Now Shri Gusainji’s sevakini was a Brahmin woman. She lived in a village about four kos away from Ujjain. The sentiment of her narrative is being told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): She was a rajas devotee. In the divine play, her name is Chandramukhi. Her face is like the moon, therefore she is called Chandramukhi. She manifested from Subhananna; therefore, she is of the nature of bhava. Chandramukhi has very great intimacy with Rasbilaasini. Rasbilaasini speaks the private divine narrations of Shri Thakurji to Chandramukhi. One day, Chandramukhi told Bhama Sakhi about the private meeting of Shri Thakurji and Vishakhaaji. Vishakhaaji heard that conversation. Therefore, she gave a curse saying, “Fall upon the earth.” Thus, in a village four kos away from Ujjain, there lived a Sanchora Brahmin who possessed a divine vessel. Chandramukhi took birth in his house. When she became eight years old, her parents got her married. Later, when she was about twenty to twenty-five years old, an epidemic spread in the village. Her mother, father, husband, everyone died. Then she remained alone in the house. She wept a great deal. The people of the village tried to console her a lot, but she accepted no one’s words. Some days passed like this. Then someone said to her, “O woman! Go to Ujjain to Krishna Bhat’s place to listen to katha and varta. Krishna Bhat narrates katha and varta very beautifully. Your sorrow will be removed.”
Prasang 1 – Receiving the Holy Name
That Brahmin woman lived in a village four kos away from Ujjain. From there, she came to Krishna Bhat’s house. She listened to the varta of Shri Gusainji at Krishna Bhat’s house. Her mind became deeply attached to Shri Gusainji. She developed intense longing for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. At one time, Shri Gusainji arrived in Ujjain. When that Brahmin woman heard that Shri Gusainji had come to Ujjain, she came to the village with great eagerness for Shri Gusainji’s darshan. After having darshan of Shri Gusainji, she performed dandavat pranam and stood aside quietly. At that time, many Vaishnavas from Ujjain had come to receive the Holy Name. Shri Gusainji was giving the instruction of the Holy Name to them. All were receiving the Name. Then that Brahmin woman also came near Shri Gusainji to receive the Name.
Shri Gusainji stayed at Krishna Bhat’s house in Ujjain. There, food was cooked, bhoga was offered to Shri Thakurji, Shri Gusainji ate and then rested. That night, all the Vaishnavas again came to Shri Gusainji for darshan. Those Vaishnavas said, “Maharaj! That Brahmin woman is immoral. Why did you give her the name in the garden?” Then Shri Gusainji said to those Vaishnavas, “What will you gain by speaking about this matter?”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): By saying this, it was indicated that according to our doctrine, as long as the soul is not exclusively devoted to the Lord, and the senses are engaged elsewhere, then with all the senses such a person is indeed adulterous. Another meaning is this: in the Pushti Marg, no matter how a divine soul may be, it is certainly accepted. Because in this path, the Lord does not look at the actions of the soul. He uplifts by His own power of grace. Therefore, remaining constantly in the refuge of the Lord is the sole duty of the soul. Because the Lord certainly uplifts the soul that has taken refuge. Shri Acharyaji has submitted this to the Lord in the Krishnashraya Granth: “शरणस्थ समुद्धारं कृष्णं विज्ञापयाम्यहम्।” - “I appeal to Krishna, who is the deliverer of those who have taken refuge.” Thus, in the Pushti Marg, the grace of Bhagavan alone is primary. The worthiness of the soul is not considered. Therefore, upon the soul that comes into refuge, grace certainly descends.
Then that woman requested Shri Gusainji, saying, “Maharaj! Now please assign me some seva.” Shri Gusainji gave her the attire of Shri Nathji to perform seva. After that, Shri Gusainji took leave of Krishna Bhat and went to Shri Gokul. Then Krishna Bhat transformed the attire of Shri Nathji into the very form of Shri Govardhan Nathji and entrusted that seva to the woman. Carrying the seva, she returned to her village. She learned all the methods of seva from Krishna Bhat and began serving properly in her home. That woman served Shri Nathji with great love. Many days passed while she continued this seva. Then Shri Nathji began to reveal His affectionate presence to her. As this happened, she engaged in seva with even greater absorption. Later, Shri Nathji began to speak directly with her. Whatever item Shri Thakurji needed, He would ask her for it. During her seva, Shri Nathji revealed many divine experiences to her. The more this happened, the more lovingly she served.
Whenever Shri Nathji asked for something, if that item was present in her house, she would offer it immediately. If it was not present, she would quickly hurry to Ujjain with Shri Thakurji, obtain that item, return with the prasada, and at the time of awakening, she would offer bhoga before Shri Nathji and request, “Maharaj! Please accept this item.” Shri Nathji accepted it with great joy. In this manner, she served very well for many years. She maintained great intimacy with Krishna Bhat. Sometimes, if something was needed for the Shri Thakurji served by Krishna Bhat, they would ask this woman. At around one and a half prahar into the night, she would take that item from her home, go to Krishna Bhat’s house, hand it over, and then return to her own home by morning to perform her seva. Shri Thakurji showed such affectionate grace to her. Therefore, Krishna Bhat showed her great kindness. However, Nihalchand Bhai would say to her, “O woman! Remain cautious. Through the grace of Shri Gusainji, you have received a very great treasure. Therefore, perform the seva of Shri Thakurji with utmost care.” Nihalchand Bhai continued to give this instruction to that woman. That woman accepted Nihalchand Bhai’s words as guidance and followed them. She performed the seva of Shri Thakurji with deep affection.
Later, one day Krishna Bhat spoke about that woman in front of Nihalchand Bhai. Then Nihalchand said to Krishna Bhat, “Bhatji! This woman has received a very great treasure, but the vessel is unworthy. Let her be tested, then it will be known.” In this manner Nihalchand Bhai spoke to Krishna Bhat. Thus, Nihalchand Bhai would sometimes say such things to Krishna Bhat. Krishna Bhat would hear it and remain silent. Many days passed like this.
At one time, a Shakta came to measure land for filling purposes, bringing the village measuring rope. His camp was set up near that woman’s house. One day, that woman was sitting in her house and weaving a chauri. Shakta saw her. He came and asked her, “O woman! For whose sake are you weaving such a beautiful chauri like this? You are weaving this chauri with great care; for whom is it?” That woman said to the Shakta, “There is seva of Shri Thakurji in my house. I am weaving this chauri for my Shri Thakurji.” Then the Shakta asked her, “If there is seva of your Shri Thakurji, will you show me darshan of your Shri Thakurji?” At an appropriate time, that woman showed the Shakta darshan of her Shri Thakurji. After that, the Shakta went to measure the land. There was some land belonging to that woman. The field guard said, “Sir! This land belongs to that woman.” While measuring with the rope, the Shakta measured a little less. After measuring the land, the Shakta came and said to the woman, “O woman! Knowing your land, I have done you this much favor.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This is the nature of worldly people—that they display and speak of the favor they have done to others. But if someone does a favor to a devotee of Bhagavan, they never speak of it at all. In this manner, the Shakta spoke to that woman.
Then that woman said to the Shakta, “Son! You have given me life.” Thus that woman spoke to the Shakta. Then from that woman’s house, Shri Thakurji departed and went to Shri Gusainji’s house.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This happened because that woman developed verbal dependence on another refuge (anyashraya). She accepted the favor of one who follows another path. Therefore, a Vaishnava must speak with great caution. One should not even converse with followers of other paths; and even if one speaks, one must speak thoughtfully. One must never accept favors at all. This is the established principle. It is also indicated that one should not give darshan of one’s Shri Thakurji to followers of other paths.
While departing, Shri Thakurji informed Krishna Bhat, saying, “That woman has taken another refuge. Therefore, I am now going to Shri Gusainji’s house.” After informing Krishna Bhat, Shri Thakurji went to Nihalchand Bhai’s house. At that time, Nihalchand Bhai was sleeping, having taken prasada. Shri Thakurji revealed Himself to Nihalchand Bhai in a dream. At that moment, Nihalchand Bhai woke up suddenly. He put on his clothes and came to Krishna Bhat’s house. He said to Krishna Bhat, “Bhatji! Shri Thakurji has left that woman’s house. The Lord Himself came and told me, ‘I will not stay in the seva of that woman’s house. That woman has taken another refuge; therefore, I am going to Shri Gokul.’” Hearing this, Krishna Bhat also said to Nihalchand Bhai, “Just now Shri Thakurji came to me saying the same thing.”
Then Nihalchand Bhai said to Krishna Bhat, “This is why, Bhatji, I was telling you that this woman is an unworthy vessel, and she has received a very great treasure. Let her be tested, then it will be known.” Hearing these words of Nihalchand Bhai, Krishna Bhat remained silent.
After about four ghari, at the time of awakening, that woman bathed, opened the doors of the temple, and went inside. She saw that Shri Thakurji was not on the throne. All the other items were exactly as they had been. She did not see Shri Thakurji on the seat. Then that woman began to cry greatly and fell into deep grief. In great distress, she came from her village to Krishna Bhat’s house in Ujjain. At that time, both Krishna Bhat and Nihalchand Bhai were sitting there. Coming to Krishna Bhat’s house, she wept intensely and narrated everything. Then Krishna Bhat said to her, “O woman! Our Shri Thakurji does not engage in trade or business, that He should be shown to such people. And if such people, considering themselves Vaishnavas, do favors, then Vaishnavahood becomes something to be sold. Therefore, now He will never allow you to perform seva again. Now do whatever your mind understands.” Hearing these words of Krishna Bhat, that woman remained silent. Then, defeated, she returned to her home.
Therefore, a soul should remain fearful of anyashraya in this manner. Shri Nathji went from that woman’s house to Shri Gusainji. Then Shri Nathji told Shri Gusainji all the events concerning that woman. Hearing the Lord’s words, Shri Gusainji remained silent. Thus, this fruit of taking another refuge was shown.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Shri Gusainji has said this in the “Bhakti Hetu Nirnay” text. The verse is: “अन्यसंबंध गंधोपि कंधरामेव बाधते” Here it is said that even the mere fragrance of another connection becomes an obstacle. Therefore, a Vaishnava must remain fearful of any other connection. This woman was such a recipient of Shri Gusainji’s grace and truly belonged to Bhagavan; therefore, her narrative is told up to this point only.