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night of the pilgrimage. That happened in the month of Jeth in Vikram Samvat 1993 (about June 1937). He has termed it as Dharmarätri (Spiritual night) and has poetically described it as under.
Yäträni Antim Rätrie Jägrutbhäv Janäyo Re: Mänglik Shubh Adhyavsäye Andhakär Gamäyo Re.
Illuminating awareness shone out on the last night of pilgrimage; darkness was removed by resorting to blissful wholesome mode.
Dharmadhyän Je Shreyaroop Chhe, Shreshth Jyeshtamän Lädhun Re; Chhatthi Rätri Krishnapakshani Brahmacharya Bal Vädhyun Re.
On the sixth day of the dark half of the month of Jyeshtha I could attain spiritual concentration, which is beneficial to soul, and the vigor for observing celibacy simultaneously went up.
Gauripoojämän Kare Jägran Kumärikä Vratdhäri Re; Laukik Roodh Riväj Bhooli Ätmärthe Nind Niväri Re.
Unmarried girls resorting to Gauripoojan ritually stay awake at night; instead of resorting to that routine I averted the sleep of ignorance and awakened the Self.
Smruti Ätmasiddhini Dhäri Sadguru Sadä Upakäri Re; Jyän Jyån Je Je Yogya Janäve Te Atamhitkäri Re.
True Guru is always helpful as specified in Ätmasiddhishästra; whatever and wherever he points out is beneficial to soul.
Shänt Surätri Ätmahitamän Dharmätmä Jan Gäle Re: To Kalikäl Nade Nahin Tene Brahma Apoorav Bhäle Re.
If spiritually oriented person spends the night while quietly contemplating about the well being of soul, the present adverse time would not come in his way and he can gain the unique Self-realization.
In tune with that experience he wrote the poem Vivekbävani, which relates to distinguishing between the soul and non-soul based on Mokshamärg Prakäsh (Manifesting the Path of Liberation). Then he translated Jnänsär (Essence of knowledge) and Jnänmanjari (Abstract of Knowledge). But that did not give him satisfaction as can be seen from the following line of his poem.
Nathi Näth Jagamän Sär Kain, Sär Sadguru Pyar Chhe.
(Lord, there is nothing of essence in the world; the essence lies in the affection for true Guru.)
While referring to the author of Mahäbhärat Shrimad has written, "Vyäsji was not feeling pleased at heart in spite of gaining the realization, because he had not sung the devotional songs with an exclusive mind." Something similar might have happened to Brahmachäriji. In order therefore to forsake the grief and to attain the inner pleasure, he started composing Prajnävbodh in 1938 on the lines specified by Shrimad.
While composing Mokshamälä Shrimad had mentioned that it was devised for meaningful education and presented in the form of instructions for children. Vivechan (commentary) and Prajnävbodh (instructions for mature) parts were to be separately prepared. A few months prior to his departure he had mentioned that he would dictate titles of 108 lessons of Prajnävbodh and had dictated the same shortly thereafter.
Brahmachäriji had developed unique devotion towards him by virtue of the instructions of Prabhushri and by reading, pondering and contemplating over Shrimad's writings. The impact thereof always stayed at his heart and whatever he wrote was oriented towards the adoration of Graceful Lord Shrimad Rajchandra. That sense of adoration reached the highest level in Prajnävbodh. He has sung therein the superb devotion
