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Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 67

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Hasmukh Patadia

Gujarati narration
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Having performed this divine play, the Beloved One set out, wandering land after land.

Then all the satsangis, having seen his divine play, went back to their homes.

The sadhus wandered about, telling many things, remembering his divine play and remaining joyful.

When the sadhus met and spoke, they would recall the deeds of Hari.

They said: our fortune is boundless, we have found manifest the very support of our life-breath.

Whom the great sadhus desire, we have been given his darshan.

Whom Brahma greatly desires, to obtain the dust of the Lord's feet, whom Shiva desires exceedingly, that Lord of the universe we have found.

Whom Shesh, the king of gods, the moon, sun, Sharada, and Ganesh desire; whom the thirty-three crore gods desire; whom the great sages desire; whom the fine sage-kings desire — him we have found without even wishing for it.

Therefore our merit is boundless; that this incarnation came in this age is a blessing.

Our fortune is beyond measure, unmatched in the three worlds.

Blessed, oh, what a great wonder — what penance of ours brought this about?

This is the mercy shown by Maharaj, this grace given for our sake.

Thus the devotees spoke among themselves, and five months passed in this way.

Then Hari himself came, showing the grace of darshan to his devotees.

He came from the western region, taking his companion the Sankhyayogi along.

Entering the Gujarat and Charotar regions, he passed through Sanja village.

He came to Bamroli village, then rested at Dabhan.

From there he went on to Umreth, staying there one night.

Returning, he came again to Vartal, where he called the sage-like sadhus.

In compassion he gave darshan, then asked the sadhus a question: is it grace-attainable or effort-attainable — which view have you all come to accept?

This question we ask you; tell us as it seems to you.

Then one said Hari is grace-attainable, another said effort too is true.

So they debated among themselves, each doubting the other.

Hearing the devotees' discussion, Jivan issued a challenge, being pleased.

He stayed there two or four days, King, then went to Dakor.

Then the Beloved came to Umreth, where it rained heavily, a great downpour flowing.

Again he gave the gift of darshan, and Bhagwan became easily accessible.

What does not come even in the meditation of great sages comes unbidden to the doorstep.

Hari again came to Vartal, then went from there to Jetalpur.

From there Shyam then set out and came to the gracious village of Karjisan.

There he called the devotees, being very pleased to give darshan.

The satsangis and sadhus came, the assembly of liberated souls.

Touching his feet, they sat facing him, and seeing Jivan they attained happiness.

With affection Hari spoke, and hearing it the sadhus became delighted.

Songs and garbis were sung, kirtans performed, and all day darshan was given.

The sadhus ate, played, and rejoiced, and the Beloved gave boundless happiness.

Devotees from the surrounding villages had him visit their homes, cooking food and dishes with love, feeding Hari with devotion.

Then all the sadhus were fed, taking extraordinary joy in it.

Thus the eighth day (Ashtami) arrived, and the younger brother asked, bowing at his feet: 'Maharaj, the festival day has come, shall we celebrate if you are pleased?'

Then Hari spoke with a smile: 'Celebrate, we are delighted.'

Then a swing was arranged with love, and the Lord sat upon it out of love for the devotees.

Then Maharaj was worshipped, sandalwood brought in a full vessel.

His feet were anointed with sandalwood and vermilion, which the devotees then pressed upon their hearts.

Whoever touched it became free of doubt without question, the mark of those feet impressed on their hearts.

Those blessed by that foot-dust pressed it upon their chests.

The devotees became greatly delighted, holding back nothing.

Then instruction was given to the sadhus; such divine play did Shri Maharaj perform.

All the devotees became delighted, on the eighth day of the dark half of Shravan.

That day divine play was performed at Karjisan; now I tell what Hari did next.

Then he remained hidden for a while, and Nath then went to Naradipur.

He came to Meu village, Langhanoj, where his own devotees loved him greatly.

Then from there Bhagwan turned back, meeting the devotees at Jetalpur.

Wearing white garments, greatly resplendent, wearing a garland of flowers about his neck, with floral bracelets and floral bouquets on his arms.

In the evening Bhagwan came, giving the devotees the gift of darshan.

Giving darshan and conversing, Hari explained his manifest form.

Then the devotees said, 'Come, Maharaj, prepare food for eating.'

Vanmali went along with his companions, chanting and clapping.

The devotees went home and Jivan ate; then the sadhus were called near.

The house was too small for the devotees, so the sadhus gathered densely.

In this way the devotees were made to eat, standing, served by his own hand.

Seeing him, even a Brahmin lost himself; thus he fed the devotees' food.

Then Nath set out from there, all the companions were with Hari.

One came forward holding an umbrella over him, but this did not please Hari in his heart.

He walked with a swaying, elephant-like gait, his forehead adorned with beads of sweat.

He came and sat in the shade of an Ashopalav tree, and seeing Nath, the joy in their hearts could not be contained.

Then, for worship, the devotees ground sandalwood with their own hands.

Having performed worship, they garlanded him, adorning him from head to toe with flowers.

Incense and lamps were offered in arti, then supplication made with joined hands.

Then Nath set out to bathe, and all companions bathed together with Shyam.

Then Hari came into the city, and there had an important conversation. 'Where are the people, and where is Bhagwan' — thinking thus, the people felt embarrassed. 'Therefore one must form a relationship with Hari: as father, guru, friend, or brother,' he said, and then stood up, graciously going to meet the sadhus.

Meeting them, understanding the deep meaning, Hari smiled; embracing them, the devotees forgot their bodily condition.

Having performed such extraordinary divine play, Hari then came to Panchala.

In the land of Panchala is the village of Gadhada, where beautiful Shyam arrived.

Coming, he gave the devotees darshan; seeing Nath, the people became happy.

Thus, in the Bhaktachintamani composed by Nishkulanand Muni, disciple of Shri Sahajanand Swami, propagator of the glorious Ekantik Dharma, in the account of Shri Hari — the sixty-seventh chapter.

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