Now the sevak of Shri Gusainji, named Roopchandananda Kshatriya, he lived in Agra, his Varta is spoken with sentiment.
So, Roopchandananda is a “rajas” devotee. In the divine play his name is Sonjuhi. He manifested from Idulekha; therefore, he is of her bhava-form. This Sonjuhi is the leader of the one hundred and eight intimate sakhis of Shri Chandravaliji. She is the knower of Shri Chandravaliji’s heart. And Sonjuhi has one sakhi whose name is Sugandhini. She manifested here as Harichanda, the brother of Roopchandananda.
These two were born in Agra to a Kshatriya. That Kshatriya was very wealthy. He had two sons. One was named Roopchandananda and the other was named Harichanda. From childhood both brothers lived in a state of renunciation. Their minds did not engage in worldly matters. When they became ten or twelve years old, their father got both of them married. Even then, both brothers remained in a state of renunciation.
The father of Roopchandananda was Vasudevdas Chhakda’s yajman. Therefore, Vasudevdas Chhakda used to come every year to Agra to their house for his priestly duties. When Roopchandananda became about thirty years old, his father passed away. After that, once Vasudevdas came to Agra and stayed at their house. Then Roopchandananda asked Vasudevdas, “O priest! By this body, how can one attain the lotus feet of Shri Thakurji? How can one have direct darshan?”
Then Vasudevdas, knowing him to be a divine soul, said, “Shri Gusainji, Shri Vitthalnathji, is the Supreme Purushottam Himself. Therefore, if you go to the refuge of Shri Gusainji, all desires will be fulfilled.” Then Roopchandananda told this matter to his brother Harichanda. Then Harichanda said, “Come, let us become sevaks of Shri Gusainji.”
Then both brothers said to Vasudevdas Chhakda, “O priest! Please be merciful and make us sevaks of Shri Gusainji.” Seeing the insistence of both brothers, Vasudevdas Chhakda said, “You come with me to Adel. Shri Gusainji resides there.” Then both brothers went with Vasudevdas Chhakda to Adel. After some days they reached Adel. There they obtained darshan of Shri Gusainji.
Shri Gusainji Himself gave darshan to the two brothers in a form of beauty surpassing millions of Cupids. Then both brothers became stunned. After that, Vasudevdas Chhakda narrated all the details to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! These two brothers are my yajman Kshatriyas. They live in Agra. They are divine souls. Therefore, they have come to Your refuge. Please be merciful and accept them into refuge.”
Then Shri Gusainji became pleased and said to both of them, “Go and bathe at Triveni.” So both brothers bathed at Triveni. After that, they came to Shri Gusainji and stood with folded hands. Then Shri Gusainji, by His grace, had the names of both brothers offered in the presence of Shri Navanitpriyaji. At that very moment, Shri Navanitpriyaji revealed His presence to both brothers and gave them direct darshan.
Then both brothers became overwhelmed. They bowed to Shri Gusainji and made a supplication, “Maharaj! Today our birth has become fruitful, for we have attained the lotus feet of the Lord. Now what hope remains for us?” Then Shri Gusainji said to both brothers, “Remain in the household and perform Bhagavat-seva.”
Then Roopchandananda made a supplication, “O Lord! I only have this desire—that I may always obtain Your lotus feet.” Then Shri Gusainji became pleased, called for kumkum, applied kumkum from His two feet onto a cloth, stamped it, and gave it to both brothers. And He commanded, “Serve these.”
After that, both brothers stayed near Shri Gusainji in Adel for some days and learned the method of seva. Then, taking permission, they returned to their land, Agra. After some days, Shri Gusainji went to Shri Gokul. Then He resided at the house of Roopchandananda in Agra. Roopchandananda, with devotion and feeling, brought Shri Gusainji to his house and had the names of his wife and all household members offered. After that, Shri Gusainji went from there to Shri Gokul.
Prasang 1 – The Revelation of Inner Intention
Once Roopchandananda came to Shri Gokul for darshan of Shri Gusainji. There was Raghavdas, a Gujarati Brahmin, who had studied Shri Subodhini near Shri Gusainji. Roopchandananda met him. Raghavdas always lived near Shri Gusainji in Shri Gokul.
One day a thought arose in Raghavdas’s mind: “Uncle Harivanshji has not studied anything, yet he goes to foreign lands and brings many offerings. And Shri Gusainji has told me that I have studied, so I should bring many offerings.” This thought in Raghavdas’s mind was known to Shri Gusainji, for the Lord is the knower of all hearts.
At that time Shri Gusainji came to wash His hands and feet and then came outside, speaking this verse: “Pāṣaṇḍa-pracure loke Kṛṣṇa eva gatir mama.” At that moment, in front of Shri Gusainji stood Roopchandananda, Raghavdas, and many other Vaishnavas. Roopchandananda asked Parmanand Soni, “For what reason did Shri Gusainji recite this verse while coming?” Parmanand Soni said to Roopchandananda, “Shri Gusainji must have recited it seeing some impending circumstance.”
Roopchandananda thought in his mind, “How would Parmanand Soni know this? He is only literate. Who knows its inner meaning?” While Roopchandananda and Parmanand Soni were talking, Raghavdas came and stood near them. Then Roopchandananda understood that this matter was related only to him.
Later, when Shri Gusainji had eaten and was resting, Roopchandananda made a supplication, “Maharaj! At whom did you recite that statement at that time?” Shri Gusainji said to Roopchandananda, “Roopchandananda! Did you not understand anything?” Roopchandananda replied, “Maharaj! You are the Lord. Who among living beings is capable of understanding the depth of Your infinite speech?”
Then Shri Gusainji, pleased, said, “A sense of his own qualification arose in Raghavdas’s mind. But he did not understand this much—that offerings given by Vaishnavas are not given considering Harivanshji as inferior. Offerings given to Vaishnavas are Bhagavadiya. People send offerings with some other understanding in their minds.”
Then Roopchandananda said, “Maharaj! The same thought had come into my mind, that this matter was related to Raghavdas, but I did not know its inner secret. Now, by Your grace, You have revealed it.” Thus, in this way, Shri Gusainji showed grace upon Roopchandananda.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this Varta it is shown that just as pride of wealth and pride of power are obstacles, in the same way pride of knowledge is also an obstacle. Therefore, one should always fear ego. Ego destroys dharma.
Prasang 2 – The Test of Royal Devotion
Another time Shri Gusainji came to Agra. A chariot was driven from Roopchandananda’s house. First, a khavas was sent to inquire, “See whether Roopchandananda is at home.” The khavas went to the house and asked. At that time Roopchandananda was not at home. So the khavas did not call him. Then Shri Gusainji’s chariot moved ahead.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why? Because the wife and others at home were all ordinary Vaishnavas. Therefore, Shri Gusainji did not go to Roopchandananda’s house at that time. Instead, the Lord went to the house of Bhana Kapoor. There Shri Gusainji removed His upper garment, wrapped it over His head, placed the sacred thread over His ear, and came into the courtyard to wash His hands and feet.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the city Roopchandananda heard, “Shri Gusainji has arrived.” Roopchandananda ran and came. Seeing a crowd at Bhana Kapoor’s door, he went inside. From a distance he took the darshan of the Lord and from there immediately returned to his own house.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why? Because he was a royal devotee. Therefore, he understood that if Shri Gusainji considered him His own, He Himself would come to his house. Therefore, Roopchandananda took darshan from a distance and left, without making any supplication.
Then Shri Gusainji, in the same way, seeing Roopchandananda, followed him and came to Roopchandananda’s house. Roopchandananda became very pleased in his heart. Then Shri Gusainji washed His hands and feet, bathed, cooked food, offered bhoga, accepted prasad, and went to rest at Roopchandananda’s house.
Then Shri Gusainji asked Roopchandananda, “Roopchandananda! When you came there, you bowed to Me and immediately turned back. Why was that? And without being invited, I came to your house, following you. Tell me the reason.”
Roopchandananda replied, “Maharaj! Why did you leave your own home and go there?” Shri Gusainji said, “I had sent to inquire about you. But you were not at home at that time, so I went there.” Then Roopchandananda said, “Maharaj! I was not at home, but the house itself had not gone anywhere.” Hearing these words, Shri Gusainji remained silent.
Later, all the Vaishnavas at Bhana Kapoor’s house began discussing, “Why did Shri Gusainji go so many times?” Someone said, “Shri Gusainji has eaten and is resting at Roopchandananda’s house.” Then all the sevaks and belongings were brought to Roopchandananda’s house. For a few days Shri Gusainji stayed at Roopchandananda’s house. After that, Shri Gusainji returned again to Shri Gokul. In this way, Shri Gusainji showed grace upon Roopchandananda.
Prasang 3 – Knowing the Lord’s Mind
Once Shri Gusainji came to Roopchandananda’s house. One day he was seated on a cushion. At that time a thought arose in Shri Gusainji’s mind: “If a horse of such-and-such color, with velvet trappings of such-and-such color, were prepared, then riding that horse one could go to Shri Nathji’s temple.”
At that time Roopchandananda was in the market. By the grace of the Lord, Roopchandananda came to know that very thought of Shri Gusainji’s mind there itself. Just as Shri Gusainji had imagined, Roopchandananda prepared exactly such a horse and exactly such velvet trappings. Holding the reins of the horse and carrying a whip, he came and stood ready. Roopchandananda then made a supplication, “Maharaj! The horse is ready.” Seeing the horse, Shri Gusainji became very pleased. At that very moment Shri Gusainji mounted that horse and went for the darshan of Shri Nathji.
Thus, Roopchandananda was such an intimate sevak and recipient of grace of Shri Gusainji that he knew the thoughts of Shri Gusainji’s mind in this way. Roopchandananda was such a graced Bhagavadiya of Shri Gusainji. Therefore, there is no end to his Vartas—how far can one describe them?