16.1 In the Samvat year 1884, on Ashãdh vad Amãs [23rd July 1827], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting on the veranda outside the east-facing rooms of Dãdã Khãchar’s darbãr in Gadhadã. He was dressed entirely in white clothes. He was wearing garlands of mogrã flowers around His neck, and extremely beautiful tassels were hanging from His pãgh. A sabhã of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
16.2 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “I ask a question to the entire muni-mandal and to all the grahastha bhaktas; whoever can reply may do so. The question is as follows: It does not take very long for a bhakta of Bhagvãn to avoid the company of a person who is full of avgun. But, how is it possible to avoid the company of a person with extremely noble gun? After all, a person naturally develops affection for a person with gun, regardless of whether he is a relative or not. Moreover, affection that is formed, due to the influence of those gun, cannot be eradicated, however much a person tries. Therefore, how does a bhakta of Bhagvãn prevent the development of affection for anyone other than Bhagvãn, regardless of the gun of that person? That is the question.”
16.3 The senior sãdhus replied according to their understanding, but were unable to answer Shreeji Mahãrãj’s question.
16.4 Shreeji Mahãrãj then said, “Allow me to answer. The answer is as follows: A pati vratã is not even slightly impressed in her mind on seeing other rich, handsome, or young men, even if her husband is poor, ugly, ill, or old. If she does happen to affectionately look at or laugh with other men, then she breaks her pati vratã vow. If some guests were to come to the house of that pati vratã, she would offer them food and water. If she offers food and water to some male relative of her husband, she does so knowing him to be related to her husband, but the affection she has for all other men does not even come close to the love she has for her husband; nor does she see gun in other men as she sees in her own husband. Moreover, she acts according to the wishes of her own husband. Such is the firm fidelity that a pati vratã wife has towards her husband.
16.5 “In the same way, a bhakta should have firm loyalty to Bhagvãn. Specifically, like a woman who is a pati vratã, he would never develop the same love towards even other mukta sãdhus – however great they may be – as he has developed towards whichever murti of Bhagvãn he has had the darshan of. He does not develop love for other avatãrs of his ishta-dev. He keeps love only for the murti that he has attained, and he acts according to His wishes only. If he does happen to respect others, it is only because of their association with his Bhagvãn. A person who has such faithful bhakti towards his own ishta-dev, never develops affection on seeing others, even though he may have many gun.
16.6 “For example, Hanumãnji is a bhakta of Shree Rãmchandraji. Following the avatãr of Rãm, there have been many other avatãrs of Bhagvãn, but Hanumãnji’s bhakti has been like that of a woman who observes the vow of fidelity, as he has remained faithful to only Rãmchandraji. This is why Hanumãnji’s bhakti is considered to be like that of a pati vratã. The bhakti of a bhakta of Bhagvãn who has such fidelity can be said to be like that of a pati vratã. Conversely, if a person does not have fidelity, his bhakti can be said to be like that of a prostitute. Therefore, a person should not knowingly engage in bhakti that would cause him to be disgraced. Instead, a bhakta of Bhagvãn should thoughtfully engage in faithful bhakti – like that of a pati vratã.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã III || 16 || 250 ||