Now the sentiment of the account of the male and female pigeons, who were sevaks of Shri Gusainji, is told.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These both are sattvic devotees. In the divine play also, they are a male and a female pigeons. They are very dear to Shri Chandravaliji. Why? Because they carry the confidential news of the love between Shri Thakurji and Shri Swaminiji. They nourish divine loving sentiments. Therefore Shri Chandravaliji showers great affection upon them. Thus they have specific names. The name of the male pigeon is “Priti-Nivahak” (Carrier of Love), and the name of the female pigeon is “Pritam-Gamani” (Messenger to the Beloved). Both manifested from “Sunanda”; therefore they are forms of her sentiment.

Prasang 1 – The Male and Female Pigeon Receive Grace Once Shri Gusainji was traveling from Shri Gokul to Gujarat. On the way the Mahi River came in between. The river was completely full. For a day and a night no crossing was possible. Therefore a camp was set up on the bank of the Mahi River. The next morning the cooking was completed and the offering was brought. Shri Gusainji offered the bhog and sat there. He was engaged in evening prayers and recitation.

At that time the inner attendant came and said, “Maharaj! Please remove the bhog. It is time.” Shri Gusainji ordered, “You remove it.” The attendant said, “Maharaj! What are you saying? How can I remove it?” Then Shri Gusainji ordered, “Today I will not take my meal.” The attendant asked, “Why is that?” Then Shri Gusainji said, “Today no soul has come into refuge.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): By saying this, he indicated that his manifestation was for the deliverance of divine souls. Therefore, if even one divine soul comes into refuge, then he takes food. Otherwise that day passes in vain. For this reason he did not take food.

At that time the officials and storekeepers were sitting there. They submitted a request: “Maharaj! Who is here? There is not even a village nearby. Therefore, Maharaj, who is here that can come into refuge?” Then Shri Gusainji said, “Is there not even any animal or bird here?” A servant replied, “Maharaj, there are.” Then Shri Gusainji said, “Bring them.” The attendant then got grain from the storekeeper. He scattered it for the pigeon and female pigeon. While pecking at the grain, they gradually came before Shri Gusainji and began eating there.

Then Shri Gusainji mercifully bestowed the Name upon both the pigeon and the female pigeon. At once they attained knowledge of their true spiritual identity. They began to understand everything. After that Shri Gusainji rose from there and went inside. The bhog was removed, and then he took his meal. After finishing his meal, he came outside and said, “See whether the river has receded or not.” People went to look and returned saying, “Maharaj, it has receded. By evening it will be completely fordable.”

Then Shri Gusainji said, “Keep everything ready. By evening we shall cross over.” Everyone made the preparations. By evening the river had receded, and they crossed to the other side. About two kos away there was a village. They camped there and stayed through the night. The next morning they departed from there and arrived at Rajnagar. Shri Gusainji stayed at the house of Bhaila Kothari. Afterward he went to Shri Dwarkaji and then returned to Shri Gokul. Then the pigeon and female pigeon flew away and went to a village where an assembly of Vaishnavas was being held.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Why did they do this? Because they had realized, “We are souls of the divine play.” Therefore they thought, “So many days of our life have passed uselessly without hearing the divine pastimes and kirtan. Now let us attain some happiness by hearing the glorification of the Lord.” For this reason they went to the assembly of Vaishnavas.

When they arrived there, discussions of the Lord were taking place in the Vaishnava assembly. They sat above and listened. Whatever divine talks and kirtans were performed, they heard them all. Afterward the Vaishnavas distributed prasad. Seeing the pigeon and female pigeon, the Vaishnavas said, “These have not flown away. They have been listening to the divine talks and kirtan.” Then the Vaishnavas placed prasad before them. They pecked and ate it. After that the Vaishnavas stroked them with their hands, yet they did not fly away.

Then all the Vaishnavas departed, saying “Jai Shri Krishna.” At that time the pigeon and female pigeon bowed their heads and flew away to a garden. There was a tree there. They made a nest in it and lived there. The pigeon and female pigeon said to one another, “Today we heard these divine talks and listened to these kirtans. Let us discuss them among ourselves, speak them, and hear them.” They spent the night there. In the morning they flew out, gathered grain, and returned. Then they sat in their nest.

Again at night they came to the Vaishnava assembly. Sitting above, they listened to the divine talks and kirtans. The Vaishnavas would stroke them with their hands and fondly caress them, yet they did not fly away. Afterward all the Vaishnavas would return to their respective homes, and the pigeon and female pigeon would go back to their nest.

Prasang 2 – The King’s Leprosy Is Cured Now, in that village there was a king who suffered from leprosy. He had taken many medicines and tried many remedies. He consulted physicians, but the leprosy did not go away. One day a physician from the south happened to arrive there. The king summoned him and asked, “My leprosy does not go away. What remedy should I use?” The physician replied, “O King, this is a very simple remedy. What difficulty is there in it?” The king said, “Whatever remedy will cure the leprosy, do that.”

Then the physician said, “Catch a pair of a pigeon and a female pigeon and keep them in a cage. Then we shall prepare a medicine from them.” The king said, “Very well, we shall have them caught and brought.” The physician replied, “Tomorrow I shall come and prepare the medicine.” The king said, “Good, come tomorrow.” Then the king instructed his men, “Wherever you find a pair of a pigeon and a female pigeon, catch them and bring them here.” The king’s men went out, but they were unable to catch any.

At that time a Vaishnava, who used to attend the Vaishnava assembly and also frequently visited the king, said to him, “O King, why do you want a pair of a pigeon and a female pigeon?” The king replied, “I only wish to see them.” The Vaishnava said, “They come to our Vaishnava assembly. Tomorrow I shall bring them. Then you may see them.” That night the Vaishnava went to the assembly, and the pigeon and female pigeon also came there. After listening to the divine talks and kirtan, when they rose to leave, that Vaishnava caught them both.

All the Vaishnavas said to him, “Why are you catching them? Let them go.” He replied, “The king has asked to see them. After showing them to him, I shall release them.” Then he took the pigeon and female pigeon to the king. The king looked at them and then said, “Keep them in a cage.” Later, when the time came in the evening for divine discussions, the female pigeon said to the pigeon, “Why have they kept us in a cage?”

The pigeon replied, “Our king has leprosy. A physician has said that a medicine should be made by killing a pigeon and a female pigeon. Then the leprosy will be cured. Therefore today our bodies will be of use to another person.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): By saying this, they demonstrate the nature of Vaishnava dharma. They understood that if this body can be of benefit to someone, then the birth has become successful. Otherwise taking birth is futile.

There is no dharma greater than helping others. This understanding came to the pigeon and female pigeon through the grace of Shri Gusainji. Through Shri Gusainji’s grace they also possessed knowledge of future events. Therefore they remained patient and spoke in this manner.

After a while the pigeon said, “If the king applies our droppings to his body, his leprosy will be cured.” The king heard this. He understood the language of birds. Immediately he took some droppings from the cage and applied them to his body. Wherever there was leprosy, he applied them there. At once the leprosy disappeared. The king immediately opened the cage. The two birds flew away and went and sat once again in the Vaishnava assembly. There they listened to the divine talks.

When the Vaishnavas saw the pigeon and female pigeon, they were very pleased. Then the Vaishnavas began speaking among themselves, “You have heard about the trouble that arose. There was a plan to kill them. But they are in the refuge of Shri Gusainji. Who has the power to harm them? And by applying their droppings, the king’s leprosy was cured. Such is the glory of Shri Gusainji.” The pigeon and female pigeon lived in supreme happiness and constantly meditated day and night upon Shri Gusainji.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Therefore, in Vallabhakhyan, Gopaldasji has sung: 'जे जीव जाति होइ कोई ए तेने ततक्षण सर्व सुख होई रे ।' - “If any living being, of whatever species, comes to Him, then that one immediately attains all happiness.” Thus, any living creature who comes into the refuge of Shri Gusainji attains such extraordinary divine happiness.

These pigeon and female pigeon were such blessed devotees and recipients of Shri Gusainji’s grace. Therefore the extent of their account cannot be fully described. How far can one continue telling it?