Chapter 19 - Narration of the Greatness of the Devotion

[Note: This page represents a summary English translation of the Dvisāhasrī by Ṭembesvāmī, chapter 19.—In this 19^th chapter will be narrated providing the food, birth of a son to a barren woman growing of the dry wood and the rise of a Brahmin.]

19/01-02: Nāmadhāraka spoke: What is the path of Devotion?

19/03-32: Siddha spoke: The actions are futile in the absence of devotedness (04). The Trance is realized through the combined practice of the three paths (05). The Lord likes a faithful and pure devotee who becomes free by seeing a non-action in an action and an action in a non-action. He is attained through the devotion. Siddha narrates the story (06-08). In Gāṇgāpura a Brahmin named Bhāskara approaches Him with the rice with a desire to feed the Holy Master, but he takes meals offered by someone and thus spends three month there (09-12). The Holy Master knowing others laughing at him orders him to offer the meals to Him and the devotees (13-14). Bhāskara is happy and does accordingly (15). For the limited portion of the food the Holy Master orders him to invite all devotees along with the village people (16-18). The people doubt but keep silence (19). The food vessel is covered by His upper cloth and Bhāskara offers meals to all. The food does not get exhausted. Afterwards the food left is given to animals, etc. (20-27). What Lord Kṛṣṇa had done with the sages was seen then (28-29). Bāskara is graced due to his devotion thus he attains Liberation (30-32).

19/33: Siddha narrates the story of a chaste woman named Gaṅgā worshipping Him who once asks her what she wants.

19/34-36: Gaṅgā spoke: She is worried for not having a son does (35). She serves Him with a wish to get a son in next birth (36).

19/37-40 Holy Master: It is difficult to remember this in the next birth, so she must beget sons in this birth only (38). Though the time has passed, she is sure that she would beget sons (39). She worships the Peepal tree (40).

19/41-77: Holy Master spoke: He retells the dialogue of Brahmā with sage Nārada. Brahmā resides in the root of the Peepal tree, Lord Viṣṇu in the middle, Lord Śiva on the top, the gods in the branches and holy places, Vedas, ocean, etc. in its fruits (42-43). It should be worship with all items and acts of veneration on the auspicious days but not during the nights (44-47). It removes poverty, debt, sins and agony (48). The recitation of the Rudra -formula removes the timely death (49). Feeding Brahmins there yields high results (50-51).

She should worship the Peepal tree. (52-53). She take a bath at the holy place called Ṣaṭkula (54). She follows His instruction (55). After four days she is instructs in dream to perform circumambulation of the Peepal tree (56). She follows the advice (57-59). She conceives (60-62). The Śeṣa serpent and even the Vedas are unable to praise Him (63). After her husband Somanātha performs the purificatory rites, she begets an auspicious daughter who would uplift her family (64-66). The daughter is taken to Him. They say that the daughter is born through His grace (67-69). He blesses her (70). Now the Holy Master’s question is -a foolish son of long life-span or a scholar son with short life-span? They go for a scholar (71-72). Ga ṅgā begets a son who becomes a scholar and serves the parents (73-74). The girl marries a righteous Brahmin and becomes the knower of Supreme Reality (75). Like a born-blind unable to see the Sun, one without devotion is unable to understand the powers of the Holy Master (76). The couple attains the Liberation (77).

19/78-86: Siddha narrates story about how the devotees following the instructions of the Holy Master, attain their goal. (78-79). A Brahmin named Narahari suffering from leprosy arrives (79-80). His leprosy is not cured by visiting holy places, worshiping gods and by repeating formulas (81). He would die if his disease is not cured (82). The Holy Master shows the reason of his leprosy caused by the sins of his previous birth, then He gives a dry wood Udumbara and asks him to serve it. As it would attain leaves, his leprosy would disappear (83-84). He follows His words (85). The people detract him yet he continues to serve (86). The people report to Him and pray to stop him (86).

19/88-94: Holy Master spoke: Narahari would be saved by his firm devotion, the goal depends on the faith (89-90). He narrates a historical account where Sūta talks with the sages about Siṃhaketu, goes to the forest and beholding a temple of Lord Śiva stays there with a Bhilla -servant who sees a beautiful Śiva-phallus and want to take home for worshipping. He asks Siṃhaketu about the procedure of worshipping (91-94).

19/95-97: The prince spoke: The Bhilla -servant follows his instructions and offers ashes of the dead body on the Phallus.

19/98-108: The Bhilla-servant following the instructions starts worshipping accordingly. One day in the absence of the ashes of a dead body his wife requests him to burn her and to apply the ashes on the Phallus. The Bhilla does so, but at the time of offering the food he calls her unknowingly. Hearing his call she comes as if got up from sleep. Lord Śiva manifests and bestows the desired fruit. This shows the power of devotion.

19/108-112: The Holy Master goes to Narahari serving the planted dry Udumbara wood and as soon as He looks at it, the sprouts come up (108). Narahari’s body is free from leprosy. He eulogizes Him in eight verses (aṣṭaka) (109-118). The Holy Master blesses him, accepts him as his disciples and allows him to stay there along with his family (119-120). Narahari does so and is liberated and then his family is liberated, too (121-123).

19/124: He (i.e. Siddha) believes that His grace would continue on his (i.e.Nāmadhāraka’s) family also (124).