84 Vaishnav Varta 39 - Babavenu, Krishnadas and Yadavendradas

Now, about the sevak of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, Babavenu the Saraswat Brahmin, Krishnadas Ghaghari the Kshatriya, and Yadavendradas the bania, Babavenu’s khavas—about these three, the feeling of the account is told.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): They lived in a village in the east between Kashi and Prayag. There they stayed. So Babavenu and Krishnadas, these two are sakhis of Vishakhaji in the lila. In the lila, Babavenu is “Soraseni” and the name of Krishnadas is “Kamlata.” And the sakhi of “Soraseni,” one “Tilakni,” that is Yadavdas, became the khavas of Babavenu. 

So these three obtained many births, reason being such that one day Vishakhaji said, “Go from here to see the house of Shri Nandarayaji, and if Shri Thakurji has awakened then ask for clothes and bring them.” So these three came to the door of Shri Nandarayaji. At that time Shri Thakurji asked the three of them, “Where is Vishakhaji?” All three said, “We do not have the news. We have come for your darshan. So whatever has to be said to Vishakhaji, give the command to us.” In this way they considered the good fortune equal to that of Vishakhaji to be in themselves. Then Shri Thakurji, smiling, remained silent. He went inside to Jasodaji. These three sakhis sat at the door, thinking, “Shri Thakurji has smiled and gone inside, so he will just now come outside again.” Knowing this, they sat at the door. This matter one sakhi went and told Vishakhaji! So Vishakhaji ran and came. Coming and seeing, the three are laughing amongst themselves. Then Vishakhaji gave a curse, “Take birth on earth. This is the fruit of pride.” 

So all three fell. Babavenu was born in the house of a Saraswat Brahmin, and became twenty-three to twenty-four years old. So Babavenu and Krishnadas, these two were the best of friends with each other, they lived together. And there was a hesitation of eating and drinking at the house of Yadavdas. So Yadavdas served as the khavasi attendant of Babavenu. This Babavenu was a worshiper of the Devi, considering the goddesses as supreme. 

Then one day Shri Kalyanarayaji Thakurji said to Babavenu in a dream, “I am Kalyani Devi, I am in the pond of this village. So you take me out, worship me.” Then in the morning Babavenu told this to his friend Krishnadas; then the two persons entered the pond. The water in the whole pond was up to the chest. So while searching everywhere, Shri Kalyanarayaji came into the hands of Babavenu. Then Babavenu came out of the pond, and with the wealth that was in the house over that pond he had a small temple built, and, with the feeling of the Devi, he established the Devi. The name became Kalyani Devi. So the people of the village, knowing her as Devi, paid much respect; among them the livelihood of Babavenu and Krishnadas and Yadavdas occurred. 

Doing thus, five years passed; then Shri Acharyaji was coming from Kashi toward Aadel. So he came to this village and, near the temple of Kalyanarayaji, sat beneath a mango tree. At that time Babavenu and Krishnadas had gone to a nearby village. Then from the temple, Shri Kalyanarayaji called to Shri Acharyaji, “You also come inside.” Then Shri Acharyaji, going inside the temple, saw that a lehenga and lugra were worn. Then Shri Acharyaji asked, “Why are you seated like a Devi?” Then Shri Thakurji said, “What shall I do? In this village no one knows Thakurji. And Babavenu, Krishnadas, and Yadavdas are Devi-oriented souls. For the sake of delivering them, I have become Devi and have had Babavenu perform worship of me; because Babavenu is a worshiper of the Devi. 

So now you make me the form of Shri Thakurji. Sit here for four ghadi. Having accepted Babavenu, Krishnadas, Yadavdas the khavas, then proceed.” Then Shri Acharyaji removed the lehenga and lugra, placed the lehenga upon a peg, and tore the lugra to make a pardani to wear, and tied a turban. Then he came and sat beneath the mango tree. Meanwhile Babavenu and Krishnadas and Yadavdas the khavas came. So going into the temple of Shri Kalyanarayaji they saw that a turban and dhoti are worn while sitting. Then Babavenu said, “Who has come here? Who has taken off the clothes of my Devi?” Then Kalyanarayaji said, “Do not touch me. I am Kalyanarayaji Thakur.” 

Then Babavenu said, “No one in this village accepts the Thakur. And what is my offense that you are not allowing even touch?” Then Shri Kalyanarayaji said, “Under the mango tree Shri Acharyaji is sitting. You become sevak and come to him. And if the people of our village do not accept the Thakur, then what use have we with the people of your and our village? In your house seven hundred rupees are buried in the lower room; take them out and perform my seva and worship. But now you go and come as the sevak of Shri Acharyaji.” 

Then the three persons came to Shri Acharyaji and said, “Maharaj! Make us sevak.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “All three go and bathe in the pond and come.” Then the three went and, bathing in the pond, came to Shri Acharyaji. Then Shri Acharyaji told the names to the three and had the self-offering (nivedan) performed. Thereafter Shri Acharyaji said to Babavenu, “Now you do one task. Take Shri Kalyanarayaji to your house and, in a hidden manner, perform seva. Let no one in the village know. And in this temple of Shri Kalyanarayaji seat some Devi for anyone else, and let him maintain the worship. You do not take anything of the Devi’s worship. Whatever bhog is offered to Shri Thakurji, you three take that.” 

Then Babavenu said, “Maharaj! You come to my house and stay for two days; as the method of seva is, please show by your grace, for no one in this village knows.” Then establishing Shri Kalyanarayaji, Shri Acharyaji came to Babavenu’s house. There in the lower room of Babavenu’s house the seven hundred rupees appeared. So, taking them appropriately, they were placed before Shri Acharyaji. Then Shri Acharyaji said, “These are not for our use, they are given to you. And so that your firm faith may be in Thakurji, for that they are given; you keep them.” Thereafter Shri Acharyaji remained for four days, had the Panchamrit bath performed for Shri Kalyanarayaji, placed him upon the foreheads of Babavenu and Krishnadas, and told the entire method of seva of the Pushtimarg. And he gave the command, “Whatever Shri Thakurji commands you, do that.” Explaining in this way, he proceeded toward Aadel. 

So Babavenu and Krishnadas together began to perform seva. Yadavendradas the khavas was attending to all external tasks. Then Babavenu gave a Brahmin ten to fifteen rupees, seated a Devi there, and entrusted that worship to him. So that Brahmin, being pleased, performed seva; the livelihood of the village was there, so he ate from that. And for Babavenu and Yadavendradas the khavas there remained no relatives; all died. And Krishnadas had two brothers, who came to Aadel and received names from Shri Acharyaji, and became ordinary Vaishnavas. 

In this way many days passed. Shri Govardhandhar manifested and sat upon Govardhan; thereafter Shri Gusainji was serving—hearing this, the minds of Babavenu and Krishnadas and Yadavendradas the khavas were pleased, that “We should have darshan of Shri Govardhandhar.” So Babavenu saw with the eyes of the heart like this: he had darshan of the form of Shri Govardhandhar. And Krishnadas’s separation (viraha) remained eight watches of the day and night, that “When will attainment in the lila happen?” So singing kirtan he made his living. And Yadavendradas the khavas, accepting all matters as the will of Bhagavan, served with joy. 

Then one day Shri Kalyanarayaji gave the command to the three persons, “You go for the darshan of Shri Govardhannanathji. Now your attainment will happen there.” Then Babavenu said, “On whose forehead will you now reside?” Then Shri Kalyanarayaji said, “Krishnadas has two brothers; being placed upon their foreheads, you go.” Then Babavenu, calling the two brothers of Krishnadas, said, “Great is your fortune. With focused mind perform seva of Shri Thakurji. This house and possessions are all entrusted to you. We three persons will go to Braj. There the bodies of the three of us will be left; knowing the will of Bhagavan to be such, we proceed.” Then the two began to do seva. Then, being pleased, these three persons departed. In a few days they came to Mathura.

Prasang 1 – So Babavenu sees with the eyes of the heart.

So these three persons went to have darshan of Kesorayaji. So in Mathura they came and had darshan. While having darshan, Krishnadas had darshan of the form of Shri Govardhandhar from the form of Shri Kesorayaji. So for Krishnadas there arose extreme separation for the darshan of the form of Shri Govardhandhar, so this kirtan was sung by Krishnadas. 

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★ राग बिलावल | Raga Bilaval ★

आली ! तू देखरी नयनन गिरवरधर। सहचरी कहति दुतिय सहचरी सो परम मुदित प्यारी राधावर ॥१॥ 

“O friend! Do you not see with your eyes Girvardhar. The companion says to the second companion about the supremely delighted dear Radha’s beloved.” (1)

भूषन भूषित अंग, मोहन-बसन मोहत कनक कान्ति हरि। चितें चित हरत विश्व जुवतिनके सर्वस देत कर कमल करि ॥२॥

 “Adorned with ornaments upon the limbs, enchanting garments, a golden luster that captivates. Stealing minds upon minds, giving everything to the world’s maidens, with lotus-hands.” (2)

उपमा कहा देऊ को लायक, वरनों कहा किसोर वैस वरु। सुरति अंत लटकत ब्रज आवत “ कृष्णदास” बड़भाग कल्प तरु ।॥३॥

“To whom shall I give a comparison that is fitting, how shall I describe such youthfulness? At the end of memory hangs, coming to Braj—‘Krishnadas,’ greatly fortunate wish-fulfilling tree.” (3)

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While singing this pada, the body of Krishnadas fell in the temple of Shri Kesorayaji. Then Babavenu and Yadavendradas the khavas performed the cremation of Krishnadas’s body; Babavenu said to Jadav the khavas, “A monitor lizard (goh) has killed Krishnadas. And we will leave the body after having darshan of Shri Govarddhanathji.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment):—Its intent is this, that the goh is the form of Time (kal). So it took him earlier than us. This is said. In this, Time is of two types, where the chief authority is of Shri Thakurji. Then separation arose for Krishnadas, so through separation his bodily condition was forgotten. He became absorbed in the lila. So, making Babavenu hear, he sang the kirtan,  “O friend.” Both are sakhis of Vishakhaji in the lila; therefore he says to Babavenu, “You see, with the eyes Girvardhar. Why do you wander here and there? (I) with my eyes am seeing Girvardhar. And the eyes do not go anywhere else. So open the way ahead.” The companion says to the second companion—Krishnadas is a companion, and Babavenu is a companion. So Krishnadas says to them, “Supremely delighted is the dear Radha’s beloved. To them alone my eyes are attached.” In this way, singing the kirtan, he made known to Babavenu the feeling of his heart. So his separation for Shri Govardhandhar could not be borne. That which is Time is the power of Bhagavan, the chief authority. It is endowed with the form of will-power. Therefore it is said in the Shikshapatra, the verse:

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यतः कालस्तद्विभूतिः कालः कलयतामहम्। मुख्याधिकार्यपि हरेरिच्छाशक्तिस्वरूपवान् ॥१।।

“Because Time is that very power; I am the measurer among those who measure.
Even the chief authority of Hari is endowed with the form of the will-power.” (1)

✿✿✿ 

So Time, knowing the Lord’s will, at once caused Krishnadas to reach the Lord. Then Babavenu said, “A goh killed Krishnadas.” Its meaning is this: the body in the form of the sense of “I-ness” and attachment, the subtle-body desire, that body the goh killed. It is said that where until the linga-sharira (subtle body) does not fall, there until the attainment of Bhagavan does not occur. So the goh, killing the linga-body, took him—this is said. Thereafter he tells his own matter, that “We, having darshan of Shri Govardhandhar, will leave the linga-body.” In that he showed: “We do not yet have the same separation as Krishnadas now. When we will have darshan of Shri Govardhandhar, then separation will arise; then we will leave the body.” In this way Babavenu showed humility, that “Our work Shri Govardhandhar will do.”

Thereafter Babavenu and Yadavendradas the khavas both went from Mathura and came to the doorway of Shri Nathji. So they had darshan of Shri Nathji. There Babavenu sang kirtans before Shri Nathji. Then from the neck of Shri Nathji a garland of flowers fell. Then Ramdas gave one prasad betel (bida) and the garland to Babavenu.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment):—Its meaning is this, that Shri Nathji gave you separation. And he gave farewell from this body. Now you will attain in the lila. And the garland grew larger from the neck of Shri Nathji. So this—what—the garland is in the form of the devotee. So in the hands of devotees there is separation. When the Braj-devotee gives separation, then he comes. So upon taking the garland, separation arose. And the bida gives auspiciousness. So Ramdasji giving the bida shows that the Lord is pleased with you.

Thereafter, doing dandavat, Babavenu, taking the garland and the bida, descended from the mountain, left the body. Then the cremation of Babavenu’s body was performed by Yadavendradas the khavas. Thereafter, becoming purified, he came for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then Shri Gusainji, knowing him to be of Bhagavan, gave him seva; so Yadavendradas began to do it, but in his mind sorrow remained. Thereafter Yadavendradas the khavas thought, “Now, staying here, what is there to do? Wherever Babavenu is, we should go there. That is better.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment):—Why so? In the lila too Yadavendradas the khavas is the sakhi of Babavenu, therefore he pleased Babavenu by attending. So now, without the company of Babavenu, he cannot remain. So separation arose.

Then Yadavendradas the khavas thought, “The cremation of Krishnadas’s body was performed by me. Now, who will have a Vaishnav sevak perform the cremation of my body? Then an obstacle will occur in their seva; so I should not have it done by them.” Thinking this, he had darshan of Shri Nathji and, thereafter, going into the forest, daily brought bundles of dry wood from the dry land. Doing so, he saw that now the wood had become suitable for the cremation of the body. Then he had darshan of Shri Nathji. Thereafter in the morning, remembering Bhagavan with the sevaks, doing dandavat to Shri Gusainji, then taking fire he came into the forest, and on the side where the wind was, he placed fire in the pyre; then doing dandavat to the flag of Shri Nathji, he sat upon that pyre, then remembering the lotus-feet of Shri Acharyaji Shri Gusainji, leaving the body, he attained the lila. Burning in the fire, he himself, with his own hands, performed the rites for his body. 

And earlier Babavenu had said to Yadavendradas, “Do not delay, you come quickly.” But he delayed these many days because Shri Gusainji had entrusted him with the seva of Shri Nathji. So Yadavdas is such a one belonging to Bhagavan that Time is under his control. Thereafter a certain Vaishnav asked Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! Yadavdas has not been seen for two or three days.” Then Shri Gusainji said, “Yadavdas has left the body and attained the Lord.” Then the Vaishnavs said, “Where was the cremation of the body done?” Then Shri Gusainji said, “In the forest, having gathered wood, he himself arranged the means of his own cremation. What should I do?”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): So from this (we learn) how could there be an obstacle to the Bhagavan-seva of any Vaishnav?  So Babavenu, Krishnadas, Yadavendradas the khavas are supramundane divine souls. Their power is supramundane; such recipients of grace are of Bhagavan. How far can their account be told?

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