84 Vaishnav Varta 35 - Raja Dube and Madho Dube

Now the sevaks of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, Raja Dube and Madho Dube Sanchora, living in Manund—the sentiment of their story is being told.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These two brothers are companions of Lalitaji. One is named “Kunjari,” skilled in arranging groves; she manifested as Raja Dube. The other is named “Rasalika,” like a bee in the juice of fruits, who attracts the bumblebee; in the same way, she remains absorbed in the nectar of lila. Rasalika manifested as Madho Dube. These two brothers took birth in the house of a Sanchora. Their father was very pious. By the custom of the maryada path he performed the worship of Shri Thakurji. When sadhus, saints, or renunciates passed by their house hungry, he would not let them go hungry; he kept them with affection. He always kept vigil on Ekadashi. 

Then the mother and father of Raja Dube and Madho Dube became ill. They said to their two sons, “Now, at this time, if you bring us to take darshan of Shri Ranchhodji, that will be very good.” Then Raja Dube and Madho Dube hired two palanquins, seated their mother and father, and took Shri Thakurji along with them. They brought the mother and father to take the darshan of Shri Ranchhodji. At that time, for some days, Shri Acharyaji was in Dwarka. There, the mother and father left their bodies. Raja Dube and Madho Dube performed the rites, so the period of impurity (sutak) began. They sat on the palanquin. 

Then Raja Dube and Madho Dube asked the people, “If anywhere here there is katha–varta, Bhagavad discussion, then we will go there. The days of sutak are not passing.” Someone said, “Shri Vallabhacharyaji, having performed the circumambulation of the Earth, has arrived here; he is speaking katha very beautifully. You go there on the third watch.” Then Raja Dube and Madho Dube said to him, “Take us today; afterward we will go daily.” He said, “Good.” So he came in the third watch and took Raja Dube and Madho Dube. The two brothers bowed from a distance and sat at a distance. Shri Acharyaji said, “Come forward.” The two brothers said, “Maharaj, we are under sutak; therefore we are sitting at a distance.” Shri Acharyaji said, “You two brothers are always pure. Come and sit before me. And if there is any doubt, ask.”

Then the two brothers, delighted, came forward and sat. Shri Acharyaji described the Nanda Mahotsav—he narrated the fifth chapter of the tenth canto of the Shri Bhagavata. He caused the two brothers to have manifest experience of the lila of Nandalaya. When all the katha was completed, the two, bowing down, said, “Maharaj! What shall we do? There is sutak; otherwise we would make a request. Now our birth has borne fruit, for we have obtained your darshan.” Shri Acharyaji said, “I know the thoughts of your minds—that you two are mine. After the sutak, I will accept you. For that reason I am here: I will accept you, fulfill all your desires, and then go elsewhere. Do not worry or fear. Now go to your camp and come here tomorrow at the same time.” Then the two brothers, bowing down, delighted, went to the camp. The realized, vivid experience of the lila of Nandalaya remained.

In the morning, rising, the two brothers spoke with each other: “Now we have been made successful. Shri Acharyaji is verily Purushottama—who in a single day’s katha has given us the experience of lila–rasa.” In this way, they passed the days of sutak gradually. On the eleventh day, after bathing, becoming pure, they came very early to Shri Acharyaji and made their request: “Maharaj! Take us into refuge.” Then Shri Acharyaji bathed the two brothers again, bestowed the Name, and performed Brahmasambandh. After that, Shri Acharyaji said, “Now do Bhagavad seva.” Raja Dube and Madho Dube said, “Maharaj! The Thakur of our father is with us. Our father and mother performed worship by the custom of the path of worship, and here they left their bodies. Your grace has come upon us. However you command, in that way we will do the seva.” Shri Acharyaji said, “Go to the camp and bring Shri Thakurji.” Then Madho Dube went and brought the casket of Thakurji. Shri Acharyaji bathed Shri Thakurji with Panchamrit and placed him upon the heads of Raja Dube and Madho Dube. And he ordered, “Free your minds from all places, restrain them, and do Bhagavad seva.” 

Then Raja Dube and Madho Dube prayed, “Maharaj! What is the nature of restraint (nirodh)?” Shri Acharyaji said, “Nirodh is of two kinds: one belongs to the stage of practice (sadhan–dasa), and the other belongs to the accomplished stage (siddha–dasa). The marks of nirodh in the stage of practice are these: worldly and Vedic matters do not please the mind. In the mind there remains this—‘When will I do Bhagavad seva? When will I do katha–varta?’ There arises a taste for this. If the mind goes a little toward the worldly, then pull it back and engage it in seva. Understand this: by the refuge of Bhagavan alone are all tasks accomplished. This is nirodh of the stage of practice. And nirodh of the stage of fruit is this: the mind becomes naturally and perfectly set in such a disposition that, without meditation in the form of Shri Thakurji, it does not go anywhere else. One may even do worldly or Vedic tasks, but the mind, apart from Shri Thakurji, does not go anywhere else. This is the nirodh of the stage of fruit. To them, the sorrows and pleasures of this world, the many torments, do not affect. The mind remains absorbed in Shri Thakurji and in the rasa of his lila. This is the kind of nirodh.”

Then Raja Dube and Madho Dube prayed, “Maharajadhiraj! For us, both kinds of nirodh are difficult. Therefore, just as you have taken us, who were drowning in the ocean of the world, by the arm and brought us into refuge, in that same way, if you grant us the gift of nirodh, then something will be accomplished for us. Otherwise, we have no ability.” Seeing in this way the humility and simple nature of the two brothers, you composed the “Nirodh Lakshan,” the chapter called the Nirodh–skandha in the tenth canto, and had the two brothers recite it, saying, “For you two brothers, nirodh will be accomplished.” Saying this, you gave your charanamrit to the two brothers. Immediately the minds of the two brothers became extraordinary. The experience of lila–rasa began to arise. Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Now go to your home and do seva. For the one whose nirodh has arisen, much speaking and wandering in the country is not proper. Therefore go home; when divine souls come, give them the Name. For you, nirodh has been accomplished; and whoever, keeping his mind with yours, performs likewise, for him too nirodh will be accomplished.”

Then Raja Dube and Madho Dube had some wealth with them; they made an offering to Shri Acharyaji and, taking leave, departed from Dwarka. They came to their village in Manund. Coming home, the two brothers began Bhagavad seva. With some wealth in the house, they sustained themselves. They did not speak much with anyone. Whoever came, upon him they had compassion and arranged for his food. Performing Bhagavad discourse, the two brothers remained absorbed in the lila–rasa of Shri Thakurji.

Prasang 1 – The Younger Brother’s Transformation at the Patel’s Platform

In the village where Raja Dube and Madho Dube lived, there were also two Sanchora Brahmin brothers. The elder brother’s name was Ramji and the younger brother’s name was Harikrishna. Of them, the elder brother Ramji was educated. He sat on the platform before the village Patel and spoke katha. The younger brother was ignorant and guarded the elder brother’s field. The elder brother Ramji had gone to another village for village affairs, so the katha stopped. 

One day there was much rain. It was the winter season. The younger brother came in the evening from the field. Then the sister-in-law (bhabhi) said, “Will you eat roti?” The younger brother (devar) said, “I feel very cold. If you heat the roti for me, then I will eat.” The sister-in-law said, “If you want to eat, then eat; otherwise I will go to sleep. Will you go and read katha on the Patel’s platform? Or will you return the grandfather’s due (graas) that has been pending for many days? If so, then I will heat roti for you. If you want to eat, then eat; otherwise I will go to sleep. Get up and go from before me.” 

Hearing these words of the sister-in-law, there was great pain in his mind—like an arrow struck the heart. Immediately he left the house. He thought in his mind, “Now I will give up the body. Or shall I leave this village and go to some other land?” Then in his mind came this: “In this village, Raja Dube and Madho Dube are great souls; having offered them obeisance, I will go somewhere.” So he came to the house of Raja Dube and Madho Dube, offered obeisance to the two brothers, and began to weep. The two brothers said, “Who are you?” Coming near and recognizing, they said, “You are the son of so-and-so, of our community.” He said, “There is no limit to my sorrow. Now I will give up the body. I have come to offer you obeisance.” Madho Dube said, “Shri Thakurji is endowed with all power; he will remove sorrow. Therefore tell your sorrow.” Then he told all the news: “The words my sister-in-law spoke pierce my heart. I come to your refuge. Remove my sorrow.” Then the two brothers consoled him: “Shri Thakurji will make everything good.” After that they brought him Mahaprasad and said, “Now go to sleep.”

In the morning, Madho Dube woke him and said, “Now you come here after performing bath and Sandhya–vandan.” Then he, having completed bodily duties, bathed, performed Sandhya, and came. Then Madho Dube said to Raja Dube, “Now say what should be said to him.” Raja Dube said, “Your tongue has moved; you say something. This is a case of a blow from incantation (jhar). Why should we do such a thing? In the world many are sorrowful and many are happy.” Madho Dube said to Raja Dube, “You are the sevak of Shri Acharyaji; he is very sorrowful—show grace on him.” Raja Dube said, “If you say so—” Then Madho Dube said, “It is not proper for me to say this task before you.” Raja Dube said, “It is our command—say.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Raja Dube said, “It is a case of jhar (a bewitchment). The reason is this: he is not a divine lila-related soul; with grace he will be rescued.”

Then Madho Dube seated him before the door of Shri Thakurji’s temple, remembered Shri Acharyaji, and instructed him in the Ashtakshar mantra. After bestowing the Name, he had him do japa of one mala of the Ashtakshar. Then he began to speak Sanskrit. Madho Dube said to Raja Dube, “If there is permission, shall I have him do one more mala of japa?” Raja Dube said, “Certainly, have him do more japa.” Then Madho Dube had him do one more mala of Ashtakshar japa. Then he began to understand the meanings of the Shri Bhagavata Purana and the shastras. Madho Dube said to Raja Dube, “If there is permission, shall I have him do one more japa?” Raja Dube said, “He is only this much of a vessel; beyond this the rasa will overflow.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): “Do not do it”—its meaning is this: if a third mala were made to be recited, the experience of lila–rasa would arise. But he is not lila-related. This much is sufficient for him.

“Afterward Raja Dube said to Madho Dube as witness: ‘Do not bring this notion into your mind that we did this to him and from that this happened. All this has happened by the grace of Shri Acharyaji. Our and your true forms you know.’” Madho Dube said, “What is mine? The doer is Shri Acharyaji.” After that they brought him Mahaprasad after Raj–bhog and Arti. In the third watch, Madho Dube said to him, “Go and speak katha on Patel's platform; take the book from me.” 

Then he took the book, offered obeisance to the two brothers, and sat on the Patel’s platform and began to speak katha. Two or four Patels, seeing this, went to all the Patels and said, “The Bhattji is speaking katha—come quickly.” Then all the Patels came. They said, “By the power of grace, he spoke very beautiful katha.” Then all the Patels said, “You speak katha very beautifully; why do you not speak further?” He said, “My elder brother says not to; therefore I do not.” Then all of them said, “Now you yourself keep speaking katha. Great is our fortune that we have obtained such a Brahmin.” Then all the Patels together considered, “If Bhattji, after speaking his first katha, goes empty-handed, that is not good.” Then all the Patels performed a proper worship of Bhattji. He then rose and came to Madho Dube, placed the articles of worship before him, and prayed, “You are my guru. By your grace I have spoken katha on the Patel’s platform, and all the Patels have become pleased.” 

Madho Dube said, “Do not speak thus again. Our and your guru is Shri Acharyaji. We give the Name by his command. Therefore all this wealth is his. When Shri Acharyaji arrives, make an offering to him and become his sevak.” He said, “Where shall I keep it? You know best—do accordingly.” Then Madho Dube kept the offerings. Just then Jagannath Josi and Ramdas were going from Adel to take the darshan of Shri Acharyaji; with them he sent the offerings to Shri Acharyaji. After that, he kept speaking katha daily on Patel's platform.

In a few days, the elder brother returned. Then he came and said to Madho Dube, “If there is permission, the grandfather’s due (graas), pending for many days in the village, I will go and collect it.” Madho Dube said, “Now whatever work you do will be accomplished. It is the grace of Shri Acharyaji; therefore you go.”

Then, taking permission from the two brothers and offering obeisance, he went to that village. There the Rajputs rose, fell at his feet, and said, “Great is our fortune that you have come.” Afterward, they gave him a beautiful place to stay. They gave provisions and had the cooking done. Then, in the night, when all had gathered, they called him and said, “Tell us some katha.” Then, reciting one shloka, he explained its meaning to all. All became very pleased. They said, “Bhattji is very capable.” Then they said, “Stay here for five nights; afterward we will bid you farewell.” All together they considered, “How shall we bid Bhattji farewell? The son of our hereditary priest has come after many days. His graas has been pending for many days; the debt to the Brahmin should not remain.” “Therefore, let us give one hundred maunds of grain, and set aside one hundred rupees, and rewrite the land deed in his name. In this way, he will be free from future debt to the Brahmin upon us.” Then all said, “Very good.” After that they gave one hundred rupees cash and one hundred maunds of grain—everyone together. He said, “Send the grain to my house.” Then they loaded it on carts and sent carts along. And they rewrote a new document and said, “We are the landlords; year by year, come and take your graas.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why? When the debt to a Brahmin increases greatly, then it cannot be given later. After that they gave new garments. They also gave one cow and one buffalo with good milk, with attendants, and sent them along. Taking these, he came to his house. When he came to the door of his house, he called to his sister-in-law, “I have also spoken katha on the Patel’s platform, and I have also brought back the grandfather’s graas. Now open the door.” Then the sister-in-law opened the shutters. Seeing his radiance, she was astonished. Afterward, the elder brother saw that on his face the radiance of Bhagavan was shining. Then, fearful, he said, “Brother! Come inside.” 

He bowed to his sister-in-law and said, “You have given me instruction. Shri Thakurji has fulfilled my wish. I have spoken katha on the Patel’s platform and have also brought back the grandfather’s graas.” Then the brother and sister-in-law both were afraid, thinking, “Grace of Bhagavan has come upon him; if he gives a curse we will be reduced to ash.” Then the brother and sister-in-law said, “Bathe, eat something!” He said, “I will first offer obeisance to Raja Dube and Madho Dube; then I will do anything.” The elder brother said, “Why go first to them?” He said, “You know my true form—this is all their grace. What is there in me?” Then the elder brother went along, thinking, “If they show grace on me, that will be good.” 

The two brothers came and offered obeisance to Raja Dube and Madho Dube. Then the younger brother narrated everything, placed one hundred rupees and the garments before them, and said, “There are one hundred maunds of grain—keep them.” Madho Dube said, “Sell the grain and make it into money; all this is for Shri Acharyaji. What is there of ours or yours in this?” Raja Dube said to Madho Dube, “Do not speak in this way to the other brother.” After that the elder brother prayed, “As you have shown grace to my younger brother, so show grace to me also. I am in your refuge.” Then Madho Dube said to Raja Dube, “He is making this request.” Raja Dube said, “I had already told you—do not get entangled with jhar. Therefore, now, whatever you must do, at least bestow the Name upon him.” Then they bathed the elder brother and bestowed the Name. After that they sold the grain and turned it into money.

In a few days, Shri Acharyaji came to Dwarka. He stayed at the house of Rana Vyas in Siddhpur. Raja Dube and Madho Dube received the news. Taking the two brothers with them, taking all the offerings, they came to Siddhpur. Offering full prostrations to Shri Acharyaji, they made the offerings and narrated everything about the two brothers. Afterward, they prayed, “Maharaj! Bestow the Name upon these two brothers.” Then Shri Acharyaji bestowed the Name upon the two brothers. After that he went to Dwarka. Then Raja Dube and Madho Dube brought the two brothers home with them. Along with Raja Dube and Madho Dube, the two Sanchoras were made successful. Thus Raja Dube and Madho Dube are such Bhagavad-related ones. Up to this point their story is told. 

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): And Raja Dube and Madho Dube attained nirodh. The extraordinary feeling of their hearts, related to lila, cannot be described.

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