84 Vaishnav Varta 30 - Purushottam Josi Sanchora

Now, about Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Purushottam Josi Sanchora, resident of Gujarat, the sentiment of his story is described here—

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This Purushottam Josi is, in the lila, the sakhi of Visakhaji. Her name is “Gunchuda.” And Purushottam Josi’s wife is the sakhi of “Gunchuda.” So her name is “Durvasa.”

Both were born in separate Sanchora households in Gujarat. Then Purushottam Josi’s marriage took place. Purushottam Josi became seventeen years old. Then, once, Shri Acharyaji came to Gujarat. At midday, Purushottam Josi was performing sandhya at a pond. Then Shri Acharyaji came to the pond and began to perform the sandhyavandan. Shri Acharyaji showed grace towards Purushottam Josi and looked upon him, knowing him as a divine one. Then Purushottam Josi came near Shri Acharyaji, bowed, and asked, “Maharaj! Is this path of karma greater, or is the path of gyana greater?”

Then Shri Acharyaji said, “The path that firmly arises in one’s mind, in which one has faith, and which is pleasing to that person—that path is great. And the greatest is the path of bhakti, in which the soul attains fulfillment. And on the path of gyana and the path of karma, fulfillment is attained with difficulty. There is no support for it. Why? Because they are attained with hardship. In this age, the body’s hardships cannot be undertaken. If someone endures hardship of the body, then the mind does not stay steady. Therefore, a soul on the path of bhakti attains fulfillment. And there is no dependence.”

Then Purushottam Josi said, “Maharaj! What is the form of bhakti? Please tell me with grace.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “If one describes the form of bhakti, there is no end to it. But I will tell you a little.” Then he composed the “Bhaktivarddhani” text and recited eleven shlokas to Purushottam Josi. He is a most excellent recipient. Therefore, complete understanding arose within him. Then, bowing to Shri Acharyaji, he made a request, “Maharaj! For so many days we have been crushed and ruined in the path of karma. But nothing came into our hands. We wasted our life in vain. Now please take us into your shelter. Order us, and we will do as you say.” Then, seeing his firm love, Shri Acharyaji spoke the Name and performed brahmasambandh. And he placed his feet upon his head. He placed his feet upon his heart. And he said, “The path of bhakti will be revealed to you. You are qualified for firm, single-pointed bhakti.”

Then Purushottam Josi made a request, “Maharaj! Please come to my house and initiate my wife.” Then Shri Acharyaji came to the house of Purushottam Josi and gave her naam nivedan diksha. Later he gave the order, “You should do the service of the Lord.” Then Purushottam Josi said, “Maharaj! In my house there is Shri Thakurji. I have been doing worship in the way of maryada. Now, as you order, I will do service.” Then Shri Acharyaji gave Lalji a Panchamrit bath, seated him on a seat, and placed him on the head of Purushottam Josi. Mother and father had already left their bodies earlier. So both of them began to serve with love. Later Shri Acharyaji went to Shri Dwarika. Then Purushottam Josi did service for many days. Remaining absorbed in the divine sentiment of the Lord, he remained uninterrupted. He did not reveal the feeling of his heart before anyone.

Prasang 1 – Journey to Gokul and Meeting Krishna Bhatt

Once, this arose in the mind of Purushottam Josi, “Let us go to Shri Gokul and have the darshan of Shri Gusainji.” So he said among the people of his community, “We are going to Kashi.” Taking the name of Banaras, he placed Shri Thakurji on a horse together with his wife and set out. In a few days they came to Ujjain. Then in Ujjain he asked, “Where does Padmaraval’s son live? He is the sevak of Shri Gusainji; let us meet him.” Then the people said, “Padmaraval has four sons. Among them, three sons live together. And one, Krishna Bhatt, lives separately.” Then Purushottam Josi thought, “First let us go to the houses of the three sons.” So he came to the three sons. When the three sons met, they gave him a little grain. Then Purushottam Josi thought, “Why should we think that these are the sons of Padmaraval? They seem like ordinary Brahmins. Not even one sign of love is in them. But if we return the grain, they will say, ‘He returned it thinking it was too little.’ Therefore, we should not speak with them.”

Later, Krishna Bhatt heard that Purushottam Josi had come. Then Krishna Bhatt, with love, brought Purushottam Josi to his home. He prepared beautiful offerings, offered bhog to Shri Thakurji, and, with love, had Purushottam Josi and his wife take mahaprasad. He kept them in the house for four or five days with many requests. Then Purushottam Josi said, “Padmaraval’s true son should be just like this. And those three sons gave only a little grain, from which we remained hungry.”

Later, Purushottam Josi prepared to depart. Then Krishna Bhatt went along with them. They stopped at a stage on the way. When it was known that Krishna Bhatt was asleep, he said to his wife, “Is Krishna Bhatt asleep?” Then the wife said, “Yes, he is asleep.” Then he spoke to his wife the divine stories and the sentiments of lila, “Do not say this before Krishna Bhatt. You know, if there is no fitness, then how can one speak?” Thus two or four days passed. Then Krishna Bhatt understood in his mind, “They are hiding the divine stories from me and speaking them without me. If they are not speaking with me, then I will have them tell the divine stories to me.”

Later, in the morning, when the caravan set out, Krishna Bhatt said to Purushottam Josi’s wife, “You hold him from one side while I narrate the divine stories.” Then Purushottam Josi’s wife came near the horse and signaled Krishna Bhatt, “Good.” Then, holding from one side, Krishna Bhatt began such divine storytelling that Purushottam Josi lost awareness of the body. He became absorbed in rasa. Then he began to slip from the horse. Then from both sides they held him up. Later, doing so, when they reached the stage (majli), they began to take him down from the horse. Then Purushottam Josi said, “Why are you taking me down from the horse right now? I am still sitting.” Then the wife said, “We have reached the stage. Since this morning we have been traveling, and now it has become the last quarter of the day.” Then Purushottam Josi, becoming attentive, got down. But the ecstasy of the divine storytelling did not subside. Later he began to converse with Krishna Bhatt. Day and night they remained absorbed in the rasa of the Lord’s lila.

Doing this daily, they arrived at Shri Gokul. Then, bowing to Shri Gusainji, Purushottam Josi said, “Maharaj! From where did such grace come upon Krishna Bhatt?” Then Shri Gusainji, from his holy mouth, said, “Krishna Bhatt has association with his uncle Harivansh. Therefore such grace is there.” Then the doubt of Purushottam Josi was removed. From then on, he opened his heart and began to tell the divine stories of the Lord. Later, after staying a few days in Shri Gokul, taking leave from Shri Gusainji, Purushottam Josi went with Krishna Bhatt together with his wife. Speaking the divine stories, in a few days they came to Ujjain. Then Krishna Bhatt, with love, kept them in his house for four days. Speaking of divine stories, they became very pleased. Later, taking leave of Krishna Bhatt, Purushottam Josi came to his home in Gujarat together with his wife. He did divine service. And he spoke the divine stories of the Lord. He did not concern himself with worldly knowledge. Such a devoted Purushottam Josi is there together with his wife. Where should one tell their story?

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In their matter, this principle was established—that devotional storytelling should not be done without a worthy recipient.

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