Now the sentiment of the account of a Kshatriya sevak of Shri Gusainji, a resident of the eastern region, is being described.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This devotee is a sattvik bhakta. In the divine play her name is “Kirti.” She manifested from Mohini; therefore this is her devotional form.

He was born in a wealthy Kshatriya family in a village about two kos from Pipri in the eastern region. From childhood he lived in a state of detachment. Within his mind he would think, “Worldly pleasures are momentary. Only when this body attains direct darshan of Bhagavan should life be considered successful.” But out of fear of his parents he never spoke these thoughts to anyone. In this way he reached the age of thirty. Then his parents passed away. He never married. This Kshatriya was a patron of Sundardas Gangaputra. Sundardas was a sevak of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, whose account has already been narrated earlier.

Once Sundardas came to this Kshatriya’s home for some work. The Kshatriya honored him greatly and afterward said: “Purohitji! Please tell me some means by which direct darshan of Bhagavan may be attained in this very body.” Then Sundardas replied, “If you become a sevak of Shri Gusainji, your desire shall be fulfilled. Nowadays Thakurji Himself is under the authority of Shri Gusainji.” Then the Kshatriya asked, “Purohitji! Who is Shri Gusainji? Where does he live?” Sundardas replied, “Shri Gusainji is the son of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu. He resides in Shri Gokul. Shri Govardhannathji Himself remains under his authority. Shri Govardhannathji manifested from Govardhan Mountain and is the direct form of Shri Krishna. Whoever goes into His refuge receives His grace.”

Then the Kshatriya said, “Purohitji! Please quickly arrange for me to become a sevak of Shri Gusainji. I shall go into his refuge.” Then Sundardas replied, “At present Shri Gusainji is about to go for the darshan of Jagannath Temple Shri Jagannathrayji. Therefore you should go to Purushottampuri and become his sevak there.”

Prasang 1 – Shri Govardhannathji Personally Gives Mahaprasad Soon afterward Shri Gusainji departed for Purushottampuri for the darshan of Shri Jagannathrayji. When the Kshatriya heard this, he gathered whatever possessions he had in his home and departed for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. He arrived at Purushottampuri and submitted before Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! Kindly accept me into your refuge.” Understanding his intense eagerness, Shri Gusainji mercifully accepted him into refuge and bestowed the Name upon him. Afterward he observed a fast and performed samarpan. Then the Kshatriya Vaishnava submitted, “Maharaj! What is your command for me now?” Shri Gusainji replied, “Perform the seva of Shri Thakurji.”

The Kshatriya Vaishnava then submitted, “Maharaj! How can Bhagavad-seva be properly performed by me alone? Therefore, Maharaj, I shall instead serve you and travel with you to Braj for the darshan of Shri Govardhannathji.” Then Shri Gusainji said, “Very well.” Afterward the Kshatriya Vaishnava offered to Shri Gusainji everything he possessed. Then he remained with Shri Gusainji and performed whatever seva he observed being done. He performed seva very properly and afterward took mahaprasad. Later Shri Gusainji returned to Shri Gokul, and the Kshatriya Vaishnava came along with him.

After staying some days in Shri Gokul, Shri Gusainji mounted a horse and departed for Shrinathji Temple. The Kshatriya Vaishnava also went there. Shri Gusainji arrived there at the time of utthapan and performed the utthapan seva of Shrinathji. But the Kshatriya Vaishnava had been walking on foot and therefore arrived late. By the time he arrived, sen darshan had already concluded. Seeing that sen seva was already completed, the Kshatriya Vaishnava felt immense regret within his heart: “Today is my very first arrival here, yet I have not attained darshan.”

He had resolved in his heart that he would first have darshan and then take mahaprasad. But since darshan had not occurred, he sat outside the temple doorway of Shrinathji. Because he had not received darshan, intense anguish arose within his heart. Shrinathji Himself could not bear this anguish. Therefore, at midnight, Shri Thakurji Himself came outside the temple carrying a water vessel and plate and approached that Kshatriya Vaishnava. Then Shri Govardhannathji Himself said to him, “Vaishnava, now have darshan.” The Kshatriya Vaishnava then had direct darshan of Shri Govardhannathji.

Afterward Shri Govardhannathji personally handed the water vessel and plate to the Vaishnava and instructed him, “Take mahaprasad from this.” Having said this, He returned into the temple. The Vaishnava took mahaprasad and drank water from the vessel. He had already become exhausted from the journey and was also hungry. As soon as he partook of mahaprasad, drowsiness overcame him. So he placed the vessel and plate there and went to sleep upon the mountain nearby. At dawn, when the conch sounded, he awoke.

Meanwhile Shri Govardhannathji had gone outside and then re-entered the temple. The temple doors remained open. When Shri Gusainji came after bathing and ascended upward, he saw the temple doors standing open. Then Shri Gusainji instructed the sevaks, “Secure all the sacred items.” Afterward Shri Gusainji entered inside and saw that the vessel and plate were missing. Then Shri Gusainji offered mangal-bhog and came outside. At that time the Vaishnava came for darshan of Shri Gusainji. Offering dandavat pranam, he placed the vessel and plate before him. Then Shri Gusainji asked, “How did these come to you?” The Vaishnava folded his hands and submitted, “Maharaj! Shri Govardhannathji Himself brought them to me during the night.” Then he narrated the entire account properly.

Hearing this, Shri Gusainji instructed the inner temple servants: “Whenever this Vaishnava asks for mahaprasad, give it to him immediately.” Then Shri Gusainji instructed the Vaishnava himself: “Whenever you feel hungry, ask at once for anasakhadi mahaprasad. And perform whatever seva you are able to do.” After some days Shri Gusainji returned to Shri Gokul, while the Kshatriya Vaishnava remained at Shrinathji Temple. There he lovingly performed seva with deep affection and concentration of heart. Shri Govardhannathji always remained pleased with him.

The Vaishnava performed seva very well. Later, when he left his body, by the grace of Shri Gusainji he entered the eternal lila. He received a divine body while the worldly body remained behind. With that divine body he entered the eternal lila. The inner temple sevaks later saw him inside the temple of Shrinathji. When Shri Gusainji again came to Shrinathji Temple, the sevaks narrated this matter to him. Hearing it, Shri Gusainji became exceedingly pleased and said from his holy mouth: “See how Prabhu greatly values even a little seva. And behold the fortune of this Vaishnava! Within only a few days Shri Govardhannathji bestowed immense grace upon him.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The intention of this account is that Prabhu quickly becomes pleased upon seeing the burning anguish of separation and longing. Therefore a Vaishnava should maintain such devotional anguish. It is also shown here that even if someone performs only a tiny amount of seva with loving devotion, Prabhu values it immensely.

That Kshatriya Vaishnava was such a greatly blessed Bhagavadiya and recipient of Shri Gusainji’s grace that the limit of his story cannot be reached; so how much can possibly be told?