Śrī-Nityānanda-Niṣṭhā (nitāi-pada-kamala)

Purport
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

This is a very nice song sung by Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura. He advises that nitāi-pada, the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda (kamala means lotus, and pada means feet), are a shelter where one will get the soothing moonlight not only of one but of millions of moons. We can just imagine the aggregate total value of the soothing shine of millions of moons. In this material world (jagat), which is progressing toward hell, there is always a blazing fire, and everyone is struggling hard without finding peace; therefore, if the world wants to have real peace, it should take shelter under the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda, which are cooling like the shining of a million moons. Juḍāya means relief. If one actually wants relief from the struggle of existence and actually wants to extinguish the blazing fire of material pangs, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura advises, "Please take shelter of Lord Nityānanda."

What will be the result of accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda? He says, hena nitāi vine bhāi: unless one takes shelter under the shade of the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi—it will be very difficult for him to approach Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. The aim of this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to enable us to approach Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa and associate with the Supreme Lord in His sublime pleasure dance. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura advises that if one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, he must accept the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda.

Then he says, se sambandha nāhi. Sambandha means "connection" or "contact." Anyone who has not contacted a relationship with Nityānanda is understood to have spoiled his human birth. In another song also Narottama dāsa says, hari hari viphale janama goṅāinu: anyone who does not approach Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa through a relationship with Nityānanda has uselessly spoiled his life. Bṛthā means "useless." Janma means "life." Tāra means "his," and sambandha means "relationship." Anyone who does not make a relationship with Nityānanda is simply spoiling the boon of his human form of life. Why is he spoiling it? Sei paśu boḍo durācāra. Sei means "that," paśu means "animal," and durācāra means "misbehaved" or "the most misbehaved." Without elevation to Kṛṣṇa consciousness through the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda, life is simply spoiled in the animal propensities of sense gratification. Narottama dāsa says that ordinary animals can be tamed, but when a human being is animalistic, having only animal propensities, he is most horrible, for he cannot be tamed. Ordinary cats and dogs or even a tiger can be tamed, but when a human being goes out of his way and neglects to take to the human activity of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his higher intelligence will simply be misused for animal propensities, and it is very difficult to tame him. The enactment of state laws cannot make a thief an honest man; because his heart is polluted, he cannot be tamed. Every man sees that a person who commits criminal offenses is punished by the government, and also in scriptural injunctions punishment in hell is mentioned. But despite hearing from scripture and seeing the action of the state laws, the demoniac cannot be tamed.

What are they doing? Nitāi nā bolilo mukhe. Since they do not know who Nityānanda is, they never say the names of Lord Nityānanda and Lord Caitanya. Majilo soṁsāra-sukhe. Majilo means "becomes absorbed."

They become absorbed in so-called material enjoyment. They don't care who Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda are, and therefore they go deep down into material existence. Vidyā-kule ki koribe tāra: if one has no connection with Nityānanda, and if he does not come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his vidyā, or his so-called academic education, and kule, birth in a high family or great nation, will not protect him. Regardless of whether one is born in a very big family or nation or has a very advanced academic education, at the time of death nature's law will act, his work will be finished, and he will get another body according to that work.

Why are these human animals acting in this way? Ahaṅkāre matta hoiñā, nitāi-pada pāsariyā. They have become maddened by a false concept of bodily life, and thus they have forgotten their eternal relationship with Nityānanda. Asatyere satya kori māni: such forgetful persons accept the illusory energy as factual. Asatyere refers to that which is not a fact, or, in other words, māyā. Māyā means that which has no existence but is a temporary illusion only. Persons who have no contact with Nityānanda accept this illusory body as factual.

Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura then says, nitāira karuṇā habe, braje rādhā-kṛṣṇa pābe: "If you actually want to approach the association of Rādha-Kṛṣṇa, you must achieve the mercy of Lord Nityānanda first. When He is merciful toward you, then you will be able to approach Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa." Dharo nitāi-caraṇa du'khāni. Narottama dāsa advises that one firmly catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda.

Then again he says, nitāi-caraṇa satya. One should not misunderstand and think that as he has caught hold of māyā, similarly the lotus feet of Nityānanda may also be something like that māyā or illusion. Therefore Narottama dāsa confirms, nitāi-caraṇa satya: The lotus feet of Nityānanda are not illusion; they are a fact. Tāhāra sevaka nitya: and one who engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityānanda is also transcendental. If one engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityānanda in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he immediately achieves his transcendental position on the spiritual platform, which is eternal and blissful. Therefore he advises, nitāi-pada sadā koro āśa: always try to catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda.

Narottama baḍo dukhī. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, the ācārya, istaking the position that he is very unhappy. Actually, he is representing ourselves. He says, "My dear Lord, I am very unhappy." Nitāi more koro sukhī: "Therefore I am praying to Lord Nityānanda to make me happy." Rākha rāṅgā-caraṇera pāśa: "Please keep me in a corner of Your lotus feet."