Now the sentiment of the Varta of a Kshatriya sevak of Shri Gusainji from the eastern region, to whom he granted Atma-Nivedan, is described.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): He is a sattvik devotee. In the divine play her name is Krishnapriya. Within her there is deep affection for Krishna. Therefore everyone calls her Krishnapriya. Her nature is very simple. She manifested from Gunchuda, therefore she is the bhava-form of that.
In the eastern region, about twenty kos from Shri Jagannathrayji, there is a village. There a wealthy Kshatriya was born. From childhood he had great interest in hearing sacred stories and discussions. Wherever such discourse took place, he would go there. And whenever any sadhu or saint came to the village, he would lovingly serve them. When he became eighteen years old, his parents passed away. After that this Kshatriya became even more devoted to serving saints, ascetics, and great souls. If any sadhu or saint came to the village, he would respectfully care for them. If someone had nothing to eat, he would give them food. If someone had no clothes, he would give them clothes. In this way he would serve them. At night he would press the feet of the saints. In this manner he performed service with great devotion and feeling. Because of this his fame spread widely. Hearing his reputation, many people began to come to him.
Once, at midnight, a renunciate came to the door of this Kshatriya. It was the cold season, and the cold was very severe. The renunciate had nothing to cover himself with or to spread beneath him. Therefore he began to shiver from the cold. He knocked at the Kshatriya’s door. But that day the Kshatriya was not at home; he had gone out for some work. The renunciate became disappointed and remained lying at the door. Because of the severe cold his life left him. In the morning the Kshatriya returned home. When he looked, he saw the renunciant lying at the door, and his life had departed. Then the Kshatriya thought within himself, “Look! This poor person must have come to my door after hearing my name. But I was not here, and in the cold he lost his life. This has become a great offense for me. Now what should I do?” In this way the Kshatriya remained very worried.
Prasang 1 – The Kshatriya Receives Atma-Nivedan
Once Shri Gusainji came to the eastern region for the darshan of Shri Jagannathrayji. There that Kshatriya had the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then the thought arose in his mind, “I will go into his refuge.” That Kshatriya Vaishnav prayed to Shri Gusainji, “Maharajadhiraj! Please show mercy and give me the Name. And please forgive my offense.” Then Shri Gusainji commanded from his lotus mouth, “Go and bathe, then come.” The Kshatriya Vaishnav bathed and returned. Then Shri Gusainji, showing mercy upon him, gave him the Name. The Kshatriya Vaishnav then offered a gift according to his ability. After that Shri Gusainji prepared the kitchen there himself and offered bhog to Shri Thakurji. After the offering was completed, he himself took his meal and had the Brajvasi attendants receive Mahaprasad. He also arranged a leaf-plate for that Kshatriya Vaishnav. The Kshatriya Vaishnav took Mahaprasad and remained there for the night. Later Shri Gusainji went to rest.
In the morning Shri Gusainji departed from there and went for the darshan of Shri Jagannathrayji in the holy place of Purushottam. He remained there for some days and took darshan. After that he took leave of Shri Jagannathrayji and departed. After some days he arrived in Shri Gokul and had the darshan of Shri Navneetpriyaji.
After some time, that Kshatriya Vaishnav also came to Shri Gokul along with other Vaishnavas. He had the darshan of Shri Gusainji and offered full prostrated dandvat. Then all the Vaishnavas had the darshan of Shri Navneetpriyaji. Afterward they came again for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. They offered dandvat and sat down. Shri Gusainji then went for his meal. After finishing his meal he performed achaman for purification of the mouth, chewed the prasadi beera, and afterward sent leaf-plates of Mahaprasad to all the Vaishnavas. All the Vaishnavas received Mahaprasad. After that Shri Gusainji went to rest. After a short rest he awoke before the time of Utthapan and began to speak a discourse. Many Vaishnavas were seated there. That Kshatriya Vaishnav was also sitting in the discourse.
At that time Shri Gusainji began the topic of Atma-Nivedan. He said, “When a soul performs Atma-Nivedan with a pure mind, and the Guru also performs the initiation with a pure mind, then by the grace of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhuji a firm refuge is immediately established. Supernatural realization also becomes firm. The gift of the divine pastimes of the Pushti path is received. All the experiences of the path arise, and an alaukik vision manifests.”
Hearing this, the Kshatriya Vaishnav thought in his mind, “If Shri Gusainji shows mercy, then I will perform Atma-Nivedan.” Later, after Utthapan, the service continued until Sen. After taking the mala and beera and offering dandvat at the temple of Shri Navneetpriyaji, Shri Gusainji came outside. Afterward Shri Gusainji finished his meal and sat alone upon the seat with cushions. Then the Kshatriya Vaishnav prayed to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! I have one request. You are Shri Prabhuji and capable of doing everything. I am only a soul. Therefore you alone can fulfill my wish.” Shri Gusainji said, “What are you saying? What is your wish? Tell me.” The Vaishnav then prayed, “Maharaj! Please grant me the gift related to the divine pastimes of the Pushti path. Please show mercy and have me perform Atma-Nivedan. Please fulfill my longing.” Then Shri Gusainji called Shri Giridharji and commanded, “Tomorrow perform the Atma-Nivedan of this Kshatriya Vaishnav. In the temple of Shri Navneetpriyaji, in the presence of the bed of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, grant him the gift of connection to the divine pastimes of the Pushti path.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Here a doubt may arise: why did Shri Gusainji not personally perform the Atma-Nivedan for that Kshatriya? Why did he instruct Shri Giridharji? And why did he command that the offering be done in the presence of the bed of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu? This does not appear to be the usual method. The explanation is that Shri Gusainji manifested sons according to his own nature. Therefore Shri Raghunathji in the work Namratnakhyastotra refers to Shri Gusainji as “the one who produced sons according to his own form.” Thus Shri Gusainji had the Atma-Nivedan performed through his eldest son Shri Giridharji. Shri Giridharji embodies the form of dharma, and within him the sentiment of separation shines. Therefore by giving the gift of separation he would immediately grant this Kshatriya Vaishnav the experience of the divine pastimes. That is why Shri Gusainji gave this command.
Also, he instructed that the Atma-Nivedan be done in the presence of the bed of Shri Acharyaji. This is because Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu himself is the direct form of Swaminiji. Through the form of the sacred sandals he eternally remains near Shri Thakurji. Without the grace of Shri Swaminiji the gift of connection to the divine pastimes cannot be obtained. This matter has been mentioned earlier in the Varta of Krishnabhatt. Therefore Shri Gusainji instructed that the Atma-Nivedan be performed in the presence of the bed. In this way he revealed the sentiment of Swamini. Just as when Shri Navneetpriyaji gave Brahma-Sambandh to Ilammagaruji, then the tulsi was offered at the lotus feet of another form. This sentiment should be understood. This is an extraordinary principle.
The next day Shri Giridharji lovingly performed the Atma-Nivedan for that Vaishnav. Then the Kshatriya Vaishnav came to Shri Gusainji and offered full dandvat. He sat before Shri Gusainji. Shri Gusainji then said, “The gift connected to the divine pastimes of the Pushti path has not yet occurred.” He called Shri Giridharji and asked angrily, “What gift have you given him? The gift related to the divine pastimes of the Pushti path has not yet been granted. Therefore have him perform a vow, and afterward perform the offering again with a pure mind.” Then one vow was performed by that Kshatriya Vaishnav. After that, with a purified mind, the offering was again performed before Shri Acharyaji according to the method of the path. Then the Vaishnav returned to Shri Gusainji and offered full dandvat.
Again Shri Gusainji looked at him and said, “The Atma-Nivedan has still not become pure.” He called Shri Giridharji again and said, “Have this Kshatriya Vaishnav perform another vow. And for the purification of the body, you also perform one fast.”
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This was so that Shri Giridharji would also experience the sentiment of separation.
After that, asking Shri Gusainji, the offering would be performed again. Then that Kshatriya Vaishnav performed another vow, and Shri Giridharji performed a fast. The next day Shri Giridharji and the Kshatriya Vaishnav came before Shri Gusainji and offered dandvat. Shri Gusainji said, “Even now your inner being has not become fully pure.” Then another fast was performed. After that Shri Gusainji instructed Shri Giridharji to perform the Atma-Nivedan again.
Then Shri Giridharji performed the Atma-Nivedan of that Kshatriya Vaishnav in the presence of the bed of Shri Acharyaji. At that very moment both Shri Giridharji and that Kshatriya Vaishnav had the darshan of Shri Thakurji along with the Braj devotees in the divine pastimes of the Pushti path. That day the Kshatriya Vaishnav forgot all awareness of his body. He remained lying there in the assembly and did not even remember to take Mahaprasad. He became completely absorbed in divine bliss. Then Shri Gusainji spoke the Ashtakshar mantra into his ear. Immediately he regained awareness. After that he took Mahaprasad. Then the Kshatriya Vaishnav attained alaukik knowledge and remained forever immersed in the divine nectar of Bhagavan.
Thus that Kshatriya Vaishnav became such a Bhagavadiya and recipient of the grace of Shri Gusainji that the limit of his Varta cannot be reached—how much of it can be spoken?