4Գ INTRODUCTION. The original Bengali poetry contained in this remarkable drama is so exquisitely beautiful that I can hardly speak of my translation on other than an apologetic tone. However tedious the poem may appear, as the mellifluousness of the original Bengali has but been poorly preserved in these pages, the reader will on a careful perusal realize the spirit of the Chaitanya-religion in this book better than in many theological works of the Vaisnava sect in Bengal. The Divine Frenzy.* Gaura-chandrikā or Preliminary verses in praise of Gaurachandra (Chaitanya). In order to taste the sweetness that is within Himself did He forego His own qualities adopting those of Rādhā and incarnating Himself as Chaitanya in Navadwipa. Lo! See, how Krişņa weeps at the supposed separation from Himself, and cries ‘O Krisna, where art thou gone?’ Tears flow from his eyes; grief-stricken he weeps and says, “Show me, if only once, the darling of my soul. Else I cannot bear this life.” Sometimes Chaitanya falls into a divine frenzy and feeling the presence of Krisna everywhere, seeks communion with Him in a trance. (A scene in the Jorindi-groves—deserted by Krisma). Enter Subala, Sudāma and other cow-herds—the companions of Krisna. Subala—Towards the close of yester-night, when the thought of Krisna caused an aching pain in my heart and, for a moment, I slept, I dreamt that he came to me. From behind me with his hands did he cover my eyes and softly whisper in my ear, “Say Subala who am I’; then while my eyes were darkened by his hands I touched him, and I found the contact soft and sweet, and said, ‘You are
- The whole of this melo-drama in the original is in songs, sung in that charming musical mode known as the “Manoharashahi rāgini”. -
