Now, Shri Gusainji’s sevak Gopinathdas is a cowherd of Shri Govardhan Nathji’s herd of cows; The sentiment of his account is told as follows.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These are tamas devotees. He is a cowherd of Nandaraya ji’s herd of cows, and he is their leader. In the divine play, his name is “Govardhan Gwal.” He is Shri Thakurji’s intimate friend. Therefore Shri Thakurji loves him very much. He manifested from Ratna; therefore he is of the form of Bhav.
He was born in Gopalpur in a Sanadhya family. From childhood he became a sevak of Shri Gusainji. Later he remained in the service of Shri Nathji’s herd of cows. Then he got married and had children too. Then he made all the people of his household sevaks of Shri Gusainji. After that he grew older. Then Shri Gusainji made him the leader of all the cowherds. He guarded the herd very well. Therefore Shri Govardhan Nathji Himself remained very pleased with him. He spoke directly, played with him. So he spoke fearlessly with everyone. His bhav was pure. Therefore Shri Gusainji too always remained pleased with him.
Prasang 1 - The Lost Buffalo
So, once Shri Nathji’s buffalo got lost. Then Gopinathdas the cowherd was a greatly favored Bhagavadiya, an object of Shri Gusainji’s great grace. So Gopinathdas the cowherd went to search for the buffalo. Shri Nathji was playing there. Then Gopinathdas the cowherd, making a request to Shri Nathji, asked: “Maharaj! One buffalo has been lost—please tell where it is.” Then Shri Govardhan Nathji pointed toward the tail-side of Govardhan, in front of a cave of Shri Giriraj. Then from there Gopinathdas the cowherd found it and brought it back.
Prasang 2 - The Eight Laddus Missing from the Bhog
Again, once, at the time of Shri Nathji’s utthapan, eight laddus of boondi went missing from the bhog. Then there was an uproar. All the attendants began making noise: “Why have the laddus become fewer from the bhog?” But they could not find out anything—where did the laddus go? Shri Nathji had taken those laddus into the forest and given them to Gopinathdas the cowherd.
Gopinathdas the cowherd came home at evening time. Then the children said: “Baba, today eight laddus went missing from Shri Nathji’s bhog.” Then Gopinathdas said nothing. After that, night came. Shri Nathji lay down. Later Shri Gusainji came down from Shri Giriraj. Then he came into his sitting place and sat. Then Gopinathdas the cowherd came and asked Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! Today what was that noise in the temple above?” Then Shri Gusainji said: “Today eight laddus went missing from Shri Nathji’s bhog.” Those laddus were with Gopinathdas the cowherd. He took them out and showed them, and said: “Maharaj! These are the laddus. Out of them, two were given to me, and I distributed all the rest to everyone.” Thus that Gopinathdas the cowherd was such a greatly favored sevak of Shri Gusainji, due to whom Shri Nathji always remained affectionate.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this account there is this doubt: the offering-material that is touched by Shri Thakurji’s holy hand never becomes less at all. Because Shri Thakurji’s holy hand contains fullness; therefore whatever quantity of offering He takes, that much more appears in it. Then why did eight laddus become less here?
They say the Lord is capable of doing everything. As His wish is, so the play happens; there is no other regulator here. Shri Thakurji’s wish alone is the regulator. This is Shri Nathji’s divine play to fix the “neg” of the temple sevaks. In the same way, at this time, for fixing the “neg” of the cowherds, this act was done—understand it like this. And all the cowherd boys are hungry—how can the Lord bear the suffering of His intimate friends? Therefore He gave those laddus to them. Understand that He performed this divine play to reveal this kind of love for devotees.
Prasang 3 - Shri Gusainji Carries Cooling Food to the Shyam Dhak
And once, Shri Gusainji came to Shri Nathji Dwar during the hot-season days. Then Shri Gusainji adorned Shri Nathji, and it was the time of Rajbhog. Later, when time passed, after arranging the bhog and the “anosar,” he himself came down. Then, after eating, and after taking the paan, he lay down.
At that time, Gopaldas the attendant, having washed his dhoti, was coming from the tail-side in the noon time. Then at that time Shri Nathji said to Gopaldas: “Gopaldas! Go and tell Shri Gusainji that we are very hungry.” Then Gopaldas, drying his dhoti, came to the sitting place where Shri Gusainji was lying down. Gopaldas saw that Shri Gusainji was asleep in deep sleep. Then Gopaldas pressed Shri Gusainji’s feet and said: “Maharaj! Shri Nathji has said, ‘We are very hungry.’ Saying this, He has gone toward the tail-side.”
As soon as he heard this, Shri Gusainji immediately rose quickly, and at once bathed and went up to the temple. Then, promptly preparing thick rice, pana, and other cooling items, he placed them in a large platter, tied it into a bundle, put it on his head, and Shri Gusainji set out toward the tail-side.
At that time, on the path, the sun was very strong. At that time, blisters were forming on Shri Gusainji’s feet. Still he went forward, tolerating the pain in his feet. And he did not take any sevak along. At that time he was going alone.
At that time Gopinathdas the cowherd was coming from the tail-side. With Gopinathdas there was a boy. Then at that time Gopinathdas asked that boy: “At this time, who is coming alone barefoot at this place? Why, boy—could it be Vitthalnathji Shri Gusainji?” Then that boy said: “Yes, yes—he is indeed Vitthalnathji.” Then, seeing this, Gopinath made a request to Shri Gusainji and said: “Maharajadhiraj! In such heat, where are you going barefoot?” Then Shri Gusainji said: “Tell me where Shri Nathji is seated. He is hungry; therefore I have brought food.”
Then Gopinathdas made a request: “Maharajadhiraj! Who has misled you, that at this time you are going? Blisters are forming on your feet. And for whom you are going—what need is there for that one, that you have come out in such heat? And the one who told you such a thing—why do you not tell me his name in front of me? I will beat him right there, so that he does not speak such a lie again. Therefore, turn back from here.”
Gopinathdas the cowherd said a lot like this to Shri Gusainji. But Shri Gusainji just stood and kept listening. He did not give any reply to Gopinathdas the cowherd. But he became very distressed in the heat. Then again Gopinathdas said to Shri Gusainji: “Fine—now that you have come this far, then go ahead as well.” Then Gopinathdas sent that boy with Shri Gusainji. And Gopinathdas said to that boy: “Go with him. Ahead a big dhak tree is seen. Go with him up to there. And farther from there, very far away, there is one Shyam Dhak. When that comes into your sight, then show it to him from far away and return back. And if you go ahead, then I will beat you.”
So Gopinathdas remained standing right there. Then that boy went with Shri Gusainji. Then from far away the Shyam Dhak came into their sight. Then that boy returned back. And Shri Gusainji went ahead.
Then going forward, Shri Gusainji saw that under the Shyam Dhak Shri Nathji was seated, and all the cows were grazing far away, and ahead all the cowherds were standing. The shade of that dhak was very cool. Then, seeing Shri Gusainji coming from far away, Shri Nathji became very pleased. Then Shri Nathji said to Shri Gusainji: “It is very good that you came. We were very hungry.” Then Shri Nathji gave the order to Shri Gusainji to sit: “You sit.” Then Shri Gusainji sat right there.
Then Shri Nathji ordered Shri Baldevji: “You bring all this food.” Then Shri Baldevji brought all the food. Then Shri Nathji ate all the food. And what remained, he distributed it to all the cowherds. Then Shri Nathji said to Shri Baldevji: “Now you sit.”
Then Shri Nathji said to Shri Gusainji: “You came—this was very good. Today we were very hungry.” Then Shri Nathji got up from that place. Then Shri Nathji said to Shri Gusainji: “Now go to your own temple.” Then Shri Gusainji went to “Apsarakund.” Then, coming there, wetting all his clothes, he bathed there itself, and with untouchability he went up on Shri Giriraj mountain. Then at that time it was the time for conch-sounding. So going there, he sounded the conch.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this account there is a big doubt: if Shri Nathji Himself became hungry, why did He not take the “anosar” portion? And why did He not tell Shri Gusainji too? Why did He give such effort to Shri Gusainji? Because both are one form. So the effort that fell upon Shri Gusainji was in fact upon Him Himself.
They say: Shri Nathji wished to eat cooling food under the Shyam Dhak. That was not present in the “anosar” portions. And having it conveyed through Gopaldas was to reveal special grace. From time to time, through Ramdasji and other sevaks, Shri Nathji Himself gives such commands. Shri Gusainji, understanding it as special grace, follows that command exactly. Because although he is Ishvar, still he reveals the mood of a servant. That is to make his own people understand. In this, Shri Gusainji Himself also reveals his own utter humility. This is the practice of the Pushtimarg: if a special command comes through someone, then know it as supreme grace. Therefore He did not inform Shri Gusainji directly.
So that Gopinathdas the cowherd is such a greatly favored Bhagavadiya of Shri Nathji and Shri Gusainji. Therefore, why should his account be told at all.