84 Vaishnav Varta 45 - Krishnadasi

Now, about Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s female sevak, Krishnadasi, who served as the attendant of Shri Rukminiji. Their story is presented here.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This Krishnadasi is the intimate sakhi of Shri Swaminiji. “Brajmangala” is her name in Leela. There was a village two kos from Patna. There she was born in the house of a Gaud Brahmin. When she was five years old, one day she went with her mother for a bath in the Ganga. There, a boat was coming after crossing over. The boat was loaded with wood, and there were boatmen. It was the rainy season. The boat split, and the boatmen swam across and reached the shore. All the wood was carried away by the current. The girl stood on the bank. A crore (a large heap) of wood broke and fell into the Ganga. The girl and the girl’s mother both fell. The mother’s body slipped away. And the child’s hand somehow held on to a piece of wood. That wood drifted for five kos. There, Shri Acharyaji was performing Sandhya-vandan. Then the little girl cried. Shri Acharyaji said, “Who is this child? It appears she has drifted here. Take her to her village. Patna is five kos from here.” Then Krishnadas took the girl by the arm and brought her to Shri Acharyaji. Shri Acharyaji, knowing her to be a divine soul, gave her a name and had an offering made. Then he said, “If any Vaishnav has Mahaprasad, feed it to her.” So Krishnadas fed her prasada.

Afterwards Shri Acharyaji said, “I must proceed to have darshan of our Purushottampuri Shri Jagannath Rayji. Therefore, arrange for some man to take her and have her delivered to Patna.” Then Krishnadas arranged a man and brought him. He gave him one rupee, and that man took the girl in his lap. Then Shri Acharyaji told Krishnadas, “After settling this girl in Patna, return here. Until then, we are sitting here.” So Krishnadas went along and came to Patna. There he met Harivansh Pathak, who lived in Kashi and had come to Patna for business. Krishnadas said to Harivansh Pathak, “Please find a place for this girl. Shri Acharyaji is waiting for me, so I must go.” Then Harivansh Pathak brought Mahaprasad for the girl. Krishnadas returned to Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu. Afterwards, Shri Acharyaji proceeded to Purushottampuri. Later, in seven days, Harivansh Pathak searched throughout the town for a place for the girl. Someone then informed him, “She is the daughter of a Brahmin from such-and-such village, a Gaud Brahmin.” The girl’s home was contacted, and her father came. He said, “Daughter, you fell; your mother died. How did you survive?”

Then dedication arose in the girl’s name, and, being a divine soul, her understanding became pure. She said, “As far as you are concerned, my mother died and I died too. Why? Because I have become a sevakni of Shri Acharyaji. I will not drink water from any hands other than a Vaishnav’s.” Then her father said to Harivansh Pathak, “You are a Vaishnav. Just as she is our daughter, so she is your daughter. Keep her in your home. After two or four years, get her married. She says she will not drink water from our hands. And we do not have money. So where will we arrange for her marriage?” Harivansh Pathak said, “Very well, Bhagavan will. How can one turn away the sevak of Shri Acharyaji? But my house is in Kashi; there she will live among the women.” Then her father said, “Good.” Saying this, the girl’s father went home. Afterwards, Harivansh Pathak came to Kashi and brought the girl along.

Later, when she was about ten years old, they searched for an engagement. No Brahmin agreed, saying, “Why should we marry her? We do not know her caste, her food habits, or her place. And this girl publicly declares that she will eat and drink only from the hands of those who are sevaks of Shri Acharyaji. Who will marry her?” Then Harivansh Pathak asked the girl, “We cannot maintain you in our house any longer. After two years you will be of youthful age, and people will slander us for keeping an unmarried girl at home. So what should be done with you now?” Then the girl said, “Send me to Adel, to Shri Acharyaji’s house. I will stay there.”

Then Harivansh Pathak took the girl along to Adel, offered dandavat to Shri Gusainji, and told him everything about the girl. Shri Gusainji said, “Krishna is ours; she will stay with Bahuji.” Then Krishna bowed to Shri Gusainji and made a request, “Maharaj! I am your dasi. Shri Acharyaji has held my hand. Without your lotus feet, I have no refuge anywhere.” Seeing Krishna’s humility, Shri Gusainji became very pleased and said, “Our manifestation is for Vaishnavs like you. Therefore, this house is yours; live here happily.”

Then Krishna stayed in attendance upon Shri Rukmini Bahuji. Harivansh Pathak, taking leave of Shri Gusainji, returned to Kashi. Krishna did all the house work and service. The whole family, out of love, came under her influence. Whatever Krishna said was done. Shri Gusainji, knowing Krishna to be a sevak favored by Shri Acharyaji, kept her with great regard.

Prasang 1 – The Birth and Name of Shri Gokulnathji

Krishna served as the attendant of Rukmini Bahuji. Once, Rukmini Bahuji conceived. Then Krishna said, “This time Bahuji will have a son. I will name him Shri Gokulnathji.” When the days of pregnancy were complete, pain arose in Rukmini Bahuji’s belly. Then Krishna went to a pandit astrologer and asked, “What is the state of the muhurta now?” The astrologer said, “For the next two or four days, it is not auspicious.” Then Krishnadasi came and, placing her hand on Rukmini Bahuji’s belly, said, “Maharaj! Do not come now. Two or four days are not good.” Immediately, the pain subsided. After five to seven days had passed, Krishnadasi again went to that pandit astrologer and asked, “How is the muhurta now?” The astrologer said, “Today is a very beautiful day. The good muhurta is today.” Then Krishna came, placed her hand on Rukmini Bahuji’s belly, and said, “Maharaj! Today is a very beautiful muhurta. The good muhurta is today. Now please come.” Immediately, the child was born.

Afterwards, Shri Gusainji performed the naming ceremony and gave the name Vallabh. But Krishna had already given the name Shri Gokulnathji. Therefore, in the world, the name Shri Gokulnathji became famous. In the house he was called Shri Vallabh. And in the birth chart the name Shri Krishna is written. Shri Gusainji kept this concealed. Krishna was kept with great regard. And when Shri Ghanshyamji was born, then at the naming, Shri Vallabhji said, “Give him the name Shri Gokulnathji.” Shri Gusainji said, “That name is yours only. In the house, he is called Vallabh. And in the whole world, your name is Shri Gokulnathji. Krishna, a devotee of Bhagavan, has given your name; it cannot be changed.”

Prasang 2 – The Song of the Sharad Night

Once, the autumn season (Sharad) arrived. Then Rukmini Bahuji said to Krishna, “Describe for me the Sharad night.” Then Krishna sang the “Sharad Night.” Shri Gusainji became very pleased and said, “It is as if you stood in the Rasa and sang.” Krishna has the experience of the Leela of Nandalaya and the Rasa and other Leelas. She has composed many kirtans. She remained absorbed in Bhagavad rasa for eight prahar. Krishna dasi is such a devotee favored by Shri Acharyaji, devoted to Bhagavan. Up to this point, how far can one narrate her story?

· · ────── ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ────── · ·