Now the sentiment of the discourse of a Patel Kunbi sevak of Shri Gusainji, a resident of Gujarat, is being narrated.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These are sattvic devotees. In divine play, her name is “Anguri.” He manifested from Manuaturi; therefore, he is of the form of sentiment itself.
Prasang 1 – The Journey for Darshan and the Lord’s Compassion
Once, Shri Gusainji went to Dwarka for the darshan of Shri Ranchhodji. On the way, this Patel Kunbi became his sevak. It had been many days since he had obtained the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Therefore, this Patel reflected that to obtain darshan of Shri Gusainji, one must go to Shri Gokul. He was destitute.
Once, a large group set out from Gujarat for the darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji and Shri Gusainji. With them went many wealthy people carrying valuable goods. This Patel also went along with them. He would do service for someone or the other and fill his stomach as he came along. Later, Patel was released from service. Then the Patel thought in his mind that now he would obtain darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji and Shri Gusainji and then return home. Now who would turn back? Resolving this, he continued on the same path with those Vaishnavas.
Later, when two halts remained before reaching Shri Nathji Dwar, that Vaishnava developed fever. Somehow, at one halt, he reached with great difficulty by evening. When one halt still remained before Shri Nathji Dwar, the Patel said to the Vaishnavas traveling with him, “Brothers, if tomorrow someone lifts me onto a cart and takes me along, then by your grace I will obtain darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji.” But they were all wealthy people carrying valuables. Intoxicated by their wealth, none of them accepted his request. Then he spoke to everyone and fell silent, sitting quietly.
Later, throughout four watches of the night, this thought arose in his mind: “This is the condition of my body, and how will I obtain darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji tomorrow?” His heart burned intensely with anxiety. Shri Govardhan Nathji Himself could not bear this anguish. At that very moment, Shri Govardhan Nathji went to Shri Gusainji and narrated all the details.
Shri Govardhan Nathji said to Shri Gusainji, “At such-and-such a village, this sevak is with the group. Send a cart there immediately. Arrange for this Vaishnava to have darshan once at the time of evening aarti. Tell the cart driver that only that Patel should be seated alone on the cart, and no one else.” Having said this to Shri Gusainji, Shri Govardhan Nathji returned to the temple.
Then Shri Gusainji rose and observed that four or five gharis of night still remained. He summoned his special cart, explained all the details to the driver, and instructed him that from that group, the Patel should come here first. The driver drove the cart swiftly. At dawn, the cart reached that group.
At that time, all the companions were brushing their teeth. The driver asked them, “Where is that Patel?” Hearing the driver’s words, all the companions were filled with great astonishment and said, “Brother, Shri Gusainji has shown great grace upon him. He is calling him and seating him on a cart. Therefore, it would be good if that Patel somehow sits in your cart. He had come to us earlier, but none of us accepted his request. And if this Patel says anything of his own before Shri Gusainji, Shri Gusainji might become displeased with us. Therefore, now take him along with you in your cart.”
While they were still thinking this over, the driver called out to the Patel. The Patel rose and came forward. The driver said to him, “Climb onto this cart quickly; it will get late. Shri Gusainji is urgently calling you. The Lord has sent His own special cart for you. I have come here within four gharis. Therefore, within four gharis, I will arrange your darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji before all the others. So mount quickly.”
Knowing this incomparable grace of the Lord, the Patel became thrilled, with his hair standing on end. He offered a full prostration and mounted the cart. Immediately, the cart was driven off. All the others were left gazing in wonder and astonishment. The Patel sat in the cart and traveled with the speed of the wind.
He arrived at the time of Shri Nathji’s adornment. The driver informed, “Maharaj, that Patel is standing at the temple doorway.” Shri Govardhan Nathji and Shri Gusainji smiled at each other and were greatly pleased. Shri Govardhan Nathji said, “Give him darshan at this very moment.” Shri Gusainji replied, “This is not according to protocol. However, if such is Your command, then I shall do it.” Hearing Shri Gusainji’s words, Shri Govardhan Nathji became silent.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because Shri Govardhan Nathji Himself had not granted him the gift of sakhya bhakti, therefore without sakhya relationship, no one may receive darshan during the time of adornment. This is the established protocol of the path.
Afterwards, while the adornment was still underway, he was given darshan before everyone else. Then, when the doors were opened after the adornment, that Vaishnava again obtained darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji and experienced immense bliss.
Afterwards, Shri Govardhan Nathji accepted the Gopivallabh offering, and Shri Gusainji came outside. He called the Patel near him. The Patel stood there after offering a full prostration. An overwhelming surge of bliss entered the Patel’s mind due to the Lord’s grace. He stood there, completely absorbed. The life force in his body was barely remaining. Shri Gusainji understood his condition.
Then he called for a pot of water and said to Ramdasji, the attendant, “Touch him and quickly give him charanamrit; otherwise, his body will leave him at once.” Ramdasji touched him and gave him Shri Gusainji’s charanamrit. After that, Shri Gusainji took a handful of water in his own hand, recited the Ashtakshar mantra, and sprinkled it upon the Patel. Then the Patel regained consciousness.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The intent of this discourse is that the feet are of cooling devotion; therefore, by taking charanamrit, health is restored. And the Ashtakshar mantra bestows the sentiment of refuge; it also stabilizes the mind. Therefore, through both of these, the Patel Vaishnava regained health. Otherwise, due to excessive bliss, his body would have been lost in ill health. This sentiment is expressed.
Afterwards, Shri Gusainji asked him all the details: “Patel, where were you?” The Patel submitted before Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj, You were tying your turban, and I was fastening the turban band for you. By your darshan, I beheld a form of beauty surpassing millions of Cupids. Through Shri Nathji’s form, You bestowed grace and gave me darshan.” Hearing this, Shri Gusainji became extremely pleased. Then Shri Gusainji said to the gatekeepers of Singhpuri, “Today the group from Gujarat is arriving. From among them, no one should be allowed to climb up the hill.”
After that, at the time of Rajbhog, the entire group arrived. They began to climb the hill for the darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji. Then the gatekeepers of Singhpuri did not allow any of them to go up. Thereupon, they all began saying among themselves, “This Patel has spoken to Shri Gusainji, therefore we are not being allowed to enter through this gate.”
After that, the Patel submitted to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj, this group has come with me. These gatekeepers are not allowing them to enter.” Hearing the Patel’s words, Shri Gusainji remained silent. After that, the Rajbhog aarti was performed, and those Vaishnavas of the group did not receive darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji. Afterwards, Shri Gusainji had Shri Govardhan Nathji’s anusar performed, came down from the hill, and arrived at his own seat.
Then all those Vaishnavas came to Shri Gusainji’s seat and submitted, “Maharaj, what offense have we committed that we did not obtain darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji?” Once, upon hearing their request, Shri Gusainji remained silent. After two gharis, they again submitted to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj, kindly tell us our offense.”
Then Shri Gusainji, showing grace, said to them, “You yourselves know what your offense is. Why do you ask me? You are all intoxicated with wealth. But Shri Govardhan Nathji is a treasury of compassion and the friend of the poor. Therefore, today He will give you darshan at the time of the evening aarti. Do not come for darshan in the morning. And from the time you arrived, that Patel made your request to me twice. But what could I do? I have this command from Shri Govardhan Nathji, therefore you did not receive darshan.”
Hearing the words spoken by Shri Gusainji as coming from the divine mouth of Shri Govardhan Nathji, all those Vaishnavas began condemning their own births. After that, Shri Gusainji went for his meal. Then those Vaishnavas said to the Patel, “Brother, if you submit our request to Shri Gusainji, then someday we may obtain darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji.” The Patel said to those Vaishnavas, “Yes, I will submit your request to Shri Gusainji on your behalf. Beyond that, the Lord is supreme; whatever he accepts is right.”
After that, when Shri Gusainji completed his meal and came to the seat, the Patel submitted on their behalf. Then Shri Gusainji said, “This power is not mine. If the Lord wishes, He gives darshan; if He does not wish, He does not give it. What can I do about it? Now I have received this command from Shri Govardhan Nathji. Still, I will ask once more and give you a reply in the evening.” Then those Vaishnavas understood that the entire cause was Shri Govardhan Nathji Himself; the Patel had not spoken anything against them.
After that, all those Vaishnavas set up camp near Rudrakund. Then the conch of Shri Govardhan Nathji was sounded. All of them came and stood at the doorway, but they did not receive darshan. In the same way, they also did not receive darshan at the time of bhog. After that, Shri Gusainji offered the evening bhog to Shri Govardhan Nathji. At that time, he asked, “Bava, should they now come for darshan?” Shri Govardhan Nathji said to Shri Gusainji, “Today I will give them darshan, but on other days they will not receive darshan.”
Then Shri Gusainji showed great insistence before Shri Govardhan Nathji and said, “Maharaj, they are living beings. Why do you reflect so much on your mind?” Hearing Shri Gusainji’s submission, Shri Govardhan Nathji granted permission for three days. After that, when Shri Gusainji again began to submit further, Shri Govardhan Nathji said to him, “If you continue to submit, I will not accept it. Therefore, do not say anything more to Me.” Then Shri Gusainji remained silent.
After that, Shri Gusainji offered bhog to Shri Govardhan Nathji and came outside. Then, through that same Patel, he called those Vaishnavas from outside. After that, the Patel brought them all inside with him. Then they offered full prostrations to Shri Govardhan Nathji in various ways. When the time came, Shri Gusainji went to clear the bhog. After clearing the bhog, the doors were opened. Then all of them, led by that Patel, obtained the darshan of Shri Govardhan Nathji. After obtaining darshan, they experienced immense bliss. Afterwards, all of them came down from the hill.
Later, Shri Gusainji put Shri Govardhan Nathji to rest and came down from the hill and seated himself in his own seat. Then all those Vaishnavas offered full prostrations to Shri Gusainji and sat before him. Then Shri Gusainji said to those Vaishnavas, “I showed great insistence, then Shri Govardhan Nathji commanded that they be given darshan for three days. After that, when I again considered saying something more, Shri Govardhan Nathji restrained me, saying, ‘Now I will not accept what you say.’ Therefore, I remained silent.”
Then Shri Gusainji said to those Vaishnavas, “Now, after taking darshan for three days, go wherever you wish. But do not show obstinacy for darshan here.” Further, Shri Gusainji gave them this instruction as well: “From now on, accept and honor whatever a Vaishnava says, and do not disrespect a Vaishnava. The Lord is not pleased by wealth, but He is pleased by the service of Vaishnavas. Do not consider a Vaishnava as a servant.” After that, all those Vaishnavas fell at the feet of that Patel.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Through this discourse, it is shown that the Lord cannot tolerate an offense against a Vaishnava. Even the guru does not forgive an offense against a Vaishnava. Therefore, one must always remain fearful of committing an offense against a Vaishnava and must not entertain fault-finding intellect toward Vaishnavas. Otherwise, the Lord becomes displeased.
That Vaishnava Patel was such a recipient of Shri Gusainji’s grace, belonging wholly to Bhagavan. Therefore, how far can his discourse be described?