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Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 127

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Hasmukh Patadia

Gujarati narration
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I shall speak of the devotees of Bundelkhand who rightly grasped the truth: those who had known Hari only indirectly now recognized him as directly present before them. Filled with joy, their hearts turned toward the satsang. Having had the compassionate Lord's darshan, their minds were dyed in his color. With loving devotion they had a fine meal prepared and fed the Lord's devotees, anointed Hari's body with perfume and sandalwood paste, and with their own hands applied it to the devotees as well. They worshipped him with love, dressed him in fine garments, performed incense, lamp, and arti, and bowed to him in eightfold prostration. Having gained this rare and precious privilege, they felt their purpose fulfilled. Now hear the names of these sinless devotees.

Among the Brahmin devotees are: Bhai Vakhat, Janki, Shriram, Shripat, Nathu, Hathiram, Chhotaram, Asharam, Thakurram, Mandan, Mulchand, Marakhan, Ganesh, Parmeshari, Ramdas, Krishna Jhulari, Bholaram, Dolatiya, Dulari, Viharilal, Bansidhar, Madansinh, two named Moti Sundar, Rajaram, two named Ratinam, and two named Kanhiram, Khumanram, Navansinh, Keshri, Ramtulsi, two named Thakurdas, Turatyaram, Govinddas, and Guman. Also Baji Rao, Dharampal, and Peja Ram, among other compassionate Brahmin devotees. Along with these devotee brothers is a devoted woman named Thakur Bai.

Now hear of the Jat devotees, who became purified by worshipping the Lord: Dilipsinh, Madhosinh, Parasinh, Lalajiram, Girdhari, Gangaram, Sukhram, Sonesinh, Bahoransinh, and other true devotees among the Kshatriyas. Among the women devotees of the Jats are Vakhati Bai and the steadfast-minded Umedi Bai — these are the great ones among the Jats who worshipped Hari and did good.

Many devotees live in Gujarat, to whom the Lord is dear in their hearts. Among the great devotees of the Vaishya caste, hear the account of their names: Govindram, Hiraram, the devotees Dulari (both desireless), Luneram, Buddhaji, Amruji, Saheb Ram, Manakya, Manaji, Dipsha, Zaver, Pransukh, and Ramlal who always faces the Lord — these are named among the Vaishya devotees. Now hear of the goldsmith community: Nathu, Manju, Sururam, Thakurdas, and the devotee Bansi; among the oil-pressers (Teli) is the devotee Govindji, and Buddhaji among others. Among the betel-sellers (Tambodi) is the devotee Fakira, and Nathu, Hira, and Devi Ram. Among the farmers (Kanbi) is the devotee named Purna, and many others besides.

All these dwell in the village of Sankhni, worshipping Hari for their own good; the Brahmin devotees Lachhman and Bhola live in the village of Sahan. Blessed is the village of Dwarana, whose people place their hope in Hari alone. Among the Kshatriya devotees are those named Raot: Harisinh and Bovadram, Sukhpal, Manakya, Nathan, Pransinh, Bhimji, Dhundhan, Hindooram, Haripal, Ghashiram, and Dalil, Chhaturamdas, Umrav, Hathiram, Devji, Kamalji, Khumansinh, and Thakurram Dhankat. These, among others, are satsangi brothers; now hear of the women devotees — Hari Kunwar Bai, of virtuous speech, and Jekunwar of firm discipline. Among the Kayasthas is Dilipsinh, and among the Brahmins Lachhman and others. All these worship the Lord and dwell as his servants at his door. Among the Kayastha devotees are Chhoteram, Soneram, and Lalaji; the pure devotees of Prapet village who worshipped Hari without desire.

Blessed, blessed is the region of Panchmahal — I speak of the devotees who dwell there. The Gujar chief Harisinh, and the devotee Kashiram, Rajsinh, Chandrahas, Amarsinh, Tulsiram, Buddhsinh, Akhesinh, Anandsinh, Ramphal, Parshuram, Karansinh, Sobatsinh, Jodharam, Rupsinh, Krishnadas, Balchandra, and Indrajit — these and countless other Gujars dwell in the village of Ghodhora. The Gujar devotees Rajaram, Buddhsinh, and Lachhman; the women Sumeda, Panchu, Ratnu, and Sujan among others dwell in the village of Rajari. The Kayastha devotees Zaver, Gorelal, Jodharam, and Dulari dwell in the village of Kharia. The Gujar devotee Kalyan, and the devotees Naval and Gaji Sai, dwell in the village of Jat, worshipping Hari with steady mind. The Brahmin devotee Nathuram dwells in the village of Barkisarai; the barber devotee Arjun dwells in the village of Chitora. The Vaishyas Bhavani and Bholeram, and Chhoteram, dwell in Bagbahi; the Jat devotees Buddhsinh and Dariyaosinh; Badarsinh, Ishwardas, Thakurdas who worships the Imperishable, Dhansinh, Ganesh, Bhavani, Dharampal, and the wise Gyansinh; Nathu, Govind, Ishwar, and Tulsi dwell in the village of Mena. In the village of Harshi are the devotees the pure Kayastha Nandlal, Madari, Ramsinh, Amana, Mangal, Khushiyal, Bhavana, Mansuk, Mula, Nathuva, Dolatiya, Krishnaju, and Kaluva; many women too — Budha, Sita, Swarupi, Fuliya, Panjo Bai, Nenu, Dipu — dwell purely in the village of Harshi.

The blacksmith devotee Krishna dwells in Badna; the Vaishyas Gulab and Krishnadas worship Hari, having renounced worldly attachment. The devotee brother Mani Rajaram also dwells in Harshi village; the blacksmith devotee Ghashiram, Kyari, and Narayan; Ramphal, Valuva, Ganesh, and Gadhuba worship Hari always; the barber devotee Kaluva, and the devotee Naai Gungchiya. All these women and men dwell in the village of Magroni. Know that there are many such devotees throughout the region of Panchmahal, who received many wonders and thereby knew Hari and came to firm faith.

Many devotees live beyond the Ganges, worshipping Narayan, both men and women — the wealthy and the humble alike, whatever their station in life. Blessed are those, wherever they dwelt, who came to be called Hari's devotees. Now hear the names of these devotees who found rest, having met Hari: the Brahmin devotee Chandilal, who worshipped Narayan and was blessed; the devotee Khushiyaldas, who found fulfillment through Ramdin; Thakurdas and Chudaman, Brahmins who dwell in Lathipnagar. The Agarwal Vaishya devotee named Veniram brought fine garments for Shri Hari — a fine gown and a Mughal turban. Hari wore them with affection, and the devotee gazed on him with eyes full of tears. He took the Lord's darshan close by his side; this devotee dwells in Lucknow.

I speak now of a devotee of Vachghosh, exceedingly good and trustworthy, of a saintly nature at heart, whose mind never wavered from righteousness. Knowing such a devotee to be pure, I praise and name him: the Brahmin devotee Hargovind, who beheld the Lord and attained bliss. His family too is pure, all relying on the Lord; with devotion they worship the Lord, and many women and men of his household dwell at Dehra.

There are countless villages, regions, names, and castes — how much can I tell? I have not spoken of the past, nor written of the future; I have told only of the present, and even that is not complete. As a miser spending money grows more anxious with every coin, so my mind shrinks with each name I tell in this brief account — believe it, my brothers, as true.

As the waves of the ocean are without number and cannot be exhausted, so new devotees of Hari are born of Hari every day and night — to think of counting and recording them all is simply not conceivable. Even a frog in a well may cross to the far side of the well, but crossing the ocean takes even the strongest swimmer great effort and time. So too, the ocean of satsang is filled to overflowing; whoever tries to reach its far shore loses their bearings. Even with a thousand ages of tongues, Sheshji himself could not exhaust the naming of these devotees, nor find its limit. Some men wish to measure the end of the sky, but even the mighty many-winged fire-bird falls short. So too is the whole of satsang without measure and without end; though the poet-bird flies far, in the end he must accept defeat.

Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Bhuj-Kutch / Vadtal Gadi, AI-translated, unverified · Source details