Now the sevak of Shri Gusainji, Madhusudandas, a Gaudiya Brahmin, lived in Vrindavan. His Varta is spoken with its sentiment.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This Madhusudandas is a tamas devotee. In the divine play, his name is Bandini. Bandini manifested from Indulekha; therefore, she is the form of his inner sentiment.
This Madhusudandas was born in Gaud Desh to a Brahmin. That Brahmin was a sevak of Rup and Sanatan. Every year he would go to Vrindavan for the darshan of his guru. There he would stay for some days and serve the guru. Then, after receiving the guru’s command, he would return to his homeland. In this manner he continued. While doing so, Madhusudandas became about twenty years of age. Then that Brahmin also took Madhusudandas with him to Vrindavan. Upon arriving in Vrindavan, Madhusudandas too became a sevak of Rup and Sanatan. Afterwards, Madhusudandas stayed in Vrindavan with his father. Seeing the beauty of the creepers, leaves, and groves of Vrindavan, Madhusudandas’ mind became attached to Vrindavan. After some days, his father prepared to leave for his homeland. Then Madhusudandas said to his father, “Now I will not leave Braj–Vrindavan and go with you. My mind has become attached here. Therefore, I will remain in Braj.”
Then the father tried to explain to him greatly and said, “Son, you are still a child. Your marriage has not yet taken place, and I have become old. Therefore, come with me to the homeland now. After my death, if you wish to live here, then do so.” But Madhusudandas did not agree. Then the father, defeated, left for his homeland. While departing, he made a request to Rup and Sanatan, saying, “This is a child; I am entrusting him to you.” Then Rup and Sanatan said, “Do not worry about anything. Go peacefully. I will keep him with me.” Then the father gave some expenses to Madhusudandas and went to his homeland. Afterwards, Madhusudandas, becoming free of anxiety, began to wander in Braj.
Prasang 1 – Madhusudandas Becomes the Sevak of Shri Gusainji
Once, Madhusudandas came to Shri Gokul to Shri Gusainji. At that time, Madhusudandas was a sevak of others. He came to Shri Gokul and took the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then this thought arose in Madhusudandas’ mind, “If I become his sevak, it would be a good thing.” At that very moment, Madhusudandas made a request to Shri Gusainji, saying, “Maharaj, please show mercy to me and make me your sevak.” Then Shri Gusainji, knowing his inner pain, immediately had him bathed, had his name offered, and himself went for the Lord’s meal. Then Shri Gusainji gave this command to Madhusudandas, “Madhusudandas, today you should come here to take prasadam.” That day Madhusudandas took prasadam there.
On the next day, Madhusudandas was cooking. At that time, Shri Gusainji was entering for his meal. Shri Gusainji saw Madhusudandas and came to that place and asked him, “Madhusudandas, do you have any provisions?” Then Madhusudandas made a request to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj, I have only a little expense, tied in my cloth.” Then Shri Gusainji spoke with this intention to Madhusudandas, “Madhusudandas, today you take prasadam here, and tomorrow morning go to your own place.” Then Madhusudandas made a request to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj, as long as there are provisions in my bundle, I will cook and take prasadam. And when the provisions are exhausted, then I will live by begging plain alms. But I will remain fallen at your lotus feet.”
Then Shri Gusainji had Madhusudandas take prasadam inside for two days. On the third day, Madhusudandas sought permission and began cooking. When the provisions were exhausted, Madhusudandas began to beg for plain alms. After he had been begging for four days, one day Shri Gusainji asked Madhusudandas, “Madhusudandas, how are you sustaining yourself now?” Then Madhusudandas told all his circumstances before Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj, I had provisions for two days. During that time, early in the morning I would cook, offer bhog, and after Rajbhog take prasadam. And now I beg for alms and prepare food at night. Then early in the morning I cook, offer bhog to Shri Thakurji, cover that prasadam, and come for darshan. After taking darshan and prasadam, I again go to beg alms.”
Then Shri Gusainji asked Madhusudandas, “From whose houses do you bring alms?” Then Madhusudandas made a request to Shri Gusainji, “I bring them from the houses of Vaishnavs, from the houses of the Bhatjis, and from the houses of the interior Braj residents. And I sustain myself by begging from the shops of merchants.” Then Shri Gusainji said to Madhusudandas, “You may take alms from all other houses, but do not take even a single grain from the houses of the Bhatjis and the interior servants.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why so? Because they accept provisions that have been consecrated for the household of Shri Gusainji. Therefore, taking sustenance from their houses becomes entirely obstructive for a Vaishnav. This has already been stated earlier in the Varta of Vishnudas Chhipa.
Hearing the words of Shri Gusainji, Madhusudandas began to act accordingly. After some days, Shri Gusainji entrusted Madhusudandas with the service of Shri Nathji’s biran leaves. Madhusudandas began to serve Shri Nathji’s betel leaves very well. During the hot season, when the heat became very intense, Madhusudandas would fan for four prahars at night. In this way, many days passed.
One day, Shri Gusainji came to the betel house. There he saw that Madhusudandas’ eyes were drooping with sleep. Great lethargy had filled his eyes, yet the fan continued to move from his hand. Seeing this manner of service by Madhusudandas, Shri Gusainji became extremely pleased. But when Shri Gusainji arrived, Madhusudandas did not become aware of it. Madhusudandas was absorbed in serving Shri Nathji’s betel leaves, and therefore acted in this manner.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this Varta it is shown that a Vaishnav should have such addiction in service—so that the Lord may become pleased, and only then does the soul become fulfilled. This is what Shri Acharyaji says in the Bhaktivardhini text. That verse is: Yada syad vyasanam krishne krtarthah syat tadaiva hi
Thus, Madhusudandas attained such an addiction to service. Therefore, Shri Gusainji always bestowed mercy upon Madhusudandas and remained very pleased with him. That Madhusudandas is such a recipient of Shri Gusainji’s grace and belongs to the Lord. Therefore, to what extent can his Varta be spoken?