Now the account of Jadunathdas Kshatri, sevak of Shri Gusainji, attendant of Dharu (the king), who lived in Jaunpur. The sentiment of this account is told as follows.
Prasang 1 – Jadunath’s Astonishment and Awakening
He was an attendant of Dharu (the king). He lived in Jaunpur. In Jaunpur there was a mahout of an elephant. His wife was extremely beautiful. She was a female sevak of Shri Gusainji, very devoted, truly a Bhagavadiya. One day Jadunath was passing by. He saw that woman. From that very day Jadunath felt great astonishment, thinking—are there such people upon this earth? After that, only after seeing her face would Jadunath take food. Such attachment arose in him toward her. That woman used to clean her teeth daily at a certain place. In front of that very place was Jadunath’s house. So every day, at the time she cleaned her teeth, he would watch her, while continuing his own work.
One day that woman understood that this man was so attached to her. Thinking, let me see his state of mind, one day she deliberately woke up late. That day Jadunath could not see her face being adorned. He became extremely distressed. When it was time for court, he mounted his horse and went to court. After returning from court, Jadunath came in front of that woman’s house to see her. She was still asleep. It was exactly midday. Then Jadunath sent his horse home with his servant and said to him, “You prepare the food; I will come later.” That servant went back to the camp, tied the horse, cooked the meal, and waited a long time for him. Later, after eating, he covered himself and fell asleep.
That woman woke up in the third quarter of the day. Her maid brought water before her. That day she sat to bathe after oiling her head. Then she said to her maid, “Stand and look—see if anyone is coming or going on the path. Then I will quickly finish bathing.” The maid stood there for a long time and smiled. The woman asked the maid, “Why are you smiling? Tell me.” The maid said, “No one else is coming or going, but that man has been standing there for two quarters of the day just to see you.”
The woman said to the maid, “He is mad, that is why he is standing there. If the way he has attached his mind to me, he were to attach it to God, his purpose would be fulfilled. What is special in my body that he has bound such love to it?” Jadunath heard the conversation of both of them. At that very moment, through the maid, Jadunath sent a message, saying, “Now you alone tell me the means to meet God.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because these both are souls of divine play. Jadunath is a rasika of form in the divine play. He always remains absorbed in the form of the Lord. And the name of that woman is Gaj-gamini. Her walk is like that of an elephant. Therefore Shri Thakurji keeps her near Himself and learns that walk Himself. The rasika of form asks Gaj-gamini for the means of meeting Shri Thakurji. In whatever way Gaj-gamini tells, in that same way the rasika of form performs the means of meeting the Lord. Because they are attached to the form of the Lord, they cannot remain even for a moment without Him.
The rasika of form belongs to the group of Shruti-rupa; he is the daughter of Dhruvanand and has manifested from them, therefore his disposition is of tamasic bhava. Gaj-gamini also belongs to the group of Shruti-rupa. There is mutual love between the two. Therefore here also the rasika of form asked Gaj-gamini for the means of meeting the Lord. That woman sent back this message: “In the lineage of Shri Vallabh, Shri Vitthalnathji, Shri Gusainji, has manifested. He Himself is God. Go to him and become his sevak.”
The maid came and told this to Jadunath. Then Jadunath returned to his camp. He paid off the monthly wages of all the attendants. Whatever wealth remained with him, he got it converted into a hundi. He then made a coarse quilt, placed that hundi in it, assumed the form of a renunciate, and set out. Jadunath made this firm resolve in his mind: “Until I obtain the darshan of Shri Gusainji, I will live only on fruits. When I go and have darshan of the Lord and receive a name from him, then only will I cook and eat food.” Having made this true vow, Jadunath left his home.
As soon as Jadunath set out from Jaunpur, many Vaishnavas, sevaks of Shri Gusainji, were also going. Shri Gusainji had earlier sent word to Badhaiya village. All the Vaishnavas together were going to welcome the Lord. Jadunath met them. He asked, “Where are all of you going at this time today?” Those Vaishnavas said to Jadunath, “Shri Gusainji has arrived here. He has come to Badhaiya village. Therefore we are going to welcome Shri Gusainji.” Then Jadunath said, “The one whom you are going to welcome—Shri Gusainji—into which family has he manifested? Whose son is he? What is his name?” The Vaishnavas said, “Listen! Shri Gusainji has manifested in the lineage of Shri Vallabh. He is the son of Shri Vallabhacharyaji. His name is Shri Vitthalnathji.”
Then Jadunath proceeded with those Vaishnavas with great eagerness. Shri Gusainji was only a short distance away from Jaunpur. The Lord’s chariot arrived. Seeing it, with great eagerness Jadunath went and first performed a full prostration before the Lord. With intense longing, Jadunath then recited this doha before the Lord.
गियो जो मनिया काँच कौ,गांठि हुतो जदुनाथ । सो ढूंढत बाहिर गयो पर्यो पदारथ हाथ ॥
The jewel that he took to be mere glass was in truth tied with Shri Yadunath. Searching for it, he went outside, and the true treasure came into his hand.
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Hearing this doha, Shri Gusainji became extremely pleased. After that, Jadunath told all his story before the Lord. Shri Gusainji became very pleased with him. After that Shri Gusainji arrived in Jaunpur. He stayed at the house of a Vaishnava. From there he went to bathe at the sacred Gomati River. After bathing, Shri Gusainji took his seat. Then Jadunath made a humble request before the Lord, saying, “Maharaj, now please make me your sevak.”
Then Shri Gusainji gave Jadunath the command to bathe. Jadunath bathed, stood in a state of ritual purity, and performed a full prostration. Shri Gusainji then bestowed grace upon him and spoke his name. After that, Shri Gusainji gave him the name “Jadunathdas.” After that, whatever wealth Jadunathdas had tied in his bundle, he offered all of it to Shri Gusainji at that very time.
Then, for several days, Jadunathdas came with Shri Gusainji to Shri Nathdwara for the darshan of Shri Govarddhanathji. Jadunathdas performed darshan of Shri Govarddhanathji and became extremely pleased. After serving Shri Govarddhanathji for some days, Jadunathdas pleased Shri Govarddhanathji so much that within a short time Shri Govarddhanathji began to express intimate affection toward him.
Whatever Shri Govarddhanathji desired, He would tell Jadunathdas. Jadunathdas would go and tell Shri Gusainji, saying, “This item is desired by Shri Govarddhanathji.” Through Jadunathdas, Shri Gusainji would provide it to Shri Govarddhanathji. Therefore Shri Govarddhanathji remained extremely pleased with him. Shri Govarddhanathji would speak directly with Jadunathdas. Whatever conversations occurred, Jadunathdas would tell all of them to Shri Gusainji. Hearing Jadunathdas’s words, Shri Gusainji became extremely pleased.
Then Jadunathdas, knowing Shri Gusainji to be pleased, himself remained very joyful in his heart. Whatever Jadunathdas said to Shri Gusainji, Shri Gusainji would do. Shri Gusainji accepted Jadunathdas’s words as truth. And whatever grace Shri Govarddhanathji bestowed upon Jadunathdas, all of it was known to Shri Gusainji. Jadunathdas would say, “The treasure has fallen into my hands,” and Shri Gusainji made him experience this in such a way. Jadunathdas was such a graced and devoted Bhagavadiya of Shri Gusainji. Therefore, how far can his account be told? This is the account.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The intention of this account is this—that in this path, attachment is primary. The Lord quickly accepts one who is filled with attachment.