Now the sentiment of the account of Shri Gusainji’s sevakini Kanhabai, the sister of Govind Swami, who lived in Mahavan, is being described.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): She is a tamas devotee. She belongs to the group of Kumarikas. In the divine play, her name is “Kanhiyan.” She possesses deep vatsalya bhav (motherly affection). She manifested from “Brajvilasini,” therefore her form is full of devotional sentiment.

This Kanhabai, the sister of Govind Swami, manifested in the house of a Sanadhya Brahmin in the village of Aantari. When she became nine years old, she was married to a boy of her caste. After that, when she became forty-five years old, her husband died. She had no children. Therefore she came to Braj and lived in Mahavan.

Prasang 1 – Kanhabai’s Loving Service to Shri Thakurji Once Shri Gusainji himself came to Mahavan. At that time Kanhabai had the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then Kanhabai prayed to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! Please give me the Name.” Shri Gusainji ordered, “Go and bathe and then come.” Then she bathed and returned. Shri Gusainji mercifully bestowed the Name upon her. The next day, in Shri Gokul, before Shri Navneetpriyaji, he performed Brahmasambandh for her. After that Kanhabai prayed to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! Please establish seva for me. My heart’s desire is to perform seva.” Then Shri Gusainji, out of grace, established seva upon Kanhabai’s head. The swaroop she served was Shri Navneetpriyaji. Kanhabai served him very properly and with great care.

Shri Thakurji revealed affectionate intimacy toward Kanhabai. Shri Thakurji would speak with Kanhabai and would ask for whatever thing he desired. Every day Shri Gusainji would send sakhadi mahaprasad to Kanhabai’s house, and Shri Thakurji would partake of that prasad. Afterwards she would cover the plate and set it aside. Then Shri Thakurji would again ask, “O Kanhabai! I am hungry.” Then Kanhabai would place that same plate again before Shri Thakurji. In this way Kanhabai would place the same plate before him five or seven times. When Shri Thakurji had finished eating, Kanhabai would offer achaman and herself would say, “Lalji! Now play happily. Whenever you become hungry, then ask me.” In this manner Shri Thakurji remained very playful and intimate with Kanhabai.

After some days, a Vaishnav told this matter before Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! The plate that goes to Kanhabai’s house, she offers that same plate many times to her Shri Navneetpriyaji!” Then one day Shri Gusainji asked Kanhabai, “Kanhabai! Do you offer the same mahaprasad plate again and again to your Shri Thakurji?” Then Kanhabai replied, “Maharaj! A child eats from one plate ten times. And if one keeps serving ten times separately, then the food becomes spoiled.” Hearing these words of Kanhabai, Shri Gusainji remained silent. And Shri Gusainji said to the Vaishnavas, “This manner pleases him alone.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): By saying this, Shri Gusainji himself indicated that she possessed bal-bhav (the sentiment of motherly affection toward the Lord as a child). Therefore Thakurji, being a child for her, revealed experiences just like a little boy. Whatever she did was pleasing to him.

But seeing this, no one else should imitate it. Shri Thakurji is pleased with her in that very manner. With you, he will be pleased only through proper discipline and maryada. That Kanhabai was such a grace-filled Bhagvadiya of Shri Gusainji.

Prasang 2 – Shri Thakurji Complains to Kanhabai One day Kanhabai had some work in Mahavan. So she placed her sevya swaroop at the house of Shri Gusainji’s daughter, Shri Devka Betiji, and herself went to Mahavan. Then Devka Betiji put her own Shri Thakurji to rest. But she forgot to put Kanhabai’s Shri Thakurji to rest. So Shri Thakurji remained seated upon the throne. When half the night had passed, Shri Thakurji informed Kanhabai, “You have come here, but I am feeling very cold. And you have not put me to rest. You have kept me seated upon the throne. I am alone upon the throne and I am afraid.” Hearing this, Kanhabai immediately arose and came to Shri Gokul. Then she came to the door of Devka Betiji and called out, “Betiji! Open the door.”

Then Devkaji said, “Kanhabai! Why have you come at such a late hour?” Then Kanhabai said to Devka Betiji, “Maharaj! Bring my Lalji.” Then Devka Betiji said to Kanhabai, “Shri Thakurji has already been put to rest. So how can I give him?” Then Kanhabai said, “Maharaj! My Shri Thakurji is sitting upon the throne. You have not put him to rest.” Then Devka Betiji went into the temple and looked, and Shri Thakurji was indeed sitting upon the throne. Then Devka Betiji gave Shri Thakurji to Kanhabai. Kanhabai brought her Shri Thakurji home. Then Kanhabai took Shri Thakurji into her lap and began saying, “My Lalji must have felt very cold.” With much loving persuasion, she held Shri Thakurji tightly against her heart and slept. Then the next day Kanhabai came to Devka Betiji’s house and scolded her greatly. Such was Kanhabai, a Bhagvadiya greatly favored by the grace of Shri Gusainji.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this account it is shown that Shri Thakurji should not be left dependent upon anyone else. Seva should be performed personally with one’s own hands. If by chance some outside work arises, then one should quickly return after completing it.

Prasang 3 – Kanhabai Learns of Discomfort in Shri Thakurji’s Bed One day Shri Gokulchandramaaji said to Kanhabai, “I like your cot very much. Therefore I will sleep upon your cot.” Then Kanhabai said, “Maharaj! A coarse blanket is spread upon my cot, and it will prick your divine body.” Then Shri Gokulchandramaaji said to Kanhabai, “O Kanhabai! Something is pricking me in my bedding.” Then in the morning Kanhabai went and said to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! There is something in Shri Thakurji’s bedding of Shri Gokulchandramaaji. It is pricking Shri Thakurji’s divine body.”

Then the bedding cover of Shri Gokulchandramaaji was opened. Inside it, a hard seed-pod was found. From that day onward they became careful in arranging Shri Thakurji’s bedding. Kanhabai herself would clean the cotton with her own hands and prepare the bedding cover. Such was Kanhabai’s intimate relationship. That Kanhabai was such a grace-filled Bhagvadiya of Shri Gusainji.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this it is shown that seva should be performed with great care and attentiveness.

Prasang 4 – Kanhabai Rocks the Cradle of Shri Navneetpriyaji Once Kanhabai went to Shri Gusainji’s house for the darshan of Shri Navneetpriyaji. At that time Shri Navneetpriyaji was swinging in the cradle. At that very moment Kanhabai went for the darshan of Shri Navneetpriyaji. Then she saw that there was no one near the cradle. Shri Navneetpriyaji was alone, swinging in the cradle. At that time Shri Giridharji himself had gone inside to bring some items. Then Kanhabai held the rope of Shri Navneetpriyaji’s cradle and began rocking it. At that very moment an attendant came and saw Kanhabai. Then he went and told Shri Giridharji, “Kanhabai is rocking the cradle of Shri Navneetpriyaji.” Hearing this, Shri Giridharji came. Then Kanhabai said to Shri Giridharji, “Please leave someone near the cradle. The child is still very small, therefore he becomes afraid when left alone.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): By saying this it is shown that Shri Thakurji should never be left completely alone. That Kanhabai was such a grace-filled Bhagvadiya of Shri Gusainji.

Prasang 5 – Kanhabai Discourages the Performance of Sacrifice Again, once Shri Gokulnathji said to Shri Giridharji, “Dada! If you permit, then I shall perform a yajna.” But Shri Giridharji did not permit the yajna. Then Shri Gokulnathji returned from there. At that time, seeing Kanhabai before him, Shri Gokulnathji stopped there. Then Kanhabai asked, “Vallabhji! Where had you gone?” Then Shri Gokulnathji said, “I had gone to Dada to ask about performing a yajna, whether I should do it or not. But Dada did not permit the yajna.” Then Kanhabai said to Shri Gokulnathji, “What is gained by performing a yajna?” After that Kanhabai again said, “Vallabhji! You should not perform a yajna.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why did she say this? Because in yajnas there is violence toward living beings. Many small creatures would die because of it. Therefore she did not approve of it.

Then Shri Gokulnathji abandoned the idea of the yajna. That Kanhabai was such a grace-filled Bhagvadiya of Shri Gusainji.

Prasang 6 – Kanhabai’s Pure Devotional Feeling At one time Shri Gusainji would daily send a plate of mahaprasad to Kanhabai’s house. Shri Krishnarayji would carry the mahaprasad plate there every day. One day, while walking, a used leaf scrap came beneath his foot. Shri Krishnarayji noticed it properly, but he did not bring any feeling of impurity into his mind. However, Shri Krishnarayji thought within himself, “Kanhabai does not observe any rules of ritual purity or conduct.” Thinking this in his mind, he placed the plate at Kanhabai’s house and returned. Then Kanhabai placed that plate before Shri Thakurji.

At that time Shri Thakurji said to Kanhabai, “O Kanhabai! The plate has been touched. Therefore I have not eaten from it.” Then Kanhabai immediately prepared a fresh meal and offered it to Shri Thakurji. Afterwards Kanhabai became upset with Shri Krishnarayji and said, “That used leaf scrap had come beneath your foot. Why then did you place the touched plate in my house? Today my Lalji remained hungry. Therefore from today onward, do not bring my plate.” In this way she became greatly upset. Then Shri Krishnarayji remained astonished and said, “Shri Thakurji speaks directly with her. And we are occupied only with observing rules of purity and conduct.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this it is shown that one should not examine the external purity and conduct of Bhagvadiyas. For them, everything depends only upon devotional sentiment.

Afterwards Shri Krishnarayji said to Shri Gokulnathji, “The mahaprasad plate that is sent to Kanhabai—she places it before Shri Thakurji two or three times.” Then Shri Gokulnathji asked Kanhabai, “Kanhabai! Do you place the same plate before Shri Thakurji two or four times?” Then Kanhabai said, “Maharaj! I do place the plate before Shri Thakurji. Shri Gusainji had also asked about this. And if he sits again before the plate, then what fault is there?” Hearing these words, Shri Gokulnathji remained silent, because Shri Thakurji gave Kanhabai direct experiences. Such was Kanhabai, a grace-filled Bhagvadiya of Shri Gusainji. Therefore, how far can one continue describing her account?