Now the sentiment (bhav) of the discourse of the sevak of Shri Gusainji, Purushottamdas, a Pushkarna Brahmin, resident of Kashi, is being narrated.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): He is a sattvic devotee. In divine play his name is “Tribeni.” He is in the youthful state of maidenhood. He has manifested from Praveena. Therefore, he is of the nature of bhav itself. Thus Tribeni always remains fully devoted in the seva of Nandalaya.
Once, Shri Gusainji was residing in Kashi. There he used to go daily to bathe at Manikarnika. One day Shri Gusainji bathed at Manikarnika Ghat and was performing the evening worship. At that time Purushottamdas was also bathing in the Ganga. He obtained the darshan of Shri Gusainji. To Purushottamdas, the darshan of Shri Gusainji appeared exactly like the complete Supreme Purushottam, possessing beauty surpassing millions of Cupids. Purushottamdas became stunned. He continued gazing for a long time. Then Shri Gusainji, knowing him to be a divine soul, asked, “Who are you? Why are you standing here in this way?”
Then Purushottamdas made a humble request to Shri Gusainji, saying, “Maharaj! I am a Pushkarna Brahmin. I reside in Kashi. I have no parents. I know only two letters. Therefore, I sustain myself by reciting the Shrimad Bhagavat. Today destiny has favored me. Thus I have obtained darshan of the complete Supreme Purushottam directly. Now I am in your refuge. Please bestow grace and make me your sevak.”
Seeing such humility of Purushottamdas, Shri Gusainji became very pleased. Then, by grace, he had Purushottamdas’s name submitted and made him his sevak. Then Purushottamdas requested Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! What is my duty now?” Shri Gusainji said to Purushottamdas, “From today onward, do not earn your livelihood by the Bhagavat at all. Do whatever else you wish.” Then Purushottamdas said, “Maharaj! If you kindly give me your personal service, it will be best. Where shall I wander from place to place now?” Seeing the simple nature of Purushottamdas, Shri Gusainji kept him near himself.
Prasang 1 – Journey to Purushottam Kshetra
Shri Gusainji traveled from Kashi to Purushottam Kshetra for the darshan of Shri Jagannathraiji. Purushottamdas went along with Shri Gusainji. There Purushottamdas offered Shri Gusainji Sakhdi mahaprasad.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because this is Purushottam Kshetra. Therefore, the tradition of receiving the Sakhdi mahaprasad of Shri Jagannathraiji from the hands of Vaishnavas was established by Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu himself. Therefore, earlier also Shri Gusainji had accepted the Sakhdi mahaprasad of Shri Jagannathraiji from the hands of devotees.
Prasang 2 – Instruction on True Grace
Once again, on one occasion, Purushottamdas said to Shri Gusainji, “Maharajadhiraj! Gopinathdas Bhitariya told me that Shri Gokulnathji is God. He pleases some by giving money and pleases others by giving vessels.” Then Shri Gusainji said to Purushottamdas, “Yes, yes, Purushottamdas! Shri Vallabh is indeed like this.” Then Purushottamdas humbly requested Shri Gusainji, “Maharajadhiraj! You please the Vaishnavas by sprinkling the nectar of words from your divine mouth.” Then Shri Gusainji said to Purushottamdas, “One who is given money becomes displeased.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because a Vaishnava does not accept material gifts from the guru. In this way Shri Gusainji imparted instruction to Purushottamdas.
After this, Shri Gusainji took Purushottamdas along and traveled to Shri Nathdwara for the darshan of Shri Govarddhanathji. After bathing, he ascended the mountain and entered the temple of Shri Govarddhanathji and adorned Shri Govarddhanathji. Then he offered rajbhog. When the time came and the bhog was completed, at the time of rajbhog-aarti, Purushottamdas was called and granted darshan. After darshan, Purushottamdas became extremely pleased and said, “Blessed is my fortune.”
Then Shri Gusainji had the anusar ceremony of Shri Govarddhanathji performed, descended from Giriraj mountain, and came and sat in his own seat. There Purushottamdas also came, offered full prostration to Shri Gusainji, and sat. Then Purushottamdas asked, “Maharaj! What is the difference between the Maryada path and the Pushti path?”
Shri Gusainji commanded, “In the Maryada path, the means are primary and there is desire for the fruit of action. In the Pushti path, Krishna-seva is performed lovingly with desireless intent. By keeping company with those belonging to Bhagavan and considering the strength of divine grace, one maintains only the feeling of being without means. Observance of Bhagavad-dharma is primary. Worldly and Vedic practices are performed only to show people. The main thing is Bhagavad-dharma. That which gives pleasure to Thakurji is called Bhagavad-dharma. Everything else is secondary bhav.”
Then Shri Gusainji taught Purushottamdas all texts such as Siddhant Rahasya and others with their intended meanings. After that Shri Gusainji went for his meal. A plate was set for Purushottamdas. Then Shri Gusainji ate and rested briefly, then awoke. Purushottamdas also rose after taking mahaprasad. Then Purushottamdas again requested Shri Gusainji, “Maharajadhiraj! Why does Shri Thakurji wear pitambar, and why does Shri Swaminiji wear blue garments?”
Shri Gusainji commanded, “Shri Swaminiji has a fair complexion like gold. Shri Thakurji cannot remain even for a moment without Shri Swaminiji. Likewise, Shri Thakurji has a dark complexion. This is the form of adornment-rasa, in which there is unfathomable rasa. Shri Swaminiji cannot remain even for a moment without this form. The two have deep love. Therefore they wear blue and yellow garments. By this their mutual love is indicated.”
The shloka: रूपं तवैतदतिसुंदरनीलमेघे प्रोद्यत्तडिन्मदहरं व्रजभूषणांगि । एतत्समानमिति पीतवरं दुकूलमूरावरस्यपि बिभर्ति सदा स नाथः ॥ - This form of Yours is exceedingly beautiful, like a deep blue rain-cloud, stealing the pride of flashing lightning, O ornament of Vraja. Because it is equal to this, the Lord always wears the excellent yellow garment upon His chest.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The sentiment of this has been sung by Surdasji.
बलि बलि बलि कुंवरि राधिका नंदसुवन जासो रति मानी
तू अति चतुर वे चतुर सिरोमनि प्रीति करो कैसेरहे छानी।
वे जो धरत तन कनक पीतपट सो तो सब तेरी गति ठानी ।
ते पुनि स्याम सहज वे सोभा अंबर मिष अपने उर आनी ।
पुलकि रोम अब ही है आयो निरखि रूप निज देह सयानी।
'सूर सुजान सखी के बूझै प्रेम-प्रकास भयो विहसानी ॥
Again and again I bow in sacrifice to the noble maiden Radhika, for the son of Nanda has accepted her alone as His beloved. You are exceedingly clever, and He is the very crown of cleverness, so how can love ever remain hidden. The golden-yellow cloth that He wears upon His body is entirely arranged according to your own movement and state. And that dark, natural beauty of His, He has drawn to His own chest on the pretext of wearing a garment. At this very moment the hairs stand in thrill on beholding that form, for the knowing body recognizes it as its own. Sur, the wise one, understands through the friend that the radiance of love has revealed itself, smiling.
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Thus, in this way, both reveal mutual love. This bhav should be understood. Hearing this, Purushottamdas became immersed in this rasa. Thereafter Shri Gusainji placed Purushottamdas in the seva of Shri Govarddhanathji. As long as he lived, he performed seva there. By the grace of Shri Gusainji, Purushottamdas performed the seva of Shri Govarddhanathji very well. Shri Govarddhanathji began to show affectionate favor toward Purushottamdas.
After some days, Purushottamdas left his body. All the Vaishnavas gathered and performed the cremation rites. Thus Purushottamdas, the Pushkarna Brahmin, became such a recipient of Shri Gusainji’s grace, belonging to Bhagavan. Shri Gusainji always remained pleased with him. Therefore, to this extent his discourse is narrated.