40.1 In the Samvat year 1880, on Ãso vad 3 [22nd October, 1823], Shreeji Mahãrãj was in His residence in Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. After bathing, he put on white clothes, and sat upon His seat. Then, after completing His daily routine of performing pujã of Bhagvãn, He was performing dandvats in the northern direction to Shree Krishna Bhagvãn. It so happened that on that day, He performed one dandvat more than usual.
40.2 Noticing this, Shuk Muni asked, “Mahãrãj, why did you perform one extra dandvat today?”
40.3 Shreeji Mahãrãj explained, “Everyday, after bowing to Shree Krishna Bhagvãn, I used to pray, ‘Mahãrãj, if any feelings of ‘I-ness’ and ‘my-ness’ for this body and its relations exist, then please eradicate them’. However, today the following thought occurred to me: ‘No other sin causes more misery to a person than when he somehow – knowingly or unknowingly – harms a bhakta of Bhagvãn by thought, word, or deed’. Therefore, I performed one extra dandvat to make up for any mistake that may have occurred of knowingly or unknowingly harming some bhakta of Bhagvãn by thought, word, or deed.
40.4 “I have come to the conclusion that the extent of damage and misery incurred as a result of harming a bhakta of Bhagvãn is not incurred by any other sin. On the other hand, there is no spiritual activity that benefits a person and gives as much happiness as that of serving a bhakta of Bhagvãn by thought, word, and deed.
40.5 “It is because of the influence of lobh, mãn, irshyã, and krodh that a person harms a bhakta of Bhagvãn. Only a person who does not possess these four inner enemies can respect a bhakta of Bhagvãn. Therefore, a person who wishes to experience supreme happiness in this very body and also experience supreme happiness after death should never harm a bhakta of Bhagvãn by thought, word, or deed.
40.6 “However, if a person does somehow harm a bhakta of Bhagvãn, then he should verbally pray to him for forgiveness; and physically and mentally, he should perform dandvats before him and determine to never harm him again. However, he should not behave in such a way that he performs dandvats after harming someone once, only to then harm him again and perform dandvats again.
40.7 “So that you remember this fact daily, from today, all sãdhus and all bhaktas should observe the following vow: After performing pujã of Bhagvãn, a person should perform dandvats according to his daily practice. After this, to make up for knowingly and unknowingly harming a bhakta of Bhagvãn during the day, by thought, word, or deed, he should perform one extra dandvat every day. This is my ãgnã; so please do abide by it.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã II || 40 || 173 ||