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Long ago, in the town of Godhara in Gujarat, two boys named Uttamshlokadas and Ishvara Dube were born in different Brahmin families. As they grew up, both boys worked as cooks for a vidharmi man. They didn’t know much about scriptures or learning, but they were kind and honest.
One day, they traveled with their employer to Agra. While they were near the banks of the Yamuna river at a place called Raja Ghat, Shri Mahaprabhuji saw them from afar and quietly shared something with one of His followers. He said that in the holy Bhagavat teachings, it is not proper for Brahmins to serve someone who is a vidharmi.
Uttamshlokadas and Ishvara Dube overheard these words. They respectfully spoke up and said, “O wise one, what you say is true, but we have no learning or special skills. We serve this man because we need to fill our stomachs. We don’t know what else to do.”
Shri Mahaprabhuji gently replied, “I was not speaking to you directly. I was teaching My followers. The Lord takes care of everyone’s needs. Our faith should always rest with Him.”
Hearing this, both young men were deeply moved and asked to become disciples. Shri Mahaprabhuji asked, “You are born as Brahmins. Why do you wish to take the path of a disciple?”
They said, “We don’t know what it truly means to be Brahmins. But if you bless us, we will learn the real meaning of life.”
Seeing their pure hearts, Shri Mahaprabhuji gave them initiation. He also guided them, “Now you should seek permission from your parents and go to serve Shri Nathji at Govardhan Hill.”
Their employer begged them to stay in his service, but the two young men politely refused. They went back to Godhara and asked their parents to allow them to go to Braj for pilgrimage. Their parents didn’t want them to go far away, so they kept saying, “We will all go together soon.” But that promise kept getting delayed year after year.
After five years passed with no change, Uttamshlokadas quietly left home at night. He traveled all the way to Govardhan Hill and bowed humbly before Shri Gusainji, the great son of Shri Mahaprabhuji. Shri Gusainji could see that Uttamshlokadas was blessed and gave him the special seva of cooking for Shri Nathji.
Uttamshlokadas had great love for other Vaishnavas. He always made sure they ate happily, sharing the food he had prepared for the Lord. Because of his caring heart, everyone began calling him “Ma,” which means mother.
Shri Gusainji noticed how much he loved serving others and was always pleased with him.
Six months later, Ishvara Dube’s parents passed away. After their last rites, he too made the journey to Govardhan. Shri Gusainji welcomed him warmly and gave him the same service that Uttamshlokadas had performed.
Some time later, Uttamshlokadas left his body and returned to the Lord. Shri Gusainji then started calling Ishvara Dube by the same name—Uttamshlokadas—because he had taken on the same seva with the same loving heart.
Ishvara Dube, now called Uttamshlokadas, showed even more love by giving his own share of ghee to other devotees. He thought, “If they only receive what is given to them, how will I truly serve them? Let me share from my own portion.”
When Shri Gusainji heard about this, he asked him, “Why do you give them your own ghee when they already receive some?”
Uttamshlokadas replied sweetly, “They walk up and down this hill many times for seva. Shri Nathji feels unhappy to see them tired. The extra ghee gives them strength so they can serve with joy.”
Shri Gusainji smiled and gave him a special blessing. He asked Uttamshlokadas what he would like. The humble devotee said, “Please bless me so I never become upset with you.”
Everyone nearby wondered about this strange request. One devotee asked, “Why did you ask for that blessing?”
Uttamshlokadas gently explained, “Right now, Shri Gusainji is happy with me. But if one day I make a mistake in seva and He becomes upset, my mind may become disturbed. If that happens, I might lose focus on Shri Nathji’s service. That is why I asked for this blessing—so my mind stays peaceful and useful for the Lord, even in hard times.”
All the Vaishnavas were touched by his words. Shri Gusainji lovingly said, “Uttamshlokadas has now reached a very high state of bhakti. He has asked for something rare and deep. From now on, he will never be troubled in his heart.”
Through the love and blessings of Shri Mahaprabhuji and Shri Gusainji, both Uttamshlokadas and Ishvara Dube became shining examples of simple, heartfelt devotion.
Their story reminds us that what matters most is not how much we know or where we are born, but how we serve with love, humility, and care for others.
Poem: The Devoted Heart
Tags: uttamshlokadas, ishvara dube, pushtimarg stories for kids, vaishnav bedtime stories, gusainji stories, mahaprabhuji teachings, simple bhakti stories, hindu values for children, shri nathji seva, devotional parenting, indian spiritual stories for kids, govardhan hill tales, storytimelover bedtime