Now the sentiment (bhav) of the sevak of Shri Gusainji, Madhavdas Kayastha of Saharanpur, is being told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This Madhavdas is a sattvic devotee. In the divine play, his name is “Sarasini.” He manifested from Indulekha, therefore he is of her bhav-form.
This Madhavdas was born in Saharanpur in the house of a wealthy Kayastha. That Kayastha had no other child. Therefore, he loved Madhavdas very much. Thus both mother and father kept great affection for Madhavdas. In this manner, Madhavdas became eighteen years old. Then Madhavdas came to Delhi for some work. At that time Shri Gusainji was residing in Delhi. There, at Nigambodh Ghat, Shri Gusainji himself would come to perform bathing and evening rites. One day Madhavdas came to Nigambodh Ghat to bathe in Shri Yamunaji. There he obtained the darshan of Shri Gusainji. After seeing Shri Gusainji, Madhavdas remained astonished. Such divine radiance of the Lord Madhavdas saw. Then Shri Gusainji himself looked at Madhavdas with grace. Then Madhavdas made a supplication to Shri Gusainji, saying—“Maharaj! Please show mercy and make me your sevak.” Then Shri Gusainji asked Madhavdas—“Who are you? Where do you live?” Then Madhavdas humbly said to Shri Gusainji—“Maharaj! I am a Kayastha and I live in Saharanpur. Today great mercy has happened that I obtained your darshan. Therefore now quickly make me your sevak. Without your refuge my birth has passed uselessly till now. Now quickly show mercy.”
Then Shri Gusainji, seeing the intense feeling of Madhavdas, had Madhavdas bathed and initiated him with a name. Afterwards Madhavdas submitted—“Maharaj! Now what is my duty?” Then Shri Gusainji explained the system of the Path to Madhavdas and commanded—“You should perform Bhagavat seva.” Then Madhavdas said—“Maharaj! At home, mother and father are opposed. Then how can seva be done?” Then Shri Gusainji gave assurance to Madhavdas—“You should prepare food with your own hands, mentally offer bhog, and take the prasad. Do not take anything from anyone’s hand. Then the Path will manifest to you by itself.” Thus Shri Gusainji himself gave blessings to Madhavdas. Afterwards Madhavdas took permission from Shri Gusainji and came to his home in Saharanpur.
Prasang 1 – Separation from the Household and Transformation of the Parents
So that Madhavdas obtained name initiation from Shri Gusainji. And the parents of Madhavdas were outwardly opposed to seva. They came to know about this matter. Then they separated Madhavdas from themselves. They gave no wealth to Madhavdas. But Madhavdas was of Bhagavan’s own. Therefore he did not feel joy or sorrow about this matter. But his father was such a harsh man that whenever he saw Madhavdas, he felt great anguish in his heart. And in this way he would say to the villagers—“This Madhavdas has now become a Vaishnava. Therefore he is of no use to me.” In this manner many days passed.
Then when he himself became seventy-five years old, he thought in his mind—“In the beginning I committed many immoral acts of sense indulgence. Therefore now, if possible, I should go on pilgrimage.” Thinking this, Madhavdas’s father took his wife along and, taking four thousand rupees from home, set out on pilgrimage. And he placed all the wealth in such places that Madhavdas would not know. So when they set out from home and proceeded towards Delhi, then at a distance of ten to twenty kos from Mathura, the Mathura Brahmins came forward and brought them along. There those Mathura Brahmins said to Madhavdas’s father—“If you are going on pilgrimage, then if you go after accepting a guru, you will obtain the fruit of pilgrimage.”
Then he thought in his mind—“These people have brought me from twenty kos away in order to take wealth out of greed. What fulfillment will they give me by becoming my guru? Therefore, if I take refuge, I will take refuge in the guru of Madhavdas.” This feeling firmly arose in his heart. He did not say it to anyone, nor did he accept them. And both husband and wife went straight from Mathura to Prayag. After some days they reached Prayag. From there they came to Adel. Then through the gatekeeper news was sent to Shri Gusainji—“Maharaj! Madhavdas’s father has come.” Then the attendant informed the Lord.
Then Shri Gusainji called him inside. Then both husband and wife went inside and after doing darshan of Shri Gusainji attained great bliss. Then Shri Gusainji gave them permission to sit. Then they did full prostration and sat. Then Shri Gusainji asked them about the news of Madhavdas. Afterwards Madhavdas’s father submitted to Shri Gusainji—“Maharaj! From the time I became twelve years old until today, I have practiced sense indulgence. Now that I have become old, it has left me. Therefore, Maharaj, please accept me.” Then Shri Gusainji commanded them—“You both go and bathe, then come.” Then both husband and wife bathed and came and did prostration to Shri Gusainji.
Then Shri Gusainji mercifully initiated them with names. Immediately their minds turned away from all other places. Then he said to his wife—“Now where should we go further? The faults of my mind are all removed. Therefore we should stay here in Adel daily.” And they continued to do darshan of Shri Gusainji. In this way many days passed. Then one day Shri Gusainji asked them—“Why do you not go on pilgrimage?” Then he submitted to Shri Gusainji—“Maharaj! Now what need do we have of pilgrimage? I have sat at the royal gate itself, and I will continue to do your darshan. This is my desire.” Then Shri Gusainji said to them - “Do not do so. Bhagavadiyas should also maintain worldly duties.” Then they gave their four thousand rupees hundi into the treasury. And taking loan money through the priest, they went to Gaya, performed shraddha, and then returned to Adel and prostrated to Shri Gusainji.
So when they came to Adel, Madhavdas’s father wrote this news to Madhavdas, and also wrote down all the places where wealth had been kept in the house, and sent one man to his country. In that he wrote—“Taking all this wealth from all these places, quickly come here once.” That letter reached Madhavdas. After reading the letter, Madhavdas became very pleased. Afterwards, taking all the wealth, Madhavdas set out from his country to Adel for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. After some days he reached there and did darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then both parents of Madhavdas submitted to Shri Gusainji—“Maharaj! We have obtained darshan of your lotus feet through the glory of this Madhavdas.” And Madhavdas’s father said—“Maharaj! For so many days I kept displeasure towards Madhavdas. Therefore now, because of Madhavdas, is there any obstacle remaining or not? Whatever command you give, that I will do.”
Then Shri Gusainji said to him—“What is proper for you is this only. But Madhavdas is your son.” Then with great joy they embraced Madhavdas and met him. And they kissed Madhavdas on the face. And they said to Madhavdas—“Son! Through your grace we have obtained the lotus feet of Shri Gusainji. Otherwise, from where would we have obtained association leading to Shri Gusainji’s lotus feet? How would we have attained these lotus feet?” Hearing these words of his father, Madhavdas said to him—“The Lord is all-powerful. In turning the mind, he does not know any delay. But the Lord never abandons those whom he has accepted.” Hearing these words of Madhavdas, both mother and father became very pleased.
Afterwards, all the wealth that Madhavdas had brought from home, he handed over entirely to his father. Then Madhavdas’s father placed all that wealth into the treasury of Shri Gusainji. Afterwards they stayed seated near the gate. Then Shri Gusainji commanded them—“You both husband and wife should perform the seva of flowers. And you should take mahaprasad inside. And continue doing darshan.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why so? These two are the gardener and gardener-woman of Shri Yamunaji’s grove. The man’s name is “Gendūva,” and the woman’s name is “Surajmukhi.” Therefore here also Shri Gusainji himself entrusted them with the seva of flowers.
After staying near Shri Gusainji for some days, Madhavdas asked leave from the Lord and came to his country. When Madhavdas took leave from his father and set out for his country, then his father informed him of all the other wealth that was in his house. Afterwards Madhavdas went to his home and after some days reached there. His parents both remained near Shri Gusainji.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Therefore such is the effect of association. Association is certainly to be done by this soul. Through the glory of Madhavdas, the work of both of them was accomplished.
That Madhavdas was such a greatly favored Bhagavadiya of Shri Gusainji; therefore, how far can his narrative be told?