47.1 In the Samvat year 1876, on the morning of Mahã sud 12 [26th January, 1820], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting on a decorated bedstead on the platform under the neem tree in front of the mandir of Shree Vãsudev-Nãrãyan 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.
47.2 Then, after snapping the fingers of His right hand, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “Everyone please listen with attention, as I have something to tell you. What I have to say is simple, but you will only be able to grasp its meaning if you listen carefully. Otherwise, you will not.”
47.3 All the haribhaktas said, “Please do tell us, Mahãrãj.”
47.4 Shreeji Mahãrãj then said, “Of Bhagvãn’s bhaktas, some have strength in dharma-nishthã, some have strength in ãtmã-nishthã, some have strength in vairãgya-nishthã, and some have strength in bhakti-nishthã. Although a person may have one strength, they also possess all the other types, but to a lesser extent.
47.5 “A bhakta, whose main strength is following bhãgvat-dharma, lovingly engages himself in performing the basic sevã of Bhagvãn and His bhaktas. He also abides by the rules, like ahinsã and brahm-chãrya, which are related to the dharma of his varna and ãshram. The bhakta also enjoys building mandirs for Bhagvãn, and working in His gardens. He enjoys offering different varieties of food to Bhagvãn, and also enjoys hand-plastering and sweeping the mandirs of Bhagvãn and the residential halls of sãdhus. In addition, he offers bhakti to Bhagvãn by listening to kathãs and singing kirtans without any form of pretence. Moreover, such a bhakta who is strong in following dharma intensely enjoys listening to and reading shãstras describing bhãgvat-dharma.
47.6 “A bhakta, whose main strength is ãtmã-nishthã, always behaves as the ãtmã, which is beyond the three bodies and the three mental states, and is described as eternal. He understands that his ishta-dev, pratyaksha Shree Krishna Paramãtmã, is beyond everything, has an extremely pure svarup, and forever possesses a divya murti. In addition, he talks about and listens to talks describing the pure nature of his own ãtmã, as well as talks about Paramãtmã. He also enjoys shãstras that contain such talks. His nature is such that he is unable to tolerate anything that obstructs him from behaving as an ãtmã.
47.7 “A bhakta, whose main strength is vairãgya-nishthã, has a persistent dislike for all worldly objects, but not towards Bhagvãn’s murti. Realising those objects to be asatya, he never remembers his home, his family, or any other object that he has given up – in the same way that he never remembers faeces once they have been excreted. Such a bhakta only keeps the company of bhaktas who are tyãgis. In addition, he offers bhakti to Bhagvãn in a way that does not conflict with his tyãg. His talks are always about tyãg, and he has a liking for shãstras that propose tyãg. Moreover, he has an extreme dislike for tasty foods, beautiful clothes, and for all worldly objects related to the five vishays that may interfere with his tyãg.
47.8 “A bhakta, whose main strength is bhakti-nishthã, has intense love only for Bhagvãn’s svarup. Apart from that svarup of Bhagvãn, he is unable to focus his mind’s vrutti towards worldly objects. Yet, he lovingly offers rich clothes and jewellery to Bhagvãn. He also enjoys listening to the human-like charitras of Bhagvãn and also greatly enjoys listening to any shãstra that describes Bhagvãn’s svarup. In addition, he only develops love towards those bhaktas who have love for Bhagvãn. Besides them, he never develops love towards even his own son or relatives. Such a bhakta is always engaged in some activity that is related to Bhagvãn.
47.9 “Now, after reflecting upon this talk, which describes the characteristics of bhaktas possessing these four strengths, all of you please reveal which of these is your strength. In actual fact, this talk is rather like a mirror, as it reveals a person’s own true strength as it is. Furthermore, those who are Bhagvãn’s bhaktas are never without a strength. However, as they may have not recognised it, they find that they cannot intensify it. As long as it is not strengthened, it will continue to fluctuate according to the talks a person hears. So, after thinking over this talk, please reveal your strengths as they are.”
47.10 All the haribhaktas then revealed their respective strengths.
47.11 Shreeji Mahãrãj then requested, “Those who have similar strengths, please stand up together.” Then, those bhaktas with similar strengths, stood up in turn, after which Shreeji Mahãrãj asked all of them to sit down again.
47.12 Nityãnand Swãmi then asked, “Do those four types of bhaktas, with their strengths, have any gun or avgun in their strengths?”
47.13 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “Yes, they do have gun and avgun. Please listen as I describe them. The extent to which bhaktas with those four strengths behave according to the characteristics I have described earlier, is their gun. The extent to which they cannot behave according to those characteristics, is their avgun.”
47.14 Finally, Muktãnand Swãmi asked, “Of the four types of bhaktas, is one superior to the others, or are they all equal?”
47.15 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “As long as each one adheres to his strength, then all four are equal. However, if a person adheres to all four strengths, then he is superior to all. When one person is strong in all four, he is known as param-bhãgvat, and only he can be called an ekãntik bhakta.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã I || 47 || 47 ||