Hemantsinh Raja and Sura Khachar request Shri Hari to grace their towns.
Hemantsinh Raja and Sura Khachar request Shri Hari to grace their towns.
Suvrat said:-
O King Pratapasinh! After the Prabodhini festival, people from remote places left to their village at Sri Hari’s order. Others who had come from distant lands too left for their villages. 1.
King Hemantsinh, full of deep devotion and respect for Shri Hari, wished to celebrate the festival at his house. 2.
He lived here along with the people of his native place, his family and other members. 3. He lived in Vastakhachar’s house and waited for three days. He oversaw all the rituals there. 4.
The king’s mother was named Ganga, his wife Jawahara, his brother Anupsinh, and Anupsinh’s wife, Pamna Sangika. 5.
His sister was named Aditi and his brother’s daughter was named Motini. He lived there with all these people. 6.
Men from his land Mayaram and women, among whom Ladini was the chief, also lived there. 7.
On the fourth day when the Lord was seated in a meeting, he (Hemantsinh) prayed to Shri Hari and said. 8.
Hemantsinha said:-
O Bhagavan, the chief of all the world, the lover of devotees, is there a greater Purusartha (goal) than to perform service at your feet? 9.
You are the only one who can do me the favour of making me your servant. I humbly request you, ‘O Swami, to adorn the house. As you celebrated the festival at Karyayan village, it is evident that you are the protector of true religion and you are loved by your devotees. You treat the poor as well as the rich with equanimity. 10-11.
O Lord, people from my land wish that you should come to our town Junagadha, where my old mother particularly wishes your arrival. 12.
Then joining his palms in prayer, the Brahmin Mayaram said: ‘O Lord, only you can do this. 13.
People from my village are waiting for your arrival there; you are the kalpavruksh, the tree that fulfils everyone’s desire; please satisfy their wish. 14.
I have been ruling over them for you, I am here to pray that we have come over here with all the preparations; please fulfill our wishes immediately, ‘O Lord! 15.
Seeing his deep respect and earnestness and hearing the prayer of old Mayaram, the Lord said.16.
O King, I know your spotless and innocent personality well; I’ll come with my Munis to your place. 17.
O King, as the Lord said this, the head of Nagatankapur came there with joined palms in prayer at that time. 18.
He had with him, his wife Sati, daughters named Dhanya and Vamu, son Natha; all had come at once to see him. 19.
In addition, Sinha, the minister of Nagatankapur and belonging to Vaisya caste, arrived there with his wife Tejaswati. 20.
Then along with his men, Suraraj bowed to the Lord and said:-
O Lord, I have come here to take you to my town; I have lived here for many years with my men. 21.
Only you can do me this favor ; please consider my request and oblige. 22.
O King, thus, hearing the request of both of his devotees, Bhagavan said: “I know both of you are my devotees, innocent and loving. You are both equal to me. 23.
I’ll definitely fulfill your wishes; there is no partiality considering whose place I should visit first. 24.
I’ll think over it and let you know; saying this Shri Hari at once went inside his house. 25.
O innocent king, he (Shri Hari) sat on the seat and though being omniscient, he acted like an ignorant and said to Brahmanand muni- 26.
Shri Hari obtains the advice of both Sadgurus.
All along, I sat with you in private and discussed good and evil. It was useful to me because you are one of my intelligent devotees. 27.
You have intelligence, you are prudent and you can distinguish between what should be done and what should be not done. 28.
So I am asking you as I am doubtful to whose place I should go first – Sura’s or Hemant’s. 29
If I go to one’s town, the other will be displeased and vice versa. It is certain that I must go to both of their places and that is proper. 30.
O King, thus the Guru who knows everything about the three worlds asked like an ignorant man and the Mahamunis also began to think about it. 31.
This Shri Hari, in reality, is God Himself! Yet, he pretended to be a normal human being and asked his devotees for counsel. 32.
Even the gods like Brahma worship him from a distance and no one is able to know him. That such a god Himself asked such a question, what a great wonder! 33.
It is not proper to criticize the decision of going, because Bhagavan is eager and anxious to go his devotees. 34.
Since it is not proper to criticize the decision; we should ask questions and provide our consent. 35.
Thinking about this firmly, they answered their Lord: “What you asked can be thought you are the God and you have asked us to favor upon us. 36.
Both the devotees are loved by you and you love to do good to them. On the way to Junagadha is Surakhacha, how can you go there without touching Surakhachar ? 37-38.
So, we advise you to go to Nagadakapur first; but you can do whatever you prefer. 39.
Suvrat said:-
Sri Bhagavan was very pleased to hear such an intelligent answer from them; being very pleased in mind, he came out in the great assembly and sat on his throne. 40.
Thus ends the fifteenth chapter entitled ‘Invitation extended by Hemantsinh and Suraraj to Narayan Muni’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 15