Now, the sevak of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, Gopaldas Kshetri, lived in the West. The feeling of their story is told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This Gopaldas is, in the Divine Leela, the chief khavas (attendant) of Shri Nandarayaji. There his name is “Jasvant.” So, Jasvant—on the day when Nandarayaji was seized by Varuna, sat Nandarayaji on the bank of the ghat and went to his own house for his own work. After that, Shri Nandarayaji was alone. Then Varuna seized him. Shri Thakurji, hearing this, brought Shri Nandarayaji back from Varunalok. Then Shri Baldevji said to Jasvant, the khavas of Shri Nandarayaji, “When Shri Nandarayaji was taken by Varuna, where were you?” Then Jasvant said, “I had gone home for some work.” Then Shri Baldevji cursed him, “Go, fall upon the earth. You have caused so much labor to Shri Nandarayaji. Being a khavas, you should have stayed in attendance at night.”
Thus, in the West, Gopaldas took birth in Naroda in the house of a Kshetri. When he was seven years old, he studied a lot. And he had a lot of wealth. And he had a very regal nature. Ten or five men walked in front and behind him. He did not spare anyone in criticism. If anyone was a good person, he would still find one or two faults in them. Later, in the West, there was another village. There Gopaldas was married. Having married, Gopaldas was returning with his wife. On the way, he met a great pandit and began to debate with him. They camped on the road for three days. But he did not defeat that pandit. After that, a fight occurred. Then Gopaldas’s father went to rescue him. The pandit’s men shot an arrow. Gopaldas’s father died. Then Gopaldas ran with weapons. The pandit fled with his men. Gopaldas searched much, but did not find him anywhere.
Then he performed the last rites for his father’s body and came home. After that, Gopaldas went to Dwarka for the darshan of Shri Ranchhodji. There Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu had arrived. Then Gopaldas heard that Shri Acharyaji is a great pandit, who has refuted the doctrine of Maya. Then Gopaldas came to debate with Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu. At once, in the discussion, he was defeated. Then Gopaldas said to Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, “What is said in the Vaishnava dharma? Shri Thakurji resides in everyone’s heart. The whole world is also called Krishna-form. Then why are Vaishnavas considered defiled by the touch of dogs, etc.? If all becomes Bhagavad-form, then how can touch be defiling?”
Then Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu said, “Our path is the Vedic path. And the Veda-shastras say this: the world is Bhagavad-form, and still, due to differences of purity and impurity, some touch is defiling. And others are superior. One should show compassion toward all. This is what the Vedic rule and the Vaishnavas say. You, however, speak of the attributeless, all-pervading—saying the entire world is Brahma-form. Then why do you, making fault-judgment in all, criticize this person and that? Why do you wear clothes? Brahma has nothing to do. He remains as a witness. Now you think.” Hearing this, knowledge dawned on Gopaldas.
Then Gopaldas said, “Now I take refuge in you. My whole life has passed in wickedness. Now, taking me into refuge makes me fulfilled.” Then Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu bathed Gopaldas, recited the Name to him, and performed Brahmasambandh. Then Gopaldas said, “Please, show grace and come to my house.” Then Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu came to Gopaldas’s house in Naroda. At that time, Gopaldas’s son was four years old. He was given the Name. The name of Gopaldas’s wife was given. Then Gopaldas prayed to Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, “Maharaj! What is now our command?” Then Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu said to Gopaldas, “Bhagavad-seva will not be possible for you. Why? Because your wife and son are not divine. You are devine, so you have much viraha (separation). For one in viraha, there is much inner experience in the heart. External ritual actions do not proceed.”
Then Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu wrote down the Gadya-Sholk and the Panchakshar-mantra and gave them to Gopaldas, and said, “Offer them bhog at home and eat and drink. And our instruction is: whichever jiva comes, you recite the Name to him. From birth, remain in the Swami position. Therefore, I have given you the Swami position. If a debater comes, debate with him. No one will defeat you.” Saying this to Gopaldas, Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu went on ahead. Thus Gopaldas began to impart the Name. He became a Vaishnava of great steadiness. He debated with debaters. Whatever words came from his mouth, he carried out. By the power of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, his fame spread in the West.
Prasang 1 – The Proper Way of Speaking about Service
Later, once when Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu came to Shri Dwarikaji, on the way he came to the village of Naroda. There, Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu came to Gopaldas’s house. But Gopaldas was not at home. Gopaldas’s son was fourteen years old. Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu asked Gopaldas’s son, “Where has Gopaldas gone?” Then Gopaldas’s son said, “Maharaj! He has gone for the seva of Shri Thakurji.” Hearing these words, Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu became very displeased with Gopaldas’s son. He said, “Why did Gopaldas’s son say such an improper thing? Now it is not proper to stay here.” Then Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu thought in his mind, “Let Gopaldas come. Let us see, what is Gopaldas’s understanding? How does he speak?” Meanwhile, Gopaldas came and offered prostrations to Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu.
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “Gopaldas! Where had you gone?” Then Gopaldas said, “Maharaj! There was a need for the stomach. So I had gone for some worldly occupation.” Hearing these words, Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu was very pleased with Gopaldas. He said, “It is proper for a Vaishnava to speak like this. One should not speak in such a way as to use the name of Shri Thakurji’s seva for a worldly occupation.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This is the practice of a Pushtimargi, that even if one goes for seva, one still uses a worldly name. One should not publicly display Bhagavad-dharma; that is being Bhagavadiya. A person who is not a good jiva, even in worldly matters, to inflate his own greatness before everyone, uses the name of Bhagavad-seva. Afterward, Gopaldas prayed, “Maharaj! Please stay two or four days graciously. We have made many preparations to keep you in this way.” But Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu said, “I must go quickly to Shri Dwarka.” Saying this, he went on and did not stay there.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): From this, although Gopaldas is Bhagavadiya, the understanding of Gopaldas’s wife and son is not steady. Therefore, he went on. If he had stayed here, there would not have been bliss.
Prasang 2 – Shri Govardhannathji Gives Water with His Own Jug
Gopaldas had intense viraha for the darshan of Shri Nathji. So he came to Shri Nathjidwaar and had darshan of Shri Nathji. After that, Gopaldas developed a fever. He fasted twice. Then, one night, Gopaldas felt great thirst. There was no water nearby. He had brought along one of his own sevaks. He called him, but he had fallen asleep. And Gopaldas’s throat dried up; no words would come out. Then he became agitated in his mind. Then Shri Govardhannathji, bringing His own drinking-water jug, came to Gopaldas and gave him water to drink, and left the jug right there.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): From this it is shown that the jug was left to manifest the glory of Gopaldas. So that everyone would know that Gopaldas is a great Bhagavadiya, the one to whom Shri Nathji gives water to drink. In the same way that jivas are fulfilled by singing the glory of Shri Thakurji, so too are jivas fulfilled by singing the glory of a Bhagavadiya. And Gopaldas was regal in nature. So when people saw only his outward conduct, they might commit the great offense of criticizing a Vaishnava. Therefore, Govardhandhar left the jug so that all would recognize Gopaldas as Bhagavadiya, and thus no one would criticize him. In this it is also shown: even though he is regal, the sevak of Shri Acharyaji is very dear to Me. Shri Nathji left the jug there to make this known to everyone. For Govardhandhar’s heart is extremely tender. He cannot bear the suffering of His devotees.
Then, when it became morning, all performed the inner bathing and came into the temple of Shri Govardhannathji and looked, the jug was not there. So everyone began to worry. Then Shri Govardhannathji spoke to the elder Ramdasji, “Gopaldas was very thirsty at night. There I gave him water to drink and left the jug.” Then Ramdasji came and said to Gopaldas, “Gopaldas! From where did you drink water at night?” Then Gopaldas said, “I developed a fever and had a great thirst. My throat had dried up, and I was agitated. Therefore I do not know who gave me to drink.”
Then Ramdasji said to Gopaldas, “Shri Govardhandhar gave you water to drink and left the jug here. So I have come to take the jug. Therefore, your fortune is great.” Then Gopaldas said, “Did the Lord have to undertake so much labor? He was angry with his own man, ‘Why did you not keep water by me? And why did you go to sleep? I was extremely thirsty, and thus Shri Thakurji had to undergo labor. This is bad.’” After that, Ramdasji consoled Gopaldas and, taking the jug, brought it into the temple. Then Gopaldas became well. Having had darshan of Shri Nathji, he came to his own house. Yet the viraha for Shri Govardhandhar remained with him all twenty-four hours.
Prasang 3 – A Song of Separation
And one day, the viraha became very great. So, making the viraha into a lyric, he sang:
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"केकी सिखंडी स्याम घन कंठ मनोहर हार। धन्य ते दिन देखिशुं नैनन नन्दकुमार ॥।"
Peacock-feather-crested Shyam (dark one) with a cloud-like neck and a charming garland — Blessed are the days when my eyes behold Nand Kumar (the son of Nanda).
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Prasang 4 – Name-Initiation by Shri Gusainji and the Consequence
At another time, Shri Gusainji came to Shri Dwarika for the darshan of Shri Ranchhodji. On the way, he came to the village of Naroda. He pitched camp outside the village and halted. At the time of the morning audience, Gopaldas went for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then two men went along with Gopaldas. They went there and had darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then both men said to Gopaldas, “Have Shri Gusainji grant us the Name.”
Then Gopaldas said, “I also give the Name. So when we go home, you come to my house; I will recite the Name to you.” In this way, the two men said to Gopaldas three times, “Our wish is that Shri Gusainji should recite the Name to us.” And all three times Gopaldas said, “Come to our house; we will recite the Name to you.” Shri Gusainji asked those two men all this, “What are you saying to Gopaldas?” Then they said, “Maharaj! Our wish is that you kindly recite the Name to us.” Then Shri Gusainji recited the Name to both of them and fulfilled them.
After that, Shri Gusainji said to Gopaldas, “You have indeed been accepted by Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, that is firm. The Lord will never abandon you. But as for those sevaks whom you have made by reciting the Name to them, they will not all be ours. They will turn away from the Pushtimarg. Hearing this, all the Vaishnavas became the sevaks of Shri Gusainji and were fulfilled. And those who remained behind became fallen from the Pushtimarg. Shri Gusainji called them ‘Gangoj.’” Thus, Gopaldas always remained absorbed in the state of viraha. Therefore, their story is told up to this point.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Just as water that is separated from the stream of Shri Ganga becomes separate water—this is sin-form for all people—touching it brings fault; so it happened here. In this it is shown that, after Gopaldas attained the Swami position, there came a ruin of life. Therefore, humility is a great substance. It accomplishes all fruits. And pride is a great obstacle—this is shown. Therefore, Gopaldas is such a Bhagavadiya, a grace-receiver of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, to whom Shri Govardhandhar reveals experience, He gave him to drink water from His own jug.