Now Shri Gusainji’s sevak Bhailatra Kothari, who lived in Rajnagar Asarva, their narration’s sentiment is being told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This is the extraordinary form of the lila of Bhaila Kothari, which has already been mentioned earlier in the narration of Harji Kothari. So Bhaila Kothari was born in a village a little distance from Rajnagar, in a baniya’s family. These were three brothers: Beni Kothari, Bhaila Kothari, and Jaita Kothari. Their father lived under the hakim in Rajnagar. He managed the storehouse. After the father passed away, that hakim kept these three brothers in charge of the storehouse. So these three brothers came and lived in Rajnagar Asarva.
After that, Beni Kothari met Narhari Sanyasi and became the sevak of Shri Acharyaji. That has been narrated in Narhari Sanyasi’s story. Later, when Shri Gusainji came to Dwarika for the first time, then Bhaila Kothari and Jaita Kothari came into his refuge in Rajnagar and became sevaks. After that, both brothers requested Shri Gusainji and brought him to their home in Asarva. There they made their whole family serve as sevaks. Then Bhaila Kothari requested Shri Gusainji, saying, “Raj! Now what is my duty?” Then Shri Gusainji gave his command, “Do Bhagavat-seva.” So Shri Gusainji installed a form of Lalaji before Bhaila Kothari. Then Bhaila Kothari requested, “Raj! My wish is to serve you.” Then Shri Gusainji gave him his paduka.
And Jaita Kothari’s second name was Mathura Kothari. He remained always absorbed in the form of Shri Gusainji. He composed many pads of Shri Thakurji, Shri Acharyaji, and Shri Gusainji. So Shri Gusainji was always pleased with him.
Prasang 1 — The Urgent Letters of Bhaila Kothari
So that Bhaila Kothari used to write letters again and again with great eagerness to call Shri Gusainji, saying, “Raj! Please come once quickly.” Many such letters from Bhaila Kothari reached Shri Gusainji. Then once Shri Gusainji suddenly left from Shri Gokul to take the darshan of Shri Ranchhorji and to fulfill the longing of Bhaila Kothari, and immediately went to Dwarikaji. From there Shri Gusainji reached “Sikri Fatehpur.” When the Lord was leaving home to go there, he did not inform Chapabhai Adhikari nor Sankarbhai Bhandari. Just like that, he suddenly went to Sikri Fatehpur.
At that time Birbal was in Fatehpur, and he heard, “Shri Gusainji has come here.” Then Birbal came before him, bowed down, and invited Shri Gusainji to stay at his own camp, and arranged a camp next to his own for Shri Gusainji. Then Birbal arranged two or four places of residence there for the Lord.
After that, Chapabhai and Sankarbhai came, took the darshan of Shri Gusainji, bowed down, and asked the Lord, “Raj! Without telling anyone, why have you suddenly come to a foreign place?” Then Shri Gusainji said to Chapabhai and Sankarbhai, “It has been many days since I have seen Bhaila Kothari. Because of that, I will at once go to Gujarat.” Hearing these words from the Lord’s mouth, Chapabhai and Sankarbhai became silent.
Then Birbal asked Chapabhai, “Shri Gusainji has come with such urgency, what is the reason?” Then Chapabhai told Birbal, “There is much debt in the storehouse, and therefore he is going to the foreign land of Gujarat.” Then Birbal asked Chapabhai, “How much debt has occurred? Because of which he must go so urgently? Tell me the amount of the debt. If any amount is due, I will pay it. And you keep Shri Gusainji from going to the foreign land and bring him back home.”
So Shri Gusainji was antarjami (knower of all hearts). Because of that, he knew what was in these two men’s minds. So the Lord, without informing Birbal, left Fatehpur ahead on the same night at midnight.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): What does this say? That Shri Gusainji has the firm resolve that he will never go to a foreign land for the sake of money. So he went to Gujarat only to take the darshan of Dwarikaji and to accept the divine jeev. But Chapabhai, because of holding authority, developed worldly thinking. So he said such things to Birbal. And although Birbal was a sevak of Shri Gusainji, still by the influence of bad company he remained outwardly oriented. Because of that he spoke of paying off the debt. So Shri Gusainji became displeased with them, and with urgency departed from that place at midnight without telling anyone.
This establishes the principle that a Vaishnav must never use worldly reasoning in matters of the Lord or the Guru. When worldly reasoning was used, it created obstacles for Narayandas Diwan, as described earlier. Therefore a Vaishnav must speak very carefully.
So this news reached Birbal early in the morning—that Shri Gusainji had gone to Gujarat. And Shri Gusainji very quickly arrived at the home of Bhaila Kothari in Rajnagar. Then the Lord fulfilled all the wishes that were in the mind of Bhaila Kothari. After that Shri Gusainji stayed for a few days in the home of Bhaila Kothari, then went to Dwarikaji, took darshan of Shri Ranchhorji, and returned by the same route, and after a few days arrived again in Shri Gokul. And the letter informing his arrival home was written to Birbal. Seeing that letter, Birbal became extremely astonished. That Bhaila Kothari was such a recipient of the grace of Shri Gusainji. For him, the Lord remembered and went to give darshan.
Prasang 2 — The Matter of Debt and the Inner State of Bhaila Kothari
And once, Shri Gusainji was residing in Asarva. There Chacha Harivanshji was with Shri Gusainji. Then one day Chacha Harivanshji made a request and said to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! A large amount of debt has accumulated on Bhaila Kothari’s head.” In this manner Chachaji requested three times before the Lord. Then Shri Gusainji said to Chachaji, “Chachaji! Money is a small matter, but the state of mind that the Kothari now has—by getting more money he will not remain in that state.” Hearing these words from the Lord’s mouth, Chacha Harivanshji became silent.
But Bhaila Kothari heard this matter through someone. Then he felt great sorrow in his mind and said, “I do not know about this matter at all. Perhaps this thought has come into Shri Gusainji’s mind, that Chachaji has made a request for Kothari.” Bhaila Kothari, greatly frightened in his heart, came to Shri Gusainji, bowed down, and requested, “Maharaj! Apart from your lotus feet I have no desire for anything else. And Raj, you said from your mouth that that state will not remain in the future. What does that mean? Please bestow your grace upon me.”
Then Shri Gusainji reassured Bhaila Kothari: “I did not say that your state will not remain. But money is such a thing.” And again Shri Gusainji reassured Kothari: “We know that such a thought will never arise in your mind. And your intellect will never turn away from me even slightly.” This blessing the Lord, being pleased, gave to Bhaila Kothari. Thus that Bhaila Kothari is such a recipient of the grace of Shri Gusainji.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this it is shown that when money is obtained, the mind does not remain pure. Humility does not stay. Therefore the Lord keeps his own people without possession. And Bhaila Kothari is the intimate sevak of Shri Gusainji. So even by obtaining wealth, his mind never becomes impure. This was said for the instruction of his own people. If someone is a smaller vessel, then on obtaining wealth he becomes turned away. Therefore by mixing Kothari into the example, this was expressed to this extent. And the meaning is also that when one becomes free from possessions, then one should know the special grace of the Lord. Then the accomplishment of all sentiments occurs.
Prasang 3 — The False Accusation and Baj Bahadur
And once Shri Gusainji was residing in Rajnagar Asarva. Then someone made a false accusation before the ruler of Gujarat. In Dholka, there was Lachhabai and his brother; both lived in one house. The influence of Lachhabai spread all over Gujarat. So the one who made the accusation met with Baj Bahadur, a khoja who was a well-known officer, and brought the accusation, saying, “A fakir has come from Shri Gokul. He is staying in Rajnagar with the sister of the storekeeper. And that fakir is said to be a great mahapurush.”
Then Lachhabai gave permission to Baj Bahadur, saying, “You go to Asarva, do justice, and come back.” Then Baj Bahadur came upon Shri Gusainji in Asarva. This news reached Shri Gusainji before Baj Bahadur arrived. Then the Lord went inside. In that meeting place, Bacha Baghela and Jhaboji Rajput Garasia, and Kothari, and such ten or five people were seated. Then Baj Bahadur entered the meeting place and sat down. At that very time Shri Gusainji came and sat upon the seat.
Then Baj Bahadur stood and bowed to Shri Gusainji and then sat again. After that Baj Bahadur spoke something to Shri Gusainji in his own language. Shri Gusainji answered him very properly in that same language, explaining everything to him. Then Baj Bahadur became very pleased in his mind. And while explaining to him, Shri Gusainji revealed his divinity. Then Baj Bahadur understood within his mind, “This is surely the Lord himself. These foolish people wanted to incite me against him.”
On the day Baj Bahadur had come to Shri Gusainji, it was the rainy season. But in that land rain was not falling. Therefore the people were greatly distressed. Then Baj Bahadur requested Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! Without water the people suffer greatly.” Then Shri Gusainji said to him, “Now much rain will fall.” Then Baj Bahadur bowed to Shri Gusainji and prepared to leave. Then Shri Gusainji gave him a betel nut leaf packet (bira). Then he placed that bira upon his forehead.
Again Baj Bahadur requested Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! Give me something from your own hand which will remain upon my forehead for all eight watches of the day.” Then Shri Gusainji gave him a supari from his own holy hand. He took that supari, placed it on his head, tied it into the knot of his turban, bowed to Shri Gusainji, and left for his home.
Then on the way suddenly such heavy rain fell that Baj Bahadur reached home with great difficulty. Then Baj Bahadur became extremely pleased in his mind. Later, reaching home, Baj Bahadur told this news before Lachhabai. Then Lachhabai issued this order at that time: “The one who made this accusation—kill that informer immediately. So that no one should ever do such a thing again.” She gave this order.
This matter was heard by the mother of the informer—she heard that an order had been given to kill her son. Then she took her son and came into the refuge of Shri Gusainji and requested, “Maharaj! They are going to kill my son. Therefore I have brought my son to your refuge.” Then Shri Gusainji sent a message to Baj Bahadur, saying, “Do not kill anyone.”
Then Baj Bahadur obeyed Shri Gusainji’s command and restrained his men. After that, on another day, Baj Bahadur called that informer into his court and said, “For now I have spared you by the command of Shri Gusainji. But if you ever again make a false accusation about anyone, then I will kill you on the spot.” Saying this, he settled the matter. After that Shri Gusainji stayed for some days and returned to Shri Gokul.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this narration it is shown that a Vaishnav must have compassion on all living beings. Even if someone is a thief or an informer, one must save him as far as one’s capacity allows.
Bhaila Kothari was such a beloved recipient of the grace of Shri Gusainji. There is no boundary to their story, so how far can one speak?