Puri, Kesava Bharati, Brahmananda Puri, Brahmananda Bharati, Sri Visnu Puri, Kesava Puri, Krishnananda Puri, Sri Nrsimha Tirtha, and Sukhananda Puri—these nine roots sprouted from the base of the tree and steadied it.

madhya-mula paramananda puri mahadhira
ei nava mule vrksa karila susthira [16]

The most wise Paramananda Puri was the tree’s central root. These nine roots steadied the tree.

skandhera upare bahu sakha nikasila
upari upari sakha asankhya ha-ila [17]

Many branches sprouted from the trunk and innumerable branches grew over and above them.

visa visa sakha kari’ eka eka mandala
maha-maha-sakha chhaila brahmanda sakala [18]

Scores of branches formed clusters and all these massive branches covered the entire world.

ekaika sakhate upasakha sata sata
yata upajila sakha ke ganibe kata [19]

Every branch had hundreds of sub-branches. Who can count how many branches grew?

mukhya mukhya sakha-ganera nama-ganana
age ta’ kariba, suna vrksera varnana [20]

First, I will mention the names of the foremost branches. Please hear this description of the tree.

sakhara upare sakha haila dui skandha
eka ‘advaita’ nama, ara ‘nityananda’ [21]

Above the main trunk, two trunks emerged: one named Advaita and the other Nityananda.

sei dui-skandhe sakha yata upajila
tara upasakha-gane jagat chhaila [22]

The sub-branches of these two trunks’s branches covered the entire world.

bada sakha, upasakha, tara upasakha
jagat vyapila tara ke karibe lekha [23]

These great branches, sub-branches, and their sub-branches spread all over the world. Who can describe them?

sisya, prasisya, ara upasisya-gana
jagat vyapila tara nahika ganana [24]

Sri Chaitanya’s disciples, granddisciples, and great-granddisciples spread all over the world. There is no counting them.

udumbara-vrksa yena phale sarva ange
ei mata bhakti-vrkse sarvatra phala lage [25]

The tree of devotion bears fruit everywhere like a wild fig tree which bears fruit from every branch.

mula-skandhera sakha-upasakha-gane
lagila ye prema-phala,—amrtake jine [26]

The fruit, divine love, born from the branches and sub-branches of the trunk, surpasses nectar.

pakila ye prema-phala amrta-madhura
vilaya chaitanya-mali, nahi laya mula [27]

When the fruit of divine love ripens, it becomes sweet like nectar, and the gardener Sri Chaitanya distributes it without charging anything.

tri-jagate yata achhe dhana-ratna-mani
eka-phalera mulya kari’ taha nahi gani [28]

All the gems, jewels, and wealth present in the three worlds do not equal the price of even one fruit of divine love.

mage va na mage keha, patra va apatra
ihara vichara nahi jane, deya matra [29]

The gardener does not consider who asks for it and who does not or who is a fit recipient of it and who is not. He simply gives away the fruit.

anjali anjali bhari’ phele chatur-dise
daridra kudana khaya, malakara hase [30]

He fills His palms with the fruit and then throws it in all directions, and when poor people pick it up and eat it, He laughs.

malakara kahe, “suna, vrksa-parivara
mulasakha-upasakha yateka prakara” [31]

The gardener says, “Listen, O branches and various sub-branches of the tree of devotion!

alaukika vrksa kare sarvendriya-karma
sthavara ha-iya dhare jangamera dharma [32]

This extraordinary tree can perform the functions of all the senses. It is immobile and yet it has the ability to move.

e vrksera anga haya saba sa-chetana
badiya vyapila sabe sakala bhuvana [33]

All the branches on this tree are conscious. They have grown and spread all over the world.

“ekala malakara ami kaha kaha yaba
ekala va kata phala padiya vilaba [34]

[The Lord says:] “How many places can I alone the gardener go? Alone, how many fruits can I pick and distribute?

ekala uthana dite haya parisrama
keha paya, keha na paya, rahe mane bhrama [35]

“To collect and give away all the fruit alone is labourious, and I suspect that only some would receive the fruit and others would not.

ataeva ami ajna dilu sabakare
yaha taha prema-phala deha’ yare tare [36]

“Therefore, I order you all, ‘Give these fruits of divine love to everyone everywhere.’

ekala malakara ami kata phala khaba
na diya va ei phala ara ki kariba [37]

“How many fruits can I alone the gardener eat? If I do not give them away, what will I do with them?

atma-ichchha-mate vrksa sinchi nirantara
tahate asankhya phala vrksera upara [38]

“At will, I regularly water the tree, and as a result there are innumerable fruits on the tree.

ataeva saba phala deha’ yare tare
khaiya ha-uka loka ajara amare [39]

“So, give out all the fruit to anyone and everyone. May everyone eat the fruits and become ageless and immortal.

jagat vyapiya mora habe punya khyati
sukhi ha-iya loka mora gahibeka kirti [40]

“My good name will spread all over the world, and everyone will happily sing My glories.

bharata-bhumite haila manusya janma yara
janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara [41]

“Those who have received a human birth in the land of India should make their lives successful by doing good for others.

(Srimad Bhagavatam: 10.22.35)
etavaj janma-saphalyam dehinam iha dehisu
pranair arthair dhiya vacha sreya acharanam sada [42]

“‘Constantly endeavouring for the welfare of others with one’s energy, wealth, intelligence, and words is the fulfilment of life for an embodied soul in this world.’

(Visnu-purana: 3.12.45)
praninam upakaraya yad eveha paratra cha
karmana manasa vacha tad eva matiman bhajet [43]

“‘With their actions, mind, and speech, the wise should do what is beneficial for all living beings in this world and the next.’

mali manusya amara nahi rajya-dhana
phala-phula diya kari punya uparjana [44]

“I am a gardener and a simple human being. I have no kingdom or riches, and I seek good fortune by giving away fruits and flowers.

mali hana vrksa ha-ilan ei ta’ ichchhate
sarva-pranira upakara haya vrksa haite [45]

“Although I am the gardener, I actualy want to become the tree because trees benefit all living beings.

(Srimad Bhagavatam: 10.22.33)
aho esam varam janma sarva-prany-upajivinam
sujanasyeva yesam vai vimukha yanti narthinah [46]

[Krishna glorifies the tree of Vrndavan:] “‘Oh! The lives of these trees, who are the maintainers of all living beings, are sucessful because, like great souls, no one seeking something ever leaves them disappointed.’”

ei ajna kaila yadi chaitanya-malakara
parama ananda paila vrksa-parivara [47]

When the gardener Sri Chaitanya gave this order, the branches of the tree were overjoyed.

yei yaha taha dana kare prema-phala
phalasvade matta loka ha-ila sakala [48]

They gave away the fruits of divine love everywhere, and everyone became intoxicated by the taste of the fruit.

maha-madaka prema-phala peta bhari’ khaya
matila sakala loka—hase, nache, gaya [49]

The fruit of divine love is extremely inebriating, and everyone who eats and fills their belly with it becomes intoxicated and laughs, dances, and sings.

keha gadagadi yaya, keha ta’ hunkara
dekhi’ anandita hana hase malakara [50]

Some roll about and some roar aloud. Seeing this, the gardener laughs joyfully.

ei malakara khaya ei prema-phala
niravadhi matta rahe, vivasa-vihvala [51]

The gardener also eats the fruits of divine love and remains constantly intoxicated—uninhibited and overwhelmed.

sarva-loke matta kaila apana-samana
preme matta loka vina nahi dekhi ana [52]

Thus, the gardener made everyone as mad as He is, and now we do not see anyone who is not mad with divine love.

ye ye purve ninda kaila, bali’ matoyala
sei phala khaya, nache, bale—bhala, bhala [53]

Even those who previously criticised the gardener, calling Him a drunkard, also ate the fruit, began to dance, and called out, “Very good! Very good!”

ei ta’ kahilu prema-phala-vitarana
ebe suna, phala-data ye ye sakha-gana [54]

Thus, I have described the distribution of the fruit of divine love. Please hear now of the fruit’s distributors, the various branches of the tree.

sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa
chaitanya-charitamrta kahe krsna-dasa [55]

His aspiration at the feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunath, Krishnadas narrates the divine Pastimes of Sri Chaitanya.