84 Vaishnav Varta 41 - Ananddas and Vishvambhardas

Now, the sevaks of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, Ananddas and Vishvambhardas, Kshatriyas, living in Prayag, their story is being told here.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In the divine play, both are companions of the young maidens. In the leela, Ananddas is called "Nagari" and Vishvambhardas is called "Mallika." They were born in the house of a Kshatriya in Prayag. From childhood their minds remained in a state of detachment. Food, clothing, and the pleasures of the body did not attract them. They ate and wore only what their parents gave. Even if given good, costly clothes, they would soil them with the mud of Triveni in Prayag before wearing them. Parents scolded and even beat them, but they did not speak. If any ornaments were given, they would give them to some Brahmin or a renunciate. They never spoke much to their parents. At times they only said: “What is the use of only eating and dressing? If you do some work for higher purpose, that is good.” These words were not pleasing to the parents.

Later, the parents arranged the marriage of Ananddas. Then Ananddas said: “Do not get me married. I will become a renunciate.” But the parents did not agree and prepared for the wedding. The day of the marriage was fixed. Then Ananddas said to his younger brother Vishvambhardas: “Our parents do not listen. First they will marry me, then marry you. Then we will be trapped. So, what is the way now?”

The younger brother Vishvambhardas said: “Let us leave this village and go elsewhere. Then we will be saved.” So both brothers, in the evening, sat on a boat, crossed the river Yamuna, and went to Chitrakoot. There they saw the beauty of the mountains, ate fruits from the forest, and stayed for eight days. Meanwhile, the parents searched all over the village. Later, the father heard from someone that both sons had gone to Chitrakoot. Then the father himself went to Chitrakoot. He saw the condition of both sons and said: “Now you return home. We will not marry you. We are old; when our bodies are gone, then you may do as your mind wishes. Now, in your young age, exile is not proper.”

Then both brothers said: “Exile is better in childhood only. But since you have come, we will go with you. But do not talk of our marriage. Do not follow us. Do what you like. If we do any wrong or unrighteous act, then stop us. But we are fond of the company of renunciates; we will sit with them. That will not please you. That is why we left home.”

Then the father said: “Now come home. Do as you wish. We will not stop you.” Then both brothers returned with their father. After that, they came home, ate food, and then left again. Later they would listen to spiritual talks and scriptures wherever they could. They lived lying on the ground. They never cared about bodily comfort or discomfort.

One time both brothers were sitting on the bank of Shri Yamunaji, talking about knowledge: “Brother! Our whole life has passed. We have not recognized the Lord. Our mind has not become absorbed in Shri Thakurji. We have heard many spiritual talks, but the mind has not become steady. Thus our human life has gone to waste. Now again we will suffer 84 lakh births. What can we do? No solution is visible.” Talking in this way, they lost courage and beat their chests, crying on the bank of Shri Yamunaji. They lost awareness of their bodies and lay there the whole night.

At midnight, Shri Thakurji said to Shri Acharyaji: “Both Kshatriya boys are lying on the sandbank of Shri Yamunaji. They are suffering for My sake. You should go and accept them, otherwise in a few days they will give up their bodies.” Then Shri Acharyaji woke up Krishnadas, Meghan, and other Vaishnavs and at once went to the bank of Shri Yamunaji. There was no one there at the ghat, only a tied boat. Shri Acharyaji, along with Vaishnavs, sat in the boat. He said to them: “You do not know how to row, but row as you can. The boat will cross, that is My wish.” Then the Vaishnavs rowed. The boat reached the place where both brothers were lying on the sand. Shri Acharyaji took water of Yamuna in His hand, recited Vedic mantras, and sprinkled it over the brothers. Both got up, bowed to Shri Acharyaji, and prayed: “Maharaj! Please accept us.”

Then Shri Acharyaji said: “In the morning you will be given initiation.” The brothers replied: “Maharaj! By morning this body may remain or not. What proof is there of this body? Today we have not eaten anything; do not delay. By the grace of Shri Thakurji we have Your darshan. Who knows how our mind will be by morning?” Then Shri Acharyaji said: “Your mind will never be spoiled. You are noble souls. Even if you had eaten food, you are still pure.” Then He gave them names and performed Brahmasambandh initiation. He brought them home in the boat.

In the morning, Shri Acharyaji bathed and after serving Shri Thakurji, told the brothers: “You should serve the Lord.” The brothers replied: “Maharaj, our mind is inclined to take sannyas. But we cannot think of any other place. If our mind becomes steady, if the state of renunciation leaves us, if we remain at home, then we can serve the Lord.” Then Shri Acharyaji gave them charanamrit and read to them the book “Sannyas Nirnaya.” Then divine bliss rose in them, and the nectar of devotion became steady in their hearts. Their mental agitation vanished. Shri Acharyaji gave them clothes as prasadi from Shri Navneetpriyaji and said: “Seat this deity and serve Him. At home, your mind will always remain in the leela of Shri Thakurji. Neither worldly life nor Vedic rules will obstruct you.”

Then the brothers bowed to Shri Acharyaji and returned home. Their parents cried, saying: “Sons, for two days you did not come. Where did you eat?” They replied: “If you give us one place, we will remain at home.” The parents said: “The whole house is yours; live wherever you like.” The brothers said: “No, give us a separate place. We will not live in your space. If we stay, you should not come there. Then we will remain at home.” The parents showed them a separate place.

Then both brothers cooked food together, offered it to Shri Thakurji, took mahaprasad, and did spiritual talks. They were absorbed in divine bliss. Reflecting also on the mood of “Sannyas Nirnaya,” they remained day and night absorbed in the nectar of devotion. The parents were happy that their sons were at home, thinking, “What if we do not see them?”

Prasang 1 – The Brothers’ Bhagavad Discussions

Both brothers engaged in spiritual discussions. At times, the younger brother would fall asleep while the elder brother, absorbed in divine bliss, continued to speak. Then Shri Thakurji Himself would give the response, “hmm.” When the younger brother awoke, both would say: “I heard till here; afterwards I fell asleep.” Then the elder brother would say: “When you were asleep, who responded with the sound ‘hmm’?” The younger replied: “I had fallen asleep, I do not know.” Then the elder said: “It must have been Shri Thakurji who responded.”

Both brothers rejoiced that through Shri Acharyaji’s grace, Shri Thakurji Himself revealed His presence. From childhood, they knew nothing of worldly or Vedic life. They never engaged in worldly suffering even slightly. Such were these blessed devotees, Ananddas and Vishvambhardas, recipients of Shri Acharyaji’s grace. Their story is told up to here.

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