43.1 In the Samvat year 1880, on Posh sud 4 [5th January, 1824], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was seated on a mattress with a large, cylindrical pillow at the residence of the bhaktas of Ayodhyã in Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He was dressed entirely in white clothes. A sabhã of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him. Premãnand Swãmi was singing kirtans to the accompaniment of a sarodã.
43.2 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “Let us conduct a question-answer discussion.” So, Shreeji Mahãrãj Himself asked, “A bhakta of Bhagvãn who is gunãtit behaves only as the ãtmã, above the influence of the three guns – above sattva-gun in the form of vairãgya, above rajo-gun in the form of desires for vishays, and above tamo-gun in the form of passiveness. He has absolutely no thoughts, and experiences a state like sushupti. Now, does such a nirgun bhakta who behaves as the ãtmã in this way have love for Bhagvãn, or not? That is the question.”
43.3 Muktãnand Swãmi replied, “A person who behaves as the ãtmã does have love for Bhagvãn.”
43.4 Hearing the reply, Shreeji Mahãrãj asked, “Is the love of a bhakta, who behaves as the ãtmã, of the same qualities as the ãtmã, or different?”
43.5 Muktãnand Swãmi replied, “That love has the same qualities as the ãtmã.”
43.6 Shreeji Mahãrãj then explained, “Regarding the love developed for Bhagvãn while behaving as the ãtmã, Madhav-Ãchãrya, Nimbãrk, and Vallabh-Ãchãrya have all described that love as brahm-svarup. Therefore, only a person who has love for Bhagvãn having become gunãtit brahm-svarup. Such is the principle of the great ãchãryas.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã II || 43 || 176 ||