॥ શ્રી સ્વામિનારાયણો વિજયતે ॥

ભગવાન સ્વામિનારાયણનાં

॥ વચનામૃત ॥

Gadhada III-35: Forcefully Altering One’s Innate Nature; God Is Maligned When His Bhakta Is Maligned

Summary

1. The characteristics of one whose refuge in God will not sway even in adverse circumstances:

1. He understands the greatness of God and realises everything other than God is worthless.
2. He does not become disturbed when God or the Sant forcefully alters his innate nature, and he behaves in a straightforward manner.
3. If he should become disturbed when his innate nature is altered, he perceives his own fault but never perceives a fault in God or the Sant.

2. If one’s desires are intense and God or the Sant alters in innate nature, then he will be disturbed and fall back from Satsang.
3. To behave as God likes, offer bhakti, and please God and His devotees is the path of a devotee of God.
4. By maligning the Sādhu, God is maligned; because, God who resides in the heart of the Sādhu is hurt.
5. The characteristics of a Sādhu who is such that by maligning him, God is also maligned and by serving him, God is served:

1. He believes God possesses a definite form, is the all-doer, and is always manifest.
2. When he sees someone engage in the worship of the manifest form of God, he becomes pleased.
3. He abandons any swabhāvs that interfere in remaining amongst the devotees.
4. He is pleased by giving away precious objects.
5. He behaves frankly [outwardly and inwardly behaves the same – without pretentiousness].
6. He is quiet natured; however, he cannot tolerate the company of kusangis.