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Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 47

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Hasmukh Patadia

Gujarati narration
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Swami said: "Hari, listen, O one of pure understanding — I have understood everything in your heart, wise one. But whatever I do, I do after due reflection; I do nothing without careful thought. Wherever I see that bondage will result, I never give such an instruction. I too am living now upon this sacred earth, and I am capable of having dharma properly upheld — accept all I say as certain.

Now, however, the time has come when I too must depart, leaving this earth for the abode of Brahman. Knowing you my true disciple, I give you this teaching with an unwavering mind: my whole purpose is good — hold these words in your heart. Apart from you, there is no other who can bear the burden of upholding dharma.

So accept these words, O Varni-king; no bondage will come to you. Even if you converse with women, you will not be bound, I tell you truly, Father. Though there be countless throngs of young women, you may remain among them; you will remain forever unattached within it — for others, mere talk would intoxicate them, but you, Hari, will certainly never be bound by gold or by woman. You have attained the very Sun himself directly, and he has granted you a boon. The Sun-God, being pleased, dwells radiant within your heart. You are Narayan himself, giver of happiness, unattached and free from all disturbance.

Being thus truly capable, I tell you this, Father: all these other sadhus are good, but they must be kept apart from this. If any other brahmachari sadhu hears talk of women, he will fall and go to hell — know that there is no doubt in this. So it is you who must protect them, whoever takes refuge in you; you must rescue them from wealth and women — give them this teaching constantly."

"Listen, all of you," — thus did the guru have his words accepted. Though there was no such desire in his own heart, Swami persuaded him to accept it. When the Varni had purely accepted this command, Swami spoke in full: he called all the sadhus and said, "Listen, all you disciples who have come — this Shri Narayan Muni here shall, from today, take my place. All of you who are my devotees, accept his words." Then everyone folded their hands and said, "We accept this well, O our Lord."

Then Hari himself rose and stood with folded hands before his guru. Swami said, "I am pleased — ask a boon of me. There is nothing in the entire universe that, if you ask, I would not give you." Hearing these words, spoken with a face full of the deepest affection and joy, the Varni-king then spoke, knowing Swami was truly pleased:

"Swami, if I am worthy of receiving a boon, then with folded hands I ask you this: first, O lord of gurus, I ask that love for the lotus feet of Krishna may arise in me. Further, whatever suffering may come to any devotee of Hari, let that suffering come to me instead, and let him experience happiness. If a devotee of Krishna, through the fruits of past karma, obtains food and clothing only through hardship, let that hardship fall upon me, and let him remain always in happiness.

Let me have the constant company of devotees of Hari and of beautiful discourse about Hari. Let my speech remain always occupied with the virtues of Hari. Let my ears remain fixed always on discourse of Krishna, and my hands ever engaged in the service of Hari. I ask that my mind remain constantly absorbed in remembrance of Hari, day and night. I ask that my eyes remain fixed on the darshan of Krishna, day and night. Let my body, my inner faculties, and my actions be engaged always in devotion to Hari. Grant me these boons gladly; never let me fall into the company of the wicked. These are the boons I ask of you — please hear my prayer."

Hearing this, the guru replied, knowing his disciple's intentions pure: "Whatever your heart desires, know for certain it shall be fulfilled." Having given the Varni this boon, he kept him established in his own place.

Then, taking his disciples with him, the Lord came to the village of Fanenī. That day was Ekadashi, and all the people together held a festival. On Dwadashi, sadhus and Brahmins were given a meal, and fine gifts were given to the Brahmins; they bathed in the Bhadra river.

He sat alone in lotus posture, meditating in his mind upon the form of Krishna. Entering samadhi, absorbed in Krishna, he became unaware of his body. Then, by Shri Krishna's own will, Uddhavji released his body, and went to Vishala, where he obtained a body such as he had had before — attaining a perfected (siddha) body at that moment, resolved to perform devotion to Krishna.

In Samvat 1858, on the thirteenth day of the bright half of Magshar, on a Thursday — know that on that day he gave up his body. The people were singing kirtans when they noticed that he had left his body. Checking his pulse, they found no movement, and tears filled their eyes. Everyone gathered and grieved, saying, "Uddhav has left this world." All understood that he had gone to Hari's own abode, and hearing this they became overwhelmed. Weeping, their eyes filled with tears, no one could hold back their sorrow.

Remembering his gestures, his smile, his sweet words, recalling his captivating form, men and women wept greatly. The Varni and the other sadhus were all utterly overcome with grief. Then, having bathed, the people brought vermillion, gulal, and sandalwood, and performed worship and homage in the manner prescribed by scripture. A beautiful bier was prepared, and the body placed upon it.

They carried it to the bank of the Bhadra river, with Brahmins reciting the Vishnu Sukta. Cymbals and drums sounded as people sang, and amid the singing there was much weeping. They went then to the bank of the Bhadravati, and found a fitting spot. There they set down the bier, and brought tulsi wood, pipal wood, and sandalwood.

A pyre of this wood was built; the body was bathed and anointed with ghee, then placed upon the pyre. The last rites of cremation were performed. Much ghee was offered as the body burned, and afterward the remains were placed in the water. All performed the prescribed bathing rites according to scripture, and all the sadhus returned to their own place.

That day they fasted; the next day the formal notice was written and sent out. Hearing it, all the sadhus and devotees of Hari became greatly agitated in mind. Having bathed and set aside their household work, they gathered and came to the village of Fanenī. Streams of tears fell from their eyes; their love for Swami was boundless.

They remembered, moment by moment, the happiness he had given them, and tears flowed from their eyes; wiping them away again and again, their minds were restless with grief. Uddhav had attained the state of Brahman — to grieve for him was, strictly, improper — yet still the pain of the body could not be quelled, and they lamented in their separation.

Seeing this, Narayan Muni consoled everyone, giving them patience and steadying them. Thus the second day passed. From that day until the thirteenth day, a wise Brahmin recited the Gita, and everyone ate the food prescribed by scriptural rule. The customary shraddha rites were performed as required, and the prescribed gifts were given. The twelfth-day rites were duly performed, and Brahmins were fed with love.

On the thirteenth day, thirty Brahmins along with the Varni were fed and given clothing by hand. The devotees of Hari who had come were also given a meal, and likewise the residents of that village, men and women, were fed. Then all the devotees of Hari together performed the worship of Shri Krishnadev, dressing him in fine clothes and ornaments, worshipping Maharaj with love. Those who had recited the Gita were given clothing and money by everyone together.

All the proper rites were performed exactly as prescribed in scripture. The money needed for these expenses was contributed by all the devotees together, each according to his means; all the householders together bore the expense. When the festival was fully completed, it was then the fourteenth day.

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