Now, we tell the account of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Narayandas Kayasth, resident of Ambalaya, and present the sentiment of his story.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In the divine Leela, he is the sakhi of Kumarika. In the Leela, his name is “Braj Vilasani.”
In Ambalaya, he was born in the home of a Kayasth. When Narayandas grew older, becoming twenty years of age, Narayandas, too, used to go with his father. His father worked for the lord of that region. Narayandas had a strong addiction to gambling. His father beat him a lot and explained things to him, but he could not remain without gambling. One day, while gambling, Narayandas lost one thousand rupees. People came to his father to demand the money. They said, “Narayandas has lost in gambling; those people have surrounded him; you should pay.” Then Narayandas’s father said, “That same Narayandas will give it.” There was a big quarrel. Afterwards, Narayandas’s father gave one thousand rupees, and, after speaking to the regional lord, had Narayandas expelled from the region.
Narayandas went to the southern region. There he stayed with a Brahmin and studied some learning. He began to read scriptures, and his addiction to gambling left him. Afterwards, he taught ten or five children and made a livelihood from that. One day, in the market at a weekly bazaar, he was teaching children. One child made some mistake, so he was beating him.
Krishnadas had come to the market to buy provisions for Shri Acharyaji. Seeing Narayandas as a divine soul, Krishnadas said, “Narayandas! Do not beat such children; have compassion.” Then Narayandas said, “You go to your own work; what business is this of yours? This is indeed my work.” Then Krishnadas said, “If you beat in this manner, you fled Ambalaya because of gambling; now, if any child dies, it will be counted as murder, and then where will you flee now?” Then Narayandas said, “How do you know about Ambalaya? You have never seen me.” Then Krishnadas said, “By the grace of Shri Acharyaji I know everything about you. I have indeed not seen you, but you are an excellent divine soul; therefore I am speaking to you. Leave this livelihood of teaching children.” Then Narayandas said, “Where will I eat from?” Then Krishnadas said, “You are a Kayasth; do someone’s employment and earn your food.” Then Narayandas said, “If I do what you say now, I will get into trouble; this is suitable for me.” Then Krishnadas said, “You know; you will suffer.” Saying this, Krishnadas took the provisions and came to Shri Acharyaji and told him everything: “Maharaj! Narayandas Kayasth from Ambalaya is here. He is a divine soul. I tried to explain to him, but he did not agree. He is teaching children.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “So what if he did not agree? You have explained to him. He will come looking for you even now.”
After that, Shri Acharyaji prepared the cooking, offered the bhog, ate, and laid down in a garden outside the village. In the third quarter of the day, Narayandas struck a child on the writing board. That child fell down unconscious. Then Narayandas, frightened, took the child into a room, rubbed his nose and mouth many times, but the child did not wake up. Then Narayandas remembered that the words of that great person had come true within two quarters of the day. Therefore he thought, “Since he said, ‘I know by the grace of Shri Acharyaji,’ he must be with Shri Acharyaji.” Then, bolting the room, he went asking everyone in the village, “Has Shri Acharyaji come to this region?” Then a learned Brahmin said, “Shri Acharyaji has arrived; he has refuted Mayavada and established the path of devotion. He has stopped in a garden outside the village.” Hearing this, Narayandas ran. He came to the gate of that garden. Seeing Krishnadas, Narayandas said, “What you said has all come true. I struck that child again, and he became unconscious.” Saying this, he fell at Krishnadas’s feet and began to weep, and said, “Please forgive my offense. I did not heed your words.” Then Krishnadas said, “Do not weep. Now have darshan of Shri Acharyaji; by his grace, everything will become well.” Then Narayandas said, “I do not know Shri Acharyaji. Please show me mercy and take me.” Then Krishnadas brought Narayandas. Shri Acharyaji was lying down.
Then Narayandas offered obeisance and made a humble plea: “Maharaj! I did not heed what he told me, and thus I suffered. Now I have come into your refuge. Remove the stain from my head. The child of that householder has become unconscious. I have locked the room and put up a bolt and come.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “That child will become well, but afterwards will you again do the same work?” Then Narayandas said, “Maharaj! I will become your sevak, your servant, and stay with you. Whatever command you give, that I will do.” Then Shri Acharyaji, taking water from a small strainer, read Vedic mantras and gave it in a leaf-cup, and said, “Sprinkle this water over the child; the child will arise.” Then Narayandas took the water, opened the bolt of the room, and sprinkled it over the child who was lying unconscious. The child arose. After that, sending the child home, he came to Shri Acharyaji, offered obeisance, and made a plea: “Maharaj! I am in your refuge; make me a sevak. From my head, you have removed the charge of murder.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Go, bathe and come.” Then Narayan bathed and came to Shri Acharyaji in clean clothes. Then Shri Acharyaji gave him the Name and performed Brahma-sambandh. Afterwards he said, “Now, bring whatever is rightfully yours and stay with us. If you go and stay anywhere else, you will again fall into bad company.” Then Narayandas went to the village, returned all the children to their mothers and fathers, took his belongings, and came to Shri Acharyaji, staying with him. He listened to the words from the holy mouth, took Mahaprasad, and found joy in his heart. Afterwards, when Shri Acharyaji proceeded to Dwarka, Narayandas stayed with Shri Acharyaji there.
After that, Shri Acharyaji said, “Narayandas! You go home.” Then Narayandas made a request, “Maharaj! My father considered me a gambler and expelled me from the region. So how will I manage at home now?” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Now he will keep you; do not worry.” Then Narayandas said, “Maharaj! Mother and father are not sevaks; so how will my dharma be carried out? If they put restrictions, then I will face difficulty.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “You will not be able to carry out the personal worship (svarup-seva). Do external employment; there is no sevak at home. Therefore, I am writing you a signature; whatever materials are possible, offer bhog and take Mahaprasad.” Then, writing the prose verse of Brahma-sambandh and the Ashtakshar, he gave them to Narayandas. Then Narayandas offered obeisance and pleaded, “Maharaj! I stayed with you for so many days, but realization did not arise in my inner being. Please bestow such grace that the pains and pleasures of the world do not hinder me at all, and that my mind remains attached to the lotus feet of Shri Thakurji.” Then Shri Acharyaji gave him his Charanamrit and taught him the book “Balbodh.”
Then Narayandas offered obeisance to Shri Acharyaji and left from Dwarka. After four years, he came home. Then his mother and father, pleased, said, “Our son has come after many days. Eat something, drink water.” Then Narayandas said, “I have become a sevak of Shri Acharyaji, so I take with my own hands. This is the grace of Shri Acharyaji. You know me, I was a gambler. Shri Acharyaji has removed all addictions. Now give me a small separate place where I can sit and take the name of Bhagwan. Whatever work you tell me to do, I will do.” Then his father became very pleased that the addiction to gambling had left. Afterwards, they gave him a separate room in the house; there, arranging his own space, Narayandas lived. He did not speak much with anyone. Whatever his mother and father told him to do, he did. He cooked his own food, offered bhog, took Mahaprasad, and took the Name. His father became pleased: “In my old age, Narayandas has returned; now his understanding has become beautiful.” Then the father took Narayandas to the royal court. The emperor began to have all the work done through Narayandas. After some days, the father left his body.
Prasang 1 – Yearning for Shri Acharyaji’s Darshan
Then Narayandas became a magistrate and began to work. That work could not be left very much. His mind greatly desired to come to Shri Gokul; his mind greatly desired the darshan of Shri Acharyaji. Then Narayandas kept one man as a sevak, and fixed his monthly pay at four rupees, and told him, “This is your only work: every hour say this to me - ‘Bhaiyaji! When will you go to Shri Gokul for the darshan of Shri Acharyaji?’ Keep saying only this.” That sevak stayed with Narayandas. Every hour he would say, “Bhaiyaji! When will you go to Shri Gokul for the darshan of Shri Acharyaji?” Then Narayandas would say, “Yes, now I will go,” and tears would fill his eyes; he would become absorbed in the rasa of Leela. Then he would again do his work and duties. Then that sevak would say it again; he would again become absorbed. And every year he would send offerings to Shri Acharyaji. Throughout his life, in this manner, remembering Shri Gokul, he remained absorbed in Shri Acharyaji. Thus Narayandas became such a Bhagwadiya. Up to this point, let his account be told.
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