8.12: Vithoba as householder again

Shripad hearing him say this, called Rakhumabai.

166. He now said to Chaitanya (Vithoba), ‘Take back your wife, return at once to your own country, and live according to the rules that apply to you.

167. If you hold the fear of doing what is forbidden and have no doubts in your mind, then my command to you is your authority to obey, and God will be your Helper.’

168. Having received this blessing, Chaitanya (Vithoba) worshipped his feet. He took his wife by the hand and started for his own country;

169. just as the Vindhya mountain range accepted Agasti’s command, and fell down upon the earth; so accepting his sadguru’s wish, Chaitanya (Vithoba) hastened on his way.

170. Thus Sidhopant [Sidhopanta] arrived at home bringing with him his daughter and son-in-law. When the people heard the news, all the evil-minded began to laugh at them.

171. They said, ‘How is it that after entering the sannyasi order he has now become a householder?’ One said, ‘He has done what is improper, because he is a man of faulty life.’

172. Another one remarked, ‘He must be sensually inclined.’ A third remarked, ‘He is a miser and a vile hateful fellow.’ Still another remarked, ‘We should never even look into his face.

173. As one who first drinks nectar and then takes intoxicating drinks, abandoning his connection with the sannyasis, he has become absorbed in earthly things.

174. It is like one who at first carefully studies the Vedas, and then takes in his hand some obscene book. So, determined to cast aside indifference to earthly things, he has returned to the sorrows of the domestic life.

175. He has left off the worship of Vishnu and has brought upon himself the favour of devils; or as if one should leave his residence in a sacred city, and come and live in some miserable village;

176. or as if one should give up association with Brahmans and set his affection upon the unnamables (untouchables), so he has abandoned the gain from indifference to worldly things and fallen into the maze of domestic life.’

177. So everyone now began to revile him, but Vithoba had peace of mind; just as when a cloud rains upon a mountain it is never washed away;

178. just as an eagle will never fly away out of fear of a serpent; or as an elephant is never frightened by the barking of a dog:

179. when the sea roared, Agasti was not frightened; and when the sun sees a firefly with its eye it is not troubled:

180. so when the waves of trouble came upon Vithoba he drank deeply of peace; he stopped the entrance of desire and anger; his action was unusual and beyond comparison.

181. The Brahmans turned him out of caste. His relatives abandoned him. He built a hut in the forest and there lived with his wife.

182. In order to provide for his wife he obtained food by begging. Day and night, never ceasing for a moment, he repeated the names of God.

183. He spent his time in listening to and contemplating the Bhagavadgita and Bhagwat [Bhagavata], with a mind continually at peace.