Now, the sentiment (bhav) of the story of one sevak of Shri Gusainji, a Khandan Sanodhiya Brahmin, resident of Sinhanand, is described.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These are rajasic devotees. In the divine play, her name is “Kasodari.” She manifested from “Gunchuda,” therefore that is her bhav form.
He was born in a Sanadhya Brahmin family of Sinhanand. When he was five years old, his mother died. After that, his father placed him with a learned pandit for study. He studied a great deal. Then when he became thirty years old, his father died. After that, he lived alone in the house. He was not married. Whenever five people gathered in the village and did discourse or kirtan, he would go there. And he would argue and debate with everyone. Due to the pride of his learning, he would not accept anyone as superior. Whatever anyone said, this Brahmin would refute it. Because of this, people began to call him “Khandan Brahmin.” There were many Vaishnavas in Sinhanand.
Prasang 1 – The Khandan Brahmin Opposes the Vaishnavas
That Khandan Brahmin used to strongly criticize the Vaishnavas. And he stayed near the Vaishnavas. The Vaishnavas would perform confidential kirtan and discourse, sitting in seclusion. Once, the birthday of Shri Gusainji arrived. All the Vaishnavas gathered there and were doing kirtan. That Khandan Brahmin came there after hearing the kirtan. The Vaishnavas were singing kirtans of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhuji and Shri Gusainji.
Then that Khandan Brahmin said, “You sing like villagers.” The Vaishnavas replied, “We do not know how to sing like you.” Then the Khandan Brahmin said, “Shall I sing? You sing along with me. I know everything.” Then that Khandan Brahmin began singing of other deities, while the Vaishnavas were singing together of Shri Thakurji. Hearing such kirtan, one Vaishnava became angry.
That Vaishnava said to the Khandan Brahmin, “Who has invited you? Why have you come uninvited into someone else’s house? What do you understand, and what do you know? Therefore, leave from here. Otherwise, I will hold both your hands and remove you, and then you will feel bad.” Then the Khandan Brahmin said, “Is your path different from the world? Does such a thing not exist in the world?” Then the Vaishnava said, “We do not accept Ganesh, Devi, Shiva, or any other deity. All deities are manifestations of Shri Thakurji.”
Then the Khandan Brahmin said, “All are one. Come, let us ask a learned Brahmin. My statement is true.” Then the Vaishnava said, “What do we have to do with learned Brahmins or other deities? We know none other than Nandanandan. Why do you raise your head here? Therefore, leave from here.” Saying this, he held the Khandan Brahmin by the hand and removed him.
Then the Khandan Brahmin went outside, gathered ten or five Brahmins, and began criticizing those Vaishnavas. After that, when all the Vaishnavas were sitting there, he came and began throwing clods at them from above. Then all the Vaishnavas got up and went to their homes, and the kirtan stopped. After that, all the Vaishnavas went to sleep.
When midnight came, four persons arrived, overturned the Khandan Brahmin from his cot, and beat him severely. They struck him so much that the skin and bones of his entire body felt separated. He cried out in great pain and began weeping loudly. He said, “Why are you beating me?” They replied, “Why did you criticize the sevaks of Shri Gusainji? And why did you create an obstruction in kirtan? That is why we are beating you. The Vaishnavas are supremely beloved of the Lord. And Shri Gusainji is directly the complete Purushottam. Therefore, if you speak against Vaishnavas again, we will beat you like this daily.” Saying this, they left.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this story it is shown that Shri Thakurji cannot tolerate offenses against Bhagavadiya Vaishnavas. And wherever kirtan and discourse of the Lord take place, Shri Thakurji Himself is present. This verse is not found in the Bhagavat, but it is: “I do not reside in Vaikuntha, nor in the hearts of yogis.
Where my devotees sing, O Narad, there I reside.” Therefore, whoever creates obstacles in kirtan or causes pain to Vaishnavas, the Lord Himself instructs them in this way.
After that, the body of that Khandan Brahmin began to suffer greatly. Because of this, he could not sleep and kept turning from side to side. He thought, “When will morning come, and when will I go and pray to those Vaishnavas so that my suffering may end?” In this way, morning came. He slowly got up and went to the Vaishnavas. He fell at their feet and said, “Whatever I spoke to you, I have received the result of that. You are greatly beloved of the Lord, and I am a very fallen sinner.” Saying this, he showed his body and narrated all that had happened in the night and how he was beaten. He said, “There is great pain in my body.”
Seeing the Khandan Brahmin, the Vaishnavas felt great compassion. They brought charanamrit from the house and applied it to his body, and said, “Put it in your mouth. Take the name of Shri Acharyaji and Shri Gusainji.” Then they said, “Now you go home.” The Khandan Brahmin said, “I have no place now. Please show mercy and make me a Vaishnava.” The Vaishnavas said, “This can happen only if Shri Gusainji shows grace. Since such a desire has arisen in your mind, you should go to Shri Gokul. Your wish will be fulfilled.” After that, the Khandan Brahmin took leave from the Vaishnavas and departed.
After some days, he reached Shri Gokul. There he had darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then he prayed to Shri Gusainji and said, “O Maharajadhiraj! Please give me the Name. You are compassionate to devotees. Why do you consider the offenses of my life?” Hearing his words, Shri Gusainji showed grace and gave him the Name. Then Shri Gusainji instructed him to observe one fast, after which he would be offered initiation. After the fast, on the next day, he was given atmanivedan (self-surrender). Then the Khandan Brahmin offered gifts according to his capacity. After that, he stayed in Shri Gokul for some days and learned all the practices of the path. Shri Gusainji Himself, out of grace, explained everything to him and taught him the scriptures. All the practices of the path became firmly established in his heart. He stayed there for several days and had darshan of Shri Navneetpriyaji and the other seven forms.
One day, Shri Gusainji rose early, completed his daily duties, brushed his teeth, bathed, and had mangala darshan of Shri Navneetpriyaji. Then he decided to go for darshan of Shri Govardhannathji. He took that Brahmin along, and along with all the Vaishnavas, proceeded for darshan. They reached Shri Giriraj at the time of Rajbhog. After the offering, Shri Gusainji gave darshan of Shri Govardhannathji to all the Vaishnavas. The Khandan Brahmin also had darshan and became very pleased. He thought, “Blessed is my fortune that I have received such darshan.” After performing Rajbhog aarti and all services, Shri Gusainji came down from Giriraj, sat on his seat with cushions, and the Brahmin also came down after darshan and offered full prostration.
After that, Shri Gusainji dismissed all the Vaishnavas and instructed that the Khandan Brahmin should take mahaprasad there. Shri Gusainji went for his meal, and after eating, had a plate of mahaprasad served to the Brahmin, who partook of it. After resting for a short while, Shri Gusainji awoke. At the time of utthapan, he bathed and went again to Giriraj, performed utthapan of Shri Govardhannathji, completed all services until shayan, and returned. The Khandan Brahmin continued having darshan in this way for several days. After that, Shri Gusainji returned to Shri Gokul with all the Vaishnavas, and the Brahmin also came along. He had darshan of Shri Navneetpriyaji and took mahaprasad.
Then the Khandan Brahmin prayed, “If permitted, I wish to undertake the pilgrimage of Braj.” Shri Gusainji said, “The Braj pilgrimage should certainly be done.” Then the Brahmin took leave and departed. After completing the entire Braj pilgrimage in some days, he returned to Shri Gokul, had darshan, and stayed for some more days. After that, taking leave from Shri Gusainji, he returned to his home in Sinhanand. There he met the Vaishnavas and narrated all the events. He also told them about the beating, which he had not told Shri Gusainji earlier.
Among those Vaishnavas was a leader. He removed his turban, folded his hands, and fell at the Brahmin’s feet, saying, “Blessed you are. You have spoken the truth. The punishment for the offense came immediately. This is the sign of a divine being. Near such a person, Shri Mahaprabhuji resides. The sign of a demonic person is that the more unrighteous acts they do, the more they prosper.” Thus, that Khandan Brahmin became a good Vaishnava. He lived in the company of all Vaishnavas. Whenever a Vaishnava came to his house, he would humbly host them. He maintained great respect for all Vaishnavas. He performed kirtan according to his understanding, in accordance with the path and with Shri Bhagavat. Whenever any Vaishnava praised him, he would say, “This is your glory. By your grace, this has been accomplished.” He served all Vaishnavas and remained humble before them.
That Khandan Sanodhiya Brahmin became such a greatly graced Bhagavadiya sevak of Shri Gusainji that his story has no end—how much can be described?