Now the sentiment of the Varta of a Vaishnava child, a sevak of Shri Gusai Ji, from the southern region, is being spoken.
Prasang 1 – The Child’s Vision of the Eternal Divine Play
At one time, Shri Gusai Ji had traveled to the southern region. There, at night, he would give discourses. One day, the child of that Vaishnava heard the discourse directly from the holy mouth of Shri Gusai Ji. On that day, in the discourse, he heard this episode: that Thakur Ji eternally performs divine play in Braj. After performing the cow-herding play, Shri Natvar, adorned in divine attire, accompanied by the cowherd boys and the cows, plays the flute. In this manner, He performs the eternal divine play daily. And in the evening, he returns home. At that time, Shri Yashoda Ji performs the evening arati. Hearing this episode, the Vaishnava’s child made a request to Shri Gusai Ji and asked, “Maharajadhiraj! Does this divine play still exist even today?” Then Shri Gusai Ji said with his own holy mouth, “This divine play is eternal.” Hearing this, the Vaishnava’s child became extremely eager. He could not remain still, and a longing arose in his heart: “When will I go to Braj, and when will I have such darshan?”
Later, one day, taking a little money for expenses, that Vaishnava’s child set out from there. He told nothing to anyone at home and left without asking. Later, he sent word ahead to his parents, saying, “I will return after going to Shri Gokul and having darshan of all of Braj.” After some days, the Vaishnava’s child reached Shri Gokul. Then he came to Govardhan. At the place where Shri Gusai Ji had himself spoken of, that Vaishnava’s child sat and began to watch. He kept repeating within himself, “When will Shri Prabhu Ji himself arrive now?” In this way, watching and watching, evening fell. He saw the worldly cowherds and cows returning, but just as Shri Gusai Ji had spoken with his own mouth, he did not see even the slightest trace of that divine scene. Then even the sun set. At that point, the Vaishnava’s child was filled with great astonishment. “Shri Gusai Ji never speaks falsely, yet I have seen nothing here.” He remained seated at that same place for three days. Great anguish arose in the heart of the Vaishnava’s child. Then on the third day, when the sun again set, the Vaishnava’s child experienced great distress and thought, “Shri Gusai Ji never speaks falsely, and yet I have seen nothing. Therefore, I will renounce this body. Of what use is this body to me?” Thinking thus, the Vaishnava’s child made a firm resolve in his heart.
Then Shri Govardhanadhar could not bear his suffering. Shri Prabhu Ji Himself reflected, “Now this child must be given darshan.” At that very moment, the Vaishnava’s child saw an extraordinary sight: two days’ worth of clouds seemed to emerge at once. The Vaishnava’s child began to wonder, “What illusion has come to me from the clouds?” Then he firmly concluded, “This is being seen clearly in daylight.” At that moment, patience arose within the Vaishnava’s child.
Thereafter, exactly in the manner Shri Gusai Ji had spoken in the discourse, Shri Thakur Ji granted darshan to the Vaishnava’s child. At that very moment, the Vaishnava’s child first saw innumerable cows adorned with golden and silver horns and large, dark, beautiful eyes. Herd after herd of cows came forward. Their hooves were golden and silver, their udders large, and milk flowed from them. Remembering their calves, they lowed and hurried swiftly toward Braj. The dust from their hooves covered the sky. Behind them, the Vaishnava’s child saw countless cowherd boys, singing and playing instruments as they came together. In their midst, Shri Thakur Ji Himself was arriving with His holy hand placed upon the shoulder of His friend Shridama. In front was Baldev Ji. Shri Thakur Ji wore a crown adorned with peacock feathers. In His ears were clusters of flowers of many kinds. He wore a yellow garment. His body was decorated with many kinds of artistic designs. He was adorned with gunja garlands and forest garlands. Dark curling locks framed His face, making His lotus-like face supremely beautiful. Joy shone in His lotus eyes. In His hand was a flute. With gentle, smiling laughter, He enchanted all the cowherd boys and cowherds. In this manner, Shri Thakur Ji Himself granted darshan to the Vaishnava’s child.
Thereafter, Shri Govardhanadhar came near the Vaishnava’s child and, with His own holy hand, drew him into His divine company. He took him to Nandalaya and kept him there close by Himself for three days. He fed him, gave him drink, and made him sleep with Him on His own bed. In this way, He gave him great happiness.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why was this so? This Vaishnava’s child is “Gopadevi” in the divine play. She manifested from Madhurekshana. Therefore, her nature is of sattvic sentiment. She belongs to the group of young maidens; therefore, Thakur Ji kept her in Nandalaya in this manner and made her sleep close to Himself for three days.
After that, the Vaishnava’s child again felt restless: “When will I go home, and when will I tell Shri Gusai Ji the accounts of this divine play?” The condition of the Vaishnava’s child became altogether different. Then Shri Thakur Ji Himself sent the Vaishnava’s child back to his home.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why was this so? Because the Vaishnava’s child had come to Braj without informing his parents. His parents’ hearts were deeply attached to him. Therefore, Shri Thakur Ji sent the Vaishnava’s child back home. As long as attachment to worldly relations remains, the soul cannot attain a stable position in the eternal divine play. Another intention was also this: to demonstrate the truth of Shri Gusai Ji’s words to the world. Therefore, Thakur Ji sent the Vaishnava’s child back to his home.
Then the Vaishnava’s child went to the place where Shri Gusai Ji was giving discourse and had darshan there. All the Vaishnavas were seated. Among them, this child also offered a full prostrating dandavat to Shri Gusai Ji and sat down. After Shri Gusai Ji finished the discourse, he asked the Vaishnava’s child, “You have not been seen for so many days; where had you gone?” Then the Vaishnava’s child narrated all the accounts of the divine play of Braj before Shri Gusai Ji. Hearing this, Shri Gusai Ji gave the command, “The vessel is small, and the gift has been very great. It cannot remain contained within this vessel.” After that, the Vaishnava’s child left the body the next morning and attained entry into the divine play. Therefore, Braj is transcendental; there is no doubt in this. One who is a Vaishnava should never have any doubt. This eternal divine play of Braj always exists and is seen through grace and divine favor. Shri Thakur Ji Himself, through the medium of Shri Gusai Ji, bestows grace upon divine souls.
That Vaishnava’s child was such a supreme devotee of Shri Gusai Ji, upon whom Shri Thakur Ji Himself bestowed grace and granted direct darshan. Therefore, there is no end to his Varta; thus, it is spoken of only to this extent.