Now, the sentiment of the Vaarta of one Brahmin, a sevak of Shri Gusainji and a resident of Gujarat, is spoken of.
Prasang 1 – Acceptance into Seva
That Brahmin came from Gujarat to Braj. First, he arrived at Shri Mathura ji and rested and bathed there. After that, the Brahmin reflected in his mind, “I hear that Shri Gokul is a very great sacred place. Therefore, I should go there once and take the darshan of Shri Gusainji and the darshan of Shri Gokul ji. After that, I will complete the entire Braj pilgrimage and circumambulation.” Having thought this, that Brahmin came from Shri Mathura ji to Shri Gokul.
At that time, Shri Gusainji, after offering Rajbhog to Shri Navanitpriyaji, had gone to the upper area of Shri Thakurani Ghat to perform the midday Sandhya-vandan. There, that Brahmin received the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then that Brahmin thought in his heart, “It would be very good to become his sevak.” After that, the Brahmin prostrated before Shri Gusainji, joined his hands, and made a humble request, saying, “Maharajadhiraj, please show mercy to me and make me your sevak.”
Then Shri Gusainji said to that Brahmin, “You bathe in the holy Yamuna ji and then come to me. I will give you the Name-offering and make you my sevak.” Then that Brahmin bathed in Shri Yamuna ji and came to Shri Gusainji. Shri Gusainji showed grace to him and bestowed the Name-offering upon that Brahmin.
After that, Shri Gusainji proceeded to the temple of Shri Navanitpriyaji. Then he commanded him, saying, “Now, what is your desired wish?” The Brahmin said, “Maharaj, after having darshan of Shri Navanitpriyaji and Shri Govarddhan Nathji, I will then go on the Braj pilgrimage and circumambulation.” Then Shri Gusainji, while going to the temple, took that Brahmin along with him.
That Brahmin, having received the Lord’s command, sat outside in the Jagmohan. Shri Gusainji entered the inner temple, offered Rajbhog to Shri Navanitpriyaji, performed achaman, wiped his mouth, accepted the betel leaf, opened the doors for darshan, and performed the Rajbhog aarti. Having taken the darshan of Shri Navanitpriyaji, that Brahmin became extremely pleased.
After that, Shri Gusainji had Shri Navanitpriyaji retire and then came into his own sitting chamber. He said to the Brahmin, “Brahmin, today you shall partake of prasad right here.” Saying this, Shri Gusainji himself went inside to take his meal. After eating, performing achaman, and accepting betel, Shri Gusainji placed before that Brahmin the plate of remnants of the great prasad. Taking that mahaprasad, the Brahmin became exceedingly joyful.
Then Shri Gusainji rested in his sitting chamber. At that time, the Brahmin requested Shri Gusainji, saying, “Maharaj, if permitted, tomorrow morning I will go to Shri Giriraj, take darshan of Shri Govarddhan Nathji, and then perform the Braj circumambulation.” Shri Gusainji replied, “Very good.”
After resting, at the time of awakening, Shri Gusainji rose, bathed, awakened Shri Navanitpriyaji, and after completing all the services of bhog, evening, and repose, he returned to his sitting chamber and seated himself upon the cushion and bolster. From awakening until repose, the Brahmin took all the darshans of Shri Navanitpriyaji and became extremely pleased.
The next morning, that Brahmin went to Shri Giriraj. There, after taking the darshan of the Rajbhog aarti of Shri Govarddhan Nathji, he became exceedingly joyful. After that, he went on the Braj pilgrimage. Completing the pilgrimage, he returned to Shri Gokul, prostrated before Shri Gusainji, and made a request, saying, “Maharajadhiraj, I have a desire for service. Please bestow service upon me.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because she is a companion of Rohini ji, and has manifested from her, therefore this devotee is the embodiment of that sentiment. Her name is Gopadevi. She is a rajas devotee. Gopadevi always remains engaged in the service of Shri Thakurji in Nandalaya. Therefore, here too, the desire for service arose.
Then Shri Gusainji went to Mathura ji, and this Brahmin also went with the Lord to Mathura. There, while they were in the marketplace, Shri Gusainji arrived at a place where a porter was sitting with many forms for sale. Shri Gusainji said to that Brahmin, “From this porter, offer something as a token and bring that form here.” The Brahmin offered a token to the porter and brought the form.
Shri Gusainji gazed fully upon that form. The form was extremely beautiful. It was Shri Balakrishna ji, and there were bracelets on his divine hands. Seeing this, Shri Gusainji became very pleased and commanded the Brahmin, “You bring this form here for installation.” Then that Brahmin returned to the market and said to the porter, “You enlarge these bracelets fully for yourself.” The porter replied, “Now it is already evening; therefore, I will enlarge them tomorrow, and tomorrow you may take him away.”
Then that Vaishnav Brahmin himself enlarged the bracelets with his own hands and kept those bracelets with himself. Leaving the form there, he returned to Shri Gusainji and came and sat at the threshold of his residence. Then the Lord, assuming the form of a Braj-dwelling child, spoke to Shri Gusainji, saying, “Such-and-such Vaishnav has removed my bracelets and brought them.” He said this three times.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The intention of this Vaarta is that as soon as Shri Gusainji’s glance fell upon that form, it became manifest as a true divine form. Therefore, how could it remain in the marketplace any longer? Thus, using the pretext of the bracelets, Thakurji indicated this. And since service was to be established through this Vaishnav Brahmin, in order to strengthen his faith, this was spoken in this manner.
Then Shri Gusainji summoned that Vaishnav Brahmin. After telling him this matter, Shri Gusainji became displeased with him. Then that Vaishnav Brahmin narrated the entire matter to Shri Gusainji. After that, at midnight, he went to the porter and said, “Give me that form.” The porter gave him that form.
Bringing that form, the Brahmin said to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj, I have brought the form of Shri Balakrishna ji.” Then Shri Gusainji performed the Panchamrit bath of that form, clothed him, adorned him with garments and ornaments according to the season, offered bhog, and placed the service upon the Brahmin’s head. He explained all the methods of daily service and the observances of the annual festivals. That Brahmin began performing the service.
Within a short time, the Lord began to reveal divine experiences. That Brahmin was such a greatly favored and blessed devotee of Shri Gusainji. Therefore, how far can his Vaarta be spoken?