Vame yasya sthita radhe srisc yasyasi vaksasi
Vrndavanaviharam tam srikrsnm hrdi cintaye
I, Sahjanand Swami, meditate in the heart on Lord Shree Krishna, on whose left resides Radhikaji, in whose heart resides Laxmiji, and who plays with His Bhaktas in Vrindavan.
(1)
Lord Shree Swaminarayan in this verse explains to His followers that before commencing any activity such as writing a religious book, starting a new day etc., one should always meditate upon God and offer prayers so that any task or duty that is carried out leads to success.
Lord Shree Swaminarayan has written the SHIKSHAPATRI under His name Shree Sahajanand Swami as the Guru and Acharya of the Sampraday. He has therefore, followed the usual tradition of offering the invocatory prayer for an auspicious beginning. Such prayers are usually of four types viz:
i) Prayer to Lord Ganesh
ii) Prayer to a deity worshipped in the family i.e. Ancestral deity
iii) Prayer to God Supreme (Lord Shree Swaminarayan)
iv) Prayer introducing the subject matter
Here it is offered to God Supreme by God Supreme Himself. The name Shree Krishna referred to in this verse does not refer to an incarnation of that name but refers to God Supreme as defined in verses 107 and 108. The name Shree Krishna is used many times in the Shikshapatri but in each case it refers to God Supreme. This interpretation can be ascribed to several explanations. In this verse three adjectives have been used to describe Shree Krishna. The second adjective is – In whose bosom resides Laxmiji. But according to history and the Purans this cannot be attributed to the incarnation of Shree Krishna as Laxmiji is always associated with Lord Narayan.
If we interpret the name Shree Krishna as referring to the incarnation of that name then we shall have to interpret other names like Narayan (v 6), Hari (v 42 and 59), Lord Vishnu (v 84) and Mahadev (v 84) as referring to incarnations of the respective names. But just as these names clearly refer to God Supreme, so also the name Shree Krishna here refers to God Supreme only. Again, if we interpret it as referring to the incarnation of that name, it will vitiate the objects as depicted in verse 7. Shikshapatri preaches and advocates the One God theory i.e. Monotheism.
Vrindavan is a place in India, where Lord Shree Krishna played with his devotees when He was on earth in a human form. On Earth, Radhikaji was in Vrindavan with Shree Krishna as a Gopi (cowherd girl). Laxmiji was also there, but in a spiritual form, not in person. According to the Shreemad Bhagvat, Vrindavan became more rich and beautiful in every aspect after Shree Krishna arrived. This happened because Laxmiji was with Shree Krishna spiritually. Since Laxmiji was with Shree Krishna in person, she was with him in a spiritual form. Laxmiji was with Shree Krishna at Dwarika as His wife, Rukhsmaniji. This depicts that Radhikaji and Laxmiji could not have both played with Shree Krishna, in Vrindavan on earth. Hence, Vrindavan mentioned in the verse is in Golok (heavenly abode) where Lord Shree Krishna plays with his devotees eternally.
When Lord Shree Swaminarayan began to write the Shikshapatri, He meditated on Lord Shree Krishna first. This is because Lord Shree Swaminarayan was in a human form, and wanted to set an example o everyone on earth to pray to the Lord first before commencing any activity.
Likhama sahajanandasvami sarvannijasritan
Nanadesesasasthitan siksapatrim vrttalayasthita
I, Sahajanand Swami write this Shikshapatri from Vadtal to all my followers who live in all parts of the world.
(2)
Vadtal is now a town in Kheda District in the state of Gujarat in India. Lord Shree Swaminarayan (Sahajanand Swami) wrote an Epistle of Precepts (Shikshapatri) for all his followers living in different parts of the world.
Lord Shree Swaminarayan was given the name Sahajanand Swami by His Guru (teacher) Ramanand Swami. This was where he was initiated into the religious sect, now universally known as the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Ramanand Swami name Sahajanand Swami is successor and announced that Sahajanand Swami was the person he was long awaiting for. He also instructed all his followers to stay with Sahajanand Swami and follow His words, as he is God incarnate.
The word Sahaj means one who gives happiness to all by way of his personality. The word Anand means happiness. The name Sahajanand is a combination of the two words.
Lord Shree Swaminarayan also defines the menaing of the word Shikshapatri – Shiksha means advice or knowledge given out of love and Patri meaning something thst can be carried about everywhere. Therefore the Epistle of Precepts came to be called the Shikshapatri.
Bhratro ramapratapeccharamayordharmajamano
Yavayodhyaprasadadakhyararaghuvirabhidhau sutau
I have adopted Ayodhyaprasadji and Raghuvirji, the sons of my brothers, Rampratapji and Iccharamji, born of Shree Dharmadec and established them as the Acharyas of my Sampraday.
(3)
In verses 3-6, Lord Shree Swaminarayan names a few distinguished Satsangi’s (devotees) from various groups, as examples of persons for whom the Shikshapatri is written.
Ayodhyaprasadji and Raghuvirji were installed by Lord Shree Swaminarayan as Acharyas (tAhmedabad and Vadtal) were the sons od Lord Shree Swaminarayan’s borhter, Rampratapji and Iccharamji and grandsons of Shree Dharmadev. Lord Shree Swaminiarayab chose His two nephews as the spiritual leaders of the Swaminarayan Sect before departing from this world. They are mentioned first because they and their successors epitomize the Swaminiarayan Sampraday.
The Acharyas are the heads and Gurus of the followers of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Saints and followers are initiated into the Swaminrayan Sampraday by the Acharyas. The Acharyas occuply a very important place in the Swaminarayan Sampraday, because they establish Temples, initiate saints and folwoers into the Sampraday and authorize the Shastras relating to the Sampraday.
Mukunadanandaukhyase naisthika branacarin
Grhasthasc mayaramabhatatadya ye madasrya
The Naishtik Brahmcharis, headed by Mukunanand and the devoted householders headed by Mayaram Bhatt and others are all who have become my follwers:
(4)
The Naishtik Brahmacharis of whom Mukundananda Brahmachari was one of the male householder, of whom Mayaram Bhatt was one, are mentioned second and third respectively in this verse. Naishtik Brahmcharis and sadhus are who form the Brahmin caste.
The literal meaning of naishtik is one who keeps faith until the end of his life. Imn order to keep faith in Lord Shree Swaminarayan, they must deatch themselves form the attachments of the world such as women, wealth, political power, etc. This is the main resason behind most og the Dharma for Naishtik Brahmacharis s described in verses 175 – 187
Evil spirits or demonic powers can never trouble the Naishtik Brahmacharis s they have full faith in the Lord and His powers. Even Yamraja and His servents cannot touch him.
Sadhava vidhava yosa yasca macchisyatam gata
Muktanandayo ye syu: sadhavascakhila api
All femailes, married women and widows, and all sadhus, Muktanand and others are all who have become my followers.
(5)
In this verse, Lord Shree Swaminarayan mentions all married and widowed females in the 4th and 5th respectively. Sadhus are also mentioned in this verse of whom Muktanand Swami was one. Sadhus and saints from the threw castes, viz. Kshatriya, Vashya and Shudra. A Sadhu shouls possess twenty eight qualities, as listed in the Bhagvad Geeta.