Rasik Murari Ji was a great devotee. He used to serve saints as per the orders of his Guru Shri Shyamanand Mahaprabhu Ji. He never used to say harsh words to any saint and never used to find faults in anyone. A devotee transferred a lot of land in the name of Rasik Murari Ji’s Guru for serving the saints. That farm produced a lot of food grains, so daily, many saints were served. The king of that place was very evil in nature. When the king saw so much farming land with a saint, he ordered the confiscation of Shyamanand Ji’s property. The farm was confiscated, and the saints were insulted by confiscating all the valuables in the hermitage. Shyamanand Ji thought of getting that land released because daily food was provided to many saints from that land. He wrote a letter to his disciple Rasik Murari Ji and called him. He ordered Rasik Murari Ji to go to that evil king, preach devotion to him, and bring back everything.
Guru’s order to Rasik Murari Ji to preach to the Nawab
Some of Rasik Murari Ji’s disciples were in the king’s service in the posts of accountants, storekeepers, etc. They were very afraid that the king would insult their Guru, and it may even put his life in danger. Rasik Murari Ji said, “Don’t be afraid. You don’t worry”. The king sent a palanquin for Rasik Murari ji so that his employees would think he had been invited with great respect. But everyone was worried that there was some big conspiracy; otherwise, how could such a wicked person show such devotion? Rasik Murari ji sat in the palanquin after meditating on the feet of his Guru. Such preparations had been made beforehand that an elephant was angry by feeding it liquor. The palanquin was left in front of the same elephant.
Rasik Murari Ji Made The Elephant His Disciple
Rasik Murari ji went near and started caressing the elephant lovingly and said, “Krishna! Krishna! Chant. Krishna! Krishna! Chant. See, you are a part of God. You are in the body of an elephant. You are not an elephant; you are a part of God. It is not right to get angry, so speak, Krishna! Speak Krishna!”. The elephant knelt down and bowed his head before Rasik Murari ji. The king had come to see from the balcony of his palace how the drunk elephant killed this Guru. But when Rasik Murari Ji preached, the elephant knelt down, placed his head on his feet and started shedding tears. Rasik Murari Ji caressed him with utmost love and instilled devotion in his heart. He immediately tied a big kanthi mala around his neck and recited the name of Krishna in his ears as if he had made him his disciple. And said, “Listen! Your name is Gopal Das from today.”
The king was watching this whole scene. He thought that this was some miraculous Saint. The king could not hold himself anymore. He came running, fell at his feet and said, “Forgive me, I did not know the power of saints. My great fortunes have risen because I met a great saint like you. I am returning all the land that was confiscated. I am giving more land as well”. Saying this, he clung to his feet. The company of saints provides salvation, which is why that evil king underwent such a transformation.
The Good Fortune Of Gajraj Gopal Das
Rasik Murari Ji kindly named Gopal Das. The elephant started following Rasik Murari Ji just like a calf follows a cow. The joy was such that Gopal Das would get leftover Prasad whenever there was service to saints. Whenever he saw saints, he would bend his front legs, kneel down, bow his head and bow down. Whatever sacks of rice, pulses, etc., had to be brought for the service of saints, that service would be given to Gopal Das. Everything would be brought by loading on Gopal Das.
Once, all the traders came together to Gopal Das’s Guru Shri Rasik Murari Ji and said, “This Gopal Das eats up our goods. When he has to bring one sack, he eats one sack, loads another, and takes it away. We incur a loss.” Gopal Das also had a rule that if there was a special festival or a feast at any place and there was a line of saints, then when all the saints would leave after having their meal, he would go there and lick the leftovers of the saints.
Rasik Murari Ji said to Gopal Das, “Look! You are a devotee now. All your conduct is right, but one act of conduct is wrong. You should take only that much which you go there to take. Why do you eat the food from the other sack? Firstly, a devotee should not eat without offering it to God, so from today onwards, you should not eat food or grains that have not been offered to God. Gopal Das understood. Shri Rasik Murari Ji said, “Son, it is a sin to eat anything forcibly. A devotee does not go to someone’s field or eat goods from someone’s shop”. Gopal Das knelt down and accepted his mistake as if he were saying, “Forgive me, Gurudev! I will never make such a mistake again”. Gopal Das became very fond of serving saints and eating God’s leftovers. All the saints loved him and asked him to accompany them wherever they went.
Sometimes, the saint would say to Gopal Das, “My clothes are torn”, and then Gopal Das would bring them from the clothes shop. Rasik Murari Ji would send the money, and Gopal Das would bring the goods. In winter, Gopal Das would go to some blanket shop, pick up bundles of blankets, keep them on his back and bring them to the saints. When Rasik Murari Ji would come to know, he would send the money. The saint would also take a lot of food, and after eating a little, they would feed the remaining to Gopal Das and pamper him.
The Governor Of Bengal Kept A Reward For Catching Gopal Das
A group of many saints accompanied Gopal Das. Wherever he went, people would rush to see the miracle of an elephant living in the service of saints. Crowds would gather to see him. In all four directions, there was a surprising discussion about an elephant who lives in the service of saints. When the governor of Bengal learned that there was such a miraculous and obedient elephant, he appointed men to catch him. But whenever someone came close to him, Gopal Das would trap him in his trunk, throw him away and punish him. He would not kill anyone but would not spare anyone either.
All the soldiers returned and said, “Sir, that elephant is not going to be caught. He is blessed with the divine power”. The Governor gave a lot of gold coins as a reward and declared that the elephant should be captured and brought to him. Someone thought the elephant did not kill saints, so a wicked man disguised as a saint came before Gopal Das. Gopal Das ji bowed down in front of the saint. He immediately captured Gopal Das and took him with him. When he was taken to the Governor, Gopal Das was offered water, food, etc. But he did not eat anything because his Guru had given him the rule of only taking the leftovers of saints or the Prasad of God.
Many days passed. Gopal Das did not take any food or water. Everyone discussed and thought that he is a devotee, If he is taken to the Ganges, he may drink the Ganga water because it is the holy water of God, otherwise he will die like this. As soon as they took him to the Ganges, Gopal Das stood in the water stream, he meditated on his Gurud and shouted loudly. He called out “Krishna!” and left his body. Gopal Das achieved salvation, the same state which is achieved by God-realized Saints.
Conclusion
Gopal Das was in the body of an elephant but his devotion was so great that when his Guru said that he should not eat anything other than Prasad, he left his life but did not eat anything. God keeps performing such divine acts to reveal the glory of His devotees. Therefore, we should become attached to the feet of the Guru and concentrate on the mantra, name and service given by the Guru and attain God in this very birth. This is the ultimate benefit of life.
Guidance by: Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj
