Ananda Sambada
Oriya Biographies of Mahaprabhu
Maha-Bhava Prakash
Srimad Kanhai Khunthia/ Kaniya Kuntiya, one of Sriman Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Oriya associates composed a work called ‘Maha-Bhava Prakash’, which is a very rare work, and until now, not available in the English language.
Dr Fakir Mohan Das prabhu discovered parts of this work and published those as a book in the local language. Our revered Guru Maharaja would sometimes quote stories from this book.
Now Sri Jagannath Misra prabhu has translated the full text into English (including the Professor’s introduction) and hopes that it will soon be published and available for all devotees to read.
For the pleasure of our esteemed readers, here are a few verses from chapters two and three.
sri-prataparudra-jehu-surjavamsa-jata
visnu-amsa-avatara-ehuja-vidita (3.1)
Sri Prataparudra was a descendant of the Surja Vamsa and was reputed to be an amsa-avatar of Visnu.
tahara-je-tiniputra-athe-dhanurdhara
nrupaku-sevile-sehu-ativa-catura (2.6)
Bhavananda had three sons who were proficient in their occupation and ingeniously assisted the king.
sakalsa-sastramanankre-je-vidita
prataprudra-tule-heleatajata (2.7)
They were well acquainted with all the sastras and were like unto the king in all manners.
sana-suta-dharanidhara-je-bada-kopi
gramara-sakala-bhedi-rakhile-bahupi (2.8)
His youngest son was named Dharanidhara and he guarded the village with his strength and courage.
tara-bhai-gopinath-je-pattnayaka
rajavidhayare-kathani-nela-tamaluku (2.9)
One of his brothers was called Gopinath Pattnayika who was occupied in Vidyanagar in the Tamal district.
emantaka-tara-sabhabada-bhaijana
ramananda-pattnayaka-je-nama-puna (2.10)
In this assembly (in Vidyanagar) his elder brother Ramanada Pattnayaka was present.
se-je-gahana-kariki-melina-boile
vidyanagariku-sehu-abori-rakhile (2.11)
It is said that Ramanada’s entourage permeated and guarded the city of Vidyanagar.
emanta-nrupara-tule-kaleka-bhiana
emantabujile-rajya-khande-karibadapana (2.12)
Like a king in his own right, Ramanada would raise taxes and govern the kingdom with his illustriousness.
ramanada-raya-pada-paileka-sehu
paramamitra-nrupara-athantiti-sehu (2.13)
Acknowledging his eminence, the title of Raya was bestowed upon him and he maintained a close friendship with the king.
sarvada-krusna-rasare-majjthai-mana
sarvada-krusna-carane-rata-thae-mana (2.14)
With his mind always engrossed in Krsna-rasa he was ever preoccupied with Krsna’s feet.
emanta-krusna-rasare-bai-sehu-hela
rajyara-gahana-sehu-chali-na-parila (2.15)
He was so enthralled by Krsna-rasa that he could no longer remain in the king’s society.
rajamahendri-gramare-setiri-namedwija
tahatule-sanapila-apanara-rajya (2.16)
It so happened that in a village called Rajamahendri there was a Brahmin who Ramanada Raya treated as if he were his youngest son.
khalikota-gada-vipra-rajibaku-nei
sethave-godavarire-badukala-sehi (2.17)
He (the aforementioned Brahmin) commanded a fortress in Khalikota and from there did administer the realm up to the Godavari river as an attendant of the king.
se-thabe-rajiva-se-gahana-karila
tirthalamanku-sehu-vakhyamana-dela (2.18)
Abiding in his fortress he commandeered the province through mandates directed to a governing body of personnel known as the Tirthalas.
emanta-sriramananda-krusna-rase-mati
nrupa-gahana-mananku-pasorile-ati (2.19)
Meanwhile Ramananda Raya was so exhilarated by Krsna rasa that he had forgot all about the king’s assembly.
emanta-bhakta-srestha-rahi-na-parile
srikshetra-gauranga-radha-rasaku-sunile (2.20)
How could he continue after having been informed that in Sri Kshetra Gauranga was relishing Radha-rasa.
radha-radha-nama-sarvada-ta-japuthai
prataprudraku-sehu-dela-samujai (2.21)
Submitting all his obligations to Prataprudra he had taken to incessantly uttering japa of Radha’s name.
tejila-nrupa-gahana-caitanya-milila
gurugovinda-padare-mana-majjaila (2.22)
Having forsaken the king’s court, he united with Caitanya and his mind was immersed in Gurugovinda’s feet.
(And a beautiful verse from the end of the 3rd chapter…)
radha-nama-jahin-tahin-uccarana-hoi
krsna-nisce-pravesive-asi-sighra-tahin (3.206)
Wherever Radha-nama happens to be heard then Krsna swiftly appears at that place.