Now the sentiment of the account of Bhishmdas Kshatriya, a sevak of Shri Gusainji and a resident of the eastern region, is being described.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): He is a rajas devotee. In the divine play her name is “Dridhavrata.” She manifested from “Brajvilasini,” therefore his form is full of devotional sentiment.

He was born in the eastern region in the house of a wealthy Kshatriya. When he became twenty years old, his parents arranged his marriage. He received a worthy and divine wife. After some time his parents passed away. Then Bhishmdas took all his wealth and, together with his wife and family, set out on pilgrimage. At that time a group of Vaishnavas from the eastern region was going together for the darshan of Shri Gusainji in Shri Gokul. Bhishmdas also joined that group.

Prasang 1 – Bhishmdas Takes Refuge in Shri Gusainji That group from the eastern region came for the darshan of Shri Gusainji and Shri Govardhannathji. Bhishmdas Kshatriya also came to Shri Gokul with them. At that time Shri Gusainji was in the temple of Shri Navneetpriyaji, and it was the time of the evening arati. Then all the Vaishnavas had the darshan of Shri Navneetpriyaji. After that all the Vaishnavas went to their lodging places. Then Shri Gusainji completed the anusar of Shri Navneetpriyaji and came to his sitting place. Then all the Vaishnavas came for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. After having darshan, all the Vaishnavas offered gifts according to their own capacity. Then they sat there.

Then Shri Gusainji ordered all the Vaishnavas, “Go now and take mahaprasad.” Then all the Vaishnavas took mahaprasad in the temple of Shri Navneetpriyaji. Taking the astonishing mahaprasad of senbhog, all the Vaishnavas became extremely joyful and delighted. After that Shri Gusainji personally gave prasadi betel leaves to everyone with his own blessed hands. Then all the Vaishnavas offered dandvat and returned to their lodging places. Then Bhishmdas thought within his mind, “When will morning come, and when shall I go into refuge?” Soon morning arrived.

Then Shri Gusainji bathed and came to the temple. Bhishmdas also went there together with all his family. At that time Shri Gusainji had completed his bath and sandhyavandan and was seated there. Then with folded hands Bhishmdas prayed, “Maharajadhiraj! Please accept us into your refuge.” Then Shri Gusainji mercifully bestowed the Name upon Bhishmdas and his family. He also gave the order for nivedan, saying, “Tomorrow observe a fast. Then the offering ceremony will be performed.” The next day Bhishmdas, together with all his family, observed a fast. After that Shri Gusainji performed Brahmasambandh for them in the presence of Shri Navneetpriyaji.

Then Shri Gusainji ordered, “Remain here.” Afterwards Shri Gusainji went into the temple and performed the rajbhog arati of Shri Navneetpriyaji. He gave darshan to all the Vaishnavas. Then those Vaishnavas, along with Bhishmdas, had darshan and became greatly delighted. Afterwards all the Vaishnavas returned to their lodging places. Then Shri Gusainji completed the anusar and came to his sitting place. At that time Bhishmdas and all the Vaishnavas came for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. After offering full prostrated dandvat, they sat down. Then Shri Gusainji went for his meal. All the Vaishnavas then returned to their lodging places, but Bhishmdas remained there together with his family.

After Shri Gusainji had finished his meal and risen, he said through his blessed mouth to an attendant, “Call Bhishmdas.” Then Bhishmdas came. Then Shri Gusainji ordered, “Today, together with all your family, take mahaprasad here itself.” Then a plate of mahaprasad was served to Bhishmdas and his family, and all of them took mahaprasad. Afterwards Shri Gusainji retired to rest. Then Bhishmdas returned to his lodging place. Later Shri Gusainji rose after taking a short rest. It was the time of utthapan. Then Shri Gusainji bathed and came to the temple and performed the utthapan. After completing all the services up to sen, Shri Gusainji came to his sitting place.

Then all the Vaishnavas came for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. After offering dandvat, they sat down. At that time Shri Gusainji announced through his blessed mouth, “Tomorrow we shall go to Gopalpur.” Then morning arrived. After performing mangala arati, Shri Gusainji boarded a boat. Crossing over in the boat, Shri Gusainji came to Mathuraji. There at Vishrant Ghat he bathed, and afterwards Shri Gusainji offered bhog at the sitting place. After performing sandhyavandan, Shri Gusainji mounted and proceeded to Shri Govardhan. Then he arrived at Gopalpur. At that time it was the hour of the evening arati of Shri Govardhannathji. Shri Gusainji bathed and entered the temple. Then all the accompanying Vaishnavas had the darshan of the evening arati. After having darshan, all the Vaishnavas became greatly delighted.

Then after the sen arati, Shri Gusainji came to his sitting place. Then all the Vaishnavas came for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then all of them offered full prostrated dandvat and sat down. Then Shri Gusainji asked those Vaishnavas, “Vaishnavas! Have you had the darshan of Shri Govardhannathji?” Then the Vaishnavas replied, “Maharajadhiraj! By your grace we have had it.” Then Shri Gusainji said, “At night take the mahaprasad of Shri Govardhannathji’s sen bhog.” After the sen arati, mahaprasad was served to everyone. That mahaprasad was extremely wonderful. All the Vaishnavas experienced great joy by taking the mahaprasad and began saying, “Blessed is our fortune that Shri Govardhannathji himself has given such prasad.” After taking mahaprasad, all the Vaishnavas offered full dandvat to Shri Gusainji and returned to their lodging places. Then Shri Gusainji retired to rest.

Afterwards morning came. Shri Gusainji awoke, completed his bodily duties, brushed his teeth, bathed, and went up Shri Giriraj to the temple of Shri Govardhannathji. There he performed the mangala arati. Then all the Vaishnavas had the darshan of Shri Govardhannathji. After that all the Vaishnavas went to perform the parikrama of Shri Girirajji. Having completed the parikrama, they returned and had the darshan of the rajbhog arati. Then they prayed to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! Now all of us have the desire to perform the Braj pilgrimage. Please give the order so that we may do it.” Then Shri Gusainji ordered, “One should certainly perform the Braj pilgrimage.” Then according to Shri Gusainji’s command, they performed the Braj pilgrimage.

Afterwards they returned to Shri Gokul and had the darshan of Shri Navneetpriyaji’s rajbhog. Then all the Vaishnavas returned to their lodging places. Shri Gusainji then came to his sitting place. Afterwards all the Vaishnavas came for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. They offered full dandvat and sat down. At that time Shri Gusainji asked those Vaishnavas, “Have you completed the Braj pilgrimage?” Then all the Vaishnavas folded their hands and prayed, “By Maharaj’s grace we have completed the Braj pilgrimage very well.” Saying this, they offered dandvat and returned to their lodging places. Then Shri Gusainji took his meal and rested. That group remained in Shri Gokul for several days. After some time all the Vaishnavas prayed to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! If you permit, then we shall return to our homeland.” Then Shri Gusainji gave permission to all the Vaishnavas.

All of them departed from there. But Bhishmdas remained in Shri Gokul itself. He came for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Then Shri Gusainji asked, “Bhishmdas! Have you not gone to your homeland?” Then Bhishmdas prayed to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! Now I shall never leave your lotus feet and go anywhere else.” After that Bhishmdas remained in Shri Gokul together with his family. Then Shri Gusainji established the seva of Bal Mukundji upon him. Bhishmdas performed the seva with great love. Then one time Shri Thakurji gave him this command in a dream, “Build a beautiful temple and establish me there.” Then early in the morning Bhishmdas arose and began arranging for the construction of Shri Thakurji’s temple.

Within some days the temple was completed. Then he established Shri Thakurji in the new temple. That day he celebrated a great festival with immense joy and served mahaprasad to the Vaishnavas. When Shri Gusainji heard this news, he became greatly pleased. Then Bhishmdas came for the darshan of Shri Gusainji. Shri Gusainji asked Bhishmdas, “What festival have you celebrated today?” Then Bhishmdas prayed to Shri Gusainji, “Maharaj! Shri Thakurji himself said to me, ‘Build another temple for me.’ Therefore, according to that command, I had the temple constructed. Then Shri Thakurji was established there. Therefore mahaprasad was served to the Vaishnavas.”

Hearing this, Shri Gusainji became greatly pleased with Bhishmdas. He said, “Continue serving in such a way that Shri Thakurji remains pleased.” Both husband and wife performed Bhagavad-seva in supreme bliss. Shri Thakurji revealed affectionate intimacy toward them. Whatever he desired, he would ask from them. He would speak with them and bestow great grace upon them. Bhishmdas performed seva filled with deep affection. He never left Shri Gokul to go anywhere else. Every evening he would regularly go to Raman Sthal. There, in Raman Reti, he would have darshan of the rasa dance. But he never told anyone about it.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In this it is shown that a Vaishnava should live in a concealed manner. One should never speak of one’s divine experiences before others.

Such was Bhishmdas, such a supremely grace-filled Bhagvadiya of Shri Gusainji. Therefore there is no end to his account. How far can it be described?