Now, Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, a Kshatriya who lived in the east, four manzils ahead of Patna. That Kshatriya used to associate with a follower of another path. Their story with the sentiment is told here.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In the Divine Leela, that Kshatriya is part of KumÄrika’s group of sakhis (companions). In the Leela, her name is ‘Mohini’. And that follower of another path is the sakhi of Mohini named ‘Lakshani’. Here in the world, Lakshani took birth in the home of a Brahmin of the Gaud community in the east. Mohini was born in a Kshatriya’s home.
When both were around eight years old, they used to go to study under a Pandya (teacher). As they had a connection from their previous Divine Leela, their affection grew greatly here too. When both reached fifteen years of age, one day Shri Acharyaji came for the darshan of Shri Jagannathrayaji and stayed in that village.
The father of the Kshatriya said to his son, “Go and have the darshan of Shri Jagannathrayaji with Him.” So the son went with Shri Acharyaji, while the follower of the other path stayed at his own house. After some days, Shri Acharyaji went to the temple of Shri Jagannathrayaji. There were some Mayavadis there. Shri Acharyaji debated with them and defeated their doctrine of illusion.
Then that Kshatriya told his father, “It would be good to become a sevak of Shri Acharyaji.” The father replied, “My wish is to die beneath the chariot of Shri Jagannathrayaji. After that, you may do as your mind desires.” Then the son said, “Why would you commit such an act? Become a sevak of Shri Acharyaji and engage in the remembrance and service of Shri Thakurji.” The father replied, “I have become old. Nothing more can be done by me. I have come here with only this wish.” The son remained silent.
After ten days, the Rath Yatra took place. When Shri Jagannathrayaji came out on the chariot, that father fell beneath the wheel and died. Then the son came to Shri Acharyaji and said, “Maharaj! My father died under the chariot. What fruit will he attain?”
Shri Acharyaji said, “What fruit will come from dying? Without attaining Bhagavan, there is no fruit. Wherever one’s mind is at the time of death, there one goes. However, his wish was for happiness, so he went to heaven. After enjoying it for some time, he will fall again. But you are a divine soul. Through your connection, his liberation will happen.”
Then that Kshatriya prayed to Shri Acharyaji, “Maharaj! I desire to perform seva.” Shri Acharyaji said, “Right now, you are in sutak (the period of impurity after a death). After the sutak is over, you will become a sevak.” After the sutak period ended, the Kshatriya came and bowed down, praying, “Maharaj! Please accept me.” Shri Acharyaji said, “Go and bathe, then come.” The Kshatriya bathed and returned. Shri Acharyaji gave him a name and performed the Brahmasambandh initiation.
That Kshatriya saw a beautiful form of a Lala (child deity) and joyfully brought it to Shri Acharyaji. Shri Acharyaji bathed the deity with Panchamrit and placed it upon the Kshatriya’s head. For two days the Kshatriya stayed near Shri Acharyaji, learning the proper way of the path and receiving His instructions. Shri Acharyaji said, “Go, and with full concentration perform seva at home.”
The Kshatriya bowed down and returned home. He began to serve Shri Thakurji with great devotion. After some time, Shri Thakurji began to express affection toward him. That follower of another path, who was a Brahmin, used to worship Shri Thakurji according to the rules of the path of propriety (maryada-marg). The Kshatriya was very attached to him. The Kshatriya realized through the refuge of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu that the Brahmin was a divine soul. He thought, “If he becomes a Vaishnav, that would be very good.”
One day, he told the other-path Brahmin, “It would be good if you became a sevak of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu.” The Brahmin replied, “I am already a sevak of another path. How can I become a Vaishnav now?”
The Kshatriya Vaishnav said nothing and felt sad in his heart. He thought, “He is a divine soul, yet he has not become a Vaishnav. What shall I do?” Thinking thus, he went home, performed the Utthapan (waking the deity from rest) of Shri Thakurji, and offered bhog. Shri Thakurji spoke to him, “Do not worry. That follower of another path will become My sevak and will receive divine grace.”
The Kshatriya said, “Maharaj! How will that happen? When I told him to become a Vaishnav, he refused. His mind is not inclined.” Shri Thakurji said, “It is my wish to accept him. In a single moment, I shall change his heart. Do one thing: someday, if that follower of another path asks you to prepare food at his house, then prepare the food there, offer it to his deity, and partake of the Mahaprasad.”
The Kshatriya said, “How can I offer bhog to the deity of a follower of another path? How can I take that prasada? It is not the practice of Shri Acharyaji’s path.” Shri Thakurji said, “Do it by my command. You will not be hindered. The bhog you offer there, I will come myself and partake of it. Therefore, you may accept the Mahaprasad. Then that person will become a Vaishnav.”
Prasang 1 – The Winter Day When the Other-Path Brahmin Became a Vaishnav
One winter day, the Kshatriya Vaishnav rose during the last quarter of the night. He completed his rituals and, after performing Rajbhog Aarti, finished his seva. Then he went to the house of that follower of another path. The other-path Brahmin insisted greatly, saying, “Please cook here today.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The Vaishnav felt great joy in his heart, thinking, “Now he will become a Vaishnav.” Remembering Shri Thakurji’s command, he cooked the meal without sakhadi (grinding salt or spices). Though Shri Thakurji had said that if he cooked with sakhadi there would be no obstacle, yet he preserved the tradition of his own path by not using it.
He then placed the unseasoned food before that Brahmin’s Shri Thakurji, remembering Shri Acharyaji’s instructions, and prayed to Shri Govardhandhar, saying, “Maharaj! Please accept this offering and accept this divine soul as Yours.” Immediately, Shri Govardhandhar appeared, accepted the offering, and returned. The other-path Brahmin was then given Mahaprasad. The Kshatriya Vaishnav also took Mahaprasad and returned home. When it was the third watch of the day, he bathed and performed Utthapan.
The other-path Brahmin ate the Mahaprasad and went to sleep. His Thakurji, who was daily invoked and dismissed by mantras, spoke through His divine power, saying, “Today we are hungry.” The Brahmin asked, “Why are you hungry? The Kshatriya, who is Shri Acharyaji’s sevak, offered bhog. Why didn't you partake?”
The divine being (vibhuti) replied, “That Vaishnav remembered Shri Govardhannathji, and He Himself came and accepted the offering. We are the vibhutis of Purushottam. When Purushottam Himself comes and partakes, we do not go there. We enter into the deity form when invoked by mantra and accept offerings, and depart when dismissed. Such is our way. But Purushottam is not bound by mantra; He is bound only by love. The Kshatriya has such love that Purushottam Himself came to partake. Where Purushottam Himself comes to accept, we cannot act there.”
Then the other-path Brahmin performed worship with incense, lamps, and food offerings, and afterward went to the Kshatriya Vaishnav and said, “Earlier you told me to become a sevak of Shri Acharyaji, but I did not accept it, that was my mistake. Please now make me a sevak and a Vaishnav. Today you cooked food in my house, and in my home Purushottam Himself came and partook. Therefore, your Vaishnav path is truly the highest.”
The Kshatriya Vaishnav said, “Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu is returning from Kashi with Shri Jagannathrayaji. In five to seven days he will arrive here. Then you can become a sevak and a Vaishnav. I had told you earlier, but you did not accept. Now Shri Thakurji Himself has shown you grace.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This reveals that when someone desires to accept a Vaishnav’s guidance, Shri Thakurji certainly bestows His grace upon them. Even if a person receives a Vaishnav’s touch or association for just one day, it must be known that Shri Thakurji’s great mercy has occurred. To accept a divine being is truly to be accepted by Shri Thakurji Himself. Therefore, one should always consider association with a divine being as the highest blessing. This principle is thus made clear.
Later, when Shri Acharyaji arrived, He stayed at the house of that Kshatriya Vaishnav. The Kshatriya Vaishnav then said to the other-path Brahmin, “Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu has come.” The Brahmin went to Shri Acharyaji, bowed down, and prayed, “Maharaj! Please take me into Your refuge. Out of mercy, please visit my house.”
Shri Acharyaji came to his house, performed the naming ceremony, and gave names to his entire family. He then bathed the Brahmin’s Thakurji with Panchamrit, seated Him upon a cloth, offered food, and Himself partook of the offering. The Brahmin ate the remnants.
Afterward, Shri Acharyaji went to Purushottam Kshetra for the darshan of Shri Jagannathrayaji. The Brahmin, formerly a follower of another path, became a true Vaishnav through the association of the Kshatriya Vaishnav. Thus, that Kshatriya Vaishnav became a beloved divine being, the recipient of Shri Acharyaji’s grace. Their story concludes here.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Therefore, satsang (association with the holy) is a great treasure. True satsang is obtained only through complete divine grace.