Now the sentiment of the Varta of another Kunbi, a sevak of Shri Gusainji, a resident of Gujarat, is told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): He is a “sattvik” devotee. In the lila his name is “Charugop.” He is the bhav-form of that “suva.” He is a sakha of Shri Thakurji. He is supremely enchanted. He lives among the cows of Nandalay. Therefore Shri Thakurji always remains pleased with him. He was born in Gujarat in the house of a Kunbi.
Prasang 1 - Becoming a sevak, and being appointed to graze the cows of Shri Govarddhan Nathji
So, once, with the group of Vaishnavs of Gujarat, he was coming to Shri Gokul, for the darshan of Shri Gusainji, for the purpose of Shri Vraj. In that group, that Kunbi too was coming. In his bundle there was no expense-money. So on the road he went on picking up “upra.” Reaching the halt, he would get down. Then he would distribute that upra to the Vaishnavs. Then those Vaishnavs would cook. He would come while doing their service. The Vaishnavs would bring him mahaprasad. So, moving about, he would take everyone’s mahaprasad and come. Doing like this, he reached Shri Gokul. Then he did darshan of Shri Gusainji. After that Shri Gusainji went to Shrinathjidwar. Then that Kunbi too went along. There, near Shri Gusainji, he received a name. After that Shri Gusainji, having extreme mercy on him, himself got his atma-nivedan done. After that he did darshan of Shri Govarddhan Nathji. Then that Kunbi became very, very pleased.
Then Shri Gusainji asked that Kunbi, what work did you do there at your place? Then the Kunbi said, Maharajadhiraj! I used to graze cows there. Then Shri Gusainji gave the order to graze Shri Govarddhan Nathji’s cows—that you, being pleased, graze Shri Govarddhan Nathji’s cows. Then Shri Gusainji said to the cowherds, take him daily into the cows. And he told the mahaprasadi kitchen about taking prasad, that give him mahaprasad daily. So from that day he daily grazed Shri Govarddhan Nathji’s cows. And he took from the mahaprasad kitchen. He did the service of the cows with mind engaged. He did the service of the cows in such a way as one does the service of Shri Thakurji. He wiped the cows with his own shawl. He did not let any living creature or insect touch the cows. He kept the place clean. Seeing such service of the cows, Shri Govarddhan Nathji became very pleased.
Then, among the cows, he got darshan of Shri Govarddhan Nathji. Then, there in the forest, Shri Govarddhan Nathji distributed chhak. Then Shri Govarddhan Nathji gave him four laddus. Then this Vaishnav, from those, kept two laddus aside, and ate them at night. From that time, that Kunbi never went to eat in Shri Govarddhan Nathji’s mahaprasadi kitchen. Then the cook asked him, why do you not come to the kitchen to take mahaprasad? Then that Kunbi said, my stomach gets filled there itself in the forest with laddus. Therefore, why should I come to the kitchen to eat? Then the cook asked, from where do you get laddus there in the forest? Then this Kunbi-Vaishnav said, Shri Govarddhan Nathji, when he distributes chhak in the forest, then right there he gives me four laddus. Then that cook told this matter to Shri Gusainji, that—Maharaj! Shri Govarddhan Nathji gives laddus to this Kunbi in the forest. Then Shri Gusainji said, seva is such a thing: whoever does the service of the cows with inner-heart and in a good manner, to him Shri Govarddhan Nathji gives darshan right there.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why so? Because Shri Govarddhan Nathji is dependent on devotees. And among devotees, the Vraj devotees are the श्रेष्ठ (best). Therefore Shri Govarddhan Nathji is under the control of the Vraj devotees. As the Vraj devotees make him dance, so he dances. As they make him sit, so he sits. When they make him rise, then he rises. Thus he remains dependent. And the form of the Vraj devotees are these cows. Therefore Shri Govarddhan Nathji considers service of the cows as service of the Vraj devotees. Therefore he becomes pleased quickly. Service of the cows is such a thing. A Vaishnav should daily do the service of the cows with bhav, by which Shri Govarddhan Nathji becomes pleased quickly.
Prasang 2 - Hearing “nachat ras mein Gopal,” and saying “nachat ghas mein Gopal”
Again, once, in Aring, ras happened. All the Vaishnavs went to see it. Then that Kunbi Vaishnav too went along to see the ras. There, the rasdhari sang this kirtan:
राग मालव | Rāga Mālav
नाचत रास में गोपाल संग मुदित घोषनारी । तरुतमाल स्यामलाल कनकबेलि प्यारी। चलनितंब किकिनी कटि लोल बंक ग्रीवा। राग तान मान सहित बेनुगान सीवा। भ्रमजलकन सुभर भरे रंग रेन सोहें कृष्णदास प्रभु गिरिधर व्रजजन मन मोहें ।
In the rās, the joyful cowherd women dance with Gopāl. They are dark like tamāl trees, and dear like golden vines. Their hips move as they walk, the little bells at their waists tremble, and their necks are gracefully curved. They are adorned with rāga, tān, and mān, and they are served by the song of the flute. With sweat-drops filled and brimming, and with the dust of colors upon them, they look beautiful; Kṛṣṇadās says: Lord Giridhar enchants the hearts of the Vraj people.
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So, in this pad, it was said, “nachat ras mein Gopal.” Then, hearing this, that Kunbi Vaishnav said, “nachat ghas mein Gopal.” Hearing so, all the Vaishnavs became greatly astonished. Then all the Vaishnavs asked Shri Gusainji this matter, Maharaj! What is this Vaishnav saying? Then Shri Gusainji said, both are speaking true words. Because the rasdhari sings “nachat ras mein Gopal”—that is said in Shri Bhagvat, so he says it. And this Vaishnav, who says “nachat ghas mein Gopal,” he truly says this—that with the cows, among the grass, in the pasture, Shri Govarddhan Nathji daily dances. Therefore he is saying what he himself has seen. Seva is such a thing by which Shri Govarddhan Nathji becomes pleased. Shri Govarddhan Nathji loves cows very much. So that Kunbi Vaishnav was such a grace-receiving bhagvadiya of Shri Gusainji, through whom Shri Govarddhan Nathji made such experiences known. Therefore, up to where should his varta be told?