Now the sevaks of Shri Gusainji narrate the sentiment of the discourse concerning the wife of a moneylender’s son who lived in Gujarat.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): So that moneylender lived in Gujarat. He had one son. That moneylender arranged his son’s marriage within his own community. The daughter-in-law who came was very beautiful and newly youthful. She was a divine soul. She was a sevak of Shri Gusainji. She was very devoted to Bhagavan. In her eyes, Shri Govardhan Nathji would shine forth. She said to her husband, “I am a sevak of Shri Gusainji. Therefore, I will not eat or drink from the hands of anyone who is not a sevak of Shri Gusainji. So, if you become a sevak of Shri Gusainji, then you and I will be united.”
Then the son asked, “Who is Shri Gusainji?” Then the daughter-in-law said, “Shri Gusainji is the manifest Lord Himself. He resides in Shri Gokul.” Then the son told all this news to his father. Then that moneylender said, “Let us go to Shri Gokul at once. We too will become sevaks of Shri Gusainji and be fulfilled.” After that, all the people came to Shri Gokul and became sevaks of Shri Gusainji. Then the daughter-in-law of that moneylender’s son made a request to Shri Gusainji, saying, “Maharaj! By Your grace, please bestow upon me the service.” Then Shri Gusainji, by His grace, placed the form of one Lalaji upon her head. After that, staying for some days, they learned the proper methods of service. Then afterward, that moneylender, his son, the daughter-in-law, and all of them sought Shri Gusainji’s permission and returned to their homeland. They then began performing the service properly.
Prasang 1 – The Mleccha’s Vision and the Test of Devotion
So at one time, taking the Mahaprasad, that daughter-in-law was sitting in the jharokha. She was stringing the garland for Shri Thakurji. At that time, the gaze of a mleccha fell toward that jharokha. Then that mleccha saw the face of that woman. At that moment, he recognized a connection from a previous birth.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why was that? Because in the eyes of that daughter-in-law, that mleccha had the direct vision of Shri Govardhan Nathji. Therefore, he experienced a state of intense detachment. Thus, the memory of a previous birth arose.
So that mleccha would not eat food without seeing that woman daily. That mleccha would go every day and sit at her door. When he saw the woman’s face, then the mleccha would take food and water. Otherwise, he would remain standing there just so. When anyone asked, that mleccha would say, “When I see this woman’s face, then I will take food.” Thus, he did this daily. He could not remain without seeing her. And when she was not visible, then for one day, two days, four days, he would remain hungry and nearly die, but he would not go anywhere else.
Thus acting, her relatives, siblings, people of the same caste, and neighbors began to notice this. And in worldly society, in the village and in the land, much slander of that woman began to occur. Then the people of that woman’s household began to worry greatly, thinking, “Now what should we do? This mleccha follows us daily.” Thus they tried many remedies and explained a great deal to that mleccha, but the mleccha did not accept anything. And day by day the slander increased greatly.
Then the men of that woman’s household considered, “Now what should we do? If we go to some distant land, then this accusation will be removed.” Then the daughter-in-law said to her household members, “I have come as a bad omen into your home. Because of me, such slander is happening. The home has been abandoned, the land has been abandoned. Therefore, if you are considering going to another land, then I make one request—if it comes into the minds of all of you.”
Then her father-in-law said, “Speak, we are pleased.” Then that daughter-in-law said, “The slander that has occurred because of me is bad. And abandoning home and land is worse than bad. It is better that we do not go to another land. It would be good to go to Shri Gokul. There we will have the darshan of Shri Gusainji. We will have the darshan of all seven forms. We will have the darshan of Shri Yamunaji. And we will have the darshan of all the sons of Shri Gusainji. And we will have the darshan of the entire land of Braj. This is the request I make. Now, if you are pleased, then speak.”
Then all the members of the household, hearing the words of that daughter-in-law, became very pleased. They said, “Well done, daughter-in-law! You have spoken well. This disturbance that has arisen has arisen on its own. ‘Nijecchhatah karishyati’—the Lord Himself will do what is best. By this, even this wicked one will forget.” Thus, having firmly decided this in their minds, early in the morning they hired one or two carts, placed all their belongings in those carts, and kept everything ready.
Then the next day, all preparations were completed. Then that mleccha, seeing the carts, asked the cart driver, “Whose cart is this loaded, and where will it go?” Then the cart driver said to that mleccha, “All the people of that moneylender’s household are going to Shri Gokul.” Hearing this, that mleccha also prepared to go along with them.
Then they all harnessed the carts and set out. They traveled two or four kos. Then they saw that that wicked mleccha was also coming from behind. Then everyone thought in their minds, “For whose sake we left our home, that disease is still accompanying us.” Thus, after traveling for several days, they reached Shri Gokul.
Then they all sat in a boat. And the moneylender said to the boatman, “This mleccha is not with us. Do not seat this mleccha in the boat. Do not ferry him across.” Saying this to the boatmen, that moneylender did not allow the mleccha to sit in the boat. After that, all the others crossed over. And that mleccha remained sitting on the bank of Shri Yamunaji.
Then all of them went and had the darshan of Shri Gusainji. After that, the darshan of Shri Navaneetpriyaji opened. They had the darshan of Rajbhog-aarti and attained supreme bliss. After that, after arranging the anusar, Shri Gusainji Himself came to the sitting place. Then Shri Gusainji said from His lotus mouth to that moneylender, “Do not cook food today. Take Mahaprasad here itself. And how many people are you?” Then that moneylender said, “Maharaj! We are four people.” Then Shri Gusainji said from His lotus mouth, “You are five people. Why do you name only four? One Vaishnava has also come with you. Call him.”
Then that moneylender made a request to Shri Gusainji, “Maharajadhiraj! Many people come along with us. But from our household, there are only four people. Others are servants, and they receive provisions separately.” Then again Shri Gusainji commanded, “What do you say about servants? He has come with you. You have great affection for him. Therefore, call him.”
After that, Shri Gusainji Himself went for His meal. After finishing the meal, taking achaman, purifying His mouth, and accepting betel, He arranged five plates of Mahaprasad. Then again Shri Gusainji commanded from His lotus mouth, “All five of you take Mahaprasad. Call that fifth Vaishnava and all of you take Mahaprasad together.” Having thus commanded, Shri Gusainji went inside.
After that, those four people remained seated. Then Shri Gusainji Himself came outside again and saw that the Mahaprasad was ready and the four Vaishnavas were seated. Then Shri Gusainji said from His lotus mouth, “Why are you sitting?” Then that moneylender requested Shri Gusainji, “Maharajadhiraj! There is no fifth Vaishnava with us. One is myself, one is my daughter-in-law, one is my son, and one is my son’s wife. These are the four of us. There is no one else. Many others are present, but whom should we call without knowing? And You commanded that all five Vaishnavas should sit and take Mahaprasad. Therefore, we are sitting.”
Then Shri Gusainji commanded from his lotus mouth, “Whom did you leave behind across the river? Such improper conduct is not fitting for you. He is a supremely grace-worthy devotee of Bhagavan. You must certainly call him.” Then that moneylender, feeling embarrassed in his mind, remained silent and said nothing further. Then Shri Gusainji called a man and said, “Bring a boat and go across. A Vaishnava is sitting there. He is associated with an asuric body. Call him and bring him here.”
Then that man took a boat and went across, seated him in the boat, and brought him. Then that man came and requested Shri Gusainji, “Maharajadhiraj! That Vaishnava has come.” Then Shri Gusainji said to that man, “Have him bathe at Shri Thakurani Ghat, dress him in new clothes, and bring him.” Then that man had him bathe at Shri Thakurani Ghat, dressed him in new clothes, and brought him. Then that Vaishnava came and offered full prostration to Shri Gusainji. At that moment, he had the darshan of Shri Gusainji as the complete Purushottama. Then he experienced immense bliss. In that bliss, he continued gazing at Shri Gusainji’s presence.
Then Shri Gusainji, looking at him with a glance of grace, bestowed the mantra instruction upon him and granted the gift of submission through His gaze alone. After that, Shri Gusainji commanded from his lotus mouth, “Now all five of you take Mahaprasad.” Then one plate was placed for him. Then Shri Gusainji had one sangamanchi placed and sat in the middle. On one side, that Vaishnava alone took Mahaprasad. On the other side, those four people took Mahaprasad. And they kept gazing at Shri Gusainji while taking Mahaprasad. At that very moment, Shri Gusainji rose and went inside.
And that one who was taking Mahaprasad alone—while still seated at the plate, he suddenly fainted and fell down. Due to the intense heat of separation, his body was left behind. At once there was great commotion. All the Vaishnavas began to say, “Look! What has happened?” At that moment, Shri Gusainji Himself heard it. Then the hairs on Shri Gusainji’s body stood on end, and His heart overflowed. After that, Shri Gusainji commanded from His lotus mouth, “Such loving devotees are rare.” Then Shri Gusainji commanded all the Vaishnavas and that moneylender who had come with them, “Take him to the bank of Shri Yamunaji and perform the fire rites.”
Then those Vaishnavas hesitated. Then Shri Gusainji commanded, “Do not have any doubt in this matter. This is an extraordinary being. Do not bring consideration of his body into your minds. There is no obstacle for you in this. You will be purified merely by bathing.” Now perform his funeral rites and return. After that, I will tell you his account. After that, those Vaishnavas took him to the bank of Shri Yamunaji, brought wood, and performed the fire rites. Then they bathed, became purified, and returned to their homes.
After that, on the next day, Shri Gusainji was seated in his assembly. Before utthapan, Shri Gusainji would always narrate katha. In the same manner, He was narrating katha. Then those Vaishnavas came near Shri Gusainji and made a request, saying, “Maharajadhiraj! You had commanded that after performing his fire rites, You would tell us his account. So now, by Your grace, please tell us. Who was he in his previous birth? How did such a bodily relationship occur? And how did his sudden death happen in this manner? Please tell us all of this.”
Then Shri Gusainji commanded from his lotus mouth, “O Vaishnavas! Listen. This one who came along with that moneylender Vaishnava—he had attachment toward the daughter-in-law of his son. Men and women were all seated. Then Shri Gusainji commanded from his lotus mouth, ‘In a former land, near Patna, about four or five kos further ahead, there is a village. There, in his previous birth, he was a Brahmin. He was a supremely Bhagavadiya, grace-worthy Vaishnava. And this woman was his wife. Both of them were Bhagavadiya, grace-worthy beings. Both of them performed Bhagavan’s service very properly. Shri Thakurji Himself would directly converse with them. And at night, both husband and wife would mutually engage in discourse about Bhagavan. Thus, in this manner, the entire night would pass. And both of them knew nothing at all of worldly dealings throughout their lives. Between the two of them there was extremely deep affection. It was an otherworldly affection.
Once, this Brahmin had gone somewhere to beg for alms. After that, a Vaishnava came. That Vaishnava would occasionally come and go to their house and would engage in discourse about Bhagavan. He would sit for two or four ghari. That woman would listen as he spoke Bhagavan’s discourse. His home was at some distance. One day, that Vaishnava came and asked the woman, ‘Where is your husband?’ Then that woman said, ‘My husband is seated in the temple, and the one with whom I reside has gone out for alms. He will return shortly. You sit.’ Then she spread a seat, and that Vaishnava sat upon it.
Then that Vaishnava engaged in discussion of Bhagavan with that woman. Then that woman asked some doubt. Then that Vaishnava said, ‘Mother, this matter is one of seclusion, and your house is on the pathway. If someone passing by hears, it will not be good.’ Then that woman closed the door and fastened the latch. After that, the woman and that Vaishnava began speaking softly. At that very moment, the woman’s husband returned. Seeing that the door was closed, he called out loudly. Then his wife opened the door. Then that Brahmin entered the house and saw that Vaishnava sitting in seclusion. As soon as he saw him, fault arose in the Brahmin’s mind. Fault arose toward both of them.
Then the Brahmin considered in his mind, ‘My wife is of young age, and this Vaishnava is also youthful. I have renounced worldly relations, and this woman also tells me that she has no need for such acts. And these two have closed the door and are sitting in a secluded place. This does not appear good.’ Thus he reasoned in his mind. After that, the Vaishnava engaged in remembrance of Bhagavan, but he did not speak, bearing anger and fault within himself. That Vaishnava understood in his own mind that fault had arisen in the Brahmin’s mind. Therefore, that Vaishnava went to his own home.
Then that Brahmin, becoming irritated, said to his wife, ‘What were you two doing after closing the door?’ Then that woman told him everything as it had occurred. She explained all that had taken place, that it was Bhagavan’s discourse. But that Brahmin Vaishnava did not accept it. After that, he continued to harbor enmity toward that Vaishnava. They would sit together and remember Shri Krishna, but the enmity in his mind did not disappear. However, the woman maintained very deep love for her husband from her inner heart, because the woman had made a vow to her husband. But the Brahmin Vaishnava did not accept it. After some days, by the will of Bhagavan, the body of that Brahmin Vaishnava was left behind. Then he became a mleccha.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why did this happen? Because he entertained fault-intellect toward a Vaishnava and bore enmity toward him. Therefore, he attained a mleccha womb. This principle is shown: whoever forms such worldly judgment toward a Vaishnava must take birth in a degraded womb.
And when his wife’s body was left behind, she is this woman who is seated here. This is the account of their previous birth. In this present birth, one day, the gaze of that mleccha fell upon this woman. Then, through this woman’s eyes, that mleccha received the darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji. From that very moment, intense longing arose in him. Thus he would daily look upon this woman. Through her eyes, he would receive the darshan of Shri Prabhuji, and he would not perceive any worldly cause.
How can worldly dull intellect understand this matter? That mleccha recognized this woman, but she did not recognize him. And he did this much for her—that he would come daily just to see her. Because of him, you had to leave your home and come here. Thus Shri Gusainji commanded all the Vaishnavas along with that moneylender from his lotus mouth. And when he saw me, he received my darshan in the mood of Shri Swaminiji, just as it happens in lila. After that, when I went inside, the heat of separation that arose in him caused fainting, and at that very moment his body was left behind.
Now, through my glance, that mleccha has attained connection with me. Therefore, he has reached lila. Now nothing remains for him to do. And this woman does not yet have knowledge. Therefore, she remains bound here. Her mind is entangled in bodily, worldly associations. That is her intoxication.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Here there is a great doubt—when in the eyes of this daughter-in-law, Shri Govardhan Nathji Himself shines forth, and she is such a Bhagavadiya, still she has not yet attained knowledge. And that mleccha, merely by the darshan of this woman, attained knowledge of his own true form. What is the reason for this?
It is said here that this woman, by the grace of Shri Gusainji, has love for Shri Govardhan Nathji and meditates upon Him. Therefore, Shri Govardhan Nathji shines forth in her eyes. But she has not developed otherworldly intellect regarding the body and its attachments. Why? Because she does not have the association of Vaishnavas. Without the association of Vaishnavas, this intellect does not arise. Therefore, she has worldly intoxication regarding the body and its relations, and thus knowledge of the transcendental form does not arise.
And that mleccha developed humility. Therefore, Shri Gusainji’s grace was such that he immediately, through the heat of separation, attained lila. Therefore, Bhagavadiyas should always maintain humility, remain completely fearful of the bad association of bodily attachments, and constantly associate with Vaishnavas day and night. This is what is shown. When this woman’s bodily intoxication leaves her mind, she too will reach near him in lila. These two are brother and sister in the incarnation of Shri Krishna.
Thus Shri Gusainji, having compassion upon living beings, narrated completely, from previous birth through this birth, the entire account of these two from His lotus mouth. Then that woman experienced the heat of separation. That separation became extremely intense, and within one muhurta her body was left behind. Then the daughter-in-law of that moneylender’s son attained Bhagavan’s lila. Then all the Vaishnavas performed her funeral rites. Then Shri Gusainji bestowed grace upon those related to her body and said, “No impurity of death applies to you, because both of these were supremely Bhagavadiya devotees. Both of them have reached nikunj, rasa, and related lilas. Now nothing remains for them to do.” Saying this, His heart overflowed.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These two belong to the group of Shri Chandravaliji in lila. The daughter-in-law’s name is Kama. She is the embodiment of Bhadra’s rajas mood and manifests from it. Therefore, she is of that sentiment-form. And the mleccha’s name is Kama Aturi. Both of them are always engaged in the service of Shri Thakurji. They decorate the nikunj and their sentiments are harmonious. Both are assistants of Shri Chandravaliji.
Thus, the daughter-in-law of the moneylender’s son and the mleccha were such grace-worthy Bhagavadiyas of Shri Gusainji, upon whom Shri Gusainji Himself always remained pleased and, by his grace, revealed such greatness. Therefore, there are very many such discourses about them. Their discourses have no end. Therefore, how far can one speak of them?