Four types of spiritual liberation
Chapter-43
What a true devotee desire ?
The significance of selfless devotion
On the seventh day of the first fortnight of the month of Magh in Samvat 1876, Shriji Maharaj was seated in the evening on a cot on the vemdah facing east, in the Durbar of Shri Dada Khachar at Gadhada. He had put on a white turban and had covered his self with a cotton shawl. He had wrapped a white side cloth around his neck. Nosegays of yellow flowers were suspended from his turban. Curls or yellow flowers were arranged about his ears. He was garlanded with the garlands of yellow flowers. Munis and the Haribhaktas from the different places were seated before him.
Shriji Maharaj looked with the great compassion towards the assembly and very softly said, "All of you, Please listen to me. I wish to ask you a question. Shrimad Bhagvat prescribes that a true devotee does not aspire for Mukti in all its four aspects. Other great devotees also pronounce the
same statement. What are the four aspects of Mukti? The first is to stay in the Loka of God, the second is to stay with god, the third is to assume a form like God and the fourth is to gain lordship like that of God. A true devotee never aspires to attain these four aspects of Mukti. He simply desires to serve the lotus feet of God. Why does a true devotee not aspire to attain these four aspects of Mukti? Whosoever can satisfectory give a reply to this question may do so."
All the Paramhams tried to answer the question in their own way but could not quite succeed, Shriji Maharaj then said, Let me answer this question. So saying he addressed the assembly, "If a devotee of God aspires for any of the four aspects of Mukti, he is called a Sakam Bhakta, where as
one who does not aspire for the four aspects of Mukti and merely desires to serve God is called a Nishkam Bhakta. Shrimad Bhagvat says <Sanskrit Sloka>.
Nishkam Bhaktas have no desire for the four aspects of Mukti if they find that service of God has no scope in Mukti. They would desire service to God only -God purifies such devotees and keeps them with him. Even if such devotees do not desire to have the subliminal state, God perforce gives it to them. Bhagvan Kapildev has said, <Sanskrit Sloka>.
The Geeta says that he is a Gyani who has no desires excepting the desire to serve God. Sakam Bhakta is described as Artharthi. Therefore a devotee of God should not desire anything except God and any flaw in such devotion should be mitigated by cultivating the contact of an Ekantic Bhakta.
Thus Ends Vachanamrit : Gadhada First - 43.
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