Now, Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Gopaldas, was a Kshatriya from Itoda, living in the western region of Punjab. The sentiment of his story is being described.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In the divine play, he is Lalita’s companion. In the divine realm, his name is Nritya-kala (the art of dance). Once, he became proud, thinking, “I know the art of music very well, better than any other companion of Lalitaji.” When this pride arose in his heart, Lalitaji said nothing but thought, “Let this foolish one be born on the earth.” Because of that offense, he was born in the west as the son of a Kshatriya. Later, when he grew up, the thought came to his mind that he should undertake the pilgrimage to Braj and perform his father’s last rites at Gaya. Thinking this, he set out from the west and came to Braj. After bathing in Mathura, he went to Kashi. From Kashi, he went to Gaya, where he performed the shraddha ceremony for his father. After completing it, he returned to Kashi and from there began traveling toward Mathura again.
On the way, he met Shri Acharyaji. They both stopped in a small village for the night. That night, robbers attacked the village. Gopaldas was struck in the hand by an arrow and lost all his belongings and money.
In the morning, Shri Acharyaji asked, “Gopaldas, what news?” Then he replied, “Maharaj! All my money, clothes, and possessions have been taken away, but I am not worried about that. I can send a note from Agra and recover them from home. But I am concerned about how I will travel for the next few days without any expenses. As for the wound on my hand, it will heal soon.”
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “The suffering from your past actions has now been exhausted. Do not worry. Whatever money you need, take it from Krishnadas.” Then Gopaldas asked, “Maharaj! What do you mean by ‘the suffering from my past actions’?”
Shri Acharyaji said, “Ten years ago, something like this happened. One night, you were traveling to a village. On the way, some other thieves were robbing people. You caught them, beat them severely, and took their goods away. What has happened now is the return of that very act. Your possessions have been taken, and you were struck by an arrow. Do you remember that?”
Then Gopaldas said, “Maharaj! Yes, it is true. This happened ten years ago.” After that, he took five rupees from Krishnadas and continued his journey. Then Gopaldas thought within himself, “Shri Acharyaji is truly the Supreme Lord. He told me details of something that happened ten years ago in my own country. If I become his sevak, my life will be fulfilled.”
Thinking this, he humbly said to Shri Acharyaji, “Maharaj! Please take me under your protection by your grace, and free me from the suffering of worldly existence.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Come to Agra. There I will give you your name.”
Then Gopaldas said, “Maharaj! I do not have faith that I will survive that long. What if this body leaves me in a moment — where will I find you again? When will I attain your shelter once more?”
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Go and take a bath.” Gopaldas went to bathe and returned. Then Shri Acharyaji gave him his name and performed his Brahma-sambandh initiation.
Then Gopaldas humbly said, “Maharaj! I am very foolish. I do not know the way or method of your path. Please show me such mercy that the principles of the Pushti Path may become firmly established in my heart, and that I may gain some understanding of your divine form.”
Then Shri Acharyaji gave him the charanamrit (holy water from his feet) and taught him the text ‘Siddhant Rahasya.’ Then, in Gopaldas’s heart, the principles of the Pushti Path became deeply rooted, and he attained knowledge of Shri Acharyaji’s divine nature.
After this, Gopaldas bowed down and composed many verses (chhand) in his praise. Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Gopaldas, you have received Shri Thakurji’s grace.”
Then Gopaldas bowed again and said, “Maharaj! I have never even taken the name of Shri Thakurji. How would Shri Thakurji know me? All of this is your mercy alone — that you have accepted such a fallen one as me into your refuge and bestowed such a great gift.” Shri Acharyaji, seeing Gopaldas’s humility, was very pleased. Such humility is indeed what is desired in a Vaishnav.
Gopaldas then accompanied Shri Acharyaji to Agra, and later remained with him in Braj. After taking darshan of Shri Govardhandhar (the lifter of Govardhan Hill), he took leave of Shri Acharyaji and returned to Punjab, where he continued singing devotional songs and remained absorbed in divine joy.
Prasang 1 – Gopaldas’s Devotional Song on Shri Acharyaji’s Appearance Day
Once, Gopaldas came to Adel to have darshan of Shri Acharyaji. It was the day of Shri Acharyaji’s birth anniversary. Shri Acharyaji bathed with saffron water and was seated to perform the worship of Markandeya. At that time, Gopaldas sang this chokhara verse in Bilaval raga:
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"माधव मासे भरि वैसाके, श्रीवल्लभ हरि जनम लियो ।"
“In the month of Madhav, on the full moon of Vaisakh, Shri Vallabh Hari took birth.”
छंद - प्रगटिया जिन भक्तिमारग बंध जीव छुडाईयां। संसार ते जे मुक्त कीने शरन जो जन आइयां ॥। अभयदान निशान मेले चित्त जिन हरिकों दिया। गोपालदास अनन्तलीला प्रगट श्रीवल्लभ भया ॥। १॥।
Verse – He who appeared and revealed the Path of Devotion, freeing the bound souls.
He who liberated those who came to his refuge from worldly existence.
He who granted the sign of fearlessness and bestowed minds absorbed in Hari.
Gopaldas says – The infinite divine play of Shri Vallabh has been revealed. (1)
दाता मुक्ता और न दूजा, साँचा त्रिभुवनराय वहां। विरह निवारणा भवजल तारणा देखत उपजे चाव जहां ॥।
छंद - देखत हरिकों चाव उपजे सकल दुःख निवार ही। जाकौ सुमरे जरे पातक कर जोर निगम पुकार ही॥ पतितपावन विरद जाको शील माधौ कर मया। 'गोपालदास' अनंतलीला प्रगट श्रीवल्लभ भया ॥।२॥।
The giver of liberation, and none other like him, the true Lord of the three worlds.
Where separation is removed, where the ocean of worldly life is crossed, and where, on seeing him, joy arises.
Verse – On seeing Hari, joy springs forth and all sorrows are removed.
He whose remembrance burns away sins – the Vedas cry out in praise of him.
He whose glory is to purify the fallen, whose nature is filled with the compassion of Madhav.
Gopaldas says – The infinite divine play of Shri Vallabh has been revealed. (2)
ये ब्रजबालियाँ गोप गुवालियाँ ये गोकुल के लोग उहाँ। ये बन क्रीड़ा, हरिमुख बीडा हरि सेवा रस भोग वहां ।।
छंद - रसभोग और संयोग मिलि यों हिये अन्तर रम रह्या। तुव बाल चरित्र अनंतलीला दान दे सब गुन कह्या ॥। तेरी भली मूरति देखि सूरति राधिका अञ्चल गह्या। 'गोपालदास' अनंत लीला प्रगट श्रीवल्लभ भया ॥ ३ ॥।
These cowherd girls, these cowherd boys, these people of Gokul are there.
There are the forest pastimes, the offerings into Hari’s mouth, and the enjoyment of the nectar of Hari’s service there.
Verse – In the bliss of divine enjoyment and union, thus the heart within delights.
Your divine childhood deeds and eternal plays have displayed all virtues.
Seeing your beautiful form, even Radhika held the edge of her veil.
Gopaldas says – The infinite divine play of Shri Vallabh has been revealed. (3)
पूरन ब्रह्म सनातन माधो कलि केशव अवतार वहां। जिन जैसा देखा तिन तैसा पेखा भक्तन प्रान आधार वहां ॥|
छंद - भक्तन प्रान आधार श्रीबल्लभ हिये अन्तरराखिया। रामकृष्ण मुकुन्द माधो सदा जिह्ना भाखिया ॥ गोपीनाथ अनाथ बंधु वेद में करुणामया। 'गोपालदास' अनंतलीला प्रगट श्रीवल्लभ भया ॥४।।
He is the complete, eternal Brahman, Madhav, the incarnation of Keshav in the age of Kali.
As each one sees him, so does he appear to them – the very support of devotees’ lives.
Verse – Shri Vallabh, the life and heart of devotees, resides within their hearts.
Rama, Krishna, Mukund, Madhav – all are spoken of as one through him.
He is Gopinath, the friend of the helpless, the compassionate one mentioned in the Vedas.
Gopaldas says – The infinite divine play of Shri Vallabh has been revealed. (4)
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When Shri Acharyaji heard this song, he became very pleased with Gopaldas. Thus, Gopaldas became a true devotee and a special recipient of Shri Acharyaji’s grace. Therefore, the story of Gopaldas is concluded here.