84 Vaishnav Varta 29 - Padmaraval Sanchora Brahmin

Now, about Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Padmaraval Sanchora Brahmin of Ujjain, the sentiment of his story is described here –

Prasang 1 – Padmaraval Receives the Lord

This sevak came into being. The way it has already been said above, in the story of Gopaldas. Later Shri Acharyaji went to Ujjain. Then he stayed at Padmaraval’s house. Gave his wife naam nivedan initiation. Later told Padmaraval, “Please bring the divine form of the Lord.”

So, among Padmaraval’s community, in the house of one Sanchora, there was the divine form of the Lord – Ashtabhujaji. Then Padmaraval said, “Please give me this Thakur.” They said, “Take him away. We are not able to manage him. Twice a day bathing is not possible.”

Then Padmaraval brought Shri Thakurji. Then Shri Acharyaji made him bathe with Panchamrit, seated him on a seat, and placed him on Padmaraval’s head. Then Mauji Patel and Birjo made a request, “Maharaj! Place him on our head too, so that we may serve.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “On your head Shri Gusainji will place service.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why is this so? Because we have accepted you into our shelter, but all your desires will be fulfilled through Shri Gusainji.

Then Mauji Patel and Birjo bowed down, offered gifts, and went home. Then Padmaraval made a request, “Maharajadhiraj! I am foolish. I have not studied anything. I do not understand anything. And here, the Brahmins of our community are karma-bound Smartas. They trouble me, saying, ‘What were you thinking becoming a sevak?’”

Then Shri Acharyaji gave Padmaraval prasadi sandal paste and charanamrit from his lotus feet. As soon as he placed it in his mouth, the knowledge of all the Vedas, Puranas, and scriptures arose within him. He began to give answers to great scholars. All the scholars, bowing their heads down, admitted defeat and left.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): And Shri Acharyaji gave prasadi sandal paste and charanamrit. The meaning of both these divine gifts is this: From sandal paste, all knowledge arises. If the overflowing rasa escapes outward, then either the body would leave, or one would be unable to remain without speaking of the divine lila in front of everyone. From charanamrit, the body becomes firm, devotion becomes firm, the rasa does not overflow outside but remains stable in the heart. Therefore, prasadi sandal paste and charanamrit were given.

Prasang 2 – Thakurji’s Bed and Kheer Offering

Once, Padmaraval had a new bed made. Then Shri Thakurji said to Padmaraval, “The bed is small. I cannot lie down.” Then Padmaraval happily had a larger bed made. Then Shri Thakurji began to sleep comfortably. In this way, he began to show intimacy.

And one day Padmaraval’s wife offered hot kheer. Later she performed bhog ceremony and then arati. At that very time, Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu arrived. Then Shri Thakurji showed Shri Acharyaji his hands and lips, saying, “Padmaraval’s wife has offered hot kheer. Because of this my hands and lips have become red.” He said this to Shri Acharyaji, but did not say it to Padmaraval’s wife.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why? Because the wife is an ordinary Vaishnav. Her liberation will happen through the power of surrender. But she is not related to lila.

Then Shri Acharyaji said to Padmaraval and Padmaraval’s wife, “Why did you offer hot kheer to Shri Thakurji? Shri Thakurji’s hands and lips have become red because of the hot kheer.” Then Padmaraval said, “Maharaj! How would we know? Whatever food is good when hot, that is what we offer.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “For other food items, do not worry even if they are hot. But do not offer hot kheer. Dip your finger in it. When it feels suitable, then offer the bhog.”

Then Padmaraval said, “Maharaj! If the kheer was hot, why did Shri Thakurji not make it cool? Why did he accept it hot?” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Shri Thakurji is a child. A child is very fond of kheer, so first he puts his hands in the kheer. And if other food is hot, then he eats it later. Kheer he eats first, that is why do not offer kheer hot.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this way Shri Acharyaji explained to Padmaraval and his wife. He used the name of ‘child.’ But he did not reveal the inner form of kheer. Why? Because the wife is not related to lila. Padmaraval is related to the royal lila of Dwarka. Therefore, to Padmaraval, Shri Thakurji revealed his experience. But he is not related to the lila of the Braj devotees. Therefore, kheer is the offering of the sentiment of Swaminiji. That is why kheer is very dear to Shri Thakurji. The sentiment of kheer has already been said above in Narayandas Brahmachari’s story. That is why, seeing kheer, Shri Thakurji loses his patience. Therefore, kheer should be cooled and then offered. Everywhere it is written that kheer should be cooled before offering. For other food items, cooling is not mentioned. Just as Shri Acharyaji is very fond of kheer, in the same way Shri Gusainji is very fond of laddus. Shri Acharyaji loves the tender sentiment of cooled sakhdi and kheer. Similarly, Shri Gusainji loves many kinds of uncooled offerings. The Lord accepts them in a mature mood. But in Pushtimarg, the Vaishnavs experience according to the authority they possess.

Prasang 3 – Padmaraval’s Journey to Dwarka and Divine Instruction

And once Padmaraval went to Dwarkaji for the darshan of Shri Ranchhodji. Then Shri Ranchhodji said in a dream, “In Rajnagar there is one of my sevaks. At his house you should go. There, cook food.” Then Padmaraval said, “Maharaj! I do not know him. And without being invited, how can I go to someone’s house?” Then Shri Ranchhodji said, “He himself will come to invite you.” Later Padmaraval came to Rajnagar.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): From this it is understood that Padmaraval is related to the lila of Shri Ranchhodji. Therefore, he thought, “If I get absorbed in the Braj lila, it will slip from my hands.” Therefore, it was said, “Go to the house of my sevak.” Now, Padmaraval’s mind’s brother, if he were absorbed in Braj lila, would say, “He is your sevak.” But since he is the sevak of Shri Acharyaji, it would not suit. Padmaraval has deep feelings towards Shri Ranchhodji. He recognized the form of Shri Acharyaji as Shri Ranchhodji. He did not recognize the relation of Braj lila. Therefore, in his house, Shri Thakurji revealed intimacy in the form of Shri Ranchhodji. And Padmaraval’s son Krishna Bhatt will be born. He will be related to the lila of Shri Gusainji. Then Shri Thakurji will give Krishna Bhatt the divine experience. From this it is shown that each soul knows Shri Acharyaji according to its own capacity. To that extent, Shri Thakurji reveals experience! If one knew Shri Acharyaji as the direct Purushottam, then Shri Govardhandhar would be revealed. If one knew Shri Acharyaji as the complete Purushottam, higher than Shri Govardhandhar, then the experience of Braj lila would arise. This principle is shown.

And Shri Ranchhodji, at night, said to his sevak, “Tomorrow Padmaraval will come from Rajnagar to your village. Bring him to your home and have him cook well.” Then that sevak said, “How will I recognize Padmaraval?” Then Shri Ranchhodji said, “Padmaraval is famous, you will know him.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): From this it is shown that both of you are related to me. Therefore, I will unite both of you.

Later Padmaraval in Rajnagar thought, “I do not know the sevak of Shri Ranchhodji. So I will find a way.” Then, with him was a student. To him he said, “You go to the village and beg for food grains from five to seven houses, separately. Keep them all separate.” Then that student went to the village and begged food grains from five to seven houses and brought them back. Then Padmaraval said to that student, “Return the food to the one from whom you begged it.” Then that student went to return the grains. Then that sevak of Ranchhodji said, “Why have you brought back the food that was begged?” Then the student said, “As my master commanded. He said, ‘Bring it,’ so I brought it. Now he said, ‘Return it,’ so I returned it.” Then he asked, “What is the name of your master?” Then the student said, “Padmaraval!” Then he took back the food. Later, with that student, he went to Padmaraval. He said, “Rawalji! Please come to our home. Cook food.” Then Padmaraval said, “I do not go to anyone’s house.” Then that sevak of Shri Ranchhodji said, “I have the order of Shri Ranchhodji, that Padmaraval should cook food in my house. Therefore, I have come to invite you. He has ordered me, so surely you also must have received the order. You too are the recipient of the grace of Shri Ranchhodji. That is why I say this.” Then Padmaraval became very pleased and said, “Yes, I too have the order of Shri Ranchhodji. So let us go.” Then he went to that house, cooked food, offered bhog, and gave the mahaprasad to that sevak as well.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): It was not taken directly from his hand, because he was a Baniya. Therefore, both of them took the mahaprasad. The student brought the mahaprasad. Later, at night, they stayed at his house. Both of them narrated the stories of Shri Ranchhodji and became pleased. In one sentiment they were united. Their happiness arose.

Later in the morning Padmaraval prepared to leave. Then that sevak said, “Stay for a few days.” Then Padmaraval said, “I cannot stay. I have great eagerness for the darshan of Shri Ranchhodji.” Saying this, that sevak of Shri Ranchhodji bid him farewell. Padmaraval went to Dwarka.

Prasang 4 – The Roti Offering

Again, one day, much flour was obtained and little ghee. Then Padmaraval made rotis of all the flour. As much as could be spread with ghee, he spread with ghee. The rest he placed without ghee. He placed them on the plate and offered bhog. And he made this request, “Maharaj! Please eat the rotis with ghee. Let the rotis without ghee remain dry. Do not eat them.” Then Shri Thakurji ate all the rotis, turned them over, placed the dry ones on top and the ghee ones below. So when the bhog was removed, it was seen that Shri Thakurji had eaten them all. Then he said to Shri Thakurji, “Maharaj! Why did you eat the dry rotis?” Then Shri Thakurji said to Padmaraval, “Why did you place the bhog before me? Whoever places bhog before me, that I will eat.” Then, happily, he sat to take mahaprasad. Some rotis he tied up in a cloth. The taste of that next day’s roti became very extraordinary. So, every day, when cooking food, offering bhog, and sitting to take mahaprasad, he would mix one piece from that roti into it before taking mahaprasad.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The greatness of this sentiment entered his heart, so he never considered the roti stale. All his life he kept those rotis. As a remembrance, for recalling the compassion of the Lord one day.

Later, having taken leave from Shri Ranchhodji, he departed. Then on the way he came to Baswada. Then Padmaraval went to the house of Gopaldas. He stayed at Gopaldas’s house that night. There, he cooked food, offered bhog, and took mahaprasad. Then Padmaraval said to Gopaldas, “By your grace, I had the darshan of Shri Acharyaji. Shri Ranchhodji manifested directly. He accepted me and blessed me.” Then Gopaldas said, “Shri Acharyaji is always merciful like this.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In his heart he knew, “He is only to this extent a deserving one. Therefore, Shri Ranchhodji gave him such a feeling. It is the will of the Lord. Good. He has been freed from the world and attained fulfillment.”

Later in the morning, Padmaraval took leave from Gopaldas and came to Ujjain and began to do divine service. Such is the great grace he received from Shri Acharyaji.

· · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·