Now, the sevak of Shri Gusainji, Madhodas, a Kshatriya who lives in Kabul, the feeling of their story is told here.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This Madhodas is a tamas devotee. In the divine play her name is Makardini. She has manifested from Chitra, therefore she has their emotional form. On the limbs of Makardini, various kinds of nectar arise. Attracted by the sweetness of that nectar, Shri Thakurji themselves become a bumblebee and keep following behind Makardini.
So Madhodas was born in Kabul in the house of a Kshatriya. From childhood he had his mind in story and devotional discourses. Wherever there was any discourse, he went there. Doing this he became fifteen years old. Then his mother and father died. Afterwards, Madhodas did not get married. The father of Madhodas was a Bajaj. He had a cloth shop. At that shop Madhodas began sitting. So his livelihood went on well.
One day Madhodas came to Haridwar for some work. At that time Shri Gusainji too had arrived in Haridwar. There Shri Gusainji were performing the evening worship on the bank of Ganga. At that time Madhodas too came to bathe in Ganga. Then he received the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Seeing the darshan he fainted immediately.
At that time Chachaji was with Shri Gusainji. So Madhodas asked Chachaji, Who is he? What is his name? And where does he live? Then Chachaji said to Madhodas, He is the son of Shri Vallabhacharyaji. His name is Shri Vitthalanathji. He lives in Aadel. He has strengthened the Vishnuswami tradition, and has revealed its essence, which is the mode of seva. That is called the Vallabhi Path.
Hearing this, Madhodas said to Chachaji, Please make me his sevak. I will go into his refuge. Please show such grace to me that I may become his sevak. Then Chachaji made a request to Shri Gusainji, Maharaj! Madhodas is asking to become a sevak. Then Shri Gusainji looked toward Madhodas. At that moment the darshan of Shri Gusainji appeared to Madhodas in the form of the Supreme Being with the beauty of a crore Kamadevas. Seeing that darshan, Madhodas fainted.
Then Shri Gusainji themselves read Vedic mantras and sprinkled water over Madhodas. Then he became alert. He requested, Maharaj! Why did you do this? I was in supreme bliss. Why was I removed from there? Then Shri Gusainji, smiling, commanded Madhodas. For you, still some delay is there.
Afterwards Madhodas made a request to Shri Gusainji, Maharaj! Show grace upon me and make me your sevak. Then Shri Gusainji said, Bathe in Ganga. We will make you a sevak. Then Madhodas bathed in Ganga. Afterwards, Shri Gusainji, showing grace, performed the name-offering for Madhodas and made him a sevak.
Afterwards, wherever in Haridwar Shri Gusainji stayed, there Madhodas remained near Shri Gusainji and served with dedication. And he heard daily discourses from the mouth of Shri Gusainji.
Afterwards Shri Gusainji came to Shri Gokul. So Madhodas too came to Shri Gokul with Shri Gusainji. He stayed some days in Shri Gokul. He took the darshan of Shri Navneetpriyaji. Afterwards, Shri Gusainji took Madhodas with them and came to the gate of Shri Nathji. There, climbing the mountain, they took the darshan of Shri Nathji. Seeing the darshan, Madhodas forgot bodily awareness.
By the ears of Shri Gusainji, Shri Nathji gave darshan to Madhodas in such a manner that the mind of Madhodas became fixed in Shri Nathji. Seeing darshan like this, some days passed. Then Shri Gusainji commanded Madhodas, Madhodas! Now you go home. Now neither time nor land nor anything else will obstruct you. You will remain happily in Kabul. Shri Nathji will give you the same darshan there.
Afterwards Madhodas, placing Shri Nathji in his heart, departed. In a few days he reached his home. There he daily performed mental worship at all eight times. As he had first heard from the mouth of Shri Gusainji in the discourses the description of the cowherding and other divine plays, in the same way Madhodas daily performed his mental worship. So Shri Nathji, through the kani of Shri Gusainji, gave darshan to Madhodas there itself and made him experience all the divine play.
Prasang 1 – Rupmurari and Madhodas Meet in Kabul
Madhodas lived in Kabul. He was a supreme devotee and recipient of divine grace. By the grace of Shri Gusainji, Shri Nathji gave darshan to him in Kabul. At all times, Madhodas would experience everything inwardly. Such grace Shri Nathji gave to Madhodas.
But Madhodas lived in Kabul. So, as the clothing there and the dress of the people was, in that form Madhodas also remained. Whoever saw him without knowing would not know that he is a Vaishnav. Madhodas ran a cloth shop. After some days, the ruler had sent Rupmurari for some work to Kabul.
One day at the time of evening worship, Rupmurari came out in Kabul’s market to buy something. There Rupmurari saw the shop of some Vaishnav. But no Vaishnav was recognized. Everyone in that land looked similar.
Afterwards, walking on the way, Rupmurari saw Madhodas standing on the shop, turning the end of an upper cloth. So Rupmurari stood there. When Madhodas finished turning the cloth, Rupmurari asked at the shop of Madhodas, Who are you? But Madhodas could not recognize that he was a Vaishnav. Then Madhodas asked Rupmurari, What is your name? Then Rupmurari told his name. Then Rupmurari asked Madhodas, What is your name? Then Madhodas told his name to Rupmurari.
Afterwards Rupmurari asked Madhodas, Whose sevak are you? Then Madhodas said to Rupmurari, I am the sevak of Shri Gusainji. Then Rupmurari became extremely delighted. Afterwards Madhodas asked Rupmurari, Who are you? Whose sevak are you? Then Rupmurari said to Madhodas, We are Kshatriyas and sevaks of Shri Gusainji. Then Madhodas became extremely delighted and met Rupmurari with joy.
Afterwards, remembering Shri Krishna, Madhodas seated Rupmurari in his shop. Afterwards, Madhodas asked Rupmurari for the welfare-news of Shri Gusainji. Then Rupmurari said everything before Madhodas. Afterwards Rupmurari asked Madhodas, Madhodas! Why were you turning the end of the cloth? Then Madhodas said to Rupmurari, By the grace of Shri Gusainji, Shri Nathji gives me daily darshan here itself. Then Rupmurari asked Madhodas, Why were you turning the cloth? Then Madhodas said to Rupmurari, The evening arti of Shri Nathji was happening at that time. Therefore I was turning the upper cloth. But when the arti was going on, then I made an obeisance and sat.
Hearing these words of Madhodas, Rupmurari became very astonished in his mind. Then Rupmurari thought, The fortune of this Madhodas is very great. He lives here, and Shri Nathji resides there. From here that place is five hundred kos away. Yet Shri Nathji gives him darshan from there. So if this matter is true, then there is no limit to his fortune. Then Rupmurari, being amazed, asked Madhodas, Today what adornment did Shri Nathji have? Then Madhodas said to Rupmurari, Today the garment was of jagali color. And today Shri Balakrishnaji was adorned. Afterwards, all the adornments of Shri Nathji were told by Madhodas before Rupmurari.
Then Rupmurari wrote that day, the adornment, and the name of that child as well. Afterwards Madhodas made a request to Rupmurari, Rupmurari Dasji! Now please show grace upon me and come to my home. Afterwards, the attendants of Rupmurari were behind. One attendant was made to sit in the shop of Madhodas to look after the goods. Rupmurari himself went with Madhodas to his home.
Then Madhodas requested Rupmurari, Please show grace upon me and today cook the meal here. Bring new clay pots and new water. Then Rupmurari said to Madhodas, The water vessels and everything of your arrangement will be used for our work, therefore do not bring new things. Afterwards Rupmurari bathed there, cooked, offered bhog to Shri Thakurji, called another Vaishnav from the shop of Madhodas, offered the bhog, and along with that Vaishnav, both Rupmurari and Madhodas happily took the prasada. Afterwards Rupmurari came to his camp.
At that time Rupmurari wrote all these news in a letter to Ramdasji Bhitariya and sent a man to the home. That letter reached Ramdas. Ramdas read the letter and wrote fully the adornment of that day and the name of the child of Shri Gusainji and sent it. Taking that letter, the man came back to Rupmurari Das. Then the news of Ramdasji’s letter and the words of Madhodas both matched in the same way.
Then Rupmurari greatly praised that Madhodas, saying, The fortune of this Vaishnav is very great. He lives in Kabul and his mind and vision are in Braj. Therefore there is no person of fortune equal to him. Shri Gusainji themselves have given him divine vision. Therefore, by the grace of the Lord, he beholds this happiness. Kabul is such a distant land, an un-Arya land, and there Shri Nathji gives him daily darshan. So how can one speak of his fortune?
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this story this principle is shown: For Vaishnavas of the Pushtimarg, place, time, and destiny do not create obstruction. Wherever their Lord resides happily, that place is best for Vaishnavas. Why? Because even in lands of non-believers, the Lord reveals such experience to his devotees. Therefore a Vaishnav must take refuge in one service alone.
And first, Madhodas received the name from Shri Gusainji in Haridwar. Before that Madhodas had not seen Shri Gokulji or Vrindavan or Braj. After receiving the name from Shri Gusainji, he took all the darshans. Afterwards he went to his land, Kabul. There, by the grace of the Lord, Shri Nathji began giving darshan to Madhodas there itself. And by the power of Shri Gusainji, the divine play was established in the heart of Madhodas. Therefore this Madhodas began to see everything through the divine vision of his heart.
Thus, Madhodas was such a recipient of grace of Shri Gusainji and such a devotee of Bhagavan. Therefore, how far can his story be told?