Now a Brahmin who was a sevak of Shri Gusainji lived on the upper bank of Shri Ganga ji. The sentiment of his account is told as follows.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): He is a rajasic devotee. In the lila her is named Bichhiya. He is of the form of Suva’s sentiment. And Bichhiya has one more sakhi. Her name is “Ramkatori.” She became the wife of this Brahmin. So, earlier both of them were born in Brahmin households. When they became ten or twelve years old, the parents of both arranged their marriage. Then they grew up. Then there was very great affection between the two. One day this Brahmin took his wife and went to Shri Jagannath Rai ji. There both of them obtained darshan of Shri Gusainji. At that time Shri Gusainji was narrating the story of Shri Bhagavat near the temple of Shri Jagannath Rai ji. Many people were listening to the story. These two also sat to listen. While listening to the story, the minds of both changed. Then both said, “These are some very great mahapurush. Therefore, it is good to go into his refuge.” As soon as the story ended, the husband and wife both prayed to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! Take us into your refuge, and by such grace deliver us from this world.” Then Shri Gusainji, knowing both as divine souls, took them into his refuge. He gave them names. Then on the next day he had an offering made. After that both prayed, “Maharaj! Now what is your command?” Then Shri Gusainji said, “You do Bhagavat-seva.” Then both prayed, “Maharaj! By your grace, please place a Swaroop for seva, so that we may serve.” Then Shri Gusainji placed with them one Lalji. Further he commanded, “You serve him. From him you will have much happiness.” After that both stayed there for some days and served Shri Gusainji, learned all the customs of the path. After that, taking leave of Shri Gusainji, they came to their home. Then both thought, “It is not proper to stay in the village. Therefore it is better to live somewhere in solitude on the bank of Ganga ji.”
Prasang 1 - Living in Solitude on the Bank of Ganga
So that Brahmin Vaishnav husband and wife left the village and came to the bank of Ganga ji. There they made their dwelling-house on the bank of Ganga ji and began to live in solitude. From there one village was a little distance away. There that husband and wife lived. But that Brahmin did not live in the village. He stayed apart from everyone. In that Brahmin’s house there was one cow. And that Brahmin kept in his house the food for one day. Then early in the morning, rising, doing bodily duties and brushing the teeth, the husband and wife both bathed and did the seva of Shri Thakur ji. His wife cooked Shri Thakur ji’s food. And that man of hers did Shri Thakur ji’s seva and adornment and all other attending. Then, offering the Rajbhog to Shri Thakur ji, he went to bathe in Shri Ganga ji. Then that woman, cleaning up the cooking place, washed and put away the vessels. Meanwhile the husband returned after bathing in Shri Ganga ji. Meanwhile it became the time to clear away the Rajbhog. Then, clearing the bhog and performing the anusaran of Shri Thakur ji, they set the cow’s leaf-plate. After that the Vaishnav Brahmin went to beg alms. And the Brahmin’s wife went to graze the cow. And there, from the bank of Shri Ganga ji, she also dug up dub grass, washed it in Shri Ganga ji, tied it in a bundle, and brought it home. Then, washing it, she fed it to the cow in a basket.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The sentiment of this is that—if dust somehow goes into the cow’s stomach, then dust comes into the milk. That milk is eaten by Shri Thakur ji. Therefore, in this way, take care of the cow.
And that Brahmin would go to the villages nearby, two or three around, and beg plain alms; as much as was needed for expenses, that much he gathered, and then came home. Then, bringing the grain, he handed it to his wife. Then that wife, choosing and cleaning it, prepared all the items in whatever way was needed and kept them ready. In the morning, the daily customary offering in whatever manner it should be done, she did that. After offering Balbhog and then Rajbhog, after that she served out three leaf-plates and followed the daily practice. Thus it continued always. In this way, maintaining daily living, they lived there.
Prasang 2: The Scholar Brahmin and the Foreseen Calamity
Then there was another Brahmin who was a pandit. He was such a pandit that he debated with pandits of his own land and foreign lands and defeated them. With that pandit Brahmin about one hundred and fifty students lived. He was going, having defeated pandits of many lands, to his own home. Then on the way a big city came. At that time the king of that city had come out for recreation. With the king there were the palaces of his royal people. He had come out with his splendor. Some were in palanquins, some on chariots—thus he had come out for play. At that time that pandit Brahmin said in his mind, “Shame on my birth, that I have taken only the comfort of being a pandit, but I never got the touch of this comfort.” Then, thinking thus, he began to cry out “hai hai,” saying, “How can I enjoy such happiness?” Then that pandit Brahmin sent all his accompanying students and books to his home. Then there that pandit remained alone.
There, on the bank of Shri Ganga ji, there was a place of Mahadev ji. Then that pandit Brahmin went and fell at Mahadev ji’s place. There he fasted for three, four, five days. Then Mahadev ji asked that pandit Brahmin, “Why are you fasting here?” Then that pandit Brahmin said, “I am asking for that king’s happiness. I have seen that happiness very good. Give me that happiness. Therefore I am fasting here.” Then Mahadev ji said, “That kingdom is not in your destiny. Therefore I will not give you a kingdom. You have studied a lot; therefore consider in your mind and see whether there is a kingdom in your destiny or not. A kingdom is not obtained without destiny. But I give you one jewel. You take only the jewel. From this jewel wealth will also be yours. Then with that wealth you will have all happiness.” Then that pandit Brahmin took the jewel from Mahadev ji and left from there.
Then that pandit Brahmin began to think in his mind, “This wealth has happened, but without youth, enjoyment with a woman will not happen.” Then that pandit Brahmin thought in his mind, “Now I will do austerity. By doing austerity I will ask for youth. After asking for the state of youth I will go to my home. Then I will go there and enjoy such happiness.” Thinking thus, that pandit Brahmin set out to do austerity.
So, on the bank of Shri Ganga ji, where the Vaishnav Brahmin’s house was, coming to that place, he saw that the Vaishnav Brahmin was sitting, and that place was extremely wondrous and beautiful. A grove of tulsi flowers was blooming. He saw such an excellent place. After that that pandit Brahmin sat down. Then after about two hours the Vaishnav Brahmin, having finished his seva, came outside. Then he saw that a Brahmin was sitting there. Then that pandit Brahmin bowed to that Vaishnav Brahmin. Then that Vaishnav Brahmin also bowed and asked that pandit Brahmin, “From where are you coming?” Then that pandit Brahmin said, “I have been wandering in many lands and have come out to here.”
Meanwhile, inside, the time came to offer the Rajbhog. Then going inside and offering Rajbhog to Shri Thakur ji, that Vaishnav again sat outside. Then that Vaishnav Brahmin said to that pandit Brahmin, “Today you take Shri Thakur ji’s Mahaprasad here itself. Therefore you now sit. Go, bathe in Shri Ganga ji, do meditation, sandhya, and daily rites, and come.” Then that pandit Brahmin went to Shri Ganga ji, bathed, did the daily rites, did japa, and came back. Meanwhile here Shri Thakur ji’s Rajbhog was cleared away. Those Vaishnav Brahmins daily served three leaf-plates. That day that Vaishnav served four leaf-plates. Then one leaf-plate he first placed in front of the cow, and one leaf-plate he placed in front of that pandit Brahmin. Then that pandit Brahmin took the Mahaprasad, and the two leaf-plates the husband and wife themselves took the prasad. After that that pandit Brahmin slept there that night.
Then when morning came, then Chaturmas began. In Chaturmas, travel is forbidden. Then that pandit Brahmin said to that Vaishnav Brahmin, “Vaishnav ji, now Chaturmas has begun; therefore I will stay here itself for two or three months.” Then that Vaishnav Brahmin said, “Good, stay comfortably, as you wish.” Then from that day that Vaishnav Brahmin begged more alms. When he understood that it had become more than usual, then that Vaishnav Brahmin came to his house. Then, bathing, he did his daily work.
Doing thus, when a few days passed, then that pandit Brahmin saw signs on this Vaishnav Brahmin. Then that pandit Brahmin thought in his mind, “This Vaishnav Brahmin has endured great hardship.” Then that pandit Brahmin began to feel very much sorrow in his mind. That pandit Brahmin knew samudrik, therefore that pandit Brahmin had all knowledge—that this Vaishnav Brahmin has endured great hardship. “Tomorrow, when the day rises about ten gharis, the king’s men will come inside. They will put the stain of theft on his head and seize him and take him away. Then the king will mount this Vaishnav Brahmin on the stake and have him killed.” Such suffering of this Vaishnav Brahmin came into the sight of that pandit Brahmin. Therefore that pandit Brahmin himself became overcome with great worry.
So that pandit Brahmin began to think in his mind, “I will certainly go with this Vaishnav Brahmin. Going there, I will fight with that king. I will say to that king like this, ‘Instead of this Vaishnav Brahmin, kill me. But I will not let you kill this Vaishnav Brahmin.’” Thus that pandit Brahmin made resolve and doubt in his mind. But that Vaishnav Brahmin knew nothing at all.
So when this Vaishnav Brahmin finished Shri Thakur ji’s seva and adornment, then inside he cleared away Shri Thakur ji’s Rajbhog and began to do remembrance. Then the Vaishnav Brahmin’s eyes became heavy. Sleep came upon him. That Brahmin had a very dreadful dream. In that dream he saw like this, as if that king’s men had come to take him. Putting the stain of theft upon his head, they seized him and, going before that king, made him stand. Then that king gave command to his men, “Put him on the stake.” So those men took him and seated him on the stake and pulled it, and killed that Vaishnav Brahmin. Such a dream, at that time, that Vaishnav had. Then at once he started awake from sleep. That Vaishnav Brahmin told all the news before his wife. He told all the matter of the dream. Then that wife said to the Vaishnav Brahmin, “The destined suffering you had to undergo has been finished. Therefore now you rise.” Then that Vaishnav Brahmin rose and set out to bathe in Shri Ganga ji.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because, in the dream, the touch of a chandala happened, and the fault of death also happened. Therefore he has become touched. In this path, feeling (bhavana) is primary. By feeling alone, Vaishnavs become touched. Such is the subtle movement of dharma. Therefore, at the time of seva and remembrance, a Vaishnav should make the feeling of the many lilas of the Braj devotees. Thus the heart becomes pure, and the accomplishment of bhav also happens. So bhavana is such a substance.
So that Vaishnav Brahmin came out of his house; then he saw that at the door the pandit Brahmin was sitting. Then that Vaishnav Brahmin asked the pandit Brahmin, “Pandit Brahmin ji! Today you have not bathed—why is that?” Then that pandit Brahmin said, “A very big doubt has arisen in me; therefore today I will not bathe, and I will also not take Mahaprasad. Therefore you, comfortably, take Mahaprasad.” Then that Vaishnav Brahmin said, “Pandit ji! Today I will remove all your doubt. Therefore rise comfortably and bathe. This doubt is a small matter.” Then the pandit Brahmin and the Vaishnav Brahmin, both together, went to bathe in Shri Ganga ji.
Then that Vaishnav asked that pandit Brahmin, “Tell me, Pandit ji! What doubt has arisen in you today? Tell it before me.” Then that pandit Brahmin said, “Vaishnav ji! Today, death itself, in this manner, had come to you in person. Therefore the time of that suffering passed away. Therefore now I think in my mind—what became of my study? I am a very great pandit, and I have defeated pandits of many lands by debate. Was all that useless? Therefore this doubt has arisen in me.” Then that Vaishnav Brahmin said, “Pandit ji! All that suffering happened to me. I had done Shri Thakur ji’s seva, and after that I was doing Bhagavat-remembrance. At that time very dreadful sleep came upon me. In that sleep all this state happened to me. When I awoke, I told all these matters before my wife. Then my wife said, ‘The destined suffering you had has been removed by Shri Thakur ji.’ Therefore I have come to bathe.” After that both bathed in Shri Ganga ji and took Mahaprasad.
Then that pandit Brahmin began to think in his mind, “The suffering that was directly to come—how was it removed so easily? Therefore it is known that his master is powerful. Therefore it seems that, equal to this Vaishnav dharma, there is no other dharma.” Then the next day that pandit Brahmin said to that Vaishnav Brahmin, “Now give me a name, and tell before me the whole channel and tradition and practice of your dharma.” Then that Vaishnav Brahmin said, “Our guru is Shri Gusainji. He has gone to Dwarka. In five months he will come to Shri Gokul ji. Then you go to him and become his sevak.” Then that pandit Brahmin said, “That matter needs many days. And if until then my body leaves me, then I will remain as I am. Therefore give me a name.” Then that Vaishnav Brahmin said to that pandit Brahmin, “You are great, and you are a great pandit Brahmin; therefore I cannot give a name. Such a thing will never happen.” Then that pandit Brahmin said, “If you will not give me a name, then I will die on your head. Then the sin of killing will come upon you. Otherwise, tell me the name.” After that that Vaishnav Brahmin told him the name. And he said to that pandit Brahmin, “Now you do remembrance of this name.” Then that pandit Brahmin, on the next day, bathing, did remembrance of the name.
After that that pandit Brahmin said to that Vaishnav ji, “Now give me some attending of your household.” Then that Brahmin said to that pandit Brahmin, “Good. From today, for this cow, you yourself go and dig dub grass and bring it.” Then that pandit Brahmin went to dig dub grass, and that Vaishnav Brahmin went to beg alms. When, begging alms, he came home, then that Vaishnav Brahmin said to that pandit Brahmin, “I have one thing with me; I give it to you—take it.” Then the Vaishnav Brahmin said, “Pandit Brahmin! What such thing do you have?” Then that pandit Brahmin gave to that Vaishnav Brahmin the jewel he had. Then he said to that pandit Brahmin, “What happens from this jewel?” Then that pandit Brahmin said, “From this, as much gold as one wants, that much happens.” Then that Vaishnav Brahmin asked, “You gave this jewel to me?” In this way that Vaishnav Brahmin asked three times. Then all three times that pandit Brahmin said, “I gave this jewel to you.” Then that Vaishnav Brahmin took that jewel and threw it into Shri Ganga ji.
Then that pandit Brahmin began to quarrel with that Brahmin: “Give me my jewel. I obtained that jewel with very great hardship, and you threw it into Ganga ji in one moment. Therefore you give me my jewel, otherwise right now I will die on your head.” Then that Vaishnav Brahmin asked that pandit Brahmin, “For what work is this jewel of yours useful? What happens from your jewel?” Then that pandit Brahmin said, “From this jewel, gold is produced.”
Then at the door of that Vaishnav Brahmin there lay a stone slab for bathing. He showed it to that pandit Brahmin, and said to the pandit Brahmin, “Rub iron on this stone and see; from this also much gold happens. If gold happens from this, then you take this stone.” Then that pandit Brahmin had a kamandal for drinking water. On the bottom of that kamandal there was iron attached. Then that pandit Brahmin touched that stone to that kamandal. Then the iron that was there became gold. Then that Vaishnav Brahmin said to that pandit Brahmin, “Listen! Here on the bank of this Ganga ji, all these pebbles that lie—these are not pebbles; these are all jewels. Therefore take jewels as your desire wishes.” Then that pandit Brahmin began to say in his mind, “His dharma is extraordinary.” Then that pandit Brahmin fell at the feet of that Vaishnav Brahmin. Then that pandit Brahmin said, “Vaishnav! I am an offender; therefore now forgive my offense.” After that that pandit Brahmin came outside.
After that, that pandit Brahmin gained understanding that this Vaishnav Brahmin is some very great mahapurush, and his dharma is greater than all, and equal to his master there is none. After that the Vaishnav Brahmin remained there itself. And he (the pandit) came to Shri Gokul. After doing full prostration to Shri Gusainji, after that he took darshan. After that he made an offering. That pandit Brahmin became, by Shri Gusainji’s grace, a Bhagavadiya.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The intention of this account is that—considering all worldly dealings as trivial, and considering only Shri Thakur ji as everything—then the Lord easily has his person undergo and be made to bear the hardship of destiny. He does such favor. And such is the greatness of the company of a Vaishnav—that even that pandit Brahmin became Shri Gusainji’s grace-receiving sevak.
So this Vaishnav Brahmin was such a grace-receiving Bhagavadiya of Shri Gusainji; therefore, to what extent should his account be told.