Home/Bhaktachintamani/Chapters

Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 25

Read the whole text

Hasmukh Patadia

Gujarati narration
Auto-continues · 164 in section
1×
Reading

Gather together and listen further; I shall tell what followed. Hear with attention the story of Dharmadev.

Taking refuge in Sankhya-yoga, he remained established in his own dharma. Day and night he constantly held remembrance of Shri Krishna.

Turning his mind away from worldly activity, he gave up all desire for sense objects. He ate little and without relish, in order to preserve celibacy.

His body had grown thin through austerity, sustained by the strength of meditation and yoga. His son served him, knowing him to be pure and free from decay.

His own son, who was God himself, held great love for Hari. Apart from him, austerity and yoga had made his mind exceedingly pure.

At such a time, bodily omens began to appear upon him at once - his eye twitched, his left arm and side twitched - these were recognized as inauspicious signs.

Further, the dreams he had were found to be exceedingly ill-omened. He dreamed the sun, moon, and stars fell to the ground - this too was a bad sign.

He reflected upon it in light of the scriptures, and concluded with certainty that death was approaching. He knew that within a few days his body would fall - of this there was no doubt.

Then he would daily recite the sacred childhood deeds of Shri Krishna told in the tenth canto (of the Bhagavatam). He held the form of Krishna in his heart.

He grew increasingly detached from all else. In this way a month passed. The monthly memorial rite (masik-shraddha) for Premavati was then performed according to scriptural procedure.

Brahmins were fed well for the shraddha, and the monthly rite was carried out beautifully. Then, month after month, without fail, thousands upon thousands of brahmins were fed.

In this way seven months passed, with brahmins being fed and returning home each time. Then his own relatives too gathered and ate together in proper order.

Then one day fever came upon Dharmadev, and he suffered from it. He thought within his mind: "Death has come; only a few days remain now."

Then he let his attachment go from every object, holding it nowhere. His mind was joined in meditation upon Shri Krishna, and the day of Ekadashi arrived.

On that day he performed worship of Shri Krishna, calling brahmins with proper procedure. As the day thus passed and set, night fell and relatives gathered.

All the relatives lay down to sleep; none but Hari remained sitting awake. For the vigil of Ekadashi, the Lord alone kept watch.

He pressed his father's feet, keeping vigil himself in this way. His father, suffering from the pain of fever, could not find sleep in his eyes.

Then, by Hari's will, his awareness sank inward. In samadhi he beheld the radiance of Brahman, and saw at once a mass of light.

Within it he beheld Vrindavan, and there he saw Krishna at play, a beautiful flute in his hand, exactly as he had seen him before.

Beholding Shri Krishna, his joy increased; he became absorbed, seeing the very source of bliss. His body's hairs stood on end, and tears of joy came to his eyes.

Then Dharmadev, in his excitement, bowed down full-length before Hari again and again, offering salutation with folded hands, and stood before him.

Beholding him there at once, he saw Krishna as his own child. "Krishna is Hari, Hari is that very light of Krishna" - knowing this, he beheld him.

His bodily form was exactly like Krishna's, with no difference, though he wore the guise of a brahmachari. Then Dharmadev understood it all: that Krishna, in the name of Hari, had taken this body.

"In my own home this Krishna has manifested, having become God himself" - understanding this, he was overcome with love, and went to meet Hari.

But at that moment the vision vanished - such was the wondrous thing he had seen in samadhi. Dharmadev awoke from his trance, and there he saw his son attending beside him.

He met him with great love, and his body's hairs stood on end. Tears of joy came to his eyes; he understood that the rainy season (of his devotion) had come to fruition.

Then, bowing again and again, he offered prayer to the Lord: "You, O Lord of Dancers (Naranatyaka), have concealed your divine majesty.

You are the Master of the entire universe, O Krishnadev, known by many names. You are my very chosen deity, Krishna, the complete and Supreme Person.

To make your own word true, you have become my son, O Lord. You are the independent God; you gave me this knowledge before.

At the time of my birth, Lord, you were revealed to me directly. But through the passage of time, that knowledge, O Hari, slipped from my memory.

Now, from this day, may that knowledge never again be forgotten - this I ask of you. Listen, merciful one, as I tell you: the time of my death has drawn near.

Within five days my body will be released; this unbaked vessel shall surely break. I have no fear of this in my mind, being firmly established in refuge in you.

But there is one sorrow in my mind: I cannot bear separation from you. So may I be born again, but let there be no separation from you -

this boon I ask of you; grant it, O imperishable one, out of compassion." Hearing these words of Dharmadev, the Lord himself spoke:

"Listen, father, to my words: you have known my true form directly. Your knowledge has become perfectly correct - this is exceedingly good.

There remains nothing further for you to know or attain. You are one whose purpose is fulfilled, father; consider yourself accomplished, I tell you this.

So, giving up this physical body, O fortunate one, you shall attain a divine body. All your relatives together, father, shall remain with me directly.

There is not the slightest doubt in this; set aside your worry now. Become free from all attachment in dharma - understand this essential truth I tell you now.

Become devoted to me alone, father; I tell you this with a pure mind. Hold meditation upon me within your own soul, with great love, O virtuous one."

"Listen, all people, to what he then said to his father." Hearing this, Dharmadev was pleased, and bowed down at once.

Then Dharmadev said, "What favor you have done for me - there is no way to repay such a favor except with folded hands.

So at your lotus feet I offer salutation again and again." Hearing this, the Lord himself gave his father great honor.

Then Dharmadev called for his two sons - Ramprataap, the elder, and his younger son Ichcharam - and had them brought before him.

Knowing the time of death had come, Dharmadev explained the essential truth to his sons. He wished to give his sons the wish-fulfilling gem in the form of knowledge of Hari.

Just as a person at the time of death entrusts their wealth to their son, so he wished to give his sons this unparalleled treasure of knowledge of Hari.

Thus in the Bhaktachintamani, composed by Nishkulanand Muni, disciple of Shri Sahajanand Swami, the establisher of the exclusive path of devotion, ends the twenty-fifth chapter, named "The Samadhi of Dharma (Dharmadev's Trance)."

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