Now the sevak of Shri Gusainji, Gopaldas Bhitariya, a Sanchora Brahmin, resident of Gujarat—his Varta is spoken with its inner sentiment.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): He is a sattvik devotee. In the divine play his name is Sahodari. Previously, in the Dwarka-lila, she was Bimala, a companion there. From that Bimala she manifested, therefore this is her bhava-form. She came to Gopitaleya along with Bhramita. Thus she experienced the Pushti-lila. Therefore she attained the Braj-lila. This matter has been mentioned earlier.
By the will of Bhagavan, Gopaldas manifested in Gujarat in the home of a Sanchora Brahmin. When he became about twenty years old, his parents passed away. Some days after that, Shri Gusainji came to Dwarkaji for the darshan of Shri Ranchhorji. He stayed in the village of Gopaldas. Then all the Vaishnavas of the village came together for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Gopaldas also came with them. Gopaldas had the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then Shri Gusainji looked toward Gopaldas and gave the command: “Gopaldas! When will you come to serve Shri Govardhannathji?” Then Gopaldas became astonished. In his mind he thought, “This must be some great person. Otherwise how would he know my name?” Therefore he thought, “If I go into his refuge and make my life successful, that would be good.” Then Gopaldas folded both hands and prayed, “Maharaj! I am in your refuge. Therefore please show mercy and make me your sevak.” Then Shri Gusainji became pleased and had Gopaldas perform the offering of name-initiation. After that Gopaldas prayed, “Maharaj! If you kindly give me service at your lotus feet, it will be good.” Then Shri Gusainji said to Gopaldas, “Gopaldas! You serve Shri Govardhannathji, and also do my personal service.” Then Gopaldas prayed, “Maharaj! That is also my desire. Therefore please consider me your own and keep me near your lotus feet.”
After that Gopaldas went with Shri Gusainji to Dwarkaji. On the way he washed the clothes of Shri Gusainji every day. And by the command of Shri Gusainji he also did the work of assisting in the kitchen. In this way, after some days, Shri Gusainji came from Dwarkaji to Shrinathjidwar. Gopaldas also came with Shri Gusainji to Shrinathjidwar. Then he had the darshan of Shri Govardhannathji.
Prasang 1 – Shri Nathji Asks for Food in the Forest
Gopaldas had a very simple nature. Therefore Shri Gusainji personally gave him the service of the kitchen of Shri Govardhannathji. He began to perform it with great love. Within some days the Lord revealed His affectionate grace to him. Shri Nathji would speak directly with Gopaldas. Shri Gusainji knew all these matters very well, that such grace of Shri Nathji had come upon Gopaldas. Therefore Shri Gusainji would sometimes ask Gopaldas about the conversations of Shri Nathji. Gopaldas would narrate everything clearly before Shri Gusainji.
Once, Shri Gusainji was at Shrinathjidwar. One day, after finishing his meal, Shri Gusainji was sitting in his meeting place chewing a beera. Half of the beera had been eaten, and the other half was still in his hand. At that time Gopaldas came to the meeting place after washing and drying the dhoti. He offered dandvat and prayed to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! I was returning after washing the dhoti at Apsara Kund. Shri Nathji was seated toward the side of Poonchhri. Seeing me, Shri Nathji said, ‘We are hungry. Therefore the ingredients for a cool offering have been called there.’”
At that very moment Shri Gusainji bathed and went up the mountain. He prepared all the ingredients, placed them in a large plate, covered it with cloth, placed it upon his shoulder, and walked toward the side of Poonchhri barefoot. Dharmdas the cowherd was coming from there. He met Shri Gusainji on the path and asked, “Maharaj! Where are you going barefoot at this time?” Shri Gusainji replied, “I have heard that Shri Nathji is seated here somewhere. Please show me.” Then Dharmdas pointed from a distance toward the grove of the Dhak tree of Maroli and said that Shri Nathji was seated beneath that tree.
Shri Gusainji went near that Dhak tree. There Shri Nathji was seated with Shri Dauji and the circle of friends, engaged in playful pastimes. Shri Gusainji went and had their darshan. Then he placed the plate of offerings before Shri Nathji for bhog. Shri Nathji, Shri Dauji, and all the friends joyfully accepted the offering. Afterward Shri Nathji commanded Shri Gusainji, “You have become very tired. Therefore now return home. And from today onward, do not accept such messages from anyone, and do not come like this again. Whatever I need, I myself will ask you.” Saying this, Shri Nathji became very pleased with Shri Gusainji. Shri Gusainji then returned home, and Shri Nathji went into the forest to play. In this way Shri Nathji plays in Shri Vrindavan, and Shri Gusainji remains always attentive in the service of Shri Nathji.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this Varta a doubt may arise. At first Shri Nathji had the message of ingredients conveyed through Gopaldas, yet now he told Shri Gusainji, “From today do not accept such messages from anyone, and do not come like this.” The explanation is this: Shri Nathji had the message about the ingredients conveyed through Gopaldas, but he did not say that Shri Gusainji himself should come. If Shri Gusainji had sent the ingredients through Gopaldas, Shri Nathji would have accepted them. However, Shri Gusainji has deep affection for Shri Nathji. Therefore he personally brought the offering. In this way he manifested the mood of a sevak. In the same way earlier also he had personally offered food at the Shyam Dhak grove. That has been mentioned above in the Varta of Gopinathdas. If Shri Gusainji were to come again and again in this way, it would cause him fatigue, and Shri Nathji could not bear that. Why? Because this is the way of love: if one’s beloved experiences even a little fatigue, it causes great pain. Therefore Shri Nathji restrained Shri Gusainji in this way. This sentiment should be understood.
Thus Gopaldas was such a Bhagavadiya who was the recipient of the special grace of Shri Gusainji. Therefore the extent of his Varta cannot be reached—how much of it can be told?