Maintaining the spirit of a sevak with das bhav, Bhaktraj Shree Arjun Bhagat established the ideal of seva. He was a devotee who insisted on such strict adherence to commands that he feared even the smallest word of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan might be transgressed. He performed the seva of grazing the cows and buffaloes of Dada Khachar.
One particular incident from the life of Arjun Bhagat should be known to be a source of inspiration for every satsangi. Once, while Arjun Bhagat was grazing the cows, a leopard suddenly attacked one of them. At that moment, Sahajanandi Sinh struck the leopard to save the cow. He hurled a large stone at its head, and the leopard died instantly. However, instead of feeling joy, he was overcome with sorrow. His heart trembled as he thought, “Maharaj has forbidden the killing of even a tiny creature like a mosquito, yet I have killed such a large animal. I have committed a great sin.” Believing this, he became deeply distressed.
To seek atonement for his mistake, he stood before Maharaj with folded hands and, in a voice filled with pain, recounted his error and asked for penance. At that time, Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan became extremely pleased and said, “You protected a cow from a predatory animal; you have performed an act of immense merit.” Saying this, Maharaj gave him prasadi from His own meal and dispelled his grief.
Throughout his life, he never allowed a single agyna of Maharaj to be broken. During the pratishtha of Vadtal Mandir, Arjun Bhagat remained in constant seva, holding the ceremonial umbrella over the head of Maharaj.