Bhagwan Swaminarayan

While guiding countless souls who were lost on the path of liberation, Nilkanth Varni arrived in Vanshipur. There, radiating a divine glow, he sat in deep meditation in a swāstik pose under a Peepal tree. The king of Vanshipur was immediately drawn to his divine presence and wondered, “Could it be that ‘Narayan’ himself has come to bless me today?” Overwhelmed with devotion, the king invited Varni to his palace. Seeing the king’s sincerity, Varni agreed. The king, showing deep respect, seated Varni on his royal horse and personally held the reins as he walked alongside. Upon seeing this divine guest, the queen was also mesmerized. She had the darshan of Purushottam Bhagwān in Varni.

The king and queen had two daughters, Ilā and Sushilā, who were equally captivated by Varni’s darshan. The queen, longing for a son, felt that Purushottam Bhagwān had arrived in this form to fulfill her wish. The entire royal family - king, queen, and princesses - became deeply devoted to serving Nilkanth Varni. They enjoyed Varni’s company and wisdom so much that they developed an intense desire to keep him in their kingdom.

One day the queen approached Varni and said, “Brahmachāri! We wish to hand over this kingdom to you. We also want you to marry our two daughters. So, give up the thought of going to the forest and performing penance.”

But how could Varni, who found even carrying a handkerchief burdensome (Vachanāmrut Gadhadā I-10), bear the weight of the kingdom and the worldly bonds? Therefore, Varni politely declined the queen’s proposal. The queen, blinded by infatuation, forgot that Varni was the supreme Bhagwān himself. In her frustration, she said, “You are still young, but when you grow older, you will not be able to live without a woman. Kāmdev (Deity of Attraction) has shattered even the great sages - how will you escape?”

Deluded souls, bound by māyā, often assume that even Bhagwān is bound by worldly desires, just as they are. Seeing the queen’s ignorance, Varni smiled within, feeling pity for her. He gently explained, “My joy lies in going to the forest and meditating on Paramatma.” The queen tried to frighten him by mentioning the dangers of wild animals, but Varni firmly responded, “Mother, the only thing to fear is attachment. I have come to this world to redeem people from this allurement of maya and grant them the bliss of my divine Akshardham. I have not come to be attached to a kingdom or relationships.” Hearing Varni’s piercing words, the queen had a spiritual awakening. The veil of ignorance in her heart disappeared, and she realized the truth. That same night, Nilkanth Varni quietly left Vanshipur and continued his journey.

Nilkanth Varni faced many temptations throughout his travels, that could easily sway even the most virtuous person. King Ranjit Singh of Punjab and King Ran Bahādur of Kāthmandu were ready to offer their entire kingdoms to him. Queen Kushalkuvarbā of Dharampur also surrendered her kingdom of 500 villages at the feet of Shriji Maharaj. However, Shriji Maharaj remained untouched by such temptations and worldly attachments. He always remained untouched and detached from the material world.