Bhaktaratno

One morning in Gadhpur, as devotees were making their way to Akshar Ordi for their daily darshan of Shriji Maharaj, they noticed an unpleasant sight - a dog had soiled the very platform where Shriji Maharaj would sit.

Seeing this, people murmured among themselves:

“Oh no! The very spot where Maharaj sits for kathā has been dirtied!”

“Where will Maharaj hold the sabhā now?”

“This is terrible.”

“But what can be done? Dogs act according to their nature.”

Despite the filth being in plain sight, the devotees only discussed it, expressed their displeasure, and walked away.

A short while later, Ukā Khāchar arrived. He had just taken his morning bath in the Ghelā River and was on his way to Shriji Maharaj’s darshan when his eyes fell upon the defiled platform beneath the neem tree. He immediately thought, “Maharaj will soon come here for sabhā. By cleaning this, everyone will benefit from the kathā, and I will also get the opportunity to do sevā.” Without hesitation, he grabbed a broom and water, cleaned the entire platform, bathed again in the Ghelā River, and then went for darshan.

Seeing Ukā Khāchar approaching, Shri Hari, the antaryāmi Bhagwān, turned to him and, intending to teach everyone a lesson, asked, “Bhaktarāj! You usually arrive early, but today, you are late. Why is that?”

Ukā Khāchar was a silent sevak, unwilling to speak of his own sevā. He remained quiet. Another devotee, however, narrated the entire incident, explaining why he had arrived late. Everyone assumed Shriji Maharaj would scold him for the delay, but instead, Shri Hari was immensely pleased. Shriji Maharaj stood up, embraced Ukā Khāchar, and placed his lotus feet on his chest. Addressing the sabhā, Shriji Maharaj said, “You all saw the filth on the platform beneath the neem tree. Yet, none of you resolved to clean it. Only one who truly understands my glory and has a heart for sevā could perform such sevā as Ukā Khāchar did today.”

Every morning, he and his wife would wake up early, bathe, perform their pujā, and then sweep the entire road from Dādā Khāchar’s darbār to Unmat Ganga, carefully removing stones and thorns to ensure that swāmis and Shriji Maharaj could walk without discomfort. During summer, after sweeping, he would sprinkle water along the path to keep the ground cool for those walking barefoot. This habit of selfless service became his very nature. Ukā Khāchar recognized the greatness of all swāmis and devotees of Shri Hari and dedicated himself wholeheartedly to sevā, seeking only Shriji Maharaj’s rājipo. Thus, Ukā Khāchar’s name is remembered in the Swaminarayan Sampradāy for his selfless service and humility. So pleased was Shri Hari with his sevā that in Vachanāmrut Gadhadā II-25, Shriji Maharaj says, “Just as Ukā Khāchar has become addicted to serving the swāmis, in the same way, if one becomes addicted to serving God and his Sant to the extent that one would not be able to stay for even a moment without serving them, then all of the impure desires in one’s antahkaran will be destroyed.”

How often do we come across opportunities to do various sevās in our mandir?

But instead of taking ownership of them, do we think...

“Oh, that’s the kitchen team’s job.”

“That’s the facilities team’s responsibility.”

“That’s for the maintenance crew.”

“That’s for the sabhā coordinators.”

...and walk away?

Or do we, like Ukā Khāchar, seize the moment, recognize the mahimā of sevā, and serve selflessly, with devotion, humility, and the sole intention of pleasing our Guru and Bhagwān? By seizing such opportunities for sevā with faith and sincerity, we will experience the true fruits of selfless service.