ગોપાળબાપા Gopalbapa

ગોપાળબાપાએ વર્ષોની મહેનતે ઉજ્જડ કોતરને હરિયાળું બનાવ્યું.

Gopalbapa spent his whole life turning a barren, desolate ravine green. For forty years he planted and nurtured trees like mango, jambu and rayan. Through one man's penance-like labour, the wasteland became lush and green.

ગરીબ ખેડૂતો વતી મહેસૂલ માફ કરાવવા ગોપાળબાપા મહારાજ પાસે જાય છે.

In hard times the poor cultivators of the ravine cannot pay the land revenue. Gopalbapa cannot bear to watch their suffering. He decides to go to the Maharaj - not to ask anything for himself, but to have the revenue waived on behalf of the poor.

મહારાજ દૂરબીને કોતરની હરિયાળી અને આવતા ગોપાળબાપાને જુએ છે.

As Maharaj Samajraj looks through his binoculars from a hilltop, he sees the green ravine and a man coming towards him. It is Gopalbapa. Despite his ordinary appearance, his face holds the calm and fearlessness of a saint.

ગોપાળબાપાનો પરોપકાર અને મહારાજની પારખ - બંને અહીં ઊજળાં થાય છે.

On one side is Gopalbapa's selfless service, simplicity and sacrifice; on the other, the Maharaj's generosity and his deep eye for judging people. The Maharaj realises that before him stands not a self-seeker but a true, saintly servant of others.

સાચું જીવન બીજાં માટે જીવવામાં છે; સારો શાસક સાચા માણસને પારખે છે.

This excerpt shows that true life lies in living for others. Gopalbapa is like an heir to our saint-tradition, offering all he has to society. At the same time it teaches that a good ruler is one who can recognise a true person, honour him, and feel the suffering of the poor.