Now about Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak Rajo Kshatrani. The sentiment of her story is described here.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Rajo Kshatrani in the divine play is the sakhi of Lalitaji. Her name is Ratikala. Rati means love, and kala means an art or skill. So, Ratikala means one who is skilled in the art of love or in the art of divine play that brings joy to Shri Thakurji and Shri Swaminiji. She is deeply absorbed in this sentiment and does not know anything else. She prepares various offerings for Shri Swaminiji. At night in Nikunjas and such places, she would bring milk and other items. This was Lalitaji’s service. Similarly, Rajo’s vow was to prepare and bring the necessary items every night to Shri Acharyaji. In the divine play, Ratikala often felt intense longing, thinking, “When will I be so fortunate as to serve Shri Swaminiji in this way?” She wondered how she could receive such a chance since this was Lalita’s intimate service, and Lalitaji is extremely dear and the one who accomplishes all the divine plays. This longing deeply pained Ratikala’s heart. Now, would Shri Acharyaji (Shri Swaminiji) fulfill her desire and remove her anguish?
There was a Brahmachari Brahmin named Narayandas. He prepared kheer and was told by Shri Gokulchandramaji to offer it to Shri Acharyaji. Shri Acharyaji asked, “How did you get it cooked?” Later, it was confirmed through the words of Shri Gokulchandramaji’s scriptures.
Here, Rajo Kshatrani would daily take her share of buttermilk without fail as part of her regular vow. She reflected on the sentiment of divine play and, being a one-pointed and exclusive devotee, her love at times crossed the boundaries of decorum. This was her pure love. Her love sometimes made the norms of worldly conduct vanish. Immersed in the rasa of the divine play, she accepted all tasks connected with service.
Prasang 1 – Rajo Refuses to Give Ghee
Rajo used to prepare food items every night and bring them for Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, which was her regular vow.
One day, it was the Shraddha day of Lakshman Bhatt. Shri Acharyaji had invited Brahmins for a feast. There was a need for more ghee. Shri Acharyaji asked a Vaishnav, “Go and bring ghee from Rajo’s house.” The Vaishnav went and told Rajo, “Shri Acharyaji has asked for ghee.” Rajo replied, “Why has he asked for ghee?” The Vaishnav explained, “Today is the Shraddha day of Lakshman Bhatt. Shri Acharyaji has invited Brahmins for a meal, and there is a shortage of ghee. That is why he asked.”
Rajo replied, “I don’t have any ghee. Go back and tell him.” The Vaishnav returned and informed Shri Acharyaji, “Maharaj! Rajo says she doesn’t have any ghee.” Shri Acharyaji said, “Go once more and firmly tell her to give the ghee.” The Vaishnav went again and said, “Shri Acharyaji is upset. Please give the ghee.” Even then, Rajo refused and said, “I don’t have any ghee. From where should I give it?” The Vaishnav returned again and told Shri Acharyaji, “Maharaj! Rajo is not giving the ghee.” Eventually, ghee was arranged from another place to manage the feast.
Later that night, Rajo prepared her offerings and came to Shri Acharyaji. But Shri Acharyaji turned his back to her. Rajo said, “Maharaj! This soul is full of faults. What offence have I committed that you are not giving me darshan?” Shri Acharyaji asked, “Today was Lakshman Bhatt’s Shraddha. Why didn’t you give the ghee?” Rajo answered, “Maharaj! I had no ghee.” Shri Acharyaji asked, “Then how did you prepare these offerings?”
Rajo replied, “Maharaj! There was ghee in your own house. Why did you not use that?” Shri Acharyaji said, “That ghee belonged to Shri Thakurji. How could it be taken?” Rajo replied, “Who else is there in my house? You are the very form of Shri Thakurji. How could I give what was meant for your divine play to a worldly Shraddha feast? I am not a servant of Lakshman Bhatt. I am your servant. You tested me by sending the Vaishnav first. At that moment, out of worldly attachment, I said there was no ghee. But then when you asked directly, I realized that in Pushti service, anger or insistence has no place because everything is accomplished through love. And following worldly decorum, the action might fail if the substance is given outside its context.
Later, if you had asked with the force of Pushti’s divine impulse, I would have surely given the ghee. When the Vaishnav came the third time, had he said, ‘In your Pushti-dharma there is no harm, please give the ghee,’ I would not have refused. Maharaj! Should I knowingly fall into a worldly trap? By your grace alone, I had this discernment and did not give the ghee. You are the inspirer of intelligence, sitting in my heart and not prompting me to give it.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This is why it is stated in the Shiksha Patra that Shri Thakurji’s commands are of three types: worldly (laukik), transcendental (alaukik), and Vedic (vaidik). The worldly command relates to family care, food, and bodily comfort. The Vedic involves pilgrimages, deity worship, and rituals. The transcendental leads to union with Bhagavan. Each has its distinct fruit: worldly for the world, Vedic for heavens, and transcendental for attaining Bhagavan. Due to this distinction, Rajo did not give the ghee.
Shri Acharyaji, pleased, granted her darshan. Rajo placed the offerings before him and said, “Please partake.” Shri Acharyaji said, “Today was Shraddha, so I will not take a second meal.” Rajo replied, “Maharaj! If it is for the sake of people’s decorum, then do not take. But this is for you; you must accept it.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The meaning is that she asked him to partake in his own divine form with the sentiment of divine play. Where would there be room for worldly decorum when absorbed in divine play? The mind should be surrendered fully in this state. Fulfill the wishes of the devotees. Hearing this, Shri Acharyaji entered the divine play mood. The rules of decorum vanished, and he partook of the offerings. As Paramandandaji has sung, “Hari, your divine play brings such bliss.”
Hearing her words, Shri Acharyaji lost bodily consciousness for three days, completely immersed in the divine play. Thus, he fulfilled Rajo’s heartfelt desire. Therefore, Rajo is a one-pointed, transcendental devotee.
That day, out of Rajo’s persistence, Shri Acharyaji accepted the offerings. This Rajo Kshatrani is a recipient of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s special grace and purely Bhagavadiya. Hence, her story cannot be fully expressed. Where can one stop narrating it?
· · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·
Comments
Post a Comment