Now, among the sevaks of Shri Gusainji, the mother, son, and daughter-in-law from Gujarat—the sentiment of their Varta is narrated as follows.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In the lila, the mother is a companion of Vishakhaji. Her name is Syama. Syama has one companion whose name is Ramda. She is the son. And the daughter-in-law, in the lila, is a companion of Shri Rohiniji. Her name is Syam-Sanehini. Day and night her mind remains absorbed in Shri Thakurji. Therefore, she wanders about in Nandalaya like one intoxicated. Because of this, everyone calls her Syam-Sanehini. She is extremely dear to Rohiniji and belongs to her group. Therefore, her nature is of the sattvic sentiment.
Prasang 1 – The Acceptance of the Mother, Son, and Daughter-in-law as Sevaks
Shri Gusainji came from Shri Gokul to Gujarat. The mother and son came to Shri Gusainji and made a humble request, saying, “Maharaj! Please show mercy and make us your sevaks.” Then Shri Gusainji gave this instruction to the mother and son: “Both of you bathe, wear new clothes, and then come to me. Then I will make you sevaks.” Then both the mother and son bathed, wore new clothes, and came to Shri Gusainji, standing before him with folded hands. Shri Gusainji, showing mercy, had Naam offered to both of them and said, “Today, take Mahaprasad here itself.”
After Shri Gusainji finished eating, performed achaman, and accepted betel, he placed with his own sacred hands the plate of Mahaprasad before both the mother and son. Then both the mother and son received Mahaprasad with great joy. After that, Shri Gusainji ate and rested. Later, at the time of rising, Shri Gusainji got up and graciously explained to the mother and son all the methods of seva—daily as well as festive. The mother and son then went and established Bhagavat seva and began serving with great affection.
Within a short time, Shri Thakurji became pleased and began to show signs of divine experience. After some days, the son of this woman was married, and the daughter-in-law came as a young bride. Then the son went to some village, and Shri Gusainji went outside the village. At that time, the mother-in-law went for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. After taking darshan, she made a request to the Lord, saying, “Maharaj! Please make the daughter-in-law your sevak.” Later, the mother-in-law sent the daughter-in-law to Shri Gusainji to receive Naam. And the mother-in-law told the daughter-in-law, “Whatever Shri Gusainji says to you, you say the same to him.” So the Lord said to the daughter-in-law, “Come, sit.” Then the daughter-in-law also said exactly the same, “Come, sit.” Hearing this, Shri Gusainji laughed and understood that the daughter-in-law was innocent.
Then Shri Gusainji got up, went near her, and recited the Ashtakshar mantra three times. The daughter-in-law also repeated the Ashtakshar mantra. Meanwhile, some Vaishnava went and told this matter to the mother-in-law. Then the mother-in-law came to Shri Gusainji, asked forgiveness for the offense, and made a request, and had the daughter-in-law offered in surrender to Shri Gusainji. After that, the Lord said to the mother-in-law, “Now have Shri Thakurji’s seva done by this daughter-in-law.” Then the mother-in-law said, “Maharaj! She is simple-minded. What will she understand of seva?” Then Shri Gusainji gave the command, “Shri Thakurji Himself will teach her.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why is this so? Because she is innocent, and her connection with the lila has now manifested. Therefore, Shri Thakurji will quickly show mercy upon her.
After some days, the mother-in-law had some obstruction. Then she said to the daughter-in-law, “Decorate Shri Thakurji and show Him the mirror. If He smiles, know that He is pleased.” Saying this to the daughter-in-law, the mother-in-law went and sat by the river. Then the daughter-in-law decorated Him, but Shri Thakurji did not smile. Then the daughter-in-law changed the decoration again, yet He did not smile. In this way, she changed Shri Thakurji’s decoration eight times. Then, in the last watch, the Lord smiled.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why is this so? Because in the path of Pushti, until intense longing arises, the Lord does not manifest experience. In order to cause that intense longing to arise in the daughter-in-law, He had her change the decoration eight times. Then the daughter-in-law became tired and sorrowful. At that moment, intense longing arose, and then the Lord showed mercy upon her and smiled.
After that, daily Shri Thakurji would engage in laughter and playful pastimes with her. In this manner, He began to show divine experience. Whatever He desired, He would ask from her and partake. Then she would say to Shri Thakurji, “If any mistake happens in seva, I will go back to my parental home.” That daughter-in-law was extremely innocent. Therefore, whatever way Shri Thakurji instructed, in that very way she acted.
Later, on the fifth day, the mother-in-law bathed and came to do seva. She sat down to do the decoration. At that time, the mother-in-law felt drowsy. Then Shri Thakurji said, “I like the decoration done by the hands of the daughter-in-law very much. Therefore, you do the seva of the kitchen, and the daughter-in-law will do my daily decoration.” From that day onward, the daughter-in-law began to do the daily decoration. Shri Thakurji, through laughter, playfulness, and all rasas, gave her the experience of everything.
Thus, that mother, son, and daughter-in-law are greatly beloved recipients of Shri Gusainji’s grace and truly belong to Bhagavan. Therefore, how far can their Varta even be described?