In this third Sakhi, Shri Hariraiji explains that when our eyes, mind, soul and every breath are filled with faith in Shri Vallabh, we begin to see and feel His presence everywhere.
Many of us keep portraits of Shri Vallabh in our homes to help us remember Him. These images are precious because they remind us of His divine form and strengthen our connection with Him. However, Shri Hariraiji teaches us that Shri Vallabh is not limited to one image, one wall or one place.
If we see Shri Vallabh only in a portrait, we may unconsciously begin to feel that He is present only there and nowhere else. Shri Hariraiji therefore says that he does not wish to confine Shri Vallabh to a single frame. Instead, he prays for the blessing of being able to see Shri Vallabh everywhere.
A portrait is not Shri Vallabh Himself; it is a sacred reminder of Him. It helps us remember His divine appearance and grace, but Shri Vallabh is far beyond anything our eyes can see or our minds can fully understand. His presence, power and compassion cannot be contained within a frame.
Shri Hariraiji can see Shri Vallabh everywhere he looks. For him, Shri Vallabh is not confined to a portrait or a particular place; He is present throughout all of creation.
Shri Hariraiji then expresses the depth of his surrender to Shri Vallabh. He says that if his heart were ever to seek anyone other than Shri Vallabh, if his body were to seek happiness apart from Him, or if his actions were to bring pleasure to anyone other than Him, then such a life would have no meaning.
His prayer is deeply personal: “My Lord, You have given me this body and this life so that I may serve You and bring You happiness. If I use them for any purpose other than Your pleasure, then what value does my existence have?”
Shri Hariraiji therefore prays for the wisdom and steadiness never to turn away from Shri Vallabh, even in thought. His only desire is that his mind, soul and actions remain dedicated to Shri Vallabh’s happiness.
He also reminds us that Shri Vallabh is not limited to the form in which we may see Him in paintings or portraits, wearing a dhoti and uparana. Nor is He limited to the swaroop or seva that takes place in our homes.
Our seva may remain at home, but Shri Vallabh Himself is never confined to one place. He remains within the heart of the devotee. Wherever we go, Shri Vallabh is with us.
We should not think that, when we leave home, we have left Shri Vallabh behind. He is always present within us—guiding us, protecting us and helping us to understand His teachings. The very desire to listen to Shri Vallabh’s words, speak about Him and follow His path comes through His own grace.
Shri Vallabh never abandons His devotees. He is always awake, always caring and always working for their spiritual welfare. If He were ever to turn away from us, our own faith would weaken. But Shri Vallabh is compassionate; He continuously watches over those who have taken refuge in Him.
In essence, Shri Hariraiji is teaching us that a life lived without remembrance of Shri Vallabh, and without the desire to bring Him happiness, is empty of its true purpose. Whenever we remain in remembrance of Shri Vallabh, we are protected from maya—the illusions, attachments and distractions of worldly life. When we forget that Shri Vallabh is with us, these distractions begin to influence our mind. However, when we remember His presence, even worldly experiences can become opportunities to deepen our love, trust and dependence upon Him.
When Shri Thakorji is close to our heart, we can face every situation with faith. We can say: “My Shri Thakorji is with me. He knows what is best for me. He will protect me and guide me.” With this trust, maya begins to lose its hold over us. Shri Hariraiji teaches us that true seva is not merely an outward action. True seva is the constant desire to bring happiness to Shri Vallabh. There is no greater devotion than living in a way that is pleasing to Him.
For this reason, a Vaishnav should strive to remain inwardly pure, alert and constantly connected to Shri Vallabh. When we become forgetful or lose awareness of Him, we should feel genuine regret and seek to restore our purity and focus. This is not because Shri Thakorji is harsh, but because He lovingly teaches us to return to Him. Even while we are correcting ourselves, cleansing ourselves or carrying out our daily responsibilities, Shri Thakorji does not leave us. He remains present within our soul.
If we are granted the vision to feel Shri Vallabh’s presence within, then nothing else is required. There is no greater knowledge than this. Much wisdom already lies within the soul, but it is covered by ignorance, ego and worldly attachment. As these obstacles are removed through devotion, humility and remembrance, the inner wisdom given by Shri Vallabh begins to shine.
We often search for God outside ourselves, but Shri Hariraiji reminds us that Shri Vallabh is already present within the heart of the devotee. Even if we gain everything in this world, without finding Shri Vallabh, life remains incomplete.
The devotion of Shri Hariraiji is beyond ordinary words. His heart constantly remembers Shri Vallabh, and therefore he sees Shri Vallabh everywhere. The depth of this Sakhi cannot be fully explained through language alone. Its true meaning can only be understood through reflection, humility, seva and the grace of Shri Vallabh.
