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Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 14

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Hasmukh Patadia

Gujarati narration
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Then Dharma, having taken heart, reflected further in his mind; he remembered what his father had told him at the time of leaving.

He had said: our family deity is called the son of the wind (Hanuman); remember him in your troubles, and he shall help you in your hardship.

So this is no greater a trouble than any other; the demons cause much suffering, we have no food or clothing on our bodies.

So let me remember the son of the wind, to help us; without the son of Anjani there is no other means of relief.

Then he himself went to Ayodhya, and recited the japa of Hanumanji. Going to the temple of the son of Maruti, he offered praise, standing on one foot.

As Dharma continued this praise, the son of the wind became pleased. He appeared in a dream and said: why did you not remember me before now?

Now, husband and wife, I shall not let your suffering remain even a moment longer. Listen to what I say and heed it -- go quickly to Vrindavan.

The sages who bore the curse along with you, who have taken various bodies -- you shall meet them all there, and your suffering shall end at once.

So saying to Dharma, Hanuman then disappeared. Then Dharma awoke and was filled with joy, believing this dream to be true.

Then, leaving their son at his maternal grandparents' home, Bhakti and Dharma departed at once. They came joyfully to Naimisharanya, traveling without any companion.

Then from there they came to Vrindavan, and beheld the form of Krishna, dear to their hearts. They saw the vision of Shri Krishna swinging on the flower-swing.

Then they went with love around Govardhan mountain, circling it. Having completed the circumambulation, they sat down, and there they met other sages.

Great sages such as Bhrigu and others had gathered there, yet none recognized the other from before -- others who lived in Vrindavan too did not recognize them at all.

Then, by the powerful will of Hari, mutual recognition dawned. The sages said, this is Dharma and Bhakti; Dharma said, these are the wise sages.

Then, meeting in a private place, they told each other their stories. The sages said, there has been no lack -- the demons have given us great suffering.

Bhakti and Dharma said, it cannot be told, all that has happened to us. Then, hearing of one another's suffering, they grew greatly distressed.

They said, Durvasa gave the curse, and then spoke with mercy: great suffering shall befall you, and my word shall not prove false.

But when Krishna takes incarnation, he shall remove your suffering at that time -- this promise was made; now what remedy shall we seek?

Dharma said, this shall not fail; keep patience, all of you, in your hearts. Perform worship of Shri Krishna, to please the Lord.

I too recite the japa of Krishna's name, by which suffering and affliction are removed; you too, as parts of his own being, all together recite it.

Then all the sages, having considered this, held Dharma's counsel in their hearts. Some read the Bhagavata, some recited the Gita,

some recited the glory of Vasudev, some the thousand names of Vishnu, some performed the Vishnu Gayatri japa, some the Narayan armor-prayer,

some repeated the name of Shri Krishna, chanting throughout the eight watches of the day; and reciting the Rasa-panchadhyaya, Bhakti performed this daily.

Thus Bhakti, Dharma, and the sages, all performed this practice during the day; and at night, with cymbals and drums, they sang the Gita Govinda with joy.

So the fortunate Bhakti, Dharma, and the sages undertook this Vishnu-vow. Then, on the eleventh day of the bright half of Vaishakh, they all kept the night vigil joyfully.

The night passed, and in the Brahma-muhurta (the pre-dawn hour), they beheld there a mass of divine radiance. Within it they saw Nanda and Yashoda; seeing the gopas and gopis, they were filled with joy.

They also beheld the eight chief queens: Radhika, Rama, Rukmini, Satya, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Lakshmana, and Nagnajiti.

And that abode shone forth, adorned with cows -- it is called by the name Goloka. Within it they beheld the beautiful dark form, the all-fulfilled Shri Krishna.

He shone in golden garments, playing a flute sweetly with his mouth; he shone beautifully in the guise of a dancer, a jewel-studded crown upon his head.

Makara-shaped earrings adorned his ears, his fine curling locks delighting the mind; a bright mark shone upon his forehead, above which hung swaying tassels.

His face was like the full moon, his eyes like lotus petals; he wore a great pearl garland, and other garlands of fragrant flowers.

Such was the boundless beauty of every part of his body, that essence of savor, that delightful form; whatever beauty is described in the science of physiognomy, such a beautiful, captivating form they beheld.

An ocean of beauty, beautiful and dark, a dear and precious image, an abode of happiness -- millions of gods of love would feel shame beholding him, so lovely was that beloved form.

Seeing such beauty, the king of sages, and Bhakti and Dharma, all fell at his feet. With joined hands they stood on one foot, not blinking their eyes.

As though they were wooden statues, so they all stood before him. For two ghadis (about 48 minutes) they remained thus, and then all regained their senses.

Then, with joined hands, they offered praise: victory, victory, my Lord! Victory, mass of radiant light! Victory, form beyond comprehension, imperishable one!

You alone are capable of creation, sustenance, and dissolution, O merciful one; beyond the perishable and imperishable, unfathomable, you dwell within your own mass of radiance.

To protect dharma, O slayer of Mura, you took the incarnations of the fish and others; for the good of your people you took these various forms, to care for them.

Victory, lord of Goloka, Govind! Victory, root of happiness for your own people! Victory, lord of Radha, essence of divine savor! Victory, beautiful dark form!

Victory, captivating Maharaj! Victory, joy and comfort of the people of Vraj! Victory, delighter of your own people's minds! Victory, destroyer of great sorrow and fear!

Victory, merciful subduer of the wicked! Victory, death to sinful souls! Victory, remover of the devotees' worldly suffering! You are the giver of happiness to the saints!

Victory, lord of the helpless! Master, remove our afflictions! Victory, merciful friend of the humble! Victory, protector of cows and Brahmins!

You are the gracious benefactor of the poor, a ship of happiness upon the ocean of suffering; we are drowning in the ocean of sorrow -- who but you would seize our arm?

You are almighty, my Lord, and so we speak with joined hands; whoever has come to your refuge, you, Murari, have protected them.

So we too are at your refuge; grant us happiness and remove our great suffering. So Dharma and the sages offered praise, and then all touched the Lord's feet.

Thus ends the fourteenth chapter, named 'The Praise Offered by Dharma and the Sages,' in the Bhaktachintamani composed by the disciple Nishkulanand Muni of Shri Sahajanand Swami, propagator of the path of Ekantik Dharma.

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