Chapter 1 - Mangalacharan

Introductory prayer for attainment of success
I bow down to that Lord Krishna, who is, Himself the son of Dharma, who being manifested on this earth, removes the darkness of lack of knowledge within, just as the Sun removes the darkness. 1

The idol of God is divine
The Supreme Being is void of any inauspicious attributes. He does not change, and is characterised by Sat, Cit, and Anand and resides in Akshardham in the form of a human. 2.

Being never ending, He is the supporter of countless worlds. He assumes the form of a divine-human for the sake of supreme good of the people. 3.

By His orders only, the creator Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva cause creation, maintenance and destruction, respectively of the world at proper times. 4.

The four Vyuhas i.e. Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Aniruddha, Pradyumna and others come into existence from Him only, and He has manifested Himself in the form of twenty four deities called Kesava and others. 5.

He is the bearer of incarnations like Varaha and others and He is Narayan by name with thousand heads (as described in the Purusasukta). 6.
He is adorned with divine qualities like eternity, and good fortune (Kalyan). He is served by the six good fortunes and eight Siddhis like Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, and Vsita, Eshita, Prakamya and Prapti. 7.

By His order the sun shines and the wind blows. By His order, the earth does not sink into waters and the (God of) death moves about with fear. 8.

He is the God of Gods and the supreme amongst the powerful. He is the destroyer of death and He is the cause of all causes. 9.

He, whose feet are tender like lotus, is worshipped by Ananta, Brahma, Rudra and others with twenty four basic principles of the creation and thousands of kinds of powers. 10.

He is praised by the four Vedas, by Sheshaji with his thousand mouths, and by others. He is the Supreme Being Who is superior to the superior and is beyond the scope of speech, mind and senses. 11.

He only is indeed the glorious Lord Himself famous by name “Swaminarayan.” May that Shri Hari protect me from all obstacles. 12.

Indeed that Narayan Muni is victorious, the ocean of everlasting bliss and compassion, bestowed of happiness to righteous people, with face like full moon, charming due to his smile, and the beauty his pair of eyes resembles fully-bloomed lotus petals; He gives extreme happiness to the souls who have taken shelter in Him and is the picture of plentiful kindness. 13.

May He, the Lord Shri Hari, who appears like a human being to the uninformed, yet, who instantly and by force brings under His control, the minds of his devotees; (the mind) which is extremely difficult to conquer even to the hosts of Gods headed by Brahma and Shiva on their own strength, even after constantly engaging themselves in various austerities. May He (Lord Shri Hari) guide my intellect. 14.

Salutations to Him, to the Lord, who assumes the form suitable for meditation at heart; who is the preceptor in staging the human drama inflated by His unconceivable supremacy; who has veiled His own eternal nature by His soft words, extreme patience and self-control and who is wearing a pair of (simple) white apparel; salutations to Him whose glory is as expansive as the oceans. 15.

May the glorious Lord Ganesh, the descent of the Lord Krishna, who is capable of destroying hosts of calamities and who is the endower of desired objects - may he always be there for showering wealth on me. 16

Greatness of the Treatise
In this delightful text composed by Shatanand Muni, Akantika Dharma (the Bhagavat Dharma) - the general idea of the Vedas put together, is well and clearly explained. By understanding it, one will be released from bondage instantly. 17. 

After this Lord Shri Hari, the Guru, the guide of mankind and the kinsman of the spiritual seekers, disappeared from this earth. For human beings, this discourse ‘Satsangijivan’ serves as the boat to cross the ocean of worldly life. 18. 

This discourse is full of nectar; the well ascertained description of the delightful, playful acts of the heavenly person, who Himself, has adopted human form on this earth by His own will, as a son of Dharmadev. This work is the highest life force for Satsangis. May they consume this wholeheartedly. 19.

May this sacred, praiseworthy, pure, genuine Dharmashastra, full of righteousness, knowledge, non-attachment and devotion, ever become the object of enjoyment for the virtuous! This work takes one away from the stream of sins and washes away the impurities of the Kali (Yuga). It completely removes the darkness of ignorance; it is obtained only by those having good deeds to their credit and not by others. 20.

This work of wisdom be victorious, which gives clear ascertainment in all religious matters; which wards off confusion caused by diverse views in various scriptures, which gives all desired fruits, which is the best of all and soothing to the ears as well as minds of all, just by listening; 21.

(This work of wisdom be victorious) Extracting thorns of various doubts, driving away the fear of (six) foes, passion and anger being wellknown of them; eradicating wicked thoughts just by listening; and which is like an ornament of the wise seers. 22.

Life-sketch of Suvrat Muni a speaker of Satsangijivan
On this earth, there is a sacred place named Kurukshetra, in the Land of Bharata, which is occupied by noble minded people who wish to improve their piety. 23. 

There lived a Brahmarshi seer, named Suvrat, who worshipped Lord Shri Hari with full devotion. He was adorned with righteousness, knowledge, detachment, peace, and such other good qualities. 24. 

Influenced by his devotion, the Lord Himself used to accept the objects offered by him at worship, every day. 25.

By the grace of the Lord he was endowed with the knowledge of Past, Present and Future happenings, and knowledge of the absolute reality which can be known only by persons of pure mind having devotion to the Lord. 26.

When Lord Shri Hari disappeared, sage Suvrat by order of his Guru, left for pilgrimage. While travelling from place to place, he showed the path of righteousness to the uninformed people. 27.

He went to Kashi and Vrindavan and engaged himself in practicing austerities customary to sacred places. Then he arrived at Jagannath Puri, the city on the shores of the ocean. 28.

There Lord Krishna appeared in person before devotees. On this earth, there is no place comparable to that city, shining due to the highest glory of Lord Shri Hari. 29.

Where every day, from early morning the idol, Lord Vasudev, is worshipped five times, with respect, great festivity and fervour. 30.

Having seen the holy place, he was extremely happy. He halted in the surrounding area of the very sacred Chakratirtha. 31.

For five times every day, he used to visit Jagannatha temple and have Darshana of the deity. All the time, he engaged himself in doing religious duties, and endeavoured for nine-fold devotional activities. 32.

Self-restrained and free from pride as he was, he instructed people who approached him about their own religious duties and about devotion to the Lord Krishna. 33.

Meeting of King Pratapsinh and Suvrat Muni. Once there arrived a King-sage from Gujarat, Pratapasimh by name, who had abandoned his kingdom and renounced his wealth. 34.

Being religious by nature and devoted to Lord Krishna, he was anxious to have Darshan to see the Lord in person and desirous of enjoying the fellowship of saints, he stayed in that holy place. 35.

Once he saw him (sage Suvrat) resting on the seat of Kausha (Darbha) grass, narrating with reverence, the glory of Krishna, to the people desirous of release from the cycle of birth and death. 36.

In him, the king saw a devout, calm, pure, gentle, enduring perfect yogi, engaged in practising austerities and leading a celibate life. 37. 

The king found him having discrimination and detachment and one who had conquered the enemy within; absorbed in Self, an eminent Vaishnava, and skilled in imparting spiritual knowledge. 38.

Assuming him, having saintly qualities, and fully contented, the king approached him, humbly salute him, and said: 39.

O the best of the holy men, showing saintly qualities, I have come to take your refuge. Please tell me the way by which I will be relieved from the cycle of birth and death. 40.

When thus asked, the learned sage adored by spiritual seekers, was very pleased, He lovingly and respectfully welcomed the king and said: 41.

O king, you have asked the right question. It is for your own good. Indeed with the help of this human body, one should act in such a way, that he gets released from the bondage of worldly life. 42.

Dialogue between Suvrat Muni and King Pratapsinh.
O king, you practice nine-fold devotion towards Krishna, who is in the form of Jagannatha in this city of Puri. By that only you will achieve the desired merit. 43.

Thus guided, he accepted and followed the advice with high regard and without deceit spent his time in the company of the sage, day after day. 44.

Thus engaged in worship of Lord Krishna, king’s mind was purified. He could see the sage in being a servant of Krishna Himself. 45.

Saluting the sage again and again with folded hands, the king said, ‘O wise sage, I find you to be a man whose service is accepted by Lord Krishna, the omnipresent. 46.

Krishna speaks to you, accepts food offered by you. From these extraordinary indications, I am sure of my observations’. 47.

O Brahman, you are the master. Please do favour to me; so that I will be able to visualize the Lord in person. 48.

When the king requested thus, loving Suvrat said to him, ‘it is very difficult for human beings to have direct vision of the Lord Krishna’. 49.

For the sake of this, great discriminating emperors abandon their kingdom, their families, and practice hard penance. 50.

It is said by the virtuous that the finest fruit of righteousness, virtues of renunciation and knowledge can be obtained by propitiation of Lord Vishnu Himself. 51.

If and when He is born on this earth by His own will, for protection of righteousness and virtuous and for destruction of their enemies, then only He is visible. 52.

Even though He Himself is present and visible to all He is recognised only by few and not by all. 53.

These days He is born on this earth in the North Kausala region, to Dharmadeva and his wife Bhakti, in the family of Sarava Brahmins. 54.

I saw Him, when I was in His Company; He blessed me and because of that, the Lord is always in front of me. 55.

Recently, that figure of the Lord in the flesh, spreading happiness among the people has disappeared, agitating the minds of those who loved Him. 56.

By the order of my Guru (Shatanand Muni), I wander on this earth, set out on Pilgrimage, relating life and glories of the Lord, like son of Rishabha Deva and behaving like a dull-witted (Jada Bharat). 57.

Hearing these words of the sage, the wise king was very much pleased and saluting him again, with folded hands, said to him: 58.

O sage, it is my good fortune! Today the purpose of my life is fulfilled, that I could enjoy your company, which is impossible even to the Gods. 59.

Indeed, devotees of God, compassionated and fully contented, desire less, wander on this earth to grace the souls desirous of release from the cycle of birth and death. 60.

Your good self! Kindly tell me the full story of life and deeds of Shri Hari, as you have seen Him and heard about Him. 61.

Please tell me, how the Lord incarnated on this earth and how He acted; I wish to listen to this with a steady mind. 62.

Thus requested by the faithful king, for his own fortune, the sage was pleased. He started to narrate the tale of Lord Shri Hari, as he had heard earlier. 63.

Thus ends the first chapter entitled ‘Meeting of Suvrat and Pratapsimh’ in the first Prakarana of Satsangi Jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 1