Now, about the sevak of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, Narayandas Luhana, who lived in Thatta. The feeling of his story is told as follows.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This Narayandas, in the divine play (Leela), is the companion (sakhi) of Vishakhaji. In the Leela, her name is “Ketaki.” She manifested in the house of a Luhana (merchant) in the village of Thada. That Luhana was a wealthy merchant. When the child was born, there was great celebration. Later, when Narayandas turned five years old, his entire body became covered with boils. His father called many learned physicians from various places and tried different medicines, but Narayandas did not get well.
Then Narayandas’s father said to everyone, “Whoever cures Narayandas will be given one lakh rupees.” Even after five years, the boils did not heal, and Narayandas became very weak and thin.
After some time, while performing the circumambulation of the earth, Shri Acharyaji arrived at Thada. Someone told Narayandas’s father, “Shri Vallabhacharyaji has come. He has refuted the doctrine of Maya (illusion). If he showers his grace, Narayandas will be cured.” Hearing this, Narayandas’s father placed Narayandas in a palanquin, took one thousand rupees as an offering, and went to see Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu.
He bowed down to Shri Acharyaji and placed the thousand rupees before him. Shri Acharyaji, slightly annoyed, said, “Am I a physician who cures boils? I only accept those who are my sevaks and make them hear the divine name of Bhagwan. Let your son hear the name of Shri Thakurji from me, and take this offering back. I do not need it.”
Then Narayandas’s father placed his turban before Shri Acharyaji, held his feet, bowed down, and began to cry. He said, “You are God. I surrender this son to you. I take your refuge. Only if you show mercy upon me will I return home.”
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Now take your son home. I will come to your house and heal him, so that the world may not come to know of it. If I heal him right now, then everyone suffering from various troubles will start running after me.”
Then Narayandas’s father said, “Maharaj! If I go home and you go elsewhere, how will I ever get your feet again? Please place your hand on my head as a promise that you will indeed come to my home. If you bless me, I will go.”
Shri Acharyaji said, “I will not place my feet or hand on your head. You are not a divine being. You are only showing humility for your own selfish gain. You have no true love (preeti). Narayandas is a divine soul, and I will take him into my refuge. I will place my hand on his head.”
Then Narayandas’s father said, “Maharaj! My only request is for my son. I want nothing else. Please place your hand on his head.” Then Shri Acharyaji went near Narayandas, who was lying in the palanquin, and saw that he was almost unconscious. He placed both his feet on Narayandas’s head and chest and then covered him with a cloth. He said, “Now take him home.”
When Narayandas’s father reached home and uncovered him, there was not a single boil on his body, he was completely healed and his body looked beautiful. When the father lifted him into his lap, Narayandas said, “Where is the one who has made me well?”
His father said, “He is outside the village near the pond.” Narayanadas said, “Send a man with me; I wish to go there.” The father replied, “You can go by horse or palanquin.” Narayanadas said, “You fool! One should go on foot for the darshan of God.”
So Narayandas took a man with him and went to Shri Acharyaji, bowed down, and humbly said, “Please show your grace and take me into your refuge. You placed your feet on my head and chest and healed me, but you did not give me your darshan—why so?” Then Shri Acharyaji bathed Narayandas in the pond and made him hear the divine name.
Narayandas said, “Maharaj! I was like an orphan, trapped in the body, born in a wealthy house but surrounded day and night by bad company. I was a great sinner, but you have shown such great mercy upon me. All this could only happen through your grace. Now please command me what I should do so that I may attain liberation. May wisdom, patience, and devotion to your feet never leave me.”
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “When I placed my feet on your head and heart, I gave you all dharma (divine virtues). Now I am granting you the service (seva) of Bhagwan. Serve Him with love.” Then he asked for kumkum (vermilion), pressed both his lotus feet upon a cloth to make their impression, and gave it to Narayandas as the seva of his charanaravind (divine feet). He said, “Now go home. I have given you firm devotion. Also, give your father the one thousand rupees he brought.”
Narayandas said, “Maharaj! Please keep it as my offering.” Shri Acharyaji said, “You will give many offerings later. Your father will die in a few days. Then we shall accept it. This is not divine wealth.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Your name shall be Narayandas. Earlier, everyone called you Nariya.” Then Narayandas bowed down, took leave from Shri Acharyaji, and went home. He gave his father one thousand rupees. The father said, “I had given this as an offering to Shri Acharyaji, why did you bring it back? He has done me great kindness by curing you. If he wants more, I am ready to give ten or even five thousand more.”
Narayandas said, “He wants nothing. He has manifested only to uplift souls through spiritual means.” Hearing this, the father kept quiet. Later, Narayandas took a separate mansion and began to serve the impressions of Shri Acharyaji’s lotus feet with devotion.
After some time, Shri Acharyaji again set out on the pilgrimage around the earth. During this period, Narayandas stopped accepting water served by anyone’s hands. If any Vaishnav came, he would fill water himself or let the Vaishnav fill it, but not others. Hearing this, his father became angry and said, “Are you some servant who fetches water? Who taught you this?”
Narayandas said, “Do not speak to me like this. I will do as my mind commands. Who are you to question me?” Angered, the father said, “You live on my wealth, eat and spend it, and yet speak to me so arrogantly?” Hearing this, Narayandas sent back all ornaments, clothes, vessels, and whatever wealth he had to his father’s house.
The father became upset. The king (Badshah) heard all this and gave Narayandas the position of chief minister (Diwan). Whatever Narayandas decided in the court of the ruler was accepted. He earned great wealth and sent many offerings to Shri Acharyaji. Whenever a Vaishnav came, he would honor them, give them wealth, please them, and send them away happily. Many years passed in this way.
Prasang 1 – Narayandas Imprisoned and Freed by Grace
Once, the king became angry with Narayandas and put him in prison. A fine of five lakh rupees was imposed on him. He was bound under the condition that he would pay five thousand rupees daily; if he failed to pay on any day, he would receive five hundred lashes. At that time, in a village called Adel, two Brahmin Vaishnavs, both sevaks of Shri Acharyaji lived there. They had a daughter who had come of age, but they had no money to get her married. They decided, “Let us go to Thada and get some money from Narayandas to arrange the marriage.”
Thus, the two Brahmin brothers went from Adel to Thada. When they arrived, they heard that Narayandas was in prison. They decided, “We will leave tomorrow morning.”
A man informed Narayandas that “Two Brahmin Vaishnavs, sevaks of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, have come here. Hearing that you are imprisoned, they plan to leave tomorrow morning.” Narayandas sent his own man to the two Vaishnavs with the message, “Please meet me before you leave in the morning. I am very fortunate that you have come here at such a time to give me your darshan.”
The messenger conveyed the message to the Brahmin Vaishnavs. So, early in the morning, after completing their ablutions and bath, the two Vaishnavs took with them the sacred water (charanamrit) of Shri Acharyaji and Shri Nathji, and a pouch of mahaprasad, and went to meet Narayandas. When they arrived, Narayandas rose to greet them and made them sit close to him with affection. The Vaishnavs then gave him the charanamrit of Shri Acharyaji, the charanamrit of Shri Nathji, and the pouch of mahaprasad. Narayandas stood up and reverently placed them on his head.
After asking about Shri Acharyaji’s wellbeing, Narayandas said, “I am greatly blessed that Vaishnavs have given me their darshan here in prison. This means my imprisonment will end today. Now I know that Shri Acharyaji and Shri Thakurji have shown me their grace, for it is only by their compassion that I received the darshan of Vaishnavs in this place and at this time.” As they were talking, five bags containing five thousand rupees each arrived from Narayandas’s home. The gatekeeper sealed them and sent them to Narayandas.
Narayandas kept the Vaishnavs busy in conversation until the bags arrived. When the bags came, he dismissed the messenger and told the Vaishnavs, “Please take these and go quickly. Either return to your village or stay quietly somewhere nearby for a few days. Do not reveal that you met me. Nothing could have been done otherwise. I could not serve you more this time.” Saying this, he bowed to them and said, “Please offer my pranam to Shri Acharyaji and use this money for your daughter’s marriage.”
The Vaishnavs took the five thousand rupees and returned home. Soon after, the king came and sat in the court. He asked the minister, “Have Narayandas’s five bags arrived?” The minister said, “Yes, the bags came. I had them sealed by the gatekeeper and sent to Narayandas.” Then the treasurer was asked, “Have you received Narayandas’s five thousand rupees?” The treasurer replied, “No, they haven’t come to me.” The king became angry and ordered, “Bring Narayandas here from the prison.” The guards brought Narayandas before the king. The king asked, “Why have the bags not arrived today?”
Narayandas replied, “They could not come today.” The king summoned the lash-bearers and said, “Frighten him, but do not strike yet.” They stood on both sides of Narayandas, ready to whip. The king said, “Now tell the truth, or your skin will be stripped off your body. The money left your house, where have you hidden it?”
Narayandas said, “Two of my guru-brother Brahmin Vaishnavs came to me. They had no means to marry their daughter. They came to me from far away, hoping for my help. So, I gave them all five bags. I thought, ‘Today I will anyway receive five hundred lashes. At least they will be able to accomplish their task.’ So I gave them the money. Now, do whatever you wish.”
Hearing this, the king fell silent for a moment and thought to himself, “On this earth, there are such selfless and virtuous people! Truly, this land stands firm upon righteousness.” Then the ruler said, “Narayandas, I commend you. I am very pleased with you. You are truly faithful to your guru’s path.” He then ordered a horse and garments of honor to be brought and said to Narayandas, “Continue your work as before.” He forgave all his debts and punishments.
Narayandas was dressed in the robes of honor, seated on a horse, and sent home. When the two Brahmin Vaishnavs heard that Narayandas had been freed from prison and returned home honored, they went joyfully to meet him. Narayandas received them warmly and said, “It was by your darshan that I was released.”
He then gave them a bag of one thousand gold coins as an offering for Shri Acharyaji and also gave them some gifts for themselves, saying, “Please offer my pranam to Shri Acharyaji.” The two brothers took leave of Narayandas, returned to Gokul after some days, and presented themselves before Shri Acharyaji, placing the thousand gold coins as an offering and narrating the entire incident.
Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu said, “Such love should exist for Vaishnavs. One whose heart is filled with such dharma is always blessed.” The two Brahmin Vaishnavs then returned to Adel and happily arranged the marriage of their daughter. Thus, Narayandas was a most blessed and devoted sevak, graced by Shri Acharyaji. His earlier name was Nariya. When he became a sevak of Shri Acharyaji, he was given the name Narayandas.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The two Brahmin Vaishnav brothers bore ordinary names and were not directly connected to the divine play of Pushti Leela; hence, their varta is not told in detail. Yet, as they took refuge under Shri Acharyaji, by the power of that refuge, they became free from worldly sorrow and attained eligibility for liberation. Therefore, Narayandas was a great devotee favored by divine grace. His varta concludes here.
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