84 Vaishnav Varta 43 - One Kshatrani of Prayag

Now, among the sevaks of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, there was a Kshatrani who lived in Prayag. The sentiment of her story is told—

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Shri Gokulnathji did not use names that were given carelessly. Sometimes parents would give their children thoughtless names like Faqira or Ghaseeta. Shri Gokulnathji never spoke such unworthy names. That is why the names of some Vaishnavs are not mentioned. This Kshatrani is, in the divine play, a friend of Shri Swaminiji. Her name is ‘Neela.’ She appeared in the house of a Kshatriya in Prayag. That Kshatriya was very wealthy. He did not count anyone else as equal. He gave his daughter into marriage in the house of another Kshatriya in Prayag. That was a poor household, so she was given there.

One day, the father-in-law called his son-in-law. The son-in-law delayed for two hours. The father-in-law and mother-in-law became angry and said, “Take her back.” They told their daughter, “You go back with him.” Then the daughter said, “When the son-in-law comes, then I will go.” The father said, “If he will not come, should we sit here forever? If you will go, then go; otherwise, we will give you to another.” Then the daughter said, “Without my husband, I will not go.” Then the parents became angry and threw everything away.

Later, when the son-in-law came, the father-in-law and mother-in-law spoke nothing to him. Then the wife said to her husband, “Now it is not right to even drink water in their house.” She told her husband everything. Then the husband said, “Never again in this lifetime should you even mention your parents’ house, and then I will take you to our home.” Then she said, “Take me home. In this lifetime I will never again speak the name of my parents’ house.” Then the two of them went to their home, cooked food, and ate.

Later, in the mind of the father-in-law arose the thought that “if the daughter becomes a widow, then there will be peace. But it is better to kill the son-in-law.” So he gave some wealth to certain men and kept them prepared. Then one day, the parents, son, and daughter-in-law went early in the morning for bathing at Makar. Those men killed all three, leaving only that Kshatriya’s daughter. Afterwards, the ruler came to know of this matter, and the house of the in-laws was looted. Later, a fire arose in their house, and in that, the Kshatrani’s parents and family all perished. She remained alone. She made her living by spinning yarn on the wheel.

One day, she went for bathing in Shri Yamunaji. It was during the month of Kartik. She went two hours before the last part of the night. She bathed and put on clothes. After wearing the clothes, she filled a pot with water. In that pot appeared a form of Shri Thakur Lalji. But she did not know of it. Returning home, she offered the pot of water to Tulsi. Then Shri Thakurji went and sat by Tulsi. Seeing this, she became astonished. She thought, “This form! What is His wish?” Thinking this, she sat near Tulsi. She forgot all bodily awareness. 

She was filled with concern: “Now whom should I ask? There is no one at home.” She forgot even about cooking. Sometimes she would lift Shri Thakurji in her hand, sometimes place Him back by Tulsi. Thinking in this way, half the night passed. Then Shri Thakurji said, “Why are you thinking so much? In the morning, place me before Shri Acharyaji, become a sevak, and serve me. I have come into your pot from Shri Yamunaji only to bestow grace upon you.” Then she became joyful, remained hungry the whole night, sitting by Tulsi.

Later, morning came. Then, carrying Shri Thakurji, she went to Shri Acharyaji in Adel, bowed down, told the whole story, and prayed, “Make me a sevak.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “You are very fortunate. Among your family, you are the divine one. That is why Shri Thakurji has bestowed grace upon you, that without you even performing service, He Himself has spoken to you.” Then that Kshatrani was told to recite the name and make her offering. Then Shri Thakurji was given Panchamrit bath, seated upon a seat, and bestowed upon that Kshatrani. 

Shri Acharyaji said, “Now go home and serve with full devotion. His name is Shri Balakrishnaji. Keep affection for Him as for a child.” Then that Kshatrani bowed down to Shri Acharyaji, received Shri Thakurji, and returned to her home in Prayag. She began to perform service.

Prasang 1 – The Lesson of Daily Fresh Offering

So, spinning yarn, she sold thread. From that, she set aside two coins. Doing this, when some money gathered, she kept materials for Balbhog for ten to twelve days. Then, bringing ghee and sugar, sieving flour, she made laddus. Then she filled a pot with them, tied its mouth, and placed it upon the hanging shelf in the temple. In her mind she thought, “Now for ten to twelve days, Balbhog is assured.” So, relieved of worry, she went, performed her duties, accepted Mahaprasad, and then sat to spin yarn.

Then, from the word of Shri Acharyaji, Shri Thakurji arose from His throne, took down the pot of laddus from the shelf, brought it back to the throne, and began eating the laddus. Then sounds arose from the pot in the temple. The Kshatrani thought in her mind, “The sound of the pot in the temple—perhaps a mouse or cat has gotten into the pot of offerings?” Thinking this, she quickly opened the temple door and went inside. She saw Shri Thakurji sitting on the throne with the pot, eating the laddus from it. Seeing this, the Kshatrani began beating her chest, saying, “This offering I had prepared for you for ten to twelve days, but today you have eaten it all at once?”

Then Shri Thakurji said, “You have collected and stored food, and you sit relieved of worry for ten to twelve days. But I like that which is fresh and new daily. What use is stale food?” Then that Kshatrani bowed down and prayed, “Maharaj! I was mistaken to do so. Now I will prepare fresh food daily. I will not be lazy.” From then on, that Kshatrani began to prepare and offer new food daily.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): And Shri Thakurji ate all the stored food to show that offerings must always be prepared fresh daily. If one remains assured and without care, then the mind will not be restrained. The mind will wander here and there, and so He ate it all. And He showed the Vaishnav that stale food has no value. Fresh and new food every day is most dear. And that Kshatrani beat her chest because this is the discipline of Pushtimarg—that Vaishnavs offer, and Shri Thakurji eats. Here, Shri Thakurji broke the discipline and ate the food Himself with His own hand, but in truth He did not leave the devotee. If He were to leave the discipline, then He would leave the devotee, and that would be harmful.

And the sentiment here is this: that if Shri Thakurji Himself takes and eats, then the service is not complete. If, by His order, I myself place it with my own hands, then my hands are fulfilled and my service is complete. That is why she beat her chest—that the food was prepared for Shri Thakurji, and Shri Thakurji ate it, so He was pleased. But my service went in vain for the sake of service itself. That is why she struck her chest.

And in this story, it is shown that food must be prepared with the thought of offering it to Shri Thakurji. Then Shri Thakurji will lovingly eat. If one prepares food with other desires—such as to satisfy people, or because “we like this food,” and so on—then He may outwardly accept but will not eat joyfully. Therefore, food should be prepared with the sentiment of Shri Thakurji alone.

Thus, that Kshatrani became the recipient of Shri Acharyaji’s grace and was truly God’s own. Her story is to be told up to this point.

· · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·