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Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 26

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Hasmukh Patadia

Gujarati narration
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Gather now, everyone, and listen; I tell a most wondrous story. For those devoted to Hari, it is a joy to hear.

At every step, the deeds of Krishnadev are recounted, again and again - this story is like nectar; those of good understanding shall all hear it.

These are the very words of Dharmadev, spoken as instruction to his sons. Whoever gives ear and listens attains the state of liberation.

Then Dharmadev called for his sons, wishing to give them counsel for their welfare - the Lord himself wished to give this treasure at his final hour.

Then his two sons were called, and they came and sat, offering reverence. When the sons came and touched his feet, Dharmaraaya (Dharmadev) spoke to them:

"O sons, hold my words in your minds, for they are for your benefit. I tell you a secret truth; hold it in your hearts with love.

If you have faith in my words, then keep them in your minds." Then, folding their hands, both brothers said, "We shall accept whatever you say, father.

Whatever words you speak at this time, we shall hold them as true in our minds." Then Dharmadev said: "O best of sons, Radha-Krishna, whom we worship as our chosen deity -

whom I worship for all eight watches of the day - that very Krishna is this Shri Hari here, my son and your brother. Know him as Krishna in your minds.

This Krishna is Hari-in-form, directly present; both of you brothers must offer devotion to him. Remain always within his words; serve him with great love.

Furthermore, the image of Krishna that we worship - know with certainty that it is this Shri Hari; understanding this, worship it with proper rites.

And the two mantras of Shri Krishna that I first gave to you, sons - the eight-syllabled mantra you received - know that it belongs to him too, and recite it as such.

Observe the vows of nonviolence and the rest; remain in your own dharma with love. Hold this much of my command, and worship this Hari, the giver of happiness.

If you conduct yourselves so, O wise ones, you shall attain countless blessings. Conduct yourselves thus, both brothers; accept my words as true.

Furthermore, this Krishna, being free from anger, will not wage war taking up weapons. By his own wisdom, the merciful one will bring about the destruction of the demonic.

In this age of Kali, unrighteousness has grown greatly; many walk about in human guise while causing dharma to be destroyed upon the earth, making sinners commit evil deeds.

He will dispel all that unrighteousness, and cause much devotion to Krishna to be practiced. He will perform many extraordinary deeds, and then, having considered it, the king of ascetics (Varnijaraj)

will establish the office of Acharya within your own lineage. Having accomplished such great works, he will then depart for his own abode.

At that time, those devoted to Hari will find no peace in their minds; they will grieve greatly, saying, 'Our Lord has gone to Goloka.'

They will become helpless and hopeless. Then, having reflected in their hearts, the devotees will worship the image of Shri Hari, bringing devotion into it.

He will establish a code of conduct (maryada), within which people will remain bound by vow. Those who worship his image, such devotees, are set apart from the rest of the world.

They shall attain dharma, artha, moksha, and kama (the four aims of life) - know this, both men and women. There is no doubt in this at all; accept it with full certainty."

Hearing these words of their father, both brothers were overjoyed. Then they touched Hari's feet, saying, "We are your subjects, O king among ascetics.

Protect us at all times." Then Murari (Hari) said to his brothers: "You devote yourselves earnestly to Shri Krishna; through that I shall be pleased.

Our father has commanded this; you must not act otherwise." Hearing these words, both brothers worshipped Shri Hari, knowing him to be Krishna.

But direct, unbroken meditation upon Hari remained subject to Hari's own will - sometimes it happened, sometimes it did not; thus it always was.

Thus Dharmadev, having called his two sons, gave them this teaching. As the night of Ekadashi passed its watches, he recited the mantra containing the name of Shri Krishna.

Then the sun rose, and as the brothers listened, the Lord spoke: "Father, whatever your wish is, tell me, and I shall do it."

Then Dharmadev said: "Listen, Hari, I am certainly one whose purpose is fulfilled. But my mind is not satisfied with devotion to Shri Krishna.

So until my body falls, I wish greatly to continue devotion. My body has become too weak now; I am unable to perform that worship properly.

So, my son, within seven days, have the Bhagavatam recited to me with its meaning." Hearing these words of his father, the Lord praised them greatly.

Then a pavilion was thoughtfully prepared, and a pure Vaishnava brahmin was called - one learned in the Shrimad Bhagavatam was quickly summoned to the house.

Shri Krishna was worshipped according to proper procedure, and the recitation began on the twelfth day (dwadashi). From that day, Dharmadev resolved to keep his attention fixed on the form of Hari.

"For one whose death draws near, it is fitting to act thus." Hearing the recitation, he found great joy, and the pain of his fever lessened.

By day he listened to the recitation with his ears; by night he remained in meditative trance. Thus days passed in this manner, until the seventh day's morning came.

On the fourth lunar day, a Friday, he heard the recitation completed. Having concluded the recitation, he gave abundant gifts to the brahmin -

clothes, ornaments, and dakshina were given, and worship was performed with proper rites. Then the brahmin was seen off homeward, and other brahmins too were fed well in return.

Then, as the day advanced further, the fever's force increased upon Dharmadev. Then Dharmadev called his relatives, who came after eating their meal.

The relatives came and sat close by, and there they saw his body grown feeble. Considering this, his son took up the matter, calling brahmins to perform all the necessary rites.

Whatever procedure the Dharma Shastras prescribed was carried out as fitting. Furthermore, thousands of brahmins were called and given raw grain and fine ghee.

Cows were also given in charity. Then he sat close by his family. Knowing his breath was failing, he was bathed with water from sacred places (tirtha water).

The ground was smoothed and purified with cow dung, and he was seated upon it at that time. Then those who were present began chanting the name of Shri Krishna.

Dharmadev himself, beholding Hari, fixed both his eyes upon him unwaveringly. With such single-minded devotion, Dharmadev at once gave up his body.

Thus, by the grace of Shri Krishna, he himself was freed from the sage's curse. Then Bhakti and the others - all his relatives, so called -

remained always close to Hari, serving him as their own son. Then the Lord, together with his brother, had all the rites for his father performed.

The procedures prescribed in the Dharma Shastras, including the cremation, were carried out completely. All the relatives and household members, overcome with grief, wept and mourned.

Shraddha rites were performed up to the thirteenth day, and brahmins were fed with proper procedure. Then, it being learned that the memorial period had ended, people brought clothes, ornaments, and wealth,

and gave them to Ramprataap; then each returned to their own home. Ramprataap and Ichcharam recited the mantra, chanting the name of Krishna constantly.

They always held feelings of Krishna toward their own brother, cherishing him with joy. Hari himself was exceedingly free of desire, holding attachment to no one.

The matter for which he had remained at home was now complete; his father had given up his body. He now turned his mind to another resolve: to liberate countless souls.

Having accomplished this much, Shri Hari, Ghanshyam, departed from home. In the year Samvat eighteen hundred forty-nine, in the season of the month of Ashadh,

on the tenth day of the bright half, a Friday, on that day the Lord made himself ready. At dawn he set out under the pretense of going to bathe, and from there went in the pure northern direction.

His mind had turned away from the household; dwelling in the forest now seemed dear to him. He wore only a loincloth and a covering cloth - no other garment did he have.

He wore a deerskin and a tulsi garland, and the broad marks of the urdhva-pundra. His head was adorned with matted locks tied in a crown, and in his hand he took a staff of palasha wood.

The essence of the four scriptures, in book form, he carried upon his shoulder. A munj-grass girdle, a water pot in hand, and a fine begging bowl beside him.

He tied around his neck a small pouch containing Bal Mukund and the Shaligram stone, dark in color. Thus prepared, he came to the bank of the river Sarayu, arriving to cross the river's waters.

He looked for a boat to cross the river quickly, but seeing people approaching, he grew wary, thinking they might turn him back.

At that moment a demon arrived, and the Lord knew at once that he had encountered an enemy. The demon seized him roughly by the throat and threw him into the flood, then walked away.

The water flowed deep and unfathomable; whoever fell in would not survive. In it dwelt great crocodiles and fish, water-horses (hippopotamus-like creatures) and other fearsome creatures.

Water snakes and turtles too, and crocodiles darting swiftly about; leeches and other creatures swarmed, letting nothing, small or large, escape once caught.

Such were the harmful water-creatures in that vast, terrifying, flowing water. Whirlpools rose and eddies turned, and great waves surged up within it.

The flood ran with tremendous force, and into it the demon had thrown him and departed. He was seen being swept along for some distance, and then the wicked one saw him no more.

Then the sinner concluded with certainty in his mind that his enemy was dead. The demon then returned to his own abode, boasting of having accomplished a great deed.

"I have killed the enemy," he said, and the demons rejoiced. Now as for Hari, who had fallen into the flood - he was in fact carried far away.

He remained in the water for three watches, swept along for a distance of twelve gau. His book of worship remained with him; everything else was swept away.

Thus, when the Lord emerged from the water, he walked on alone, with no one accompanying him. He took the path toward the Kala mountain, the king of ascetics leaving all behind, forgetting everyone.

Evening fell and the day set, and he came to a dense and forbidding forest. He remained there in the forest through the night, with not the slightest fear in his mind.

Thus in the Bhaktachintamani, composed by Nishkulanand Muni, disciple of Shri Sahajanand Swami, the establisher of the exclusive path of devotion, ends the twenty-sixth chapter, named "Dharmadev's Passing, and Shri Hari's Departure from Home."

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