Now two renounced Vaishnavs, both sevaks of Shri Gusainji, lived together. The sentiment of their story is told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These two are from a village five kos beyond Rajnagar. There both were born in Brahmin families. The houses of both Brahmins were in one same courtyard. Therefore, these two played together as boys, ate and drank together. In this way, affection between the two greatly increased. Later, when both became five to seven years old, their parents made them sit to study with a pandya. So one learned ka-kha. And the other was dull, so he did not study anything. Then the parents of both got both married. Then the wives of both came. Those two were very bad women. They abused everyone and created quarrels. Whatever thing they found, they stole it and brought and gave it to their parents. So everyone in the house suffered great misery. While doing like this, within a few days, the parents of both left their bodies. Then these two discussed among themselves, “Brother! Now it is not proper to stay in the house. Because there is daily quarrel in the house, therefore it is better to go somewhere else.” Thus both decided. Then without telling anyone in the house, they left at night. They came to Rajnagar. There they begged and began to maintain their bodies. They stayed in the state of renunciation. They did not speak much to anyone, and they did not sit near anyone without a need. In this way they lived.
So at one time these two came to Asaruva for alms. There they came to the house of Bhaila Kothari. At that time Shri Gusainji Himself was seated in the house of Bhaila Kothari. Under the tree in the courtyard, he was washing his feet. There these two obtained Shri Gusainji’s darshan. Then seeing Shri Gusainji’s radiance and majesty, they remained astonished. With folded hands they stood. Then Shri Gusainji, looking towards both, smiling, ordered, “Why do you both wander from place to place like this? If you do some Bhagvan-bhajan, then you will become fulfilled.” Hearing Shri Gusainji’s words, both received understanding. They understood, “This is some great person. Otherwise, without knowing, without recognizing, who would say something like this?”
Then both, with folded hands, requested, “Maharajadhiraj! We do not understand anything in Bhagvad-bhajan. Troubled by quarrels, we left the house and in this way wandered from place to place. Today, from Your darshan, we have obtained supreme joy. Now we have come to your refuge. Therefore, please be merciful, take us into refuge, and explain to us the method of Bhagvad-bhajan.” Seeing the humility of both in this way, Shri Gusainji became very pleased. At that time Bhaila Kothari was standing nearby. To him, the Lord ordered, “Bhaila! Make both of these bathe, and bring them to Me in aparas.” Then Bhaila Kothari took both inside his house and made them bathe. Then he gave them new dhoti and uparna to wear. Both wore them, put on a necklace, applied tilak, took charanamrit, and in aparas came and stood near Shri Gusainji. Then Shri Gusainji, being gracious, got both to state their names. Then he ordered both, “Stay here for some days and keep company with Bhaila Kothari. Read the texts of Shri Acharyaji. Then for you, the entire path will become clearly manifest.” Then these two stayed at Bhaila Kothari’s place. As long as Shri Gusainji stayed there, they did service of the Lord, service of the Vaishnavs who came and went, and whatever happened, they did everything. Daily they listened to Shri Gusainji’s vachnamrit, and read Shri Acharyaji’s texts. Among them, one was attentive. He would daily press Shri Gusainji’s feet when Shri Gusainji lay down, and ask secret discourses. In this way he lived. Then whatever he did not understand, he asked Bhaila Kothari. He became a recipient of Shri Gusainji’s grace. And the other was ordinary. To him Shri Gusainji ordered, “You stay with him. Whatever he says, do that.” Then Shri Gusainji went to Shri Gokul. After that, these two remained in the state of renunciation. Both wandered together.
Prasang 1: The Order to Wander Together
So they had Shri Gusainji’s order, “You both wander together.” In that, one was a recipient of grace and one was ordinary. And to that ordinary renounced one, Shri Gusainji’s order was, “Whatever this Vaishnav says, do that.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because these two are connected with lila. They are sattvik devotees. In lila, one’s name is “Mangala.” He became the recipient of grace here. And the other’s name is “Vama.” He became the ordinary renounced one here. He is “Mangala’s” companion. Therefore Shri Gusainji desired that these two should wander together and live together. So through the company of that recipient of grace, the work of this companion would be accomplished.
So after some days, there was a big village-town. They went there. In that village they stayed in the house of an old woman. In that village there was also another Vaishnav. In his house there was much prosperity. In his house Vaishnavs were invited. So someone came to call Vaishnavs from that old woman. Then there those two renounced Vaishnavs were also seen. Then that Vaishnav called them to the invitation, and brought them to his own house and took them. Then Shri Thakurji’s rajbhog was offered. Then Shri Thakurji’s aarti was done. Then Shri Thakurji’s darshan was done. They saw Shri Thakurji’s splendor. Then that recipient of grace said in his mind, “Everything is fine. But Shri Thakurji is in great anger, and is uninterested.” Then he said in his mind, “Brother! Why is Shri Thakurji like this?” Thus he was astonished.
Then plates were placed for all Vaishnavs. While serving his plate, the glance of a certain Vaishnav fell. Then when he looked, in the food materials all worms were wriggling. And he saw it as opposite. Then he said to the Vaishnav who was with him, “You leave from here. Here it is opposite.” He said this in a puzzled way. Still, the other did not agree. He said to himself, “Why should we leave such beautiful mahaprasad?” His mind was greedy, seeing many kinds of sweets. Then that one only said this much, and diverting his eyes from there, he slipped out and ran away. From that old woman’s house he took his khadiya and went. He did not stay in that village, lest someone call and insist. At a distance of three kos there was a village. Going there, he cooked, and offered Shri Thakurji a bhog of dal and vegetables. Then he took mahaprasad. And at night he stayed in that village.
Then the Vaishnav and other Vaishnavs said to the companion Vaishnav, “Where did the Vaishnav who was with you go?” Then he said, “How would we know?” Then they came searching for that old woman’s house. Then that old woman said, “He took his khadiya from here and went. And he went to such-and-such village.” Then all the Vaishnavs took mahaprasad. After that, the companion Vaishnav came to that old woman’s house. Then he asked the old woman, “Where did that Vaishnav go?” Then the old woman said, “He went to such-and-such village, three kos from here. And he told me, ‘Tell that Vaishnav that tomorrow when the day rises, by then I will be watching your path. You should come quickly.’ Saying this to me, he went.”
Then that Vaishnav slept. Then in the night, in a dream, it was as if he was eating blood and flesh. And he saw several other opposites too. Then in the morning he quickly got up and went. He met that Vaishnav. That Vaishnav had come and was sitting on his path. Then he said to him, “Did you see anything in the night?” Then the Vaishnav said, “I saw like this in a dream.” Then that Vaishnav said to him, “Do not touch me. I saw worms wriggling in the mahaprasad at that Vaishnav’s house. And I also saw Shri Thakurji displeased. Therefore, after telling you, I ran away from there. So my dharma remained. And you did not agree, you did taste for the senses. Therefore you lost your dharma. Still, it is good: now you have come following behind me. Now come, follow behind me. And do not touch me. Because Shri Gusainji has told me, ‘Keep him with you. Do not leave him anywhere.’ Therefore, we must obey the order. Later, going to Shri Gusainji, we will tell all this news.”
Then they walked on the path. They stayed at stages. That one would beg and bring alms. Then he would bring picked fuel. Then going near water, he would cook. He would offer bhog to Shri Thakurji. Then washing the plate, he would serve. The plate of the companion Vaishnav he would keep at a distance. Then both would take mahaprasad. But he would not let him touch any food material or anything. Doing thus, in some days they reached Shri Gokul. Then they took Shri Gusainji’s darshan, and did dandavat. Then that Vaishnav, whatever happened and whatever he did, told all in detail as news to Shri Gusainji. And he asked, “Raj! Why did he see such opposite? What is opposite there? Please, by grace, tell us.” Then Shri Gusainji said, “He had a daughter. He gave her to a householder. With him there were one thousand rupees. Leaving that with him, he had gone somewhere to a foreign place. By Bhagvad-ichchha, he died. The daughter’s marriage had not yet happened. Engagement had been done, she had been asked for. Hearing the news of his death, later, for the greed of money somewhere else, he married the daughter to some old householder. After that, by Bhagvad-ichchha, in some days he died. Then bringing his wealth and the daughter, he kept them in the house. And his whole family was there, fighting with them, giving some wealth to the hakim, and taking others’ shares, he did not give anything to anyone. He kept everything. So with that daughter’s wealth, he prepared all the materials and made his own name. So Shri Thakurji does not accept it. And it gives insult to My honor, therefore Shri Thakurji’s anger rises.
“One is that by the daughter’s connection, he took the boy’s wealth. Therefore his heart ached. So whatever is brought by making someone’s inner mind दुख (hurt), for him it becomes heat, and he suffers sorrow. He has quarrel and distress. Then his blood dries. That blood comes into that wealth. Such wealth Shri Thakurji does not accept. And whoever takes wealth of quarrel, his mind becomes pleased. Therefore his blood and flesh increase. And his blood dried. It is as if the wealth he ate went into his stomach. Such a person is like a demon. And the daughter’s wealth is greatly forbidden. It is not for Shri Thakurji’s work. And he also became impure. So the daughter’s wealth is like worms and flesh. So whatever वस्तु in that daughter’s house, even up to water, is impure. It is not proper for anyone connected with that to touch anything by hand. Whatever thing and wealth the mind desires does not come in Shri Thakurji’s work. Therefore two offenses fell upon you. One: you did not obey the order of that Vaishnav. And you ate the materials that were made from that wealth. Therefore this happened to you.” In this way Shri Gusainji explained to that companion Vaishnav. He made him hear this, and also told the one who had taken that food.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The meaning of this story is this: A Vaishnav should cause Shri Thakurji to accept pure वस्तु and pure sattā. By making someone displeased, and by deceit and trickery, one should not take any thing, wealth, etc. Shri Thakurji does not accept such thing and wealth. Therefore, pure thing, through Shri Gusainji’s honor, Shri Thakurji accepts with relish in His own mouth. Therefore, if one does service according to the मर्यादा प्रमाण of the path, then Shri Thakurji becomes pleased. Shri Acharyaji and Shri Gusainji, in this manner, the Lord accepts. That is: service should be according to the मर्यादा of Shri Acharyaji and Shri Gusainji. Otherwise, the Lord does not accept in the पुष्टिप्रकार. This became the सिद्धांत.
Then that Vaishnav asked Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj, what has happened has happened. But how will this offense now be removed?” Then Shri Gusainji said, “Now for one year, daily do virah, heat and distress, as if you are outside the Vaishnavs. And in the mind keep conduct and dharma properly and do them. But outwardly, in the worldly way, show renunciation among Vaishnavs. Then everyone will blame you. After that, come to Me.” So for one year he did as Shri Gusainji said. Then his blame also became very much. After that Shri Gusainji again gave him the ashtakshar updesh. Then He said to the Vaishnav, “Now you touch him.” So this is such a matter.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Here it is shown that in Pushtimarg, virah-tap is the main thing. Therefore all दोष are removed in a moment. The jiva becomes pure. And one should not become displeased by blame. Because blame is the remover of दोष.
So those two renounced Vaishnavs are such grace-receiving sevaks of Shri Gusainji. Therefore how far can their story be told.