Now, the sevak of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, Narayandas Bhat, who lived in Mathura, his story’s inner meaning is described as follows:
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This Narayandas is, in the divine play (Leela), a monkey from Shri Gokul. In Mathura, he was born in the house of a Bhat (bard). He grew up, but he did not know how to compose verses or couplets. He would simply sit at a resting place (Vishrant) without work, and whatever anyone gave him, he used to survive on that.
Once, Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu came and performed his evening and midday Sandhya Vandana at Vishrant Ghat. Narayandas Bhat saw Shri Acharyaji there. Then a thought arose in his mind: “He is a great Mahapurush (divine soul). Let me ask him about my destiny. What has been written in my fate?”
Thinking thus, Narayandas bowed down (did dandvat) to Shri Acharyaji and asked, “Maharaj! Why have I become such a fool? I am Bhat, yet I know neither poetry nor couplets. I cannot even speak well. Since birth, I have been begging and eating to survive. Will I ever receive wealth? Is it in my fate or not? Please, kindly look at my palm and tell me.”
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “It is good that you do not know poetry or couplets. If you did, you would have gone around performing before kings and rich men. It is better that you did not learn them. The Lord does not give wealth to an unworthy vessel. That too is His grace. For wealth, driven by pride, corrupts many lives and leads to sins of indulgence and worldly attachments. And have you ever remained hungry? Never. Therefore, wealth is not written in your destiny. The Lord, knowing you to be an unfit vessel, does not grant it. Go tonight to Dhruv Ghat, you will see wealth there, but take care not to pick it up.”
Narayandas went home, and when night came, he went to Dhruv Ghat. There he saw heaps of gold and silver lying. Tempted by greed, he began to take them. Suddenly, two men came out from the waters of Shri Yamunaji and struck Narayandas. They said, “Did Shri Acharyaji tell you to take this? Why have you come to collect it? The wealth was only shown to you to test your faith in Shri Acharyaji’s words. Take it only if you have his command.”
Then Narayandas returned home and slept. The next morning, he went to Vishrant Ghat and sat there. Shri Acharyaji arrived for his morning Sandhya Vandana. Narayandas bowed down before him. Then Shri Acharyaji said, “You are indeed like an animal, no faith at all!” Narayandas humbly replied, “Maharaj! Your words are always true. I saw the wealth at Dhruv Ghat and, out of greed, began to take it. Then two men came out of the water and struck me, saying, ‘Take it only if Shri Acharyaji has given permission.’ Maharaj! Who were those two men? And why did you call me an animal? Please kindly explain.”
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Those two were messengers of Varuna. They prevented you from taking the wealth. Had you taken it, your life would have been ruined. In the divine play, you were a monkey from Shri Gokul who ate food that had not been offered (as samarpit) to the Lord. Because of that sin, you have fallen into worldly suffering in this life.”
Then Narayandas bowed down and pleaded, “Maharaj! Please free me from this worldly suffering. I no longer desire wealth.” Then Shri Acharyaji took Narayandas to Shri Yamunaji, bathed him, and made him perform Naam Nivedan (surrendering his name to the Lord). Then Narayandas said, “Maharaj, please grant me the opportunity to perform Bhagavad seva (service to the Lord)!”
Shri Acharyaji replied, “Is a monkey fit for performing seva in the Pushtimarg path? Therefore, you should recite the Ashtakshar Mantra day and night. Through that, you will attain Bhagavad realization. And hereafter, do not pick up anything near Shri Yamunaji’s banks. Live in your house, everything will come to you there. Keep your faith firm.” Saying this, Shri Acharyaji performed Sandhya Vandana and departed for Mahavan. Narayandas went home, sat there, and began to chant the Ashtakshar Mantra.
That very day, a person came and gave him ten rupees at his house. This increased Narayandas’s faith. Thereafter, living at home, he continued to chant the Ashtakshar Mantra with devotion, taking refuge in Shri Acharyaji.
Prasang 1 – The Appearance of Shri Madan Mohanji through Narayandas Bhat
Shri Madan Mohanji once commanded Narayandas Bhat, saying, “I am in Vrindavan, in Radha Bagh. Go and dig the earth there and bring me out.” Then Narayandas went to Vrindavan, dug the ground at Radha Bagh, and installed (brought out) Shri Madan Mohanji. Then he returned to Mathura. After some days, Shri Gopinathji came from Adele to Mathura. Narayandas narrated all the happenings to Shri Gopinathji. Then Shri Gopinathji performed a Panchamrit (five sacred substances) bath for Shri Madan Mohanji and seated Him on a throne.
For some days, Narayandas served Him devotedly. Afterward, Narayandas left his body. He had no relatives or family members left. Then the Vaishnavas went to Shri Gusainji and said, “Maharaj, Narayandas has passed away. Now, where shall we install Shri Madan Mohanji?” There was a Bengali Vaishnav who had once served Shri Nathji for a few days. Shri Gusainji gave Shri Madan Mohanji to that Bengali.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The reason behind this is that Shri Gopinathji had seated Shri Madan Mohanji on His throne. Shri Gopinathji is the form of Baldevji. His sevaks (worshippers) follow the path of Maryada Marg (the path of discipline).
Therefore, Shri Gusainji gave Shri Madan Mohanji to the Bengali to perform Maryada Marg style of worship. He did not give Him to a Pushtimargiya Vaishnav, nor did he keep Him himself. If Shri Madan Mohanji had been a deity served directly by Shri Acharyaji, then Shri Gusainji would have kept Him personally.
Because Shri Gopinathji had seated Him on the throne, the Vaishnavs of the Vallabh lineage still go to have His darshan. Thus, Narayandas was such a blessed devotee of the Lord.
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