28.1 In the Samvat year 1879, on Fãgan sud 2 [13th February, 1823], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting facing west on a square platform at His residence in Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He was wearing a white khes and had covered Himself with a white chãdar. He had also tied a white pãgh around His head. A sabhã of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
28.2 Then, Prãgji Davé said, “There is no shãstra like the Shreemad Bhãgvat.”
28.3 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “Yes, the Shreemad Bhãgvat is certainly good, but there is no shãstra like the Vãsudev Mahãtmya, which is a part of the Skand Purãn. After all, in that shãstra, great emphasis has been placed on dharma, bhakti, gnãn, and vairãgya, as well as ahinsã.”
28.4 Having said this, Shreeji Mahãrãj continued, “The Vãlmiki Rãmãyan and Harivansh have placed great emphasis on hinsã. In fact, even Rãmchandraji behaved according to the characteristics of a kshatriya. Even though Rãmchandraji protected anyone who sought refuge at His feet, He would immediately abandon them if they committed even the slightest mistake. For example, even though Sitãji became subject to only minor public criticism, He instantly abandoned her, even though she was very dear to him.”
28.5 Hearing this, Muktãnand Swãmi commented, “Rãmãnand Swãmi’s nature was similar.”
28.6 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj revealed, “My nature is not like that. I have great compassion for bhaktas of Bhagvãn. Of the Pãndavs, Arjun was also of a very compassionate nature. Amongst all men, there has been no man like Rãmchandraji and Arjun, and amongst all women there has been no woman like Sitãji and Draupadi.
28.7 “Now, I shall describe my own nature. Even though I have a compassionate nature, if a person spites bhaktas of Bhagvãn, then I have a dislike towards that person. If I hear someone speaking unpleasantly of bhaktas, then I would not feel like speaking to them, even if I had to. On the other hand, I become extremely pleased with someone who serves the bhaktas of Bhagvãn. In fact, my nature is such that I do not become easily pleased or displeased over small matters, but only after observation over several days of whether a person is worthy of my pleasure or displeasure, do I become pleased or displeased. I never become pleased or displeased with a person by simply hearing someone’s opinions of that person; I only appreciate those qualities that I perceive with my own mind. Also, my preference is as follows: ‘If a person is a genuine bhakta of Bhagvãn, then I am a bhakta of that bhakta, and I do the bhakti of such bhaktas of Bhagvãn’. This is my greatest quality. A person who does not have that quality is not worthy of any type of greatness.
28.8 “Conversely, those who have perceived avgun in bhaktas of Bhagvãn, even though they were very great, have fallen from their status of importance. Those who progress do so only by serving bhaktas of Bhagvãn, and those who regress do so only by spiting bhaktas of Bhagvãn. In fact, the only method for a person to please Bhagvãn is to serve bhaktas by thought, word, and deed. The only method to displease Bhagvãn is to spite bhaktas.
28.9 “Therefore, my principle is that if Bhagvãn is pleased with me, and I have the company of the bhaktas of Bhagvãn, then even if I were to stay far away from Bhagvãn for countless years, I would not feel any grief mentally. On the other hand, if Bhagvãn is not pleased with me, then even if I were to stay near Bhagvãn, I would not consider that to be good. Moreover, the essence of all the shãstras is ‘A person should only do that which pleases Bhagvãn’. In fact, a person who does not do that which pleases Bhagvãn should be known to have fallen from the path of Bhagvãn.
28.10 “If a person has the company of the bhaktas of Bhagvãn and also has earned Bhagvãn’s pleasure, then even though he is in Mrutyu-Lok, he is still in the dhãm of Bhagvãn. This is because a person who serves a sant and earns Bhagvãn’s favour will certainly stay near Bhagvãn. Conversely, even if a bhakta is in the dhãm of Bhagvãn, if he has not earned Bhagvãn’s favour and is jealous of bhaktas of Bhagvãn, then that bhakta will certainly fall from that dhãm.
28.11 “For this reason, in order to please Bhagvãn, I desire only to serve bhaktas of Bhagvãn in this life and all subsequent lives. Furthermore, just as this is my belief, all of you should also make the same belief.”
28.12 Then, Muktãnand Swãmi and all the other bhaktas folded their hands in prayer and said, “Mahãrãj, we also wish to keep such a belief.” Having said this, all the bhaktas pledged and bowed at Shreeji Mahãrãj’s feet.
28.13 Finally, Shreeji Mahãrãj added, “I have delivered this talk to you after hearing and extracting the essence from the Veds, the six-shãstras, the Purãns and all other words on this earth relating to moksh. This is the most profound and fundamental principle, and it is the essence of all essences. For all those who have previously attained moksh, for all those who will attain it in the future, and for all those who are presently treading the path of moksh, this talk is like a lifeline.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã I || 28 || 162 ||