In the Samvat year 1876, on the seventh day of the bright half of the month of Magh in the evening, Shreeji Maharaj was seated on a wooden bedstead laid in the veranda in front of the hall facing the east in the Durbar of Dada Khachar in Gadhada. He had put a white turban on His head and covered His body with a white cotton shawl. He had put a white upper garment over His shoulder. Tassels of yellow flowers. Were hanging from His turban and garlands of yellow flowers adorned His neck, and bunches of yellow flowers were studded over His ears. Saints and devotees from various places had gathered before Him in an assembly.
Then Shreeji Maharaj looked at the devotees with great compassion and said, “All of you listen to me. I want to ask you a question. It is said in Shreemad Bhagavat that devotees of God do not aspire for the four types of mukti-[redemption]. Even other great devotees of God also say that the devotees of God do not aspire for the four types of mukti-redemption. These four types of redemption are as follows: The first is to reside in
the divine abode of God. The second is to stay in His vicinity. The third is to assume a farm similar to His form. And the last is to acquire the grandeur equal to His grandeur. These are the four types of mukti. But the devotee of the Lord does not aspire for any of them. His only desire is to remain always in the Lord’s attendance. Now the question is why does the devotee not aspire for the four types of redemption ? You have to give
an answer according to your understanding.” Then the saints tried to give an answer but they could not give a satisfactory answer.
Thereupon Shreeji Maharaj said. ‘Well, I will give the answer. One who is a devotee of God and yet who aspires for the four types of redemption is called a sakam devotee [devotee having a desire] and one who does not aspire for the four types of redemption but wants to remain in attendance of God is called nickel devotee [devotee not having a desire]. It is said in Shreemad Bhagavat that :
[A true devotee who is free from the attributes of Maya will not accept any of the four types of redemption even if it is granted in view of service rendered unto me. Then what is the wonder that he does not aspire for perishable worldly objects?]
[The four types of mukti-redemption are. 1. Salokya, identification with God. 2. Sarshti. equality with God, 3. Sameepya, vicinity of God. 4. Saroopya, similarity of form with God. Even if God is pleased to grant above types of ‘mukti’ a true devotee asks only for service rendered unto Him].
The statement means that the selfless devotee of God will not aspire for the four types of mukti if service rendered unto God is not included in them. He aspires only for service unto God, and God also is pleased to keep such selfless devotee in His attendance. Further, though he does not wish for it, the Lord bestows His grandeur and bliss on him per force. Kapildev Bhagwan also has said :
[I am the absolute master of my Yog Maya- my personified creative faculty. I transcend all that exists. I bestow upon my selfless devotees my splendor. my superhuman powers, and prosperity when they reach my divine abode, though they do not aspire for them]. In Geeta. only the selfless devotee of God is called a true
gnani-a man of knowledge, and the devotee full of desires is called artharthi [desirous of worldly gain]. Hence a devotee of God should never aspire for anything except service unto Him. And if he aspires for something else his devotion can be said to be deficient to that extent. And if his devotion is deficient he must seek the company of selfless ekantik bhaktas [single minded devotees] of God and make good for that deficiency.”
