Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shlokas 25 - 26

अत्रास्ति किं नीलबालो महासौन्दर्यविग्रहः |

द्रष्टुमिच्छामि तं शीघ्रं मह्मं दर्शय माधवम् ||

एवं ययाचे यवनः प्रसारितकराम्बुजः |

प्रणम्य निखिलान् साधून् बाष्पकुलविलोचनः ||

"Is that blue-coloured child, that most beautiful one, anywhere here? Please show Him to me. I long to see HIm." Thus cried Raskhan shedding tears. He bowed to the sadhus there, and with hands stretched out, he made repeated entreaties.

Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shlokas 22 - 24

श्रीसद्गुरुरुवाच

इत्युक्त्वा यवनः सोsपि प्रतस्थे यमुनावनम् |

विस्मृत्य रत्नपेटीं तां कृष्णदर्शनाकौतुकात् ||

उन्मत्तवन्महोत्साहः प्रधावन् यमुनावने |

अपृच्छन्निखिलान् भक्तान्नीलबालः क्व वर्तते ||

एवं ससंभ्रमं भक्तःप्रेमोन्मत्तो भ्रमन् वने |

अन्ते गोपर्धनं प्राप यत्र श्रीनाथमन्दिरम् ||

Shri Sadguru said

Having spoken thus, Raskhan left for Shri Brindavan immediately. In his enthusiasm to have the darshan of Shri Krishnan, he even forgot to take his box of precious stones with him. He ran here and there in Shri Brindavan, like a mad man, in search of Shri Krishna inquiring all the bhaktas about that boy with a body resembling the fresh blue cloud. Thus, maddened with prema bhakti, Raskhan roamed about the forest. At last he reached the temple of Lord Shrinatha on top of Govardhana Hill.

Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shlokas 20 - 21

ब्राह्मण उवाच

भाग्यवानसि शुद्धात्मन् सावधानतया शृणु |

वर्तते यमुनातीरे बृन्दारण्यं मनोरमम् ||

रसखान उवाच

एवमस्तु प्रगच्छामि नमस्ते ब्राह्मणोत्तम |

क्षिप्रं भवतु मे तस्य बालस्य मुखदर्शनम् ||

The pauranika said

Oh! Blessed soul! Only you are the really fortunate person. Listen to me carefully. That exquisite Brindavan is on the bank of the Yamuna.

Raskhan said

Oh, the best of the brahmanas. I bow to you. I shall go there as directed by you. Let me get the darshan of that child soon.

Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shlokas 17 - 19

रसखान उवाच

त्वयाsद्य वर्णितो बालः श्रवणानन्दवर्धनः |

कुत्रास्ति वद मे शीघ्रं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि तं शिशुम् ||

ब्राह्मण उवाच

बृन्दावने गोवर्धने गोकुले वा स बालकः |

नित्यं क्रीडति गोवत्सांश्चारयन् गोपबालकैः ||

रसखान उवाच

अधुनैवाहमिच्छामि गन्तुं बृन्दावनं शुभम् |

मार्गं वद महाभाग नमस्तेस्तु सहस्त्रशः ||

Raskhan said

Where does that boy described so sweetly by you live? Please tell me immediately, for I long to see that child.

The pauranika replied

That small boy goes grazing cattle in Shri Brindavan or in the Gokula or on Govardhana Hill. He plays thus daily along with other children who graze cattle in any of these places.

Raskhan said

Oh, most fortunate one! I yearn to go to Shri Brindavan at once. Please guide me regarding the route. I bow to you again and again.

Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shlokas 14 - 16

विक्रेत्तुकामो रत्नानि यवनो हर्शसम्युतः |

क्षणं तत्रोपविश्यैव शुश्राव भगवत्कथाम् ||

व्यासपीठस्थितो भक्तःप्रोवाच मधुरं तदा |

प्रवृत्ते दशमस्कन्धे कृष्णरूपस्य वर्णनम् ||

आकर्ण्य यवनः सद्यः कृष्णसौन्दर्यवर्णनम् |

तं वैष्ण्वामपृच्छच्च तद्दर्शनकुतूहलात् ||

He had come there to see precious stones. But, he sat there for some time and listened to the discourse dealing with the divine story of Shri Krishna. The exponent, the devout puranika, seated on the Vyasapitha was describing very beautifully the handsome form o Shri Krishna, as given in the tenth canto of Shrimad Bhagavatam. Listening to that description of the elegance of Shri Krishna, Raskhan developed a desire to see Him. Induced by that desire, he asked the vaishnava the following question.

Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shlokas 12 - 13

कश्चिदासीन्महाभागो रसखान इति श्रुतः |

यवनो धनिकश्रेष्ठः सर्वसद्गुणसम्युतः |

स कदाचिद्भाग्यवशादगमन्मधुरापुरीम् |

तत्रापश्यत्सभां म्लेच्छो महाजनसमन्वितम् ||

There was a muslim named Raskhan who was very rich and endowed with all noble qualities. As good luck would have it, once he reached Mathura and saw a great gathering of learned men.

Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shloka 11

वर्णाश्रमकुलाचारं कलिकल्मषपङ्किलम् |

अतिक्रम्य विशुद्धात्मा केवलं वैष्णवो भवेत् ||

Caste system and codes of conduct attached to the strata of birth have got marred by the malady of the Kaliyuga. Hence giving up all these, one should become a pious vaishnava

Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shlokas 9 - 10

दुराचारेण सम्युक्तान् कृष्णकीर्तनतत्परान् |

आश्लिष्य प्रणमेद्भक्तश्चण्डालानपि पामरान् ||

वर्णाश्रमकुलाचारो विहितो ह्मात्मशुद्धये |

कुर्वन्ति डाम्भिका मर्त्याः परस्परविदूषकाः ||

A bhakta should embrace them and bow to those chandalas who do Krishna kirtan, though being ignorant and bad-conducted. Restrictions were attached with caste system and lineage only to ensure purity of hearts. But they are observed by the pedagogues only to despise one another.

Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shlokas 5 - 8

यः शूद्रो जन्मना नीचो विशुद्ध कृष्णकीर्तनात् |

कुर्यात्तस्मै प्रणामञ्च हरिभक्तिपरो यदि ||

अम्बरीषस्य पदयोर्दुर्वासाः शरणं गतः |

एष भागवतो धर्मो जातिस्तु न विचार्यते ||

सदाचारेण संपन्नान् ब्राह्मणान् श्रुतिपारगान् |

दूरतो वर्जयेद्भक्तः कृष्णभक्तिपराङ्ग्मुखान् ||

He alone is a brahmana who has been purified with Krishna kirtan, though born as a shudra. Even one who is born a brahman should pay reverence to him whenever he is seen. A person endowed with Hari bhakti should be veneratted, be he a chandala, a shudra, a mleccha or a yavana. Durvasa sought shelter at the feet of Ambarisha. This is the true Bhagavata Dharma. There is no necessity to make enquiries of one's caste. A bhakta should keep even the most virtous brahmanas, conversant with the Vedas, far away from him if they are devoid of Krishna bhakti.

Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shlokas 3 - 4

भजन्ति श्रद्धया विष्णुं चण्डालाश्चापि पामराः |

मुह्मन्ति वेदशास्त्रज्ञा विप्राः पण्डितमानिनः ||

अधीत्या वेदान्निखिलान् कृत्वा कर्माणि सर्वशः |

यस्य कृष्णे रतिर्णास्ति स शूद्रो ब्राह्मणोपि सन् ||

Even the ignorant chandalas worship Lord Vishnu very dedicatedly. But the brahmanas who are well-versed in Vedas and Shastras go about puffed with pride. Even if one is a brahmana by birth and is engaged in the study of the Vedas and the performance of religious rituals, one is taken to be only a shudra if one is not endowed with Krishna bhakti.

Vaishnava Samhita. Raskhan Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 13 Shlokas 1 - 2

श्रीसद्गुरुरुवाच

म्लेच्छःकिरातो यवनश्चण्डालः पुल्कसोपि वा |

साधुसङ्गममात्रेण लोकपूज्या भवन्ति ते ||

जातिं न पृच्छेद्भक्तस्य केवलं वौष्णवः स्मृतः |

नीचोपि जन्मना मर्त्यौ हरिभक्त्या विशुद्धयति ||

Shri Sadguru said

Even a mleccha, a kirata, a yavana, or a chandala becomes worthy of veneration due to the association of the sandhus. One should not enquire a bhakta of his caste. For, any person who is blessed with Vishnu bhakti becomes a vaishnava irrespective of his birth. Even a low-born gets purified by Hari bhakti.

Vaishnava Samhita. Chaturbhujadasa Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 12 Shlokas 29 - 32

एवं हि भक्तवात्सल्यं प्रभुणा प्रकटीकृतम् |

गोपीनां विरहार्तानां यः साक्षात्स्वयमागतः ||

सूरदासः कुंभदासः श्रीदस्वामी चतुर्भुजः |

परमानन्ददासश्च कृष्णदासो महामतिः ||

गोविन्ददासश्रीनन्ददासौ भागवतोत्तमौ |

एवं ह्मष्टौ महात्मानः श्रीनाथस्य सभासदः ||

कीर्तयन्तः स्वयं ह्मेते कवीन्द्रा गायकास्तथा |

श्रीनाथं विद्ठलेशञ्च तर्पयामासुरन्वहम् ||

When the Gopis were in distress born out of HIs separation, the Lord appeared before them in HIs true form. The same Lord had established His compassion for HIs bhaktas once again, through this incident. There were eight great bhagavatas viz. Surdasa, Kumbhadasa, Shridaswami, Chaturbhuja, Paramandadasa, Krishnadasa, Govindadasa, and Shri Nandadasa, in the royal divine court of Shir Shrinatha. As there were great poets and singers in themselves, they composed many new songs and thus made both Lord Shrinatha and Shri Vitthalantha very happy.

Thus ends Chapter Twelve entitled 'Chaturbhujadasa Charitam' of Book VII of Shri Vaishnava Samhita composed by Shri Shri Krishna Premi Swamigal

Vaishnava Samhita. Chaturbhujadasa Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 12 Shlokas 24 - 28

पुलकङ्कितगात्रश्च परमानन्दविह्वलः |

ददर्श वदनं तस्य श्रीनाठस्य परात्मनः ||

तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण शोकतापविवर्जितः |

ननर्त गोकुलेन्द्रस्य संस्मरन् संस्मरन् क्रुपाम् ||

श्रुत्वा च विट्ठलेशस्य मुखाच्छ्रीनाथचेष्टितम् |

स्मरंस्तद्भक्तवात्सल्यं रुरोद प्रेमविह्वलः ||

सान्त्वयामास भक्तं महात्मा विट्ठलस्तदा |

तथा गोवर्धने शैलेप्यकरोच्छयनोत्सवम् ||

धावन्नुपागतः पूर्वं यथा तूर्णं गजाधिपम् |

तथा चतुर्भुजञ्जाद्य श्रीनाथः समुपेयिवान् ||

He perceived the enchanting countenance of Shrinatha, the Supreme Being, with great exhilaration and tears of joy rolling from his eyes. Assuaged of his grief at the darshan of Lord Shrinatha, Shri Chaturbhujadasa danced in great joy thinking about the mercy of Shri Krishna. He camce to know of the leela of Shrinatha, through Shri Vitthalanatha. He wept bitterly, pondering of Shrinatha's mercy and affection towards His bhaktas. Then the mahatma Shri Vitthalanatha consoled Chaturbhujadasa very affectionately. Her performed the Shayanotsava of Shrinatha on Govardhana Hill itself. This Shrinatha now rushed towards Chaturbhujadasa for his rescue as He had done in the past for the sake of Gajendra, the elephant king.

Vaishnava Samhita. Chaturbhujadasa Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 12 Shlokas 23

आकर्ण्य शब्दं शङ्खस्य विज्ञायागमनं प्रभोः |

चतुर्भुजो महाभागो दधावाभिमुखं तदा ||

At that time, the most fortunate Chaturbhujadasa heard the sound of the musical instruments. He came to know the arrival of the Lord, and hence he ran towards Him to welcome Him

Vaishnava Samhita. Chaturbhujadasa Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 12 Shlokas 20 - 22

श्रीनाथ उवाच

गच्चाम्यद्यैव शैलेन्द्रं शयनं न हि रोचते |

सन्नद्धं कुरु भक्तेन्द्र परिवारं ममाह्वय ||

श्रीसद्गुरुरुवाच

इति श्रीनाथदेवस्य श्रुत्वैवाज्ञां तु विट्ठलः |

आश्चर्यचकितः सद्यः प्रतस्थे तेन तं गिरिम् ||

शङ्खभेरीनिनादेन भक्तानां कीर्तनेन च |

पावयन्निखिलं मार्गं श्रीनाथः प्राप भूधरम् ||

Shrinatha said

Oh! Bhakta! I want to go to Govardhana Hill at once. I dislike going to bed here. Call all My attendants. Get ready immediately.

Shri Sadguru continued

Shri Vittahalanatha was surprised to have this command of Shrinatha. Without any delay, he prepared to go to Govardhana Hill. Lord Shrinatha reached Govardhana Hill purifying all the way. He travelled with the aid of the musical instruments like the conch and the drum that sounded and the kirtan of the bhaktas.

Vaishnava Samhita. Chaturbhujadasa Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 12 Shlokas 18 - 19

यथा शौचति सा देवी राधा प्रोषितभर्तृका |

तथा चतुर्भुजश्चायं परमं दुःखमाप ह ||

शय्योत्सवे प्रवृत्ते तु श्रीनाथो भक्तवत्सलः |

जवोचद्विद्ठलेशं तं प्रेमवात्सल्यकातरः ||

Chatrubhujadasa was as distressed as Radha Devi was when Shri Krishna left for Mathura. In the meanwhile, during the Shayanotsava one night, Shrinatha, the lover of the bhaktas, addressed Shri Vitthalanatatha in the following manner as He was induced by HIs affection for His great bhakta.

Vaishnava Samhita. Chaturbhujadasa Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 12 Shlokas 16 - 17

कृष्णं श्रीनाथमादाय विद्ठले मधुरां गते |

चतुर्थुजः प्राप दुःखं विरहेण सुदुःसहम् ||

अन्यत्र बृन्दाविपिनाद्विपद्यपि न गच्छति |

एतन्महाव्रतं तस्य भक्तस्य व्रजवासिनः ||

Once, Vitthalanatha left for Mathura, taking Shrinatha with him. Chathurbhujadasa got afflicted with grief born of separation from the two. That bhakta had taken a vow not to leave Shri Brindavan even if he were to face any serious difficulty or danger.

Vaishnava Samhita. Chaturbhujadasa Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 12 Shlokas 12 - 15

तनयः कुंभदासस्य चतुर्भुज इति श्रुतः |

पितृवद्गुणसंपन्नः प्रेमभक्तिपरो महान् ||

दान्तः शान्तो विरक्तश्च क्षमावान् शीलसम्युतः |

श्रीनाथवदनाम्भोजसारषास्वादलोलुपः ||

नित्यं नवीनैर्मधुरैर्गीतैः श्रीनाथमच्युतम् |

कीर्तयन् प्रेमसम्युक्तश्चकार सुखजीवनम् ||

शिष्यो विट्ठलनाथस्य तद्वात्सल्येन पोषितः |

लोकवेदातिगो नित्यं गुरुसेवापरायणः ||

Shri Kumbhadasa had a son named Chaturbhuja. He was as virtous as his father was. He had prema bhakti as the only goal of his life. He had good control on self and also had subdued all his senses. He was dispassionate, calm and forbearing, and had a blemishless conduct. He rejoiced in the sweetness of the beauty of the lotus face of Shrinatha. He was leading a very happy life worshipping Shrinatha daily, with sweet verses composed afresh by himself. He was the disciple of Shri Vitthalanatha, and was patronised affectionately by him. He was engaged very passionately in the regular service of his guru. He stood beyond the rules of the Veda and the code of material world.

Vaishnava Samhita. Chaturbhujadasa Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 12 Shlokas 11 - 12

संस्कारेण च मन्त्रेण संप्रदायेन जन्मना |

दृढेन भक्तियोगेन यः पूर्णः स हि भाग्यवान् ||

He alone is the really fortunate person (and a true vaishnava) who possesses unflinching devotion to Lord Hari and at the same time is respected because of his virtuous birth, knowledge of mantras, strict adherenece to rituals, and his moorings in traditional practices.

Vaishnava Samhita. Chaturbhujadasa Charitam. Vol III Book VII Chp 12 Shlokas 9 - 10

दुर्लभं मानुषं जन्म वैष्णवत्वं सुदुर्लभम् |

तत्रापि राधिकानाथे प्रेमभक्तिः सुदुर्लभा ||

केनापि पुन्यपुञ्जेन वैष्णवत्वमवाप्य च |

देवतान्तरभक्तिं हि यः करोति स दुर्भगः ||

It is very difficult to attain birth as a human being. It is all the more difficult to be a vaishnava. It is utmost difficult to develop prema bhakti towards Shri Krishna, the beloved of Devi Radha. He is the most unfortunate person who is born in a vaishnava family due to some unknown good fortune, and yet develops devotion to gods other than Shri Krishna.