Now the sevaks of Shri Gusainji, Janardandas Kayasth and Gopaldas Sehgal Kshatriya, residents of Singhanand, their account is being told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These are rajas devotees. In the divine play, Lalitaji’s sakhi is Ratnaprabha; these two are her sakhis. Their names are Bimala and Nirmala. Thus, Bimala became Janardandas Kayasth, and Nirmala became Gopaldas. Both manifested from Ratnaprabha; therefore, they are forms of her sentiment.
In Singhanand, one Kayasth and one Sehgal Kshatriya—these two lived close to each other; there both were born. Janardandas manifested in the Kayasth’s house. After a few days, Gopaldas was born in the Kshatriya’s house. From the time Janardandas and Gopaldas were five to seven years old, there was great affection between the two. Both would go to renunciants and ascetics, listen to stories and discourses. In this way, when both reached the age of twenty to twenty-two, their parents arranged their marriages. After some days, the parents of both died. Then both remained as attendants of mlecchas and began to manage households. Yet both had great affection for saints and renunciants. Whoever saint or renunciant came to the village, they would serve them well and listen to their teachings. In this way, they lived.
One day they met Vasudevdas Chhakda. Then Vasudevdas Chhakda asked them, “Is there such a great soul who can explain to us the way to meet Bhagavan?” Vasudevdas, knowing them to be divine beings, said, “You have kept company with many saints and renunciants until now—what have they told you?” Then both said to Vasudevdas, “Some say to perform austerities, some say to become renunciants, some say to give charity and perform merit, saying that by this the Lord is pleased. Others say that by worship, recitation, and devotion the Lord is pleased. But we understand none of this; nothing appeals to us. In this age, how can all these practices be done?” Then Vasudevdas said, “If you follow my words, may I tell you one thing?” Then Janardandas and Gopaldas, joining their hands, said, “Whatever you say, we will accept.” Then Vasudevdas said, “In a few days, Shri Gusainji himself will come from Adel to Thaneshwar. Go to his refuge; he will explain everything to you.” Hearing this, both became very pleased.
After a few days, Shri Gusainji himself came to Thaneshwar. Hearing that Shri Gusainji had arrived, both came to Thaneshwar and had his darshan. Then both, joining their hands, made a request to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! Vasudevdas Chhakda, taking your name, told us to go to your refuge. So Maharaj, we have come to your refuge. Please show mercy and make us your sevaks. Maharaj, for many days there has been concern in our minds about attaining the Lord. Please kindly explain the means for that.” Seeing the pure sentiment of both, Shri Gusainji commanded, “Go and bathe in the Sarasvati. Then I will take you into refuge and explain the path of attaining the Lord.” Both were extremely pleased and went to bathe in the Sarasvati. After bathing and remaining in purity, they stood before Shri Gusainji. Shri Gusainji, showing mercy, performed the naming and submission rites for both.
Then he explained the nature of submission, saying, “The Lord is completely independent in all respects. Therefore, if someone wishes to attain Him by performing means, He is not attained at all. He Himself becomes pleased by His own grace and attains the soul.” Then both requested Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! How is his grace attained?” Shri Gusainji, pleased, commanded, “When one goes to the refuge of the Lord, the Lord’s grace occurs. Therefore, with mind, speech, and action, remain in his refuge. This alone is the single means of attaining the Lord. Through this submission mantra, I have explained this means to you; hold it in your heart.”
Hearing Shri Gusainji’s words, both joined their hands and said, “Maharaj! The means of attaining the Lord are known only to the Lord. You have shown such a simple means; therefore, you yourself are the Lord. Without you, who could know such an exceptional path of submission?” In this way, Janardandas and Gopaldas accepted Shri Gusainji as God himself and knew him as their master. As long as Shri Gusainji resided in Thaneshwar, these two served Shri Gusainji with the sentiment of sevaks. Both always remained immersed in the sentiment of submission.
Prasang 1 – Complete Offering of a Sevak
Those Janardandas and Gopaldas were attendants. At one time, in the land where Janardandas and Gopaldas were attendants, Shri Gusainji himself arrived. At that time, both, along with their wives and children, came and stayed in Ghudsar, and arranged Shri Gusainji’s camp in their house. Afterward, they entrusted all the household keys to the storekeeper and said to him, “Spend whatever is needed from the entire house.” Both would bring their own food supplies from the market and managed with cooking in earthen vessels. Later, when Shri Gusainji considered departing, both said to the storekeeper, “Whatever goods are in this house are all yours—jewelry, utensils, clothes, grain, beds, stools—whatever is useful to you, keep it. Otherwise, sell it, convert it into money, and take it with us.” The storekeeper, with Shri Gusainji’s permission, did as Janardandas and Gopaldas said. After that, Shri Gusainji departed from there. Then both returned to that house.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this account, the sentiment of master and sevak is clearly shown. Because Janardandas and Gopaldas are sevaks of Shri Gusainji. A sevak should submit all his possessions before the master. With this sentiment, Janardandas and Gopaldas offered all their possessions to Shri Gusainji.
Prasang 2 – Delight in the Glory of the Master
After some days, both went toward Multan to earn revenue from a district. They went and arrived there. One day, four bards came there. Those bards described at great length the glory of their ancestors. But these two paid no attention to that. Then someone told those bards, “If you recite the poetic verses of Shri Acharyaji and Shri Gusainji, then these two will be satisfied.” Then the bards began to recite the verses of Shri Acharyaji and Shri Gusainji. Hearing them, both became extremely pleased and satisfied with the bards. Then they returned to their home.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The meaning of this account is that devotees of Bhagavan do not desire their own praise. They find happiness only in hearing the glory of their master. Therefore, when Janardandas and Gopaldas heard the verses of Shri Acharyaji and Shri Gusainji, they were pleased.
After some days, both went to another district. Janardandas went and arrived in that district. There, Janardandas handled expenditures, and Gopaldas managed the treasury. In that district, there was a mleccha officer. All the state’s money was entrusted to Gopaldas. Gopaldas arranged Vaishnavas’ prasadam and also sent a considerable amount of wealth to Shri Gokul, to Shri Gusainji. After some days, when accounts were to be settled with the one who had leased the district, all three went to settle the accounts. Then a large amount remained outstanding on Gopaldas’s head. That mleccha deducted the monthly allowances of Gopaldas, Janardandas, and the mleccha officer, yet even then the amount was not fully paid. Then the mleccha officer said to the chief, “Remove these two men.” The chief said to the officer, “By their influence, both you and I benefit. Why should we remove them?” Then the officer said, “Why did you deduct my monthly allowance?” Then the chief paid the officer his amount and also paid Janardandas his amount. An amount still remained on Gopaldas’s head, which was forgiven. After that, giving all three ceremonial robes of honor, they were again sent to manage the district.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Thus, through association with devotees of Bhagavan, even the intellect of the mlecchas of that time remained such. Therefore, one should associate with devotees of Bhagavan. Gopaldas and Janardandas are such grace-receiving devotees of Shri Gusainji. How far can their account be narrated?