This is the continuing serialization of 252 Vaishnavan ki varta, the lives of the saints following Vitthalnath, son of Vallabhacharya. It has been translated from the original Braj Bhasha by Krishnaa Kinkari Devi. This is the entire sixth varta. See previous.
Varta 7
The story of Roop Murari Das, a kshatriya who lived in Ambalaya.
*bhav-prakash*
Roop Murari Das is a devotee of a rajasi disposition. In the Eternal Lila his name is Chitrankini (a gopi). She manifests from Chitra sakhi and is thus a form of her divine loving sentiment. Chitrankini paints pictures inside the personal quarters of the Lord and in the secret Forest Bowers, and is therefore much loved by Sri Thakurji.
Roop Murari Das was born into a kshatriya family in Ambalaya. His father was in the employ of the Chief Minister of the region. He used to accompany that Chief Minister on hunting trips. The Chief Minister liked him very much. Later, Roop Murari Das’ father became old and so the minister kept Roop Murari Das by his side and used to take him hunting. After a short time, the father died and so the minister employed Roop Murari Das in his place.
*Part 1*
Roop Murari Das was the employee of the Chief Minister and used to accompany him on his hunting trips. Once the Chief Minister’s camp arrived in Govardhan next to the Manasi Ganga lake. Roop Murari Das rode towards Punchari during the hunt. He hunted down a hawk.
He put the dead bird in his lap and began to ride away from Punchari. When he arrived at Govinda Kund, at that time Sri Gusainji was performing his evening prayers on the banks of the Lake. Roop Murari Das caught sight of him.
Sri Gusainji appeared to him as more beautiful than a million Cupids. Wearing the same clothes as when he had gone hunting, Roop Murari Das bowed low to Sri Gusainji.
Roop Murari Das addressed him, “This is the state I am in, and now I have come to take shelter in you. Please accept me.”
Sri Gusainji told him to come back after bathing. Roop Murari Das was very pleased to bathe after taking off those clothes. He came back to Sri Gusainji and bowed to him again, then stood in front of him. Sri Gusainji blessed him and gave him the [first] Name Initiation. Then Roop Murari Das, in fresh clothes, went with Sri Gusainji up onto Sri Govardhan and into the temple to have the Holy Sight of Sri Nathji.
He sat there. When the time came, he had Sri Nathji’s Holy Sight. When Sri Gusainji had made the lord comfortable for His rest, he came down from Sri Govardhan, partook of Prasad and then served Prasad to Roop Murari Das.
With Sri Gusainji’s permission he had some Prasad, and made the rest into small bundle which he carried upon his head.
*bhav-prakash*
Why? The Prasad was anasakhadi [and therefore transportable]
*Part 1 continued*
For as long as Roop Murari Das lived, he would enjoy a tiny piece of that Prasad every day. Only after having that would he eat any other Prasad.
When he was traveling, that Prasad packet would stay with his personal servant, and when he was in the camp or at home he would keep it near his head on the pillow as he slept.
Thus Roop Murari Das, by the grace of Sri Gusainji, became an accomplished Vaishnava.
*Part 2*
Both Sri Gusainji and Sri Giridharji were very gracious to Roop Murari Das. Sri Giridharji would speak to him in private and tell him all of the secret Lilas.
With Sri Giridharji’s permission, Roop Murari Das would stand and have Sri Nathaji’s Holy Sight whilst He was being clothed and adorned. So much grace came from Sri Giridharji.
Thus Concludes Varta 7, the story of Roop Murari Das who received Sri Gusainji’s grace and who became an accomplished Vaishnav. His story is indescribable and truly has no end.
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