52.1 In the Samvat year 1880, on Chaitra vad 11 [24th April 1824], Shreeji Mahãrãj arrived at Lakshmi-Vãdi on horseback from Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He sat on a square platform and was dressed entirely in white clothes. He was also wearing a garland of flowers around His neck, and a tassel of flowers decorated His pãgh. A sabhã of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him. Some of the munis were singing kirtans to the accompaniment of a jhãnjh and mrudang.
52.2 After the munis had finished singing, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “I wish to speak now, so please listen. In this world, the path of a tyãgi and the path of a grahastha are both different. The path of a grahastha is not appropriate for a tyãgi, and the path of a tyãgi is not appropriate for a grahastha. A person who is wise will realise this, but others will not.
52.3 “Now, I shall explain the distinctions. Wealth and property; elephants and horses; cow and buffaloes; houses and mansions; a wife and children; and lavish clothes and jewellery are all suitable for a grahastha. However, to live in the forest; to keep no clothes except a loincloth; to wear a hat on his head; to shave off his hair, beard, and moustache; to wear saffron-coloured clothes; and to tolerate someone swearing or throwing dust at him are most suitable for a tyãgi. However, although these are suitable for a tyãgi, they are in fact inappropriate for a grahastha. Therefore, a person who has abandoned the world and become a tyãgi should think, ‘Which ãshram do I belong to?’ A wise person should think about this; he should not stray onto some inappropriate path like a fool.
52.4 “Moreover, if a wise person is disciplined by someone, he would in turn consider his qualities. On the other hand, if someone offers some useful advice to a fool, the fool would be offended. In that respect, Mulji Brahm-Chãri and Ratanji are never offended; that is why I get along very well with them.
52.5 “Also, I like a person who performs sevã with shraddhã. Conversely, if someone who does not have shraddhã were to bring me a meal, I would not like the food; or if they were to bring some clothes, I would not like to wear them; or if they were to perform my pujã, I would not like that pujã. However, if someone offers something with shraddhã, I like it very much.
52.6 “Furthermore, even if someone offers bhakti with shraddhã, if he becomes jealous of someone else who comes to offer bhakti, then I do not like that. Therefore, I very much prefer a person who offers bhakti with shraddhã and without jealousy.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã II || 52 || 185 ||