Listen to this beautiful and pure story that follows — a most sacred account; listen to it all with love. The pure-hearted men and women devoted to Swami sat together in assembly — renunciants, sadhus, householders, and brahmacharis. In front sat Mukund and the other brahmacharis; behind them sat Muktanand and the many other sadhus. After them sat Mayaram and the other learned Brahmins, then Mulji and the other Kshatriyas, then the Vaishyas headed by Parvat, and the Shudras headed by Kalanai. The men sat together in this order, and behind them sat the assembly of women — Brahmin women headed by Ladki sitting so that no man touched them, and after them the other devotees, all gathered together.
All folded their hands and bowed at his feet, saying: "You are our guru's very form. And you naturally give us bliss — so your name Sahajanand is truly fitting. You are an abode adorned with good qualities, and you now stand in Swami's place. So, knowing us as your own, please give us words of instruction. We shall remain always in faith to your command, Lord — so please tell us what is fitting, and give us good instruction for our happiness."
Thus all together the people spoke, and the Lord heard their words. Then Narayan Muni spoke, giving beneficial instruction to all: he spoke according to the words of scripture on dharma, on keeping people established in righteousness. He said: men, gods, ancestors, Shesha, the moon, the gods and others — whatever happiness and greatness anyone has attained, they attained it by remaining within dharma. This is what the Shruti and Smriti declare — how can true dharma ever be abandoned?
"This," he said, "comes only when one meets a great soul; then everyone's own dharma is properly upheld. In the Vasudev Mahatmya the duties of everyone are described. This is what Uddhav Swami himself has said, and it remains in my heart. So all of you follow dharma, and perform devotion to Krishna with love. Keep this one command of mine, by which you will all find happiness, men and women — hold these instructions in your hearts.
Moreover, do not grieve for Swami as ordinary worldly people would. That unbroken, imperishable form never truly perishes. When Maharaj becomes manifest upon this earth, it is for the welfare of souls; and his withdrawal from manifestation, too, happens by his own free will, not by compulsion. The godly understand this, but those overcome by demonic delusion do not. So all of you abandon grief, and worship the manifest God before you. Take this teaching to heart, and now go each to your own regions.
I too am going to the town of Dhoraji; may all of you remain content." Hearing these words from the Lord's own mouth, everyone gave up their grief, understanding him now as their guru in mind. Then the men and women went home, holding Hari's image in their hearts.
Hari himself, though separated from his own guru, felt disturbance and pain in his body; but by beholding him within, in inner vision, he kept his composure. He himself removed everyone's grief, and so the people chanted Hari's name.
Then, taking many sadhus with him, Nilkanth the Lord set off from there, his mind intent on establishing dharma. He came, with the sadhus, to Dhoraji. There the people, with great love, performed worship of Maharaj. Giving darshan, he went on to Bhader, showing mercy to his own devotees, and from there the Lord went to Manavadar, where the people, beholding him, felt truly protected.
From there he came to Piplana, increasing the people's joy; from there to the village of Agatrai, where the devotee Parvatbhai lived. From there he came to the village of Kalavani, showing compassion to his own servants — staying one day here, two days there, sometimes three days in a place. He gave everyone knowledge and understanding, and kept each established in their own dharma.
He himself, accepting his guru's command, rode upon a mount; he wore heavy clothes and ornaments for the sake of the people's welfare. To keep women established in dharma he spoke to them so that they too would find happiness. He took on this great responsibility, yet there was not a trace of attachment in his heart; no one saw him attached at any time or place.
To establish dharma everywhere, Maharaj went to Mangrol. Outside the city was a beautiful banyan tree, gracing the bank of the sea nearby. He sat there alone beneath the banyan, and seekers came there to him. Seeing him, they were filled with joy, their delight increasing as they beheld the world-revered one.
There lived a company of sadhus free from lust, anger, and delusion — Vyapakanand, Swarupanand, and others — seeing whom he was filled with joy. Govardhan, Damodar, Ramchandra, Surchand, the merchant Ratanji Aghe, the Kshatriya devotee Mancharam, Dhanji, Madho, Anandbhai, Trikam, Raju, Bhanbhai, and many others of the Shudra community — all these men and women came and sat there. They served him and asked after his welfare: "Welcome, O support of our life." The Lord, remaining calm, told them the story exactly as it had happened.
He told them that Swami Ramanand had left his body and gone to his own divine abode. Hearing this, everyone was overcome with grief: "Swami has deceived us!" Then Hari said, "Listen, wise sadhus — the Lord remains manifest before you still. Though appearing as a young child, he is extremely capable; everyone will come to know this — it will not remain hidden." So saying, he comforted them and dispelled their grief for Swami.
There was a well there whose water had once been sweet and delicious, but over time it had gone bad and was useless to anyone. Maharaj had it cleaned out for everyone to drink from. The silt was removed, and clear water emerged; then the well was filled again with good water. A great celebration was held that day, and Brahmins were invited to eat.
A modest amount of provisions had been gathered, but with this a great feast was undertaken — all the Brahmins in the city were invited, and as many sweets as they wished were made. For the ascetics who lived at holy places, sweet rice-pudding, puri, and kansar were prepared. He told the satsangis, "Eat today's festive food." Some said doubtfully, "How will this be managed — the provisions will run short and it will bring shame." But the provisions and flour never ran short, nor was there any lack of dal or spices.
Thousands upon thousands of Brahmins ate, and countless other satsangis ate as well. So finely was this festival conducted — how could it be described in words? To satisfy the gods, Maharaj also had a fire-sacrifice performed. While the worship of the deities was being conducted, the people there witnessed a great wonder.
All the satsangis and sadhus present were gazing upon Hari, and there a wondrous, transcendent vision appeared, filling everyone with delight. They saw him holding four weapons in four hands, wearing a fine crown upon his head, dressed in golden-yellow silk garments, his form dark and beautiful beyond compare, the mark of Shrivatsa shining brightly upon his chest — such was the vision of Hari that appeared.
On his left side, they saw a great white form with four faces and eight eyes, four hands and four feet, standing with joined hands, one hand engaged in worship with devotion, another holding a scripture of dharma, resplendent in white garments, adorned all over with ornaments, a jeweled crown gracing his head. Seeing this deeply serene form of Dharma, they looked next to the right, and there they saw a two-armed form of Bhakti (Devotion), adorned beautifully in fine clothes and jewelry, her fair body, golden hands and a plate — engaged in the rites of worship.
Beholding this vision of Vishnu, Bhakti, and Dharma, all the people were struck with wonder, saying, "This Murari has taken human form" — such was the vision seen at that auspicious hour. When the rite of worship was completed, everyone's mind was filled with delight.
Then the Brahmins learned in the Vedas, and many other people who had gathered, formed firm conviction and became his devotees, remaining devoted with love to his words, abandoning worship of other deities, becoming servants of Shri Krishnadev. Thus he displayed his own incomparable divine glory, showing this form. Seeing it, the Brahmins and others formed a firm and steadfast conviction; having shown this great and mighty power, the people were filled with delight.
Around the time of Vasant, the Lord of the world performed this deed. This account of Shri Hari's deeds has been told only in small part — much still remains untold.