Bhaktavijaya: Stories of Indian Saints

by Justin E. Abbott | 1933 | 306,590 words

This is the English translation of Bhaktavijaya which is a Marathi poem written by Mahipati in 40,000 lines. The text documents the legends of Indian saints from various backgrounds and extensively covers figures like Ekanath, Tukaram, and Ramadasa, highlighting their contributions to scholarship, philosophy, poetry, and social reform. The Bhaktavi...

6.4: Pilgrimage futile without repentance

40. If a man wanders from one sacred city to another without repentance in his heart, his going and coming will be in vain. Why should anyone who has no son seek to lay up a fortune?

41. If you have no money, why uselessly go to the market? If you have no love of God in your heart, why sing the praises of God?

42. If you do not mix salt in your food it will have no good taste. The wealth of a miser does not reach those who are worthy of a gift.

43. If a warrior has no bravery, why should he in vain carry a weapon? In making friendship with a miser, one will never find joy.

44. If one does not know the Gayatri mantra why call himself a Brahman? Although loaded with ornaments, still that is all useless if without the Mangalasari ornament.

45. If one has not the knowledge of reasoning, the sixty-four crafts are useless to him. If one has no compassion for living beings, why prate with his lips over his own knowledge?

46. Or if one has not the favour of God, one has composed his verses in vain. So if one has not full repentance in his heart, his wandering from one sacred place to another results in no advantage to him.

47. Lust, anger, pride, and envy are the worst faults of a person. If there is no repentance in his heart, these sins will not be washed away by bathing at these sacred places.

48. As the son of Kabir now stood on the banks of the Gomati he made obeisance and with feelings of love praised God.

49. He then waded in the water and bathed with his clothes on. He prayed,4 Oh Ganges, wash away my faults, and end my re-births.’

50. Having bathed in this way and made the twelve marks on his forehead with clay, and having placed around his neck the tulsi garland,

51. and having brought into his mind the Lord of Dwarka, he mentally worshipped (manas-puja) and with love in his heart, entered into the temple to see Him.

52. At the great door of the temple he bowed prostrate on the ground. Then entering the inner shrine, he embraced the feet of Shri Krishna.

53. Now lovingly opening his eyes, he brought the image of Shri Krishna before his imagination, and singing His names and great deeds he waved auspicious lights.

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