Now, about Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Dinkar Seth Kshatri, who lived in Prayag. The sentiment of his story is described here:
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Dinkar Seth, in the Divine Play, is a Bhagavad-related sakhi of Shri Thakurji. She has great love for Shri Swaminiji. She always asks Shri Thakurji about Shri Swaminiji’s talks. To her, she shares everything about her love. In the Divine Play her name is “Manuatri.” She always listens to Shri Swaminiji’s talks and then tells Shri Thakurji. In listening to both their talks, her mind was so eager that it could not rest without listening. It became an addiction. Because of this, she is very dear to both Shri Thakurji and Shri Swaminiji.
This Dinkar Seth was born in the house of a very wealthy Kshatriya in Prayag. From the age of five, he developed a liking for hearing stories and talks about Shri Thakurji. Later, when he was around ten to twelve years old, whenever he found ornaments or clothes in the house, he would give them away to those who narrated stories. Because of this, his parents and his three brothers used to call him a thief. They did not trust him at home.
Once, when Dinkar Seth’s elder brother was to be married, they dressed him in a fine silk coat embroidered with gold, tied a turban, adorned him with ornaments, mounted him on a horse, and took him in the wedding procession. Then Dinkar Seth thought in his heart, “If today I get an opportunity, I will give all this to the story narrators.”
So when the wedding procession reached the bride’s door, and the whole family became busy with marriage rituals, Dinkar Seth went away to the houses of the storytellers and distributed all the ornaments and clothes to them. He also told them, “Do not tell my brothers, father, or family members.”
Later, he returned home wearing a simple coarse cloth. When his mother asked, “Where are the ornaments and clothes?” and then when his father came searching, they gave Dinkar Seth a severe beating. He was locked up in a room for three days. But Dinkar Seth did not speak, nor did he say anything. Then his father and brothers gave up in frustration.
After this, Dinkar Seth would spend all his days listening to stories and talks. Wherever he went, listeners and speakers called him “Seth” and praised him. But among his relatives and family, he was called a thief. He would return home in the evening. Whatever food his parents gave, he ate. Whatever clothes they gave, he wore. Once, at night, if somewhere there was a wake with Bhagavad talks at the storyteller’s house, he would stay there. His family would not let him stay at home. Whatever came into his sight, he would stealthily take away and give to the storytellers. Therefore, among his relatives, he was called a thief. Because of this, he did not get married.
In this way, while his parents lived, food arrangements continued. Afterward, when his parents passed away, he could not get along with his brothers. Then Dinkar Seth thought, “It is better now to leave this village.”
One morning, Dinkar Seth went to bathe at the Triveni ghat. At that time, Krishna Das Meghna, who was staying at Adail with Shri Acharyaji, had been sent by him to go into the city to bring some sugar worth two or four rupees. So Krishna Das Meghna also came to Triveni. Both were bathing. Then Dinkar Seth asked, “Who are you?” Krishna Das asked in return, “Who are you? Why are you asking me? Do you have some work?”
Then Dinkar Seth said, “I want to leave this village. That is why I asked, thinking you to be a stranger. If you know anyone who speaks Bhagavad stories, I want to go with them. In my house there is plenty of wealth. When my parents were alive, I managed somehow. Now my three brothers always call me a thief and speak harsh words to me. I have not been married either. Thakur has done well in this. That is why I want to leave.”
Krishna Das, knowing it was divine arrangement, said, “If you are addicted to listening to stories, then come once to Adail and hear from the mouth of Shri Acharyaji. Then, afterwards, go wherever your heart wishes.” Just on hearing this, Dinkar Seth immediately got on a boat from there and came to Adail.
At that time, Shri Acharyaji had just woken from rest. It was one and a quarter watches past midday. Then Dinkar Seth bowed down. Shri Acharyaji said, “Come, Dinkar Seth! Sit and listen to the katha.”
Then Shri Acharyaji explained the Bhramar Geet from the tenth skandha. Hearing this, streams of tears began to flow from Dinkar Seth’s eyes. In his heart, he thought, “Alas, alas! So many of my days were wasted like this. Now I will take shelter here, remain with him always, and drink the nectar of his talks.”
After the katha was completed, Dinkar Seth prayed, “Maharaj! Please have mercy on me and take me into your shelter.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “You have listened to many kathas. But until now, why have you not become a sevak? You must have met many great pandits and swamis. Why did you not become their sevak?”
Dinkar Seth replied, “Maharaj! All the pandits and swamis I met were companions only of wealth. Wherever I met them, they treated me with great love while I gave them gifts. Now no one speaks to me. But Shri Thakurji has been merciful, that I got your darshan. You are the Lord Himself. If I had gone to another country, my life would have been wasted. Now please deliver me. I have no worldly restrictions.”
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Go and bathe in Shri Yamunaji with all your clothes.” So Dinkar Seth bathed and came back. Then Shri Acharyaji gave him naam-nivedan (initiation by name) and said, “Do Bhagavad seva.” Then Dinkar Seth said, “Maharaj! You know what is in the heart. I only wish to hear your words of katha. In this itself is all seva.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Good. Stay with us.”
At that time, Dinkar Seth had one hundred rupees with him. Out of that, he offered fifty as bhent to Shri Acharyaji. With the other fifty, he daily arranged for the preparation of Angakari (food offerings).
Prasang 1 – Dinkardas’s Eagerness for Katha
So, Dinkardas had great attachment to Katha. Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu himself used to narrate Katha in Adail. Then one day, Dinkar Seth went to the bank of Shri Yamunaji to prepare cooking. There he bathed, kneaded flour, shaped the Angakari bread, placed it on the griddle, and put firewood on top. At that time, one water-carrier of Shri Acharyaji came there to fetch water. Then Dinkardas asked him, “What is Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu doing now?”
That water-carrier replied, “Shri Acharyaji has opened the book; now he will begin Katha.” Then Dinkar Seth, just by hearing the words of that water-carrier, immediately swallowed down the raw dough and drank water. He did not bake it. Quickly he came to listen to the Katha.
After Shri Acharyaji finished the Katha, that water-carrier said to Shri Acharyaji, “Maharaj! Dinkar Seth has eaten raw Angakari without baking and has come here.” Then Shri Acharyaji asked Dinkar Seth, “Why did you eat the Angakari without baking it?”
Then Dinkar Seth replied, “Maharaj! I will bake and eat Angakari every day. But when will I hear the nectar of Katha from your mouth again? If I had stayed to bake it, how would I have received this nectar?”
Then Shri Acharyaji became very pleased and said, “From today onwards, after you finish cooking, offer the Bhog, bring Mahaprasad, and then come here. Only when you arrive will I begin Katha. Without your arrival, I will not speak Katha. From today you are the chief listener of Katha.”
After that, Dinkar Seth also began cooking quickly, thinking, “If Shri Acharyaji is sitting waiting for me, then this is not good.” And on other days too, if there was even a small delay, Shri Acharyaji would wait until Dinkar Seth arrived, and only then would he narrate Katha.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Here this principle is shown—that to eat raw, unoffered Angakari is a great fault. But because of the firm love for Shri Acharyaji’s Katha, its meaning was accepted differently. Therefore, it did not become an obstacle, and instead Shri Acharyaji became pleased. This shows that if there is firm love for Shri Acharyaji, then no fault becomes an obstacle.
After this, as long as he lived, Dinkar Seth listened to Katha from the mouth of Shri Acharyaji. Day and night he remained absorbed in the meditation of Divine Leela. In the Leela also, Shri Swaminiji would converse with him about everything. Thus, by listening to Shri Acharyaji’s Katha, he was made to realize his own true form. Such was Dinkar Seth, a Bhagavadiya (devoted to the Lord).
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this Varta, the principle shown to Vaishnavas is that if one has the desire to listen to Katha, then first quickly finish cooking, offer it to Shri Thakurji, and then go. Therefore Shri Acharyaji has said in “Bhaktavardhini”: “Sevayam va kathayam va yasyasaktirdradha bhavet”
First is seva, afterwards is Katha. Both should be performed so that there is firm attachment to the Lord. In whichever way it may happen, the highest aim is attachment. This is what happened with Dinkar Seth. Thus, he attained the experience of the Divine Leela.
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