Now, the story of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Kanhaiyashal Kshatriya, who lived in Agra, is told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This Kanhaiya Shal is, in the Divine Play (Leela), is the friend of Lalitaji. There his name is ‘Kamadini’. He was born in Agra in the house of a ‘Shal’ Kshatriya. Earlier, there was great scarcity of wealth. On the very day Kanhaiya Shal was born, wealth emerged from the earth in the parents’ house. Then his father and mother said, “This son is very fortunate, Lakshmi came at the very moment of his birth.” Therefore, they named the child Kanhaiya Shal. In this way, the parents loved Kanhaiya Shal very much. He grew up, but they did not allow him to go outside the house. When he turned thirteen, his father passed away. Afterward, Kanhaiya Shal said to his mother, “Now let me go out. I have grown up; Mathura is a great holy place, and I have never had darshan.” Then the mother said, “Son, do not go out of my sight anywhere.” Kanhaiya Shal kept quiet.
After that, Kanhaiya Shal had an uncle. He set out for Mathura. Then Kanhaiya Shal said to his mother, “Now let me go with uncle to bathe in Mathura. Otherwise, I will run away alone.” Then the mother became afraid and said to her brother, “Do not show too much darshan to my son, do not make him roam around. Bathe him in Mathura and bring him back quickly. If you have to do a pilgrimage in Braj and roam, first bring my son back home to me and then go again.” Then Kanhaiya Shal came to Mathura and bathed at Vishram Ghat. Then Kanhaiya Shal said to his uncle, “Take me for darshan all over Braj.” His uncle said, “Your mother did not permit this.” Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “My mother is very attached to me. But when will I come again? Therefore, let us go and take darshan of Braj,” and thus they set out to do the forest circumambulation.
In five days they reached Shri Govardhan. Seeing Giriraj, Kanhaiya Shal became bewildered. He would not speak when called, would not rise when lifted. He smiled at whoever he saw. If someone put food in his mouth, he ate it. Whatever clothes were put on him, he wore. In this way, he forgot awareness of his body. Then his uncle was greatly troubled. “If I take him home in this condition, his mother will weep.” Therefore, the uncle stayed at Govardhan with Kanhaiya Shal. He said to renunciates, ascetics, and physicians, “Whoever makes Kanhaiya Shal well, I will give him whatever he asks.” Many people administered medicines. Many spells and rituals were performed. But Kanhaiya Shal did not get well.
Thus a month passed. Then at home the mother became very anxious: “There is no news of my son. My brother left saying he would be gone four days; now a month has passed. What is the reason?” Then she summoned a man and said, “Go to Mathura. My brother and son went to Braj, find out where they are, what they are doing, and how they are. Bring back all the news. Do not reveal my anxiety to them. If you come back and tell me everything, I will give you ten rupees.” Then that man went. He got news in Mathura, went to see both of them at Govardhan, and came back to Agra. He said to Kanhaiya Shal’s mother, “Your son has become deranged. He has no awareness of his body. Your brother is doing many spells and rituals, and giving medicines.” Then the mother was very distressed: “It was for this reason that I did not let my son go outside. What shall I do now?” Then she said to that man, “Hire a palanquin. You come with me; I will give you ten more rupees. Take me to my son.”
That man hired a palanquin. Then the mother traveled in a palanquin worth a thousand rupees. She came to Govardhan, went to her son, pressed him to her heart, and wept. After that, she scolded her brother and sent him away: “You have made my son deranged.” Then that mother called many learned men, but Kanhaiya Shal did not get well. Then she asked all the Brajvasis at Govardhan, “Tell me of such a great person who can make my son well. I will live as his maidservant.” At that time, Sadu Pandey came to Govardhan from Anyor. She asked him. Then Sadu Pandey said, “In our village, Shri Acharyaji has arrived. He has given recognition to many Brajvasis and taken them into refuge. From Govardhan mountain, he has manifested Shri Govardhannathji. Shri Acharyaji is God Himself. If it comes into his mind, then what is this matter?” “But do not take my name before Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu,” he added. Then the old woman said, “Take me to your village; I will make a request.” Then Sadu Pandey said, “Come with me. I am going back to my village.”
Then the mother seated Kanhaiya Shal in the palanquin and came to Anyor. In a Brajvasi’s house, she seated Kanhaiya Shal there and placed a curtain at the door. After that, she came and bowed to Shri Acharyaji. Then Shri Acharyaji said, “We know, old woman, on whose account you have come. Therefore, bring your son here quickly; we will make him well. Do not talk too much.” Then the old woman brought Kanhaiya Shal to Shri Acharyaji. Shri Acharyaji took water in his hand from a sprinkler, recited Vedic mantras, and sprinkled it over Kanhaiya Shal. Kanhaiya Shal became alert. Then he bowed to Shri Acharyaji and prayed, “Maharaj! I was very happy, absorbed in the Leela of Braj and Govardhan. Why did you bring me out from there? You have manifested to give greater gifts. Why did you do this?” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “The overflowing love that rises to the surface will flow away one day. Therefore I made you alert. Let there be steady love within; let there be experience of the nectar of Leela, which no one in the world knows. Such love is never destroyed.” Then Kanhaiya Shal prayed, “Maharaj! Please bestow the gift of steady love.” Then Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu bathed Kanhaiya Shal, seated him before Shri Govardhannathji, and performed name-initiation. He made him directly experience the nectar of Shri Thakurji’s Leela. Afterward, he gave name-initiation to Kanhaiya Shal’s mother as well. All the small texts that Shri Acharyaji had composed, he taught them all to Kanhaiya Shal. Then Shri Acharyaji said to Kanhaiya Shal, “Now go home and experience the nectar. Now the worldly and Vedic obstacles will not hinder you.” Then Kanhaiya Shal’s mother offered a gift of one thousand rupees and prayed, “Maharaj! You have shown me great mercy. You are Purushottam Himself. Without you, who would have made my son well?” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Now take your son and go to your home.” Then Kanhaiya Shal’s mother requested Shri Acharyaji, “Maharaj! Please visit my house in Agra once; there is a great offering for you. Kindly accept and sanctify my home.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “When we come to Adel, we will come to your house. Now you go home.” Then Kanhaiya Shal and the old woman bowed, took leave of Shri Acharyaji, and came to Agra. Kanhaiya Shal remained absorbed in Leela. And the old woman did all the household work.
Later, when Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu came to Agra, he stayed at Kanhaiya Shal’s house. He established in Kanhaiya Shal’s heart the meanings of all the texts, the sentiments of the Leelas, and the principles of the Path of Grace. He stayed five nights. Then the old woman offered a great gift, and with that he went to Adel.
Prasang 1 – Gusainji Seeks Acharyaji’s Texts from Kanhaiya Shal
So Shri Gusainji asked Shri Akka ji, “The account of the Path, this we know from Damodardas. But where can we find Shri Acharyaji’s texts?” Then Shri Akka ji said, “In Agra, Kanhaiya Shal Kshatriya has the texts, get them from there.” Then Shri Gusainji came to the house of Kanhaiya Shal Kshatriya. Kanhaiya Shal welcomed Shri Gusainji with supreme love. After that, Shri Gusainji read all of Shri Acharyaji’s texts with Kanhaiya Shal. Then Shri Gusainji wrote commentaries on the texts and graciously taught them to Kanhaiya Shal. And Shri Gusainji had composed his own texts—Dana Leela, Hullas, Vratacharya, and other secret works and he taught them to Kanhaiya Shal. And Shri Gusainji did not allow Kanhaiya Shal to bow to him, saying, “Shri Acharyaji resides in your heart.” In this way, by the extreme grace of Shri Acharyaji and Shri Gusainji, Kanhaiya Shal remained absorbed in the two rasas of Leela, union and separation. Thereafter, Shri Gusainji went to Adel.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Afterward, Kanhaiya Shal’s mother passed away. Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “This obstacle too is removed. Moment by moment, she used to impose restrictions on eating and drinking.” From then on, when Kanhaiya Shal remembered his body, he would eat and drink; otherwise, he would sit just as he was.
Prasang 2 – Kanhaiya Shal’s Journey to Dwarka and Miraculous Guidance
Later, at one time, Shri Gusainji came to Agra from Adel and stayed at Kanhaiya Shal’s house. Then he said to Kanhaiya Shal, “I will go to Dwarka.” Kanhaiya Shal said, “I will come afterward and have your darshan.” Then Shri Gusainji said, “How will you come? You do not talk to non Vaishnavs; the path is far.” Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “Why would I need to speak with others? I will come after you.” Then Shri Gusainji said, “You have the strength of grace; do as you wish.”
After that, for two days, Shri Gusainji spoke with Kanhaiya Shal about Shri Acharyaji’s texts. Then he departed for Dwarka. One day, it came to Kanhaiya Shal’s mind, “Let me go to Dwarka and meet Shri Gusainji.” So he set out; the road was not clear. He did not speak to anyone. Three days passed like this, and he came out into the forest. There the forest was dense, with no water. Then he thought, “This body will perish.” Then he sat down under a tree and began to recite from Shri Acharyaji’s texts. Meanwhile, a cowherd came and said, “Why are you sitting here? There is the fear of snakes and tigers.” Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “I am the sevak of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu. So snakes and tigers will not come near me.” Then the cowherd said, “There is a pond behind you, drink some water.” Then he looked back and saw it full of water. He started drinking the water. Then another cowherd brought Shri Nathji’s mahaprasad, sakadi and anasakadi and said, “Take this mahaprasad.” Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “Where is this mahaprasad from? I will take it home, either from my own place or from where Shri Gusainji is. I do not take mahaprasad from anyone else’s hand.” Then the cowherd said, “This is Shri Nathji’s mahaprasad. Have you come out to commit an offense to Shri Ranchhodji? Why such insistence?” Then he looked at the mahaprasad and, recognizing it as Shri Nathji’s, bowed to it and took it.
After this, a third cowherd came and said, “Why are you sitting here? Go for the darshan of Shri Ranchhodji.” Then he turned and looked back and could see the temple of Shri Ranchhodji. Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “If Shri Gusainji has arrived there, then I will go.” Then the cowherd said, “Shri Gusainji has sent me to give you this message. So go quickly.” Then Kanhaiya Shal went to the temple of Shri Ranchhodji, to Shri Gusainji. Then Shri Gusainji himself said, “Kanhaiya Shal has come. Did you speak with anyone on the way?” Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “Maharaj! Why would I need to speak with anyone else?” Then Shri Gusainji said, “You spoke with three cowherds; why do you say this?” Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “Maharaj! My speech does not go to anyone else except you. The forms of those three cowherds, who else in the forest would have given me sakadi and anasakadi mahaprasad? And how would I take it from another’s hand? All this is your grace.” Then Shri Gusainji took Kanhaiya Shal by the hand and showed him the darshan of Shri Ranchhodji. Thus Kanhaiya Shal had darshan of Shri Govardhandhar. Then Shri Gusainji said to Kanhaiya Shal, “You have had the darshan of Shri Ranchhodji.” Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “By your grace, Shri Govardhandhar is before my eyes.” Thus he had the darshan of Shri Govardhandhar.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Here it is shown that Kanhaiya Shal’s mind does not go anywhere except to the Braj Leela.
Then Shri Gusainji brought Kanhaiya Shal to his camp and said, “Now come with us to Agra.” Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “Maharaj! You have come to accept the divine life; it will delay you. And I like being alone very much. Therefore, by your grace, I will reach Agra.” Then Shri Gusainji said, “You have the strength of Shri Acharyaji’s grace. Whatever you do will be right for you.”
After that, Kanhaiya Shal took permission from Shri Gusainji and set out for Agra. In God-absorption, two days passed. Then dense thickets came ahead; he could not find the path. There he sat under a tree. There he began to look at Shri Acharyaji’s texts, Shri Gusainji’s commentaries, and the secret works. Then a cowherd came and said, “Why are you sitting here? If you need to bathe in Shri Yamunaji or drink water, do so and then go to your home.” Then Kanhaiya Shal’s eyes were on the book itself; he lifted his gaze and saw Shri Yamunaji and the city of Agra. Then he bathed in Shri Yamunaji, drank water, performed recitation and worship, and came home.
After that, within a few days, Shri Gusainji himself came to Agra from Dwarka. Then he asked Kanhaiya Shal, “On the day you came to Agra, how did you arrive?” Then Kanhaiya Shal said, “I do not know. You yourself took me to Dwarka and you yourself brought me to Agra, this much I know.” Then Shri Gusainji, pleased, stayed three days at Kanhaiya Shal’s house. He spoke divine talks and became very happy. After that, Shri Gusainji went to Adel. As for Kanhaiya Shal, he did worldly and Vedic duties when he had awareness of the body; otherwise, he had no awareness. He remained absorbed in the nectar of Leela. Such are Kanhaiya Shal’s ways that go against worldly and Vedic norms, they cannot be described.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): It is said, people who do not know the sentiments of Shri Thakurji’s Leela cannot have faith in this. Therefore, it is not expounded. The way of love is peculiar. Thus Surdasji has sung:
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★ राग केदारो | Raga Sarang ★
ब्रज लीला कोऊ पार न पायो । ब्रह्मा, शेष, महेस, नारायण मति ही भुलायो ॥१॥
No one can fathom the Braj Leela. Brahma, Shesha, Mahesh, Narayan—their minds became confused. ॥1॥
वेद स्मृति सुनि हरि ही मिलन बहु मारग बतायो । गोपीजन निज मारग “सुर” न्यारो दिखरायो ॥२॥
Having heard the Vedas and Smritis, many paths to meet Hari were told. The Gopis showed, “Sur,” their own distinct path. ॥2॥
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Therefore, Kanhaiya Shal is such a Bhagavadiya, a recipient of Shri Acharyaji’s grace. Up to this point, his story is told.