84 Vaishnav Varta 23 - Tripuradas Kayastha

Now about Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Tripuradas Kayastha, resident of Sergarh, the sentiment of his story is described here –

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In the divine play, he is an intimate sakhi of Shri Thakurji. Whenever there is any detail, message, or instruction to be given to the devotees, it is handed over through Harini. His eyes are large and wide. That is why in the divine play he is named Harini. So, in Sergarh, he took birth in the house of a Kayastha. His father was called the Diwan of a king, who looked after all the royal work. When Tripuradas was twelve years old, his father kept him close and taught him all the royal work.

One time, that king went to Agra to meet the governor of the land. Then, taking Tripuradas with him, he came to Agra. After staying in Agra for some days, the king, having taken leave of the governor, set out to return to his land. On the way, he came to Shri Govardhan for the darshan of Shri Govardhandhar. At that time, Tripuradas also came along with his father. They stayed in Gokul for three days. Then Tripuradas’s mind became deeply attached to the form of Shrinathji.

On the fourth day, when the king prepared to depart, hearing this, Tripuradas was overcome with the fever of separation. He became restless. Then his father asked him, “Tripuradas, how are you?” Tripuradas replied, “My body will leave me if you take me away. Please, you remain here for two months and then go along with the king. I will have darshan once more and then return. Then my life will remain.”

Then Tripuradas’s father informed the king of everything, saying, “This is what my son says.” Then the king said, “Why worry? Keep some men and horses with him. Later your son will come back.” Then his father said, “Son, you remain here. Do not worry.” Hearing this, Tripuradas was filled with joy. His fever left him.

Then his father, being pleased, gave him a palanquin and some men, saying, “Son, come quickly. I have grown old. I must look after the king’s affairs.” Tripuradas said, “You go, I will come soon.” Then his father left with the king. On the way, a battle occurred with a landlord. Tripuradas's father was struck by a bullet and died. The king killed that landlord and proceeded further. Later, the king sent men to Tripuradas to convey all the news.

Hearing it all, Tripuradas became pleased, saying, “It is good. Now I have no bondage. Now I will always take the darshan of Shri Govardhandhar.” Later, the funeral rites of his father were performed on the banks of the Manasi Ganga. He became purified. From then on, he would daily take darshan of the Lord.

Then one day Shri Acharyaji said to Tripuradas, “Who are you? For two months you have been taking darshan. Now go home.” Then Tripuradas said, “Maharaj, where can I go now? My mother died at my birth, now my father too has died, and I am not yet married. Now my mind is fixed in the form of Shrinathji. Where shall I go?”

Then Shri Acharyaji, seeing Tripuradas’s deep love, said, “I will arrange so that wherever you stay, you will receive darshan of Shrinathji. You will never be without Him, even for a moment.”

Then Tripuradas bowed down and prayed, “Maharaj, this is all I want. I cannot ask for anything else. I only need daily support for living, and without the darshan of Shrinathji I cannot live. This is my only concern. By your grace, whatever order you give, that I shall follow.”

Then Shri Acharyaji offered Tripuradas’s name in Havayi and gave him the Charanamrit Mahaprasad of Shrinathji. From then on, before his eyes, he would receive the darshan of the form of Shrinathji. Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Now you may go from here. Wherever you stay, the Lord will give you darshan. But never turn your back on Shri Thakurji.”

Then Tripuradas, bowing to Shri Acharyaji, took leave and went. From that day, he made a vow that without taking the Charanamrit Mahaprasad of Shrinathji, he would not drink water. With this firm resolve in his heart, he returned home.

Prasang 1 – Tripuradas’s Deep Devotion to Shrinathji

So, Tripuradas had great affection for Shrinathji. He would never turn his back to Shrinathji. Without taking the Charanamrit Mahaprasad of Shrinathji, he would not even drink water. Tripuradas worked in the service of a Turk. That Turk once sent Tripurdas to a pargana (administrative unit). There he earned a lot. Whenever any new things came—grain, vegetables, fruits, flowers, clothes—first they were offered to Shrinathji. Only afterwards would he take something for himself. And whether Tripuradas sat, stood, or walked, he never turned his back to Shrinathji.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): It is said that to forget the form of Shrinathji itself is to turn one’s back. Therefore, he always did all his work while beholding darshan.

And year after year, he would send good daglas (quilts) to Shrinathji. First, Shri Gusainji would look at Tripuradas’s good quilts and have them accepted.

Once, that Mlechchh (Turk) took account from Tripuradas. Some amount came out to be due upon Tripuradas. He demanded it from him. Then Tripuradas said, “I do not have it now. I will earn and repay.” Then that Turk looted the whole house of Tripuradas. He put Tripuradas in prison.

It was midnight. Then four beings came and threw that Turk upside down from his cot and began to beat him with clubs. Then that Turk said, “Why are you beating me? What harm have I done to you?” Then the Vishnudoots said, “Why did you imprison Tripuradas? We will smash and break your bones.” Then that Turk, terrified, rubbed his nose on the ground and said, “I will go right now and release Tripuradas. Do not kill me.” Then the Vishnudoots went away.

Then that Turk went to Tripuradas and said, “Go home.” Tripuradas replied, “Now the night has passed much. I will go in the morning.” Then that Turk said, “Will anyone take away your life? You must go at once.” Then Tripuradas went home.

At that very time, the Bhaitiya (messenger) of Shrinathji came. He gave the Charanamrit Mahaprasad to Tripuradas. Then Tripuradas thought to himself, “Every year I send quilts to Shrinathji, but now I have nothing with me.” Then there was one inkpot for writing, on the seal of which there was a form. He sold it, and with the money brought a roll of red coarse cloth, and gave it to the Bhandari, saying, “Do not tell Shri Gusainji. Place it in the store of Shrinathji. What else can I do? Now I am not capable of anything.”

So the Bhaitiya placed that red cloth in the store of Shrinathji. Later, on the day of Prabodhini, Shri Gusainji, after setting the canopy and performing Devoththapan, placed a quilt on Shrinathji. Then Shrinathji said, “I feel very cold.” Then another quilt was placed. Again Shrinathji said, “My cold has not gone, I still feel very cold.” Then Shri Gusainji put another stove in the room, placed another quilt and even a blanket on top. Still Shrinathji said, “I feel very cold.”

Then Shri Gusainji thought, “That quilt of the Vaishnav has come, but has not yet been accepted. Because of that, he feels cold.” Then Shri Gusainji called the Bhandari and asked, “Which quilts have come from which Vaishnavs? Recite their names.” The Bhandari recited them. Then Shri Gusainji said, “But Tripuradas’s quilt, which comes every year, has not been mentioned.” Then the Bhandari said, “Maharaj! Tripuradas is in difficulty for wealth. So his quilt has not come. Only one roll of red coarse cloth has come. It lies mixed in the store.”

Then Shri Gusainji said, “Quickly bring that red cloth of Tripuradas.” Bhandari brought it. Then Shri Gusainji said to the tailor, “Quickly stitch a quilt from it.” So the tailor stitched the quilt and prepared it. Then Shri Gusainji placed that quilt upon Shrinathji. Then Shrinathji said, “Now my cold has gone, I feel warmth.”

So in the winter season, five to ten times, He accepted that quilt and showed His devotee-controlled nature. Tripuradas came to know of this. Then, overjoyed, he sang this pada, in the raga Asavari Navrang:

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★ राग आसावरी | Raga Asavari ★ 

ललन बिहारी मेरो कहे, जाड़ो मोहि अधिक सुहाय। पहेरि कँवाइ औढि लई फरगुल, तोहू सीत सतावत आय ॥१॥

Lalan Bihari, my Lord, says, cold is very pleasing to me. Wearing quilted clothes and covering with a fur blanket, still the cold afflicts You too.

अचरज भये सुनि वल्लभ-नंदन कनक अँगीठी धरी मेंगाय । पुनि जिय सोचि मँगाई उढाई भजि गई सीत हंसे जदुराय ॥२॥

Amazement arose hearing this, O son of Vallabh, who placed a golden stove and made warmth. Then again, thinking in his heart, he fetched and covered You, the cold fled, and Yadunandan laughed. 

 ऐसे परम कृपाल दयानिधि बिसरत नहीं सुधि करत सहाय। "त्रिपुरारी” गिरिधारी की बातें, कहा जाने कोउ देह बताय ॥३॥

Such a supremely merciful ocean of compassion, who never forgets, always remembering and giving help. “Tripurari” speaks of Giridhari’s matters—who can know them or describe them with body and speech?

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Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This shows that whatever object belongs to My devotee, that I accept in this way. So the acceptance is of the devotion and feeling, not of the object itself.

Prasang 2 – The Firm Determination of Tripuradas

And once, Tripuradas went to Attock with the Turuk. One day in the morning, the cook said, “Today, there is no Charanamrit Mahaprasad of Shrinathji.” Then Tripuradas said, “Why did you not tell me earlier? I would have arranged more.” Afterwards the cook said, “You prepare the meal, offer the Bhog, and you yourself go to deliver it. Do not call me.” Saying this, Tripuradas resolved in his mind, “As long as this body lasts, I will do all tasks, but without the Charanamrit Mahaprasad, I will not take even water.” With this firm determination, he went to the court.

Then Shri Govardhandhar, taking the form of a ten-year-old boy, came carrying three small bags. In one bag was the Mahaprasad of Shrinathji, in one bag the Charanamrit of Shrinathji, and in one bag the Charanamrit of Shri Acharyaji. He gave this to the cook and said, “These bags of Charanamrit and Mahaprasad have been sent by Tripuradas. And he has said, when you go to Shrinathji, then please call me.” Then the cook kept those bags aside. After that, the boy vanished.

Later, when the cook completed the meal and offered the Bhog to Shrinathji, he sent a man from the court to call Tripuradas. That man went and spoke to Tripuradas. Then Tripuradas said, “I had already told you that I will not come. You go and offer it. Do not wait for me.” Then that man went back and told the cook that Tripuradas will not come, you should go ahead and offer it. Then the cook said, “You go once again and tell Tripuradas — you had sent the bags of Charanamrit Mahaprasad with the boy and said, ‘Call me.’ Now why are you not coming?”

Then that man again went and said this. Then Tripuradas returned from the court to his home and said to the cook, “Why did you call me? I will not take even water without the Charanamrit Mahaprasad.” Then the cook said, “You yourself had sent the bags of Charanamrit Mahaprasad through the boy and said, ‘Call me.’ Now why do you speak in this way? See, the three bags are all here.”

Then Tripuradas looked at them and asked, “Where is that boy?” The cook said, “The boy gave the bags and left. How do I know where he is?” Then Tripuradas thought within himself, “I caused Shri Thakurji a great labor. From now on, I will not insist upon anything.” He felt great sorrow in his heart. Such is Tripuradas, a true devotee of the Lord. The story of Tripuradas has no end. How much of it can be told?

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): So Shri Thakurji gave the bags to the cook, but did not let Tripuradas know of it, because if Tripuradas were to see Him in the form of the boy, then much distress would come to him. And Tripuradas already experiences the divine form (svarup) of the Lord at all times, day and night. That is why Shri Thakurji did not reveal it to him. And since the cook was an ordinary Vaishnav, therefore Shri Thakurji assumed the form of a boy and made him experience His divine form in this way.

In this story, the principle is shown that Tripuradas has deep attachment to the divine form (svarupasakti). He always remains before Shri Thakurji. And the Charanamrit is revealed as part of that divine form — if any Vaishnav keeps a vow and determination regarding Charanamrit, then Shri Thakurji becomes pleased with it. But if such a vow causes sorrow by bringing labor or burden to the Lord, then that belongs to the path of Maryada (the way of rules and limits). In Pushtimarg, it is not pleasing for the Lord to take labor for the sake of the devotee’s worldly matters. Why? Because in Pushtimarg, the devotee keeps no desire from the Lord for their own happiness. Even if sorrow comes, it is accepted as the experience of the body, and borne as such.

That is why when Tripuradas was imprisoned, he did not feel worry in his heart. Then the Vishnudutas came, punished that Turuk, and released him. In this way, the Lord revealed His quality of being Bhaktavatsal (loving and protective towards His devotees). And when Tripuradas used to send very beautiful woolen blankets year after year, those the Lord did not accept, because they were sent out of material formality. But when Tripuradas, colored with love in separation (viraha-preeti), sent something, then being overcome by that love, the Lord accepted it.

From this, it is shown that if a Vaishnav feels hesitation in offering wealth, it is because the Lord Himself wishes to bestow His grace. And when there is much wealth, the Lord accepts it only when it is offered in connection with the Vaishnav, with love. Why? Because when year after year Tripuradas sent those fine blankets, it brought him anxiety from hesitation — if the materials are there but not used for service, then from where will the burning of anxiety come? That is why, when a devotee is divinely destined for service, then both wealth and even hesitation become part of it. This was shown.

Therefore, the story of Tripuradas has no end. He kept all these feelings hidden in his heart, never revealing them before anyone. That is why the divine form (svarup seva) was not outwardly manifest. Inwardly, within his mind, he remained absorbed day and night. He experienced only the joy of union (samyog rasa). Even in the divine play (lila), his experience was of the rasa of union. He is a sakhi related to Shri Thakurji.

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