4.1 In the Samvat year 1882, on the Chaitra sud 6 [13th April 1826], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting on a mattress, and leaning on a large, cylindrical pillow, that had been placed in the south-facing balcony of the mansion in Jetalpur. He was wearing a white pãgh, adorned with a bunch of small flowers, on His head, and He had covered Himself with a pachhedi of white flowers. He was wearing a white khes with a border of silver threads. In addition to this, His entire body had been smeared with sandalwood paste mixed with saffron. Also, garlands of guldãvadi flowers were placed around His neck. A sabhã of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
4.2 Then, addressing the entire sabhã, Shreeji Mahãrãj said, “In this lok, the jeev attains kalyãn only by the following means; nishchay in the pratyaksha svarup of Bhagvãn, His darshan, and His constant remembrance. After all, it is said in the Shreemad Bhãgvat that even those who insulted Bhagvãn, such as Kans, Shishupãl, and Dantvakra, attained kalyãn since all of them had constant remembrance of Bhagvãn. Therefore, kalyãn is attained by constantly remembering Bhagvãn; and since all of you possess such remembrance, your kalyãn is assured.
4.3 “Having said that, you should still follow all the rules of dharma prescribed by me for as long as you are conscious of your bodies. You may claim, ‘If a person has attained Bhagvãn and constantly remembers Him, why does he need to observe vartmãn?’ In reply to that, consider the difference between a person who firmly observes the vartmãn and a person who is slacking in his observance. Allow me to explain that difference to you. Even though both remember Bhagvãn, the person who does not follow niyams can only earn kalyãn for himself, but he cannot help other jeevs attain kalyãn. Also, he does not become an ekãntik bhakta, nor does he attain the nirgun dhãm of Bhagvãn. Even though he does not have to undergo births and deaths, he cannot stay in the satsang.
4.4 “However, all of you are the best type of bhaktas. In fact, sãdhus such as yourselves, who observe niyams, are of a totally different category. For that reason, whoever feeds you sincerely will earn the rewards of performing millions of sacrifices and will ultimately attain kalyãn; and whoever touches your feet will be freed of their sins committed in millions of past lives. Anyone who kindly offers you clothes will also attain ultimate kalyãn. The rivers and lakes into which you dip your feet become like places of pilgrimage, and any tree that you have sat under or eaten fruits of will also definitely benefit. If someone devoutly performs your darshan, or is someone devoutly bows before you, then all of his sins are destroyed. Moreover, whomever you talk to about Bhagvãn and whomever you inspire to follow niyams related to dharma will attain kalyãn. All the actions of sãdhus like yourselves, who observe niyams, lead to moksh. This is because you have the firm refuge of the pratyaksha svarup of Shree Nar-Nãrãyan Rushi. That Shree Nar-Nãrãyan Rushi is always present in your sabhã.
4.5 “You may claim, ‘If we have a firm refuge of Bhagvãn, why do mãyik qualities still pervade us?’ Then, let me say that it takes me no time at all to eradicate the shad-urmi (six physical and emotional feelings) and the mãyik qualities from all of you. In fact, it would take me no time to enable all of you to recall your countless previous lives and to be able to perform the creation, sustenance, and destruction, of countless brahmãnds. Nevertheless, I have kept you like this and have suppressed your powers because it is my wish to do so, and to allow you to attain the bliss of the pratyaksha svarup of Bhagvãn. What is more, all of you have currently attained Shree Purushottam who is pratyaksha in the svarup of Shree Nar-Nãrãyan Rushi. Therefore, abandon all doubts and happily engage in worship.” Saying this, Shreeji Mahãrãj became silent.
4.6 Then, Ãshji-Bhãi asked a question: “Mahãrãj, how is it that a person attains kalyãn by keeping hatred towards Bhagvãn? Please tell us.”
4.7 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “Once Drupad Rãjã wished to have his daughter, Draupadi, married. So that she could select a bridegroom, he arranged a grand function in which he invited all the kings. Dron-Ãchãrya also came, as did the Pãndavs. Then, all the kings took turns to try and pierce the fish, but none were able to do so. Then, Yudhishthir said, ‘I will pierce the fish’. Having said this, Yudhishthir took aim. Dron-Ãchãrya asked him, ‘Can you see this sabhã?’ Yudhishthir replied, ‘Yes, I can see it’. Again, Dron-Ãchãrya asked him, ‘Can you see your body?’ Yudhishthir replied, ‘Yes, I can see it’. Then, Dron-Ãchãrya said, ‘You will not be able to pierce the fish’. In this way, four of the brothers were unable to pierce the fish. Then, Arjun stepped forward. He picked up his bow and took aim. Dron-Ãchãrya asked him, ‘Can you see this sabhã?’ Arjun replied, ‘No, I cannot see the sabhã, and I cannot even see the fish. Instead, I only see the bird attached to the fish’. Hearing this, Dron-Ãchãrya said, ‘Focus on its head’. Arjun adjusted his aim and said, ‘Now I do not see even the bird; I see only its head’. Finally, Dron-Ãchãrya said, ‘Now take your shot’. Arjun then pierced the fish’s head. In this way, if all of a person’s vruttis are focused on the svarup of Bhagvãn, then he can attain kalyãn even with a feeling of hatred towards Bhagvãn.
4.8 “For example, when the vruttis of those like Shishupãl and Kans became completely engrossed in Shree Krishna, they attained kalyãn. But, if a person does not know how to hate Bhagvãn in this way then he is sent to Narak. Instead, it is much easier to engage in the bhakti of Bhagvãn. However, a person who worships Bhagvãn with such a cruel intellect will always be called demonic, and cannot be called a bhakta.
4.9 “Therefore, if a person wants to abandon the evil practices of the demons and join the ranks of Dhruv, Prahlãd, Nãrad, and the Sanakãdik, then engaging in the worship of Bhagvãn by offering bhakti is far better.”
4.10 Having heard Shreeji Mahãrãj speak in this way, everyone in the sabhã experienced profound bliss.
End of Vachanãmrut Jetalpur || 4 || 233 ||