Now the sentiment of the account of Shri Gusainji’s sevaks, Hans and Hansni, who lived at Manasarovar, is being explained.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These both are sattvic devotees. In the divine play, their names are “Hansa” and “Shiva.” Both manifested from Shri Dama; therefore, that is their spiritual form.

Prasang 1 – The Swan Pair of Mansarovar One day, Shri Gusainji was performing his evening prayers at Mansarovar. There, a pair of swans came before Shri Gusainji and were drinking water. Then, out of grace, Shri Gusainji bestowed the Divine Name upon them. After that, they lived in the trees around Mansarovar. One day, a hunter came and shot arrows at the swan pair. He continued doing this all day, but none of his arrows struck them. In the evening, he returned home. The next morning he thought to himself, “Why do my arrows not strike them?”

Now, whenever Vaishnavas came on the Braj pilgrimage and arrived at Mansarovar, they would bathe there. The swan pair would then roll in the dust from the feet of those Vaishnavas. The hunter observed this and understood, “These swans roll in the dust of the Vaishnavas. I shall disguise myself as a Vaishnav and go there. They will roll in the dust from my feet, and then I will catch them.” So he dressed himself like a Vaishnav and came along with the Vaishnavas.

Then the male swan said, “Who is this? Do you know him?” The female swan replied, “He is a hunter. He is the one who used to shoot arrows at us. He has disguised himself as a Vaishnav and has come along with the Vaishnavas. How can we roll in the dust of his feet?” Then the male swan said: “Previously, we ourselves were a Brahmin husband and wife who were sevaks of Shri Gusainji, and we used to serve Shri Thakurji. We used to distribute Mahaprasad to Vaishnavas.

The Brahmin would respectfully serve the Vaishnavas, but he would serve others in an ordinary manner. Because of that offense, we have become a pair of swans. And now this hunter has come wearing the appearance of a Vaishnav. Therefore, we shall roll in the dust of his feet as well. And if he catches and kills us, then let him kill us happily. Death comes only once.” After some time, they came again. First, they rolled in the dust of the Vaishnavas’ feet. Then they rolled in the dust of the hunter’s feet. The hunter then tried to catch them.

At that moment, the wings of both swans touched the hunter. By that touch alone, the hunter’s intellect became purified. Then the hunter said, “Now it would be good if I became a Vaishnav.” Through the association of those swans, the hunter became a sincere and good Vaishnav. The swan pair remained seated on the trees of Mansarovar. Whenever any Vaishnav came, they would roll in the dust of that Vaishnav’s feet. They continued doing this constantly. Afterward, the bodies of the swan pair were cast off, and they attained the lotus feet of Bhagavan.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): The intention of this account is that through the association of Vaishnavas, the intellect becomes purified. Therefore, one should remain in the association of Vaishnavas day and night. Within the Vaishnav spirit, there is no consideration of caste.

The reason is that the very nature of a Vaishnav is supremely transcendental. Even if a Vaishnav belongs to a very low social background, one should still honor that Vaishnav and consider that Vaishnav greater than oneself. This principle is being taught here. Those swans were such greatly favored devotees and recipients of Shri Gusainji’s grace that it is impossible to fully describe their greatness.