Shloka : 1

वामे यस्य स्थिता राधा श्रीश्च यस्यास्ति वक्षसि ।

वृन्दावनविहारं तं श्रीकृष्णं हृदि चिन्तये ॥ 1 ॥

શ્રી સહજાનંદ સ્વામી જે તે પોતાના સત્સંગી પ્રત્યે શિક્ષાપત્રી લખતા થકા પ્રથમ પોતાના ઇષ્ટદેવ જે શ્રીકૃષ્ણ ભગવાન તેનું ધ્યાનરૂપ મંગળાચરણ કરે છે હું જે તે મારા હૃદયને વિષે શ્રીકૃષ્ણ ભગવાનનું ધ્યાન કરું છું. તે શ્રીકૃષ્ણ કેવા છે, તો જેના ડાબા પડખાને વિષે રાધિકાજી રહ્યાં છે અને જેના વક્ષઃસ્થળને વિષે લક્ષ્મીજી રહ્યાં છે અને વૃંદાવનને વિષે વિહારના કરનારા છે. ॥ 1 ॥

Shri Sahajanand Swami contemplates in His heart His beloved deity Shri Krishna as an auspicious beginning before writing this Shikshapatri for His devotees, "I contemplate Lord Krishna in my heart", says He. Shri Krishna, on whose left side Radhikaji is residing and in His heart Laxmiji is residing, is roaming around in Vrindavan." || 1 ||

Commentary

Lord Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan, who is Omnipotent, incarnation of all incarnations, God of all the deities, all controller, benefactor of all the happiness, Lord of Anantkoti Muktas i.e. realized liberated souls, a complete Supreme Being, contemplates His own self as an auspicious beginning of the Shikshapatri for His devotees. This Shikshapatri is to attain the skills of all the four principal objects of human existence which are Dharma, Arth,...etc.. By doing this, He teaches His devotees that they should contemplate their beloved God Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan before starting any work. Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan is surrounded by the cluster of Anantkoti Muktas i.e. realized liberated souls. All these Muktas

are privileged to be in the union of the Lord. Each and every pore of their being is oozing out the light of thousands of Suns and they are experiencing the bliss in the presence of the Lord through complete surrender. In Akshardham, which is the brilliant light of Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan, there are no Muktas in female form, as Radhikaji and Ramaji etc. are residing in Golok etc. Here, all the Muktas are in male form. As Shri Krishna, the incarnation of Supreme God, allows Shri Laxmiji to reside in His heart, similarly, Shriji Maharaj, Lord of all the incarnations, through His compassion, allows only those Muktas, to experience the unity with Him who keep themselves immersed in His divine form. Such Muktas, who are united with the luminous form of God, could be seen by Shriji Maharaj and the other Muktas, only. Other people cannot see them.Such Shri Hari is roaming around in Vrindavan i.e. Shri Hari is residing in Chapaiya, Gadhpur, Vadtal, Jetalpur etc. which are the places blessed by Shri Hari. This is the general interpretation. The specific and ultimate meaning is 'Vrinda' means 'cluster of Muktas' and 'Avan' means 'to reside'. Here, it is mentioned that Shri Hari is contemplating His own self because Shri Krishna, Nar-Narayan etc. all the names belong to the omnipresent Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan and whenever the virtues and the splendour of the Supreme Being Shri Purushottam Bhagwan are manifested through His incarnations, they are given the names like Shri Krishna etc.. But, in reality all these names are of Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan.