Now, the sevak of Shri Gusainji, Viththaldas Kayasth, lived in a village two kos beyond Delhi. The feeling of their story is told here.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): He is a tamas devotee. In the divine play her name is Vallavi. She has manifested from Visaravaji, therefore she has their emotional form. So in Vallavi there is a very deep type of sentiment. With that deep crying in Nandalaya she always meets Shri Thakurji. This kind of meeting, no one knows. So, once, Premalata was feeding Shri Thakurji in Nandalaya. Then she used a trick and took Shri Thakurji into her own lap. Afterwards, going into a certain grove, she prayed to Shri Thakurji, saying, Maharaj! Show grace on me and fulfill my wish. Then Shri Thakurji laughed and commanded, If Premalata knows this matter then she will tell Shri Yashodaji and will not let you enter Nandalaya. So what will you do? Therefore take me quickly to Nandalaya. Then Vallavi again made a request, Maharaj! There is no equal to this deceit, therefore please show grace quickly. Then Shri Thakurji, knowing the great intensity of Vallavi, fulfilled her wish. One sakhi came to know of this matter. So that sakhi went to Premalata and told her. Then Premalata, becoming angry, said to Vallavi, You wicked one? You tricked me? In this way Premalata became very displeased. Because of that offense Vallavi came down onto the earth.
So, this village is two kos beyond Delhi — there he was born in the house of a Kayasth. That Kayasth was a sevak in the royal court. He had much wealth. He arranged for the education of Viththaldas, and made him proficient in royal duties. Later, when Viththaldas was twenty-five years old, that Kayasth died, and then Viththaldas began his journey. He came to Mathura. There he rested, bathed, gave donation and gift to the Brahmins, and came to Shri Gokul. At that time Shri Gusainji had arrived at Thakurani Ghat to perform the evening prayers. So Viththaldas received their darshan. The moment he received darshan, the mind of Viththaldas became attached to the form of Shri Gusainji. Then he made a request to Shri Gusainji, Maharaj! Show grace on me, know me as yours, and take me into your refuge. Then Shri Gusainji, knowing Viththaldas as a divine soul, showed grace and said, Bathe in Shri Yamunaji and come to the temple without touching anyone. There we will make you a sevak.
Afterwards Shri Gusainji himself went to the temple. After offering the food to Shri Navneetpriyaji, he performed the Rajbhog arti. Meanwhile Viththaldas, having bathed, came to the temple without touching anyone. There Shri Gusainji had Viththaldas perform the offering of his name. Afterwards, doing the anusaar of Shri Navneetpriyaji, Shri Gusainji went to his seat. Viththaldas also came to the seat and sat. Afterwards, Viththaldas made a request to Shri Gusainji, Maharaj! Now what command is there for me? Then Shri Gusainji said to Viththaldas, Nothing else will be possible for you, therefore do the daily recitation of Vivekdhairyaashraya. By that the dharma of Bhagavan will be accomplished. Then Viththaldas requested Shri Gusainji, Maharaj! Please explain to me the form of Vivekdhairyaashraya. Then Shri Gusainji explained to Viththaldas the form of Vivekdhairyaashraya along with its meaning in great detail. Viththaldas held all of it in his heart. Day and night he remained immersed in those sentiments. In this way some days passed.
Then Viththaldas, taking permission from Shri Gusainji, came to his home. He changed all the vessels, and began to live according to the Vaishnav customs. So Viththaldas came every year to Shri Gokul for Shri Gusainji’s darshan. Whatever best and finest materials he could find, he brought all of them. All he offered to Shri Gusainji. Shri Gusainji always remained pleased with him. In this way, in the course of time, all of Viththaldas’s wealth was exhausted. Then he thought of taking employment. So he came to Gaud Desh.
Prasang 1 – Viththaldas and Narayandas in the Court of the King
So Viththaldas Kayasth came and remained as a sevak under Narayandas at the king’s court. But he did not reveal his Vaishnav identity to Narayandas, and did the service of the court. Whenever anyone asked Viththaldas, What is your path? Then Viththaldas would reply, Our path is Vaishnav. But Narayandas did not know.
After some days Narayandas spoke to the king and sent Viththaldas to a district. Then Viththaldas came to Narayandas with the revenue from that district. Viththaldas explained to Narayandas the full account of that district. In that, some money remained with Viththaldas. Then Narayandas said to Viththaldas, The money that remains with you belonging to the kingdom must be paid. Then Viththaldas said to Narayandas, Now I do not have the money with me. If you send me to another district, I will pay it there. Then Narayandas put Viththaldas in prison. On the third day Narayandas took Viththaldas out and had him beaten with one hundred and one lashes. Being beaten again and again, the body of Viththaldas became rotten. But Viththaldas did not reveal the Bhagavad relationship to Narayandas.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why? Because if one shows Vaishnav identity to accomplish one’s own work, then the dharma is lost. Therefore he did not reveal his Vaishnav identity.
Afterwards, when Viththaldas became extremely weak, Narayandas released him. When Viththaldas’s body had become somewhat better, Narayandas stopped the beating. And Narayandas kept Viththaldas imprisoned in the jail. Afterwards, in a few days, Shri Gusainji came to Shri Jagannathraiji. Then a Badhai came to Narayandas and gave the news that Shri Gusainji had reached near here. Hearing this, Narayandas became very pleased and went to the presence of Shri Gusainji.
Then Viththaldas said to Narayandas, You are going for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Therefore if you command me, then I too will go with you for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then Narayandas said to Viththaldas, Wicked one! Why did you not tell me until now that I am a sevak of Shri Gusainji? Then Viththaldas said to Narayandas, Narayandas, I came to do your service. But nothing came into your hands by selling Vaishnav identity. Then Narayandas released Viththaldas.
Then Viththaldas, wearing clean clothes, went with Narayandas to the presence of Shri Gusainji. Going there, Viththaldas made obeisance to Shri Gusainji. Then Shri Gusainji, smiling, asked Viththaldas, Since when have you been here? Then Viththaldas made a request before the Lord, Raj! For a few days I was staying with Narayandas. Then Shri Gusainji again said to Viththaldas, Viththaldas! We received news of you many days ago.
Afterwards, before Shri Gusainji, Narayandas and Viththaldas both sat near the Lord. The face of Narayandas became very pale. Then Shri Gusainji themselves cooked and it was time for the offering to Shri Thakurji. Then Shri Gusainji asked Viththaldas, Viththaldas! Earlier you lived very well. And now you have become very withered, what is the reason? Then Viththaldas requested Shri Gusainji, Raj! I was doing the service of the king here. He had put me in prison. Because of that this condition of my body has happened. Then Shri Gusainji said to Viththaldas, Viththaldas! Why did you not tell this to Narayandas?
Then Viththaldas made a request to Shri Gusainji, Raj! If I do the king’s service, then how can I sell the mala? This is the enjoyment of the body, it must be endured. But why should one reveal one’s dharma to anyone? Hearing these firm words of Viththaldas, Shri Gusainji said to Viththaldas, Viththaldas! You are blessed, blessed. The face of Narayandas became very pale. Then afterwards the Lord went to offer the food.
Then the Lord said to Viththaldas, Viththaldas! Today you take this very prasada here. Then Viththaldas requested Shri Gusainji, Maharaj! My body is not clean. Therefore I will bathe. Then Shri Gusainji said, You bathe here itself. And they said to the khawas, Viththaldas cannot move. Then Shri Gusainji gave this command to Viththaldas, Have him bathed. Obeying the command of the Lord, Viththaldas removed the clothes for bathing. Then Narayandas trembled. Afterwards the khawas bathed Viththaldas.
After bathing, Viththaldas was sitting. Then Shri Gusainji came holding the leaf for serving. The Lord, seeing the body of Viththaldas, trembled. Afterwards Shri Gusainji asked Viththaldas, Viththaldas! What has happened to this body? Then the eyes of Viththaldas filled with tears. Afterwards Viththaldas made a request to the Lord, Maharaj! I was beaten. Then Shri Gusainji said, Who has beaten you like this? Then Viththaldas looked toward Narayandas. Then Shri Gusainji said, In what way has a Vaishnav been beaten? Then Narayandas made a request to Shri Gusainji, Maharaj! I did not know him to be a Vaishnav. Then Shri Gusainji again said to Narayandas, You did not know him to be a Vaishnav, but you did know him to be a living being. Such cruelty is not fitting for a Vaishnav. A Vaishnav must show compassion to all living beings.
Then Narayandas made a request to Shri Gusainji, Raj! A great offense has occurred by me. Afterwards Narayandas made many requests to Viththaldas. But Viththaldas did not remain with Narayandas. As soon as Shri Gusainji departed from there, Viththaldas also left the land of Narayandas. Viththaldas departed along with Shri Gusainji. But afterwards, he did not remain there.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why? Because now Narayandas knew Viththaldas to be a Vaishnav. Therefore he did not stay.
Thus, Viththaldas was such a recipient of grace of Shri Gusainji, a devotee of Bhagavan. So how far can one tell the story of such a person?