Now, a sevak of Shri Gusainji, a renunciate who circumambulated Giriraj, the sentiment of his vartā is being narrated.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This is a sāttvik devotee. In līlā, his name is Rasikā. He always remains absorbed in bhagavad-rasa. Rasikā manifested from Kalkaṭhī; therefore, this is his bhāva-form.
He was born in the house of a Kshatriya. From childhood itself, he remained in a state of renunciation. He had no awareness of eating or drinking. Whatever his parents gave him to eat, he ate; whatever they gave him to wear, he wore. And wherever there was kathā or vartā, he would go there. Seeing this condition of their son, his parents became very worried, thinking: “How will his marriage take place? He has no concern even for bodily comfort.” In this way, he became about twenty years old.
Then once, a group set out toward Mathuraji. Then a thought came into his mind: “If I go along with this group to have darshan of Mathura and Vrindavan, it would be good.” At that very moment, he went along with the group. His parents did not know. Later, his parents searched a great deal, but could not find him. Then they gave up and remained resigned.
And he came with the group to Mathuraji. There he came to have darshan at Vishram Ghat. At that time, Shri Gusainji was narrating the kathā of Shri Subodhiniji there. He sat down to listen to that kathā. Hearing the kathā from Shri Gusainji’s own mouth, he became greatly pleased. Then he began saying in his mind: “I have heard many kathās, but I have not obtained such bliss as I have today. Therefore, if I become his sevak and listen to kathā daily, it would be good.”
Then he made a request to Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! Please take me into your refuge. My mind wishes to remain near you and listen to kathā daily.” Shri Gusainji, knowing him to be a divine soul, took him into refuge and arranged his name-nivedan. Then he kept him near himself for some days and narrated kathā to him. Under the pretext of kathā, Shri Gusainji made him experience the very form of Braj. Thus, the form of Braj became firmly established in his heart. He always remained absorbed in the bhāva of Braj. Later, taking Shri Gusainji’s permission, he began wandering in Braj in a state of renunciation.
Prasang 1 – The Dol Utsav in the Grove
That renunciate did not sit in one place in Braj. He kept wandering. One day, begging for grain, he was cooking bread and lentils in Kokilā Van. Just then, awareness came to him: “Today is the day of the Dol Utsav.” Then he became very distressed in his mind, thinking: “See! If this awareness had come earlier, I would have begged in one or two more villages and brought rice, ghee, and other items. Then I would have cooked properly and offered a full bhog. But now this awareness has come.”
Thinking like this greatly in his mind, he then said: “What should I do now? Whatever has happened is according to the Lord’s will.” Then he cooked the food and kept aside a small amount of bread. And with that small amount of bread, he offered rajbhog to Shri Thakurji. Then, in a grove, he enacted the bhāva of the Dol. He tied creepers here and there, arranged the bhog of Shri Thakurji, and then stood in that grove. With the palms of both hands, he enacted the feeling of a small swing and, in that, he swung Shri Thakurji. With great joy, he began singing the Dol songs. Then, through bhāva alone, he fed Shri Thakurji. And the bread and lentils became bhog all three times. After that, he arranged the anusar of Shri Thakurji.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this vartā, it is indicated that a Vaishnav should never forget a festival day. On that day, according to one’s capacity, one must certainly prepare offerings for Thakurji with bhāva. Why? Because the Lord is a child and looks forward to festivals. Therefore, Vaishnavs should never completely neglect festivals.
Earlier, he had made a request to Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! Please assign me some service.” Then Shri Gusainji said to him: “You do not remain in one place. So how will you perform the service of Shri Thakurji?” Then he requested Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! I will wander in Braj in this manner. But whatever service you assign, please ask Shri Thakurji about it.” Hearing these words, Shri Gusainji became very pleased and assigned to him the service of Shri Navanitpriyaji, placing it upon his head. This renunciate performed the service of Shri Navanitpriyaji according to his own capacity, doing all service with bhāva. Therefore, Shri Gusainji remained very pleased with him.
Later, after some days, Shri Navanitpriyaji Himself conveyed to Shri Gusainji, on that very day, the manner in which the Dol was performed. Hearing this, Shri Gusainji became very pleased. After some days, that renunciate came to Shri Gokul, offered dandavat to Shri Gusainji, and sat down. Then Shri Gusainji asked him: “Vaishnav! Where does Shri Thakurji reside?” Then that Vaishnav requested Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! You already know all the details of my situation. Therefore, Shri Thakurji resides along with me.” Then Shri Gusainji said to that Vaishnav: “Now tell me—where and in what manner did you perform the Dol Utsav?”
Then that Vaishnav understood in his mind: “Shri Navanitpriyaji has indeed informed the Lord.” Then he requested Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! You already know everything. So what is there to inform you? One informs only those who do not know.” Then Shri Gusainji said to that renunciate: “Do I know the manner in which you performed it?” Then he narrated the entire manner of the Dol Utsav. Hearing his words, Shri Gusainji said: “You even swung the Lord in this manner. I have become extremely pleased with you.”
Then that Vaishnav, with a choked voice, requested Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! Such is my condition. But Shri Thakurji is great. Therefore, He accepts it out of regard for you.” Shri Gusainji became very pleased with him. That renunciate was such a greatly favored, God-centered devotee by the grace of Shri Gusainji. Therefore, how far can his vartā be narrated?