10.1 In the Samvat year 1882, on Posh sud 11 [19th January 1826], Swãmi Shree Sahajãnandji Mahãrãj was sitting on a mattress with a cylindrical pillow which had been placed on a wooden bedstead under the neem tree outside the mandir of Shree Lakshmi-Nãrãyan in Vadtãl. He was dressed entirely in white clothes. A sabhã of munis, as well as haribhaktas from various places, had gathered before Him.
10.2 Then, Bhagu-Bhãi Pãtidãr of the village Bhãdran arrived in the sabhã and asked, “Mahãrãj, how can the jeev attain kalyãn?”
10.3 Shreeji Mahãrãj replied, “Bhagvãn assumes an avatãr on this earth in one of two svarups: the svarup of the king, or in the svarup of a sãdhu. When He assumes an avatãr upon the earth in the svarup of a king, He possesses the thirty-nine characteristics of a king; and when He assumes an avatãr upon the earth in the svarup of a sãdhu, He possesses the thirty characteristics of a sãdhu.
10.4 “When Bhagvãn appears in the svarup a king, He is educated in the sixty-four sciences, arts, and skills of a royal household; the four methods of ruling (reconciling with enemies, suppressing enemies, instigating divisions within enemies, and punishing enemies); as well as the nine types of sentiments and emotions, such as affection, humour, sadness, courage, and tranquillity. However, when Bhagvãn appears in the svarup of a sãdhu, he does not have these characteristics. When Bhagvãn is in the svarup of a king, He may even take to hunting to survive in times of disaster. He may punish thieves by strangling them, and He may also keep many women in His household. However, in the svarup of a sãdhu, Bhagvãn strictly follows a non-violent lifestyle; He would not even pluck a blade of green grass. Also, He would not touch even wooden statues of women or paintings of women. Therefore, the behaviour of Bhagvãn in the svarup of a sãdhu is not the same as that of Bhagvãn in the svarup of a king.
10.5 “The thirty-nine characteristics of Bhagvãn’s avatãrs in the svarup of a king (Shree Krishna and Shree Rãm) are listed in the first skandh of the Shreemad Bhãgvat through the discussion between Pruthvi and Dharma. The thirty characteristics of Bhagvãn’s avatãrs in the svarup of a sãdhu (Dattãtrey and Kapil-Dev) are listed in the eleventh skandh through the discussion between Shree Krishna Bhagvãn and Uddhav.
10.6 “Therefore, a person who desires kalyãn should recognise Bhagvãn through these characteristics and seek refuge of that Bhagvãn. He should have complete faith in Him, and He should perform His bhakti while following His ãgnã. This is the only means of attaining kalyãn.
10.7 “However, when Bhagvãn is not pratyaksha on this earth, a person should seek the refuge of a sant who has the realisation of Bhagvãn – because the jeev can also attain kalyãn through him. When such a sant is not present, He should keep firm faith in Bhagvãn’s murti and perform bhakti while observing svadharma, as this can also grant kalyãn to the jeev.”
End of Vachanãmrut Vadtãl || 10 || 210 ||