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Long ago, in a village called Sinhananda, a very strong boy named Vasudevadas was born into a Brahmin family. He was so powerful that people said he could defeat fifty men all at once. But even though he was strong, he was also proud of his strength.
One day, a kind and calm devotee named Krishnadas Meghan was taking a bath in the river Sarasvati. Vasudevadas came there and started splashing water on him. When Krishnadas Meghan gently asked him to stop, Vasudevadas became angry and tried to hit him. But Krishnadas Meghan held his arms firmly and did not let go. This surprised Vasudevadas very much.
"How can this man be stronger than me?" he wondered. When he found out that Krishnadas Meghan was a disciple of Shri Mahaprabhuji, he thought, "If the disciple is so strong, how great must the guru be?"
Vasudevadas was filled with curiosity and wanted to meet Shri Mahaprabhuji. He went with Krishnadas Meghan to his camp. When Shri Mahaprabhuji saw him, he smiled and said to Damodardasji, "Look how a simple touch by a devotee can help someone cross the ocean of this world."
Vasudevadas folded his hands and humbly asked to become a disciple. Shri Mahaprabhuji accepted him and said, "Before, your heart was full of pride. Now, it will be filled with love for Shri Krishna. From now on, I will call you Chhakara, which means 'filled' — filled with six special qualities: bravery, wisdom, wealth, letting go of pride, leadership, and self-control."
One day, when Shri Mahaprabhuji was in a village called Adel, there was no food for Shri Krishna's offering. To solve this, Shri Mahaprabhuji gave a golden bowl from the temple and asked it to be exchanged for grains and vegetables. After the food was offered to Shri Krishna, Shri Mahaprabhuji told them to give some to the cow and the rest to the river. No one ate that day. Shri Mahaprabhuji would never use the Lord's things for himself.
Later, devotees from Sinhananda sent an offering of money for Shri Mahaprabhuji. They gave it to Vasudevadas to deliver. The road was full of robbers, so Vasudevadas made a clever plan. He dressed like a poor traveler and hid the coins in a ball made of lac and sandal paste. It looked like a sacred stone.
When he reached Adel, it was the same day no one had eaten because the golden bowl was sold. Vasudevadas quickly offered the money and explained how he brought it safely. Shri Mahaprabhuji asked him how he had traveled with such wealth. Vasudevadas said, "Please don't ask, it will upset you."
But Shri Mahaprabhuji assured him kindly, and Vasudevadas told the whole story. Shri Mahaprabhuji said, "You should never use the Lord's form for any worldly trick. Once made, it must never be broken."
He asked the store manager to buy more food and also to get the golden bowl back. That evening, after offering to Shri Krishna, everyone joyfully ate the Lord's food.
Another time, Shri Mahaprabhuji's son, Shri Gopinathji, gave Vasudevadas some coins to take to Shri Gusainji in Adel. Vasudevadas used the same clever method to hide the money. When he returned, Shri Gopinathji asked him how he had managed such a risky trip. When Vasudevadas explained, Shri Gopinathji lovingly scolded him, saying, "You should not disrespect the Lord's form, even to protect wealth. But since it was done in your guru's service, the sin is removed."
On another day, Shri Gusainji gave Vasudevadas a letter and asked him to go to Agra to get items for a festival. Shri Gusainji also tied some 'prasada' food around Vasudevadas's neck so he could eat on the way. It was urgent, and there was no time to even sit down to eat. Vasudevadas asked, "But how can I eat while wearing shoes?"
Shri Gusainji replied, "If it is for Shri Krishna's service, it is allowed."
Vasudevadas ran all the way to Agra. He gave the letter to Rupchand Nanda, the devotee there, and told him there was no time to rest. Rupchand Nanda quickly packed all the items and tied them on Vasudevadas's back, since his hands were not clean. Vasudevadas returned quickly, and Shri Gusainji took the package from his back. He then gave Vasudevadas food to eat, saved just for him.
Vasudevadas loved to serve his guru and the Lord in every way, no matter how hard or urgent the task.
One day, while Shri Gusainji was walking to Vishrant Ghat in Mathura with some Vaishnavas, some local leaders planned to arrest him to get money from his followers. They placed guards outside the temple.
Vasudevadas saw the danger and warned Shri Gusainji. But Shri Gusainji was calm and said the guards had done nothing wrong yet. When the guards surrounded them and asked where they were going, Shri Gusainji allowed Vasudevadas to act.
Vasudevadas bravely fought the guards. With his strong arms, he knocked down one and took his sword and shield. He defeated many more guards. The magistrate and the rest of the men ran into a house in fear.
Vasudevadas said, "Let me destroy that house too!" But Shri Gusainji gently said, "No. Let them be. They haven't done anything too bad."
The next day, when Shri Gusainji came to the temple again, the magistrate and four guards came with folded hands. They said, "You are truly Shri Krishna Himself. And Vasudevadas is like Bhima, the mighty warrior. Please forgive us."
Shri Gusainji kindly forgave them. The magistrate was touched and thought, "Even after what we did, he is so forgiving."
Once, when the Vaishnavas of Sinhananda had a big festival, they always invited Vasudevadas. But for small gatherings, they didn’t, fearing there wouldn’t be enough food for him.
Later, when they met Shri Gusainji in Gokul, Vasudevadas quietly mentioned that he had not been invited to a recent gathering.
Shri Gusainji asked the others, "Why did you not invite such a blessed devotee?"
They explained, "When we have big feasts, we invite him. But he eats like twenty Vaishnavas. In a small gathering, we worried he would go hungry. We didn’t want to make him leave unsatisfied."
Shri Gusainji smiled and said, "If you're inviting one hundred, invite only fifty, but never forget Vasudevadas. Even if you are serving just ten, invite five and include him. One true devotee is equal to hundreds."
He added, "Even if he eats a lot, it doesn’t matter. If a great devotee like Vasudevadas blesses your home, it brings joy to the Lord."
Every year, Vasudevadas visited Agra during the special days for praying for one’s ancestors. His followers would give him gifts, money, and cloth. He would use that money to buy rice and sugar for Shri Gusainji's temple and give the cloth for temple service.
When Shri Gusainji noticed many new cloths in the temple, he asked where they came from. His followers told him that Vasudevadas had donated them.
Shri Gusainji said joyfully, "A true devotee uses everything he receives in the Lord's service. Look at Vasudevadas. He is a real bhakta."
Vasudevadas would also carry Shri Gusainji's belongings during travel. He was always ready to serve, with love in his heart.
Poem: The Devotee Named Vasudevadas
Strong like a lion, but humble inside, He let go of pride and walked by his guide. For Shri Mahaprabhuji, his heart opened wide, In service and love, he took every stride.
With coins in a ball and sandals on feet, He ran for the Lord through every street. He never said no, he never said wait, He served with joy, no matter how late.
He fought for his guru, brave and bold, Yet listened with love, gentle and told, That kindness and truth are stronger than might, And serving Shri Krishna brings endless light.
So children remember, big hearts are best, Love and devotion will pass every test. No matter how small your hands may be, With love for the Lord, you're mighty and free.
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