Now the sevaks of Shri Gusainji, the two Patel brothers, who lived in Gujarat—their varta’s sentiment is being narrated.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These two brothers are sāttvik devotees. In līlā, the elder brother’s name is Targinī, and the younger brother’s name is Mugdhā. Targinī belongs to the group of Shri Yamunāji, and Mugdhā is Premmanjarī, a sakhī of Rādhā’s companion. Thus, both of these are sakhīs. These two manifested from Premmanjarī; therefore, these are their bhāva-forms.
So, these two brothers were born in Gujarat in the house of a Kunbī Patel. Their parents died leaving these two as children. Then both of them went to live at their uncle’s house. That uncle was a Vaishnav. Therefore, when Shri Gusainji arrived at Khambha, then he made these two also sevaks of Shri Gusainji. Later, when these two became about twenty or twenty-two years old, then their uncle died. Then the two brothers set out on a pilgrimage to Braj.
Prasang 1 – Service of the Cows
So, once, a group set out together from Gujarat to have darshan of Shrinathji. Along with that group, these two Patel brothers also went to have darshan of Shrinathji. After several days, that group reached Shrinathji Dwar. All of them had darshan of Shri Gusainji. After that, Shri Gusainji arranged for Shrinathji’s anusar, then came down from the hill and sat in his own baithak. Then all the Vaishnavs of that group came for darshan of Shri Gusainji. Among them, first of all, these two Patel brothers came, offered dandavat to Shri Gusainji, and said: “Maharaj! For some days our mind wishes to live in Braj. Therefore, please tell us the service of Shrinathji; we will do it. And whatever mahaprasad you bestow, we will take. And whatever prasad garments you give, we will wear.”
Among the two brothers, the younger brother was simple, and the elder brother was clever. The younger brother had no knowledge at all. Therefore, Shri Gusainji assigned him the service of sweeping the path of the cows of Shrinathji. He instructed him in the duty of cutting and arranging grass and water for the cows. And the other brother was alert and capable; to him Shri Gusainji assigned the service of bathing Shrinathji in the jalghara. Thus, both of them, with great joy, received the Lord’s command and began serving under Shri Gusainji.
Now, the brother who bathed in the jalghara would finish his duty and, taking prasad, would go to his brother after five or seven days. And the one who had been assigned the service of the cows would, with great love, perform the service of Shrinathji’s cows so thoroughly that he would sweep the cows’ path twice in such a way that nowhere would any pebble remain. He would think in his mind: “Shrinathji comes here. The lotus feet of the Lord are extremely delicate. If a pebble remains, then I will incur an offense.” In this manner, that Patel would sweep the cows’ path. He would carefully pick and arrange the grass and fodder in front of the cows. In that fodder, no pebble would remain. And no insect or creature would be allowed to remain in the grass. During the monsoon, he would clean the path very thoroughly, so that the ground remained completely clear. Thus, the cows experienced great comfort.
In this way, day by day, with increasing delight, he would serve the cows. He would keep his leaf-plate and bowl stored inside. Whenever he would finish his service, then he would go and have darshan of Shri Gusainji and afterward take prasad. Sometimes he would go in the evening to take prasad. Thus, after several days passed, the attendant went and said to Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! His leaf-plate is still lying here. He does not come on time. Therefore, please say something to him, so that he comes at the proper time and takes his leaf-plate.”
Then the next day Patel came for darshan of Shri Gusainji. Shri Gusainji said to him: “Patel! Take your leaf-plate promptly.” Then that Patel offered dandavat to Shri Gusainji and said, “Very well, Maharaj.” Saying this, he again went into the cows’ path and began his service. He forgot all about the leaf-plate. In this way, with an absorbed mind, he continued serving the cows. Knowing his mugdh (innocent, absorbed) bhāva, Shrinathji became very pleased with him. In the intensity of his service, he would not even remember to eat. Therefore, sometimes Shrinathji Himself would give him darshan, and sometimes the Lord would send him to take prasad. Even then, he would go only after finishing his service. Such was his mind, completely attached to the service of Shrinathji’s cows.
Then one day, Shrinathji Himself gave him a laddu from the shayya-bhog. He ate it and continued his service. That day also, he did not go to take his leaf-plate. Then the attendant again made a request to Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! Even today he has not come to take his leaf-plate.” Then Shri Gusainji called him at night and asked: “Patel! Why did you not come today as well to take your leaf-plate?” Then that Patel made a request to Shri Gusainji, saying: “Maharaj! Shrinathji gave me one laddu. From it I ate a little, and a little I have tied and kept with me. Therefore, I am not hungry. So what should I do by taking a leaf-plate?” Hearing these words, Shri Gusainji understood Shrinathji’s grace and became extremely pleased with him. Then Shri Gusainji said to him: “Patel! Is that laddu with you?” Then the Patel requested Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! Half of the laddu is with me.”
So he untied the knot of the laddu and placed that half laddu before Shri Gusainji. Then Shri Gusainji showed that laddu to Ramdasji, the attendant. Seeing that laddu of the shayya-bhog, Ramdasji was extremely astonished. From that day onward, Ramdasji himself carefully covered and kept that Patel’s leaf-plate. If up to the sayan-ārti he would not go to take his leaf-plate, then his brother would bring the leaf-plate in his hand and deliver it to him. In this way, his mind remained completely absorbed in the service of the cows.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this vartā, it is shown that if someone serves the cows properly, then Shrinathji Himself becomes pleased with that person.
Prasang 2 – Calling Shri Gusainji “Kakaji”
And that Patel was simple; he did not even know Shri Gusainji’s name. So one day, he was sitting near Shri Gusainji, thinking in his mind: “I do not know his name, so how should I address him and offer dandavat?” While he was thinking this, Shri Balkrishnaji arrived there, offered dandavat, and requested Shri Gusainji, saying: “Kakaji, please come for the meal.” Hearing these words of Shri Balkrishnaji, that Patel became very pleased in his mind. He offered dandavat to Shri Gusainji and made this request: “Maharaj, today I have come to know your name. There was concern in my mind about what I should say and how I should offer pranam. It seems that your name is Kakaji.”
Hearing this, Shri Gusainji became very pleased. He understood the man’s guileless, pure bhāva. Then Shri Gusainji went for the meal. That Patel got up and walked along, saying, “Kakaji Maharaj.” Hearing his words, both the Vaishnavs and Shri Gusainji became very pleased. Then Shri Gusainji smiled and said to those Vaishnavs: “Our one new nephew has come who calls me Kakaji.”
After that, Shri Gusainji went for the meal. Thereafter, whenever that Patel came near Shri Gusainji, he would offer dandavat in this same way. And when he went to the cows’ path, he would say, “Kakaji Maharaj.” Hearing these words, Shri Gusainji and all those sitting near the Lord would become very pleased. And whenever Shri Gusainji would see him coming from a distance, he would say to the Vaishnavs: “Now he is coming to say ‘Kakaji.’”
As soon as that Patel said “Kakaji Maharaj,” Shri Gusainji and all the Vaishnavs would become extremely pleased. And seeing him coming from afar, all would become very happy and remain silent. So one day, some Vaishnav said to that Patel: “The one whom you call Kakaji—his name is Shri Vitthalanathji Shri Gusainji. Therefore, you should offer dandavat saying ‘Shri Gusainji.’” Then that Patel said to that Vaishnav: “I do not believe what you say. You are saying this only to make me say something else and to make Kakaji angry with me.” Saying this, he did not accept that Vaishnav’s words. Then that Vaishnav said to Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! I am telling him your name, but nothing enters his mind.”
Then the next day, that Patel came for darshan of Shri Gusainji. Sitting down and saying “Kakaji Maharaj,” he made this request: “Maharaj! All these Vaishnavs have joined together and are telling me this and that, to make you angry with me—that I should not say Kakaji and should say something else. That name, I had heard yesterday, but I have no memory of the name. Such a big name—how will it come out of my tongue? Therefore, I will simply keep calling you Kakaji.” Knowing his pure bhāva, Shri Gusainji gave this command from his own mouth: “Patel! Whatever name comes out naturally from your tongue, you should keep saying that.”
Receiving this command of Shri Gusainji, that Patel became very pleased. And he said to that Vaishnav: “See now! Has Kakaji scolded me even a little? Yesterday you told me so many things.” Hearing this, that Vaishnav remained silent. Then that Patel offered dandavat to Shri Gusainji and returned to his cows’ path. Then Shri Gusainji said to that Vaishnav: “This poor Patel is simple and understands nothing. Therefore, I have kept him engaged in the service of the cows.”
Then the days of Chaturmas arrived. At that time, in the muddy paths of Shrinathji’s cows, that Patel remained continuously cleaning the mud. Therefore, he could not get free from that work. So he did not go to take prasad. Thus, whatever Shrinathji gave him, he would eat that alone and continue his duty. But he would not go to take the leaf-plate. Shrinathji Himself said to him: “Bring your leaf-plate and then do your service.” Then that Patel said to Shrinathji: “Baba! You are a child, so why should I accept the childlike understanding you give me? Now evening will come. Then all the cows will sit down soaked in rain.”
In this way, he did not even accept Shrinathji’s words. That day, the night became very late, and rain was pouring heavily. Therefore, he could not go at night to take his leaf-plate. He had become exhausted from the work. And whatever Shrinathji had given him at midday, he ate that and slept at night. Later, when Shrinathji lay down to rest, at that very time, taking the water-pot, cup, and betel, Shrinathji began to come to the cows’ path to that Patel. Just then, Shri Swaminiji said to Shrinathji: “In such pouring rain, where are you going?”
Then Shrinathji said to Shri Swaminiji: “One new nephew of Shri Gusainji has manifested. He performs the service of the cows very well. Today he has not taken prasad. Trusting us, he has fallen asleep. Therefore, we are going to give him this prasad.” Then Shri Swaminiji said to Shrinathji: “I will also go to see Shri Gusainji’s nephew.”
After that, both Shrinathji and Shri Swaminiji arrived together at the cows’ path. Shrinathji woke that Patel. Then that Patel got up and offered dandavat to Shrinathji and to Shri Swaminiji. Then Shrinathji fed him two laddus and made him drink water from his own pot. Leaving the betel, pot, and cup there, both divine forms returned to the temple on the hill. Then that Patel ate the betel and went back to sleep.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Thus, the Lord is bhaktavatsal. Therefore, He cannot tolerate even a little suffering of His devotee. For this very reason, even in such rain, Shri Thakurji came to feed this Patel. And Shri Swaminiji, knowing his connection as a companion of Radha, gave him darshan. Because in Nandalaya, Shri Swaminiji Herself abides in the form of Radha’s companion. Therefore, for Her own attendants, Shri Swaminiji has natural affection.
Later, in the morning, when Shri Gusainji bathed, had the conch sounded, and came to the temple to awaken Shrinathji, Shri Gusainji looked near the bed and saw that the cup, pot, and the two betels were not there. Then Shri Gusainji arranged another pot and cup and managed the work at that time. After Shrinathji awoke, Shri Gusainji gently placed his own sacred hand on both cheeks of Shrinathji and asked: “Baba! To whom did you give the cup, pot, and the two betels?”
Then Shrinathji immediately said to Shri Gusainji: “They were forgotten at night in the cows’ path near your new nephew. He could not come in the rain at night. So he did not come to take his leaf-plate. Therefore, both of us went to the cows’ path at night. We fed him prasad and came back, leaving them there. It became very late at that time, so the pot and cup were left there.” After that, Shri Gusainji offered mangal bhog to Shrinathji and came outside. Then he sent a Brajvasi. While sending him, he said: “Do not touch the pot and cup. Just go, see them near that Patel in the cows’ path, and come back.”
That Brajvasi went to the cows’ path and saw that the Patel was sleeping, and Shrinathji’s pot and cup were placed near his head. That Brajvasi came back and told this news to Shri Gusainji. Shri Gusainji remained silent. Then Shri Gusainji sent another Brajvasi and said to him himself: “You should guard the pot and cup from a distance in such a way that the Patel does not know. When he brings the pot and cup home, then you should follow behind him.” So that Brajvasi hid himself from the Patel’s sight and kept watching the pot and cup from a distance. Later, in the morning, that Patel woke up. Then he saw that Shrinathji had forgotten the pot and cup there. He picked up the pot and cup and placed them in a window niche. Then, just as he always did, he continued his service of the cows with complete fearlessness and dedication.
Later, when midday came and he finished his duty, that Patel took the pot and cup and came for darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then he said “Kakaji Maharaj” and offered dandavat. Then he said: “I have brought your pot and cup. At night, Shrinathji came and fed me two laddus, and he left these two items and went away.” Seeing him, Shri Gusainji became extremely pleased. Then Shri Gusainji told all these events to Ramdasji, the attendant. And Shri Gusainji gave this command to Ramdasji, the attendant: “From today onward, ensure that this Patel’s leaf-plate is delivered right there in the cows’ path.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because for him, the Lord Himself had to take so much effort. Therefore, from that day onward, after serving and taking prasad in their own homes, all the attendants would deliver that Patel’s leaf-plate right there in the cows’ path at their respective times. If there were any delay for him, then Shrinathji could not bear his distress.
Prasang 3 – Eating with the Gopas
One day, while Shrinathji was taking His meal, He seated that Patel near the gopas. He took prasad properly. The place where the attendant had placed his leaf-plate earlier, the leaf-plate remained there untouched. The next day, when the attendant went to place the leaf-plate, he saw that the leaf-plate from the previous day was still lying there. Then that attendant asked that Patel: “Patel! Why did you not take prasad yesterday?” Then the Patel said to the attendant: “Now I am eating with Shrinathji. So why do you keep placing my leaf-plate?”
Hearing these words of the Patel, that attendant went and told Shri Gusainji. Hearing it, Shri Gusainji remained silent. Then, when the next day that Patel came for darshan of Shri Gusainji, Shri Gusainji said to him: “Patel! Why have you not taken your leaf-plate for two days?” Then the Patel said to Shri Gusainji: “Kakaji! I am eating in Shrinathji’s group of cowherds. So what should I do by taking a leaf-plate? When I eat there, I do not feel hungry.” Hearing these words of that Patel, Shri Gusainji’s heart became filled. Thus, Shrinathji showed such grace upon that Patel.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Therefore, a soul should keep such pure bhāva in the service of Shri Thakurji. That Patel was so innocent and simple. Therefore, Shrinathji showed such grace upon him. And there is a great means of attaining Shrinathji—service of the cows. If someone serves the cows with full absorption of mind, then in a short time Shrinathji becomes pleased with that person in this very way. Therefore, in the path of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, such is the power of the service of the cows.
Prasang 4 – Guarding the Singhdwar
After some days, Shrinathji had gone somewhere beyond the steps of the Singhdwar. Then the officer said to Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! Now whom do you command to sit for guarding the gate of the Singhdwar?” Then Shri Gusainji sent a Brajbasi to call that Patel. That Brajbasi went and said to the Patel: “Patel! Shri Gusainji is calling you.” Then that Patel said to the Brajbasi: “I will not leave my work and go to your Shri Gusainji. If I go from here to your Shri Gusainji, and if my Kakaji hears of it, then my Kakaji will not give me my leaf-plate.”
Hearing these words of the Patel, that Brajbasi came to Shri Gusainji and narrated the entire matter. Then Shri Gusainji said to that Brajbasi: “If you say it like that, he will not come. Therefore, now go and say this to him—that Kakaji is calling you. Then he will come running along with you.” Then that Brajbasi again went there and said to the Patel: “Patel! Kakaji is calling you.” As soon as he heard this, that Patel ran ahead of the Brajbasi and came to Shri Gusainji and said: “Kakaji Maharaj! Why have you called me?” Then Shri Gusainji said to that Patel: “Patel, you should sit and guard the Singhdwar of Shrinathji.”
Then the Patel requested Shri Gusainji: “Kakaji! I liked it there in the cows’ path. Now you are telling me to sit here, so I will sit here. But will you place my leaf-plate here or not?” Hearing these words, Shri Gusainji became very pleased. Then, from his own mouth, he gave this command to the Patel: “Patel! I will place your leaf-plate here. Whatever else you need, you may take it from Shrinathji’s prasad storehouse.”
Then Shri Gusainji said to the prasad storekeeper: “Whatever prasad this Patel asks for at any time, give it to him. This is my command to you. And if ever this Patel comes before me and says, ‘Maharaj! The storekeeper did not give me this item,’ then I will be displeased with you.” Hearing Shri Gusainji’s words, that storekeeper became very afraid of the Patel in his mind. And that Patel would take from the storekeeper whatever he needed to eat. And he would guard the Singhdwar very properly. At midday, Shri Gusainji would send his leaf-plate along with his own. In this way, Shri Gusainji showed such grace upon him.
Then one day, Shri Gusainji laid Shrinathji to rest and went to his baithak and lay down. Later, when half the night had passed, Shrinathji came behind Shri Swaminiji along with groups of Braj devotees. In this manner, they came with the sounds of anklets, with the footsteps on the spread beds, and with the sounds of waist-belts. Hearing these ornament sounds, that Patel woke up. Then, taking a staff in his hand, he stood guarding the Singhdwar. Then Shrinathji looked toward Shri Swaminiji and smiled. Then Shrinathji first came near that Patel and said: “Patel! You know Us.”
Then that Patel said to Shrinathji: “Maharaj! Have you gone mad, that so late at night you come from the forest with women, wearing household clothes? If any of these women were taken away from their homes, then Kakaji would scold me. He would say, ‘You were sitting here—why did you let Shrinathji go at night?’ And if women are taken away from their homes and Kakaji becomes angry with me and in the morning does not give me my leaf-plate, then what will I do?”
Hearing these words, Shrinathji became very pleased in His mind. Then He removed a garland from His own neck and gave it to him, saying: “Give this garland to Shri Gusainji, and say, ‘This garland has been given by Shrinathji.’ Then Shri Gusainji will not be angry with you.” Thus, Shrinathji gave that Patel the sign of the garland and comforted him in every way. Then that Patel opened the gate.
After that, he stood aside. First, Shrinathji passed through. Then Shri Swaminiji came with many groups. After that, many more groups of Braj devotees passed through. That Patel obtained darshan of all of them. Then he became extremely astonished in his mind and said these words at that time: “So many women go into the house—this is not right. And there is no place in the house for so many. Where do all these live? Now I should follow them. What are they doing in the forest?”
Having decided this in his mind, that Patel closed the doors of the Singhdwar and himself quietly followed behind those Braj devotees. At that time, Shrinathji arrived at Shri Vrindavan Parasolī and went and sat on the bank of Shri Yamunaji. Then that Patel hid and sat under a grove. After that, Shrinathji began the dance. He saw the Rasa Mandal. Then the Braj devotees danced and became fatigued. Then Shrinathji went and sat near Shri Yamunaji.
Then that Patel came out from the grove and began picking up ornaments from the place where the Rasa Mandal had taken place. He picked up many ornaments there. Then one rasa Shrinathji performed on the bank of Shri Yamunaji, and there they became fatigued. Then again He came with the Braj devotees into a grove. Then this Patel went to the ghats of Shri Yamunaji and picked up ornaments. In three rasas, his pouch became filled with ornaments.
Then it was about the fourth watch of the night. Shrinathji returned to His temple. And this Patel went to Shri Gusainji’s baithak. At that time, Shri Gusainji was applying oil. So this Patel went, said “Kakaji Maharaj,” and placed the bundle of ornaments before Shri Gusainji. Then, from beginning to end—up to Shrinathji’s return to the temple—he narrated all the events and made this request to Shri Gusainji: “See, Kakaji. So many women had been brought there. If I had not gone, who would have brought these items? And when such things are missing from the temple, then you would ask me. And since I would not know, I would tell you so. Then you would become angry with me and stop my leaf-plate. Then what would I do?” Hearing these words, Shri Gusainji became extremely pleased. Then that Patel said “Kakaji Maharaj” and came and sat again at the Singhdwar. Upon him, Shrinathji showed such grace by giving him darshan of the Rasa in this way.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because these are companions of the group of young maidens, therefore darshan was given.
Later, Shri Gusainji bathed and went up the hill to Shrinathji’s temple, had the conch sounded, and awakened Shrinathji. Then Shrinathji smiled and said to Shri Gusainji: “You have kept a good gatekeeper.” Then Shri Gusainji said to Shrinathji: “You yourself have shown great grace upon him.” Then both smiled at each other and remained silent. After that, offering mangala-bhog, Shri Gusainji came to the Singhdwar. Then Shri Gusainji gave this command to that Patel: “From today onward, you must never stop Shrinathji. And you must never go along with Him. Wherever Shrinathji goes, allow Him to go. We will not be angry with you. And from today, keep one door of the Singhdwar open.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because Shrinathji should not experience any exertion while going out. Therefore, from that day onward, this custom began—that the doors of the Singhdwar are never completely closed.
Then that Patel offered dandavat to Shri Gusainji, said “Very well,” and remained seated. After that, whenever Shrinathji would go anywhere, from that day onward that Patel would not stop him. And Shrinathji showed such grace upon him that whenever He went out, He would always give him darshan while passing. In this way, Shrinathji showed grace upon that Patel. And that Patel, by the grace of Shri Gusainji, became so completely divine. Therefore, how far can his vartā be narrated?