32.1 In the Samvat year 1885, on Mahã sud 5 [8th February 1829], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting on a decorated bedstead on the veranda outside the west-facing rooms of 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. Some of the paramhans were singing kirtans related to the spring season.
32.2 Then, Shreeji Mahãrãj asked Muktãnand Swãmi and the other sãdhus, “Please explain the meaning of the shlok:
32.3 The sãdhus then explained the shlok according to the commentary written by Rãmãnuj Ãchãrya.
32.4 Shreeji Mahãrãj then added, “With reference to that shlok, I have formed the belief that a person who is in his youth should reduce his diet and should eat and behave moderately. When a person’s diet is reduced, physical strength also diminishes. Only then can the indriyas be overcome; otherwise they cannot. Having done that, if a person enthusiastically engages his mind in the nine types of bhakti of Bhagvãn, and himself lovingly engages in bhakti, then he will remain in satsang till the end. But, if he does not behave in this way, he will surely surrender to his indriyas and, sooner or later, he will fall from satsang. Even a person who has mastered samãdhi, like Sheth Govardhan, is afraid of this; so what can be said for others?
32.5 ”However, a person’s diet cannot be controlled by merely observing several upvãs consecutively. This only leads to his desires and diet increasing, because when he breaks an upvãs, he tends to eat twice as much. However, if a person begins to reduce his diet gradually, it can be controlled. For example, even though the clouds cause rain to fall in tiny drops, water still collects in a large quantity. Similarly, a person should control his diet gradually. As a result, his indriyas will also be controlled. Then, if he lovingly engages in bhakti, he will remain in satsang till the end. This is a fact.”
32.6 Shreeji Mahãrãj then said, “How does a true bhakta of Bhagvãn understand Bhagvãn’s greatness? Well, he believes, ‘Bhagvãn, who possesses a definite murti, forever resides in His luminous Akshardhãm. He is the cause and controller of everything, the antaryãmi within all and the supreme lord of countless millions of brahmãnds. Moreover, His murti is divine, blissful, and free from the gun of Mãyã’. Understanding the pratyaksha Bhagvãn in this way, he believes that with the exception of Bhagvãn, all other worldly objects are absolutely worthless and perishable. In addition, he has love only for Bhagvãn, and he engages in the nine types of bhakti. He also believes, ‘Kãl, Mãyã, Brahmã, Shiv, Surya, and Chandra, are powerful, yet even they act according to the niyams of that extremely great Bhagvãn’. Understanding this, he always behaves within the niyams of dharma established by Bhagvãn in order to please Him; he never disobeys those niyams.
32.7 “On the other hand, a person who has a corrupted mind believes, ‘Such a great Bhagvãn is patit-pãvan and adham-udhãran. So, why worry about slightly disobeying the niyam of dharma? After all, Bhagvãn is capable of granting kalyãn’. In this way, he does not hesitate in committing sins under the pretext of knowing Bhagvãn’s greatness. Such a person should be considered wicked and sinful. Also, even though he may superficially appear to be a bhakta, he should not be considered a bhakta, and a person should not remain in his company. Only a person who has the understanding described previously should be considered to be a bhakta, and only his company should be kept.”
End of Vachanãmrut Gadhadã || 32 || 266 ||