Now the story of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Narharadas, a Gaudiya Brahmin from Bengal, is told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Narharadas appeared in Bengal. In the divine play, he is among the group of young maidens (kumarikas). There, his name is Sugandhara. When he grew older, his love and devotion became deeply attached to Shri Jagannathrayaji. For one full year he remained absorbed in the service of Shri Jagannathrayaji, and afterward returned home. Then his father said, “My son, I have now become old. You do not go to serve your patrons anymore. After I die, how will you earn your food? You keep going again and again for the darshan of Shri Jagannathrayaji. Does Shri Jagannathrayaji give you anything?”
Narharadas replied, “Shri Jagannathrayaji gives to the whole world; He also gives to me. From now on, please do not give me any money or support. Let me see whether Shri Jagannathrayaji takes care of me or not.”
Then Narharadas’s father said, “If Shri Jagannathrayaji gives to everyone, then why does He accept offerings and worship? Everyone takes from Him, but there is no Lord who gives. When I give you money for expenses, then you go for the darshan of Shri Jagannathrayaji. If I do not give, then you will have to beg. When I stop giving, how will you go?”
Hearing this, Narharadas became very angry. He said to his father, “You are a blasphemer of the Lord. Therefore, from today onward, I will neither take anything from you nor live in your house. It is not proper even to see your face. You have spoken such words that even an outcast would not say such things.” Saying this, he left home.
Then his father tried to persuade him much and even begged forgiveness, saying, “I have made a mistake.” But Narharadas was a divine soul and could not bear to hear criticism of Shri Thakurji. He kept visiting Shri Jagannathrayaji for darshan, though he had nothing with him.
Then he went and sat on the shore of the ocean, thinking in his mind, “Now I will not ask anyone for anything. If I live by begging, and my father hears of it, he will say, ‘What I said came true.’ Therefore, I will eat only if Shri Jagannathrayaji Himself gives it to me. If not, then whatever is destined shall happen.”
Later that night, a boy about sixteen years old came, bringing Shri Jagannathrayaji’s Mahaprasad, and said, “O Brahmin! Take this Mahaprasad.” Narharadas replied, “How can I disrespect Mahaprasad? Leave it here. But I will accept it only if Shri Jagannathrayaji Himself gives it to me. This is my firm resolve.”
Then the boy said, “Shri Jagannathrayaji Himself is giving it to you. Who else gives? Without His will, who would come here to give it to you?” Hearing this, Narharadas became pleased and accepted the Mahaprasad. The boy then departed. Afterward, Narharadas slept. In his dream, Shri Jagannathrayaji appeared and said, “Tomorrow morning, go to Shri Acharyaji. Become his sevak. All your wishes will be fulfilled.”
Narharadas said, “But I do not know Shri Acharyaji. Where should I go?” Shri Jagannathrayaji replied, “Shri Vallabhacharyaji is famous. If you ask anyone, they will tell you about him. Know that Shri Acharyaji is my very own form.” In the morning, Narharadas woke up and, asking people along the way, went to Shri Acharyaji, bowed down to him, and did dandvat pranam.
Shri Acharyaji said, “Come, Narharadas! You have firm resolve indeed, that you even left your father for the sake of faith. Earlier, even Prahlad did not speak against his father. Therefore, your name ‘Narharadas’ is truly appropriate. You are a divine soul of Pushtimarg, supremely exalted.” Then Narharadas understood that Shri Acharyaji was the Lord Himself, for He had spoken everything that his father had said. Narharadas then prayed, “Maharaj! Please make me your sevak.”
Shri Acharyaji said, “At present your heart is still attached to wealth. Therefore, the divine name of the Lord will not bear fruit for you yet. Go and sit by the seashore. In the waves of the sea, you will find wealth. With that wealth, fulfill the wish you had in your mind for Shri Jagannathrayaji. Afterward, I will grant you refuge. Then worldly sorrows and obstacles will not touch you.”
Narharadas said, “Maharaj! My mind is very attached to wealth. But what can I do? If my father hears that I have obtained wealth, he will feel ashamed, knowing that Shri Jagannathrayaji is indeed such a gracious Lord.” Shri Acharyaji said, “Go. On the seashore, your wish will be fulfilled.”
Narharadas went where no one else was and sat by the seashore. Suddenly, heaps of gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, and other treasures appeared before him from the waves. He tied the wealth into bundles, felt joy in his heart, and went to Shri Acharyaji to show it, saying, “Maharaj! By your grace I have obtained much wealth.” Shri Acharyaji said, “Now go and fulfill your wish for Shri Jagannathrayaji.”
Narharadas said, “Maharaj! If I take this wealth and spend it, people who know me as poor will think I have stolen it. If the king punishes me, what shall I do?” Shri Acharyaji said, “Take my name; no one will punish you.” Narharadas said, “Maharaj! Please keep some part of this with you.” Shri Acharyaji said, “This is the wealth of Shri Jagannathrayaji. Use it for His wish. It is not for our use. We only accept wages earned honestly by our sevaks.”
Then Narharadas called goldsmiths, tailors, and cloth merchants. He prepared various garments, ornaments, cooking materials, and other offerings for Shri Jagannathrayaji. He made sure that no one in the village went hungry and gave wealth to the Brahmins. Everything was put to good use. People wondered, “Earlier Narharadas was poor. From where did he bring such wealth?”
To whoever asked, Narharadas replied, “Shri Acharyaji has given it for performing Shri Jagannathrayaji’s wish.” When the king heard of this, he came and asked, “From where did you obtain such wealth?” Narharadas replied, “Shri Acharyaji gave it to fulfill Shri Jagannathrayaji’s wish.” Then the king went to Shri Acharyaji and asked. Shri Acharyaji confirmed, “Yes, I said that the wealth should be used for Shri Thakurji’s service.” The king could not understand the divine mystery of Shri Acharyaji. He thought that Shri Acharyaji must have personally given the wealth and went home.
Later, Narharadas’s father heard that his son was performing grand offerings worth thousands. He went to meet him. Narharadas turned his back toward his father and said, “You are a blasphemer of Shri Thakurji. I will not look upon your face. See how much wealth Shri Jagannathrayaji has given me! Whoever has firm faith in the Lord, everything becomes accomplished for him. One who has no faith in Shri Thakurji is unhappy in this life and corrupted in the next. But since you are my father, I offer something to you as dedication to Shri Jagannathrayaji.”
He gave his father goods worth one thousand rupees and said, “After today, do not show me your face.” The father took the wealth and went home. After a few days, the wealth was spent, and Narharadas fulfilled all his wishes. Then he came to Shri Acharyaji, bowed down, and prayed, “Maharaj! Please have mercy and grant me refuge. Now my mind has no attachment to anything. I only wish to surrender to you.” Shri Acharyaji said, “Go and bathe, then come back.”
Narharadas bathed and returned. Shri Acharyaji gave him initiation, recited the Name, and made him offer his formal submission. Then a divine understanding of the Path of Grace (Pushtimarg) arose in Narharadas’s heart.
He bowed again and said, “Maharaj! I have done a very wrong act. I took the Lord’s wealth and used it to display my own greatness. I am a great sinner; even while serving Shri Thakurji, I acted with selfishness and ignorance. I am to be blamed. Taking the Lord’s wealth to serve the Lord—this too I did for my own fame. Now I surrender to you. Please tell me the way so that my next life may be purified and Shri Thakurji may bestow His grace.”
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Serve Shri Thakurji.” Narharadas prayed, “Maharaj! Please install Shri Thakurji in my home.” Shri Acharyaji said, “Go again to the seashore. There you will find the divine form of the Lord. Bring it.” Narharadas went again to the same place by the sea. From the waves appeared the two divine forms together (the divine couple). The forms came floating on the water and stopped before him. Narharadas brought them to Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu.
Shri Acharyaji bathed the divine forms in Panchamrit and, after performing worship, named Them Shri Madan Mohanji, and placed Them on Narharadas’s head. Then Narharadas prayed to Shri Acharyaji, “Maharaj! My father is worldly-minded. I should not return home. Also, in this place my fame has spread in worldly ways. I cannot perform pure service here. Many of my patrons and acquaintances are in Kashi. If you permit, I will go there to serve the Lord.”
Shri Acharyaji said, “That land is best where the service of the Lord can be performed properly. I too will soon go south to Kashi. You go directly there.” Later, Shri Acharyaji went toward the south, and Narharadas came to Kashi. There, with deep devotion, he began serving Shri Madan Mohanji. After some time, Shri Madan Mohanji began to express affection and divine grace toward him.
Prasang 1 – The Later Years of Narharadas
Narharadas served Shri Madan Mohanji for many years with great devotion. In time, his body became old and weak, and he was unable to continue the service physically. Then he brought Shri Madan Mohanji to Shri Gokul, bowed to Shri Gusainji, and presented Shri Madan Mohanji to him. Shri Gusainji placed Shri Madan Mohanji near Shri Gokulchandramaji, where they now sit together on separate thrones.
After that, Narharadas took birth again in Braj, where he lived performing mental service (manasi seva) with full devotion throughout his life. Thus ends the story of Narharadas, the divine sevak and recipient of Shri Acharyaji’s grace.