Now about Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Prabhudas Bhat, resident of Singhanand, the sentiment of his story is described here –
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In the divine play, he is Lalitaji’s sakhi. Her name is “Kalahansi.” Thus, in Singhanand he appeared in the home of a Bhat. Prabhudas’s father would go before the Desadhipati (Ruler). He composed poetry for the Desadhipati. There was much wealth. When Prabhudas became ten years old, he became very foolish. His father educated him a lot, but he did not learn anything. Later, his father left his body. Afterwards, when Prabhudas became fifteen years old, he went to Delhi. There he went before the Desadhipati. Then the Desadhipati said, speak some poetry. Then Prabhudas said, what is called poetry? I do not know it. And I do not want anything from you. Thakur provides me with food. Tell me, will you maintain me? Then the Desadhipati said, drive him out of the village.
Then he, distressed, left Delhi. He came to Mathura and began to cry at Vishrant Ghat, saying, “O Lord, why have you made me a fool? Now where shall I go? Wherever I go, no one gives me respect or honor.” In this way, he was absorbed in worry. At that time, Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu arrived in Mathura, at Vishrant Ghat. Then, recognizing him divinely, he said, “Prabhudas! Why are you crying? Bathe.” Then Prabhudas bathed. Then Shri Acharyaji made him do name submission. Then Prabhudas received knowledge of his own true form and the form of Shri Acharyaji. At that time, bowing down, he spoke this couplet:
"जब तें विछुरयोनाथ सो परचो जगत भव कूप । ता हित वल्लभ प्रगट है दरसायो निज रूप।”
“From the time I was separated from You, O Lord, the world seemed like a dark well of worldly existence. For my benefit, Vallabh appeared and revealed His own form.”
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Hearing this, Shri Acharyaji became very pleased. Then he said, “Prabhudas! This is your refuge. Now do Bhagavad seva.” Then Prabhudas said, “Maharaj! This is all your grace. Only through the strength of your promise have you accepted me. No one was more sorrowful than me. And in a moment you made me experience the ocean of joy. Now my prayer is that I may never have bad association, and that I may have firm faith at your lotus feet.” Then Shri Acharyaji, pleased, said, “Go, it shall be so.”
Later, in Mathura, a deity form was offered, and Lalji was brought. Then Shri Acharyaji performed the Panchamrit bath and placed it upon Prabhudas’s head. And being pleased, he said, “All traditions will be fulfilled for you directly. Therefore, quickly return to your village and do seva.” Then Prabhudas, bowing down, installed Shri Thakurji and returned to Singhanand. There he left his family members and, taking a separate house, began to do Bhagavad seva. He was not married.
Prasang 1 – Prabhudas’s Devotion to Seva
Prabhudas always served with constant love. At night he would gather with Vaishnavas. There was much wealth in his house. He used it in Bhagavad seva, Guru seva, and Vaishnav seva, leaving aside all worldly and Vedic matters. In this way he acted. Vaishnavas praised him, but his relatives criticized him. Yet he listened to no one. In this manner, he became old. Later, in his body there was negligence. Alertness was lost. Then all his relatives together brought him to the tirtha of Prithodak.
There, awareness returned. Opening his eyes, he saw that it was Prithodak tirtha. Then he said to all, “Why have you brought me here?” Then all his relatives said, “This is Prithodak tirtha. You were sick, so we brought you here.” Then Prabhudas said, “How will this Prithodak fulfill me? I am the sevak of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu. If you keep me here for years, even then my body will not leave here. Therefore, take me back to Singhanand. I will have a darshan of Shri Thakurji’s lotus feet. There my body will leave.”
Thus spoke Prabhudas. But all the relatives did not agree. They kept Prabhudas at Prithodak for five to seven days. Then Prabhudas became well, able to walk and move about. His relatives, defeated, brought him home. Then Prabhudas bathed and prayed, “Maharaj! Shri Acharyaji placed You upon my head. But these foolish people, removing the refuge of Your lotus feet, made me take refuge in Prithodak. So why do you act in such a way that my body would leave there?”
In this way, he prayed to Shri Thakurji, then placed Him upon the head of a Vaishnav in Singhanand. Bowing down, he came outside the temple, remembered the Lord along with all the Vaishnavas, and left his body. Then all the Vaishnavas of Singhanand, wherever they gathered to narrate Bhagavad stories, praised Prabhudas, saying, “Prabhudas is blessed, a great devotee of the Lord, who did not take refuge in tirtha but took refuge in Shri Thakurji.”
Now, in Singhanand, there was a certain Kirat Chaudhary.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): He was formerly Kansa’s washerman, whose clothes Shri Thakurji had looted in Mathura. This was his incarnation. That person came to the Vaishnavas and began criticizing, saying, “Prabhudas returned from Prithodak tirtha and left his body in Hidamb country. Why do you all praise him?” Then the village Chaudhary, being Vaishnav, remained silent. In this way he slandered for two to four days. One night, when he was sleeping, four beings came with clubs, overturned his cot, and threw him down. They began to beat him. Then Kirat Chaudhary said, “Why are you beating me? What wrong have I done to you?” Then those four were Vishnudoots. They said, “Why do you slander Prabhudas? Therefore, today we will shatter your bones, beating you.”
Then Kirat Chaudhary, terrified, rubbing his nose, said, “Now I will not slander Prabhudas, I will praise him. Do not kill me.” Then the Vishnudoots said, “Today we leave you. But if you ever slander again, we will not spare you.” Saying this, the Vishnudoots left.
The next day, when Vaishnavas were gathered praising Prabhudas, Kirat Chaudhary came there. Then all the Vaishnavas remained silent. Then Kirat Chaudhary said, “Vaishnavas! What you say is true. Prabhudas is a great devotee of the Lord. What need has he of tirtha? He has refuge in Shri Thakurji.” In this way he gave much praise. Then the Vaishnavas were astonished and asked, “Earlier you used to slander, and today you are praising greatly. What is the reason?” Then Kirat Chaudhary showed his back and said, “At night four came and beat me much, saying, ‘Why do you slander Prabhudas? He was a great devotee of the Lord.’ Therefore, you should happily praise him.” Then all the Vaishnavas became pleased and began to praise. Thus, Prabhudas was such a devotee of the Lord.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In the story of Prabhudas this principle is shown—that a Pushtimargiya Vaishnav should not take refuge in any tirtha. He should keep refuge only in Shri Acharyaji. And one who slanders a devotee of the Lord—he suffers in this world. When he dies, he goes to hell. Why? Because devotees of the Lord are dear to Him. He may tolerate offense against Himself, but He does not tolerate offense against His devotees.
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