Now, the story of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Janardandas Chopra Kshatriya, resident of Thanesar, is told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This Janardandas, in the Divine Play (Leela), is in the group of maidens (Kumarika). In the Leela, his name is ‘Krishnavati’. He was born in the house of a Kshatriya in Thanesar. His father served under the ruler of Thanesar, carrying arms. That ruler went to battle against another ruler. At that time, Janardandas’s father also went with weapons to fight.
Janardandas’s father was very cowardly. When the war began, he became afraid and fled. He returned home. Janardandas was sixteen years old at that time. His father said, “I fled from the battlefield. The ruler will come and kill me.” Then Janardandas said to his father, “You have done wrong. A Kshatriya fleeing from battle! But now it will be difficult to stay in this land.” Then Janardandas’s father said, “I will go east, toward Kashi.” Saying this, Janardandas’s father left. But instead of going east, he went south.
Here, after the father fled, the army was defeated and the ruler also ran away. Later, after the dispute ended, he returned to Thanesar. Then he asked all the soldiers, “Who fled first?” All replied, “Janardandas’s father fled first.” Then that ruler said, “Bring him before me.” So the guards came to his house and took Janardandas away.
The ruler asked him, “Tell me where your father is. He fled from the battlefield, and because of that, my entire army was scattered. Therefore, I will punish him. If you do not tell me where he is, I will punish you.” Then Janardandas said, “My father came home after fleeing. Out of fear of you, he fled toward the place called Kashi in the east. And here I stand before you. Do as you wish.” The ruler said, “You are lying. You are hiding your father somewhere.” Then Janardandas said, “If I am hiding him, write a record of this accusation. I am not speaking a lie.”
Then the ruler had him thrown into prison. As soon as he was put in prison, that evening, a fire broke out in the ruler’s house. The ruler’s son, daughter-in-law, and entire family burned and died, leaving him alone. Then the ruler thought, “I have done evil by throwing Janardandas into prison without fault. I have received the fruit of my sin.”
Then the ruler called Janardandas and said, “I punished you without guilt. Your father fled, but what was your fault in that? My entire family has been destroyed. Now you call your father back; I will not harm him. What was destined has happened. And if you do not trust me, I will put this in writing before ten respectable men of the town.”
Then the ruler called the respected merchant elders of the village and wrote a statement: “When Janardandas’s father returns home, I will make no claim against him. If I do, I shall be wrong before the council.” Then, since Janardandas’s father had much unpaid salary from his service, the ruler gave that amount to Janardandas.
Janardandas returned home and thought, “Now I must bring my father back home. What means should I use?” Then he thought, “If he is somewhere near Kashi, I shall go there and bring him. Otherwise, he will never return.” Thinking this, Janardandas left Thanesar. He reached Agra. As he left Agra and went further on the road, he found two gold coins. He picked them up and became happy, thinking, “This is a good sign, I have found gold!”
After walking two more stages ahead, he met Vasudevdas Chakda. Janardandas asked him, “Have you seen my father anywhere?” Then Vasudevdas Chakda said, “I have not seen your father. But I will tell you one thing, if you will believe me. You are a divine soul; that is why I am saying this.” Then Janardandas said, “You are the elder, my family priest. I am your client and like a child. Whatever you say, I will do.”
Then Vasudevdas said, “Since you have left home, go to Shri Gokul Mathura. There, you will have the darshan of Shri Acharyaji. Take refuge in him. You have suffered greatly in the world. Now become the sevak of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu and attain fulfillment. Why wander toward Kashi? Your father has gone south. He will die there within a month. Therefore, do as I say.”
Then Janardandas asked, “How do you know that my father has gone south and will die there within a month? Who knows the future?” Then Vasudevdas said, “By the grace of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, I know the events of time. You were happy upon finding the two gold coins. But those coins will bring you great sorrow. Therefore, give them away to some Brahmin. Just as I knew about the coins, I also know of your father’s death. Now do as your heart wishes.”
Then Janardandas firmly believed that whatever Vasudevdas said was true. He bowed to Vasudevdas and said, “I will surely become the sevak of Shri Acharyaji.”
Prasang 1 – Janardandas’s Meeting with Shri Acharyaji and His Devotion
So, Janardandas went from there to Mathura and reached Shri Gokul. There, he had the darshan of Shri Acharyaji and bowed down to him. In his mind, he thought, “Those two gold coins I found—where will I find another Brahmin to give them to? Let me offer them to Shri Acharyaji.” Then he took out the two gold coins and offered them to Shri Acharyaji. Shri Acharyaji said, “You are very foolish. You found these coins on the road and have offered them to me as a gift. I do not need them.”
Then Janardandas again bowed and prayed, “Maharaj, you are the Supreme Purushottam. Vasudevdas told me on the road that Shri Acharyaji is the Lord Himself. Take refuge in him. These coins are not for me—they are sources of sorrow. Therefore, please accept me under your shelter and give these coins to whomever they belong.”
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Pick up the coins. In Mathura, there are many Chaube Brahmins; give them to one of them. And come with me to have darshan of Shri Govardhannathji. There, you shall become a sevak.” Then Janardandas took the two coins and went with Shri Acharyaji to Govardhan. Later, when they arrived in Anyor, Shri Acharyaji said, “Janardandas, bathe and come for darshan of Shri Govardhannathji.”
Then Janardandas bathed and went with Shri Acharyaji for the darshan of Shri Govardhannathji. Shri Acharyaji seated him before Shri Govardhandhar and made him offer his name (initiation). Afterward, he said, “Now serve the Lord.” Then Janardandas said, “Whatever way you instruct, I will serve.” Then Shri Acharyaji gave him the service of the pag (turban) of Shri Nathji.
For ten days, Janardandas stayed in Anyor with Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, learning the methods of the path. Then Shri Acharyaji said to Janardandas, “Now I will go on pilgrimage around the earth. You return home and serve the Lord with full devotion.” Then Janardandas took the darshan of Shri Govardhannathji, bowed to Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, and returned to his home in Thanesar.
Later, news came from the south that his father had died. Then Janardandas thought, “Vasudevdas is a great devotee of God. Whatever he said was all true.” Thereafter, he fixed his mind on serving the Lord with devotion. In a short time, Shri Thakurji began to show him loving grace.
Vasudevdas from Singhnaṇḍ used to come to Thanesar. Janardandas would lovingly host him in his home, saying, “By your grace, I have found refuge in Shri Acharyaji. Therefore, whenever you come to Thanesar, this house is yours, stay here.”
Thus, through association with a Vaishnav, Janardandas became devoted to God. Therefore, one should keep company with Bhagavadiyas (devotees of the Lord). Janardandas was such a blessed devotee, a recipient of Shri Acharyaji’s grace. Up to this point, the story of Janardandas is told.