વચનામૃત ઇતિહાસ

Vartāl 15

In this Vachanāmrut, Shobhārām Shāstri of Vadodarā asks Mahārāj, “Mahārāj, there are two types of jivas: godly and demonic. Have they always been so since eternity, or have they become so due to association?”

It has been written about Shobhārām Shāstri: He had no worries about shortage of food, but only had the eagerness for God. He had profound knowledge. He ranked highest in vyākaran (Sanskrit grammar) among a thousand Shāstris. He was honored by the Gāyakwād of Vadodarā and the wealthy of that time. Despite being a great scholar, he did not bear arrogance. When sādhus spoke to him as according to their understanding, he would listen as if he knew nothing. He never let logic impede his understanding and always said that Shriji Mahārāj is God. He never bore deceit…

[Haricharitrāmrut Sāgar 20/20]

Shobhārām Shāstri was present in Vadodarā when Shriji Mahārāj arrived on Kārtik vad 3 of Samvat 1882. He must have witnessed all the ways the Diwān Viththalrāv Devāji tried to plot Bhagwān Swāminārāyan’s capture.

While Mahārāj was staying in Vadodarā, the Diwān sent three men who practiced black magic to use their skill on Mahārāj. Their incantations failed to work on Mahārāj, so the Diwān sent three Africans to stab Mahārāj with daggers dipped in poison. Finally, he plotted Mahārāj’s capture or assassination in Mastubāg where Mahārāj was staying. However, heavy rainfall foiled his plan.

Despite failing multiple times, the Diwān never backed down. Even as Mahārāj was departing Vadodarā, he sent four generals to capture Mahārāj but even they were left empty handed.

Within three short days of Mahārāj’s stay, the Diwān tried four times to defame, capture, or assassinate Shriji Mahārāj – these thoughts must have certainly occurred in Shobhārām Shāstri’s mind. The length and breadth of the Diwān’s demonic nature begged the question that Shobhārām Shāstri asked Mahārāj because this Vachanāmrut was spoken right after these incidents.