17.9: Gora marries his living wife’s sister

147. Returning to her home she made all necessary garments, adornments and ornaments.

148. She sent invitations and collected all the relatives in her family line. The marriage procession then started, and the bands were playing loudly.

149. The wedding guests thought with concern amongst themselves on the way. They said, ‘O gentlemen, we cannot approve of the strange fact that he should abandon his wife for the sake of God.

150. Muhammedans do not like the worship of the Gayatri Mantra. Donkeys would not enjoy having the sandalwood paste put upon them. So men who are Vaishnavas are not liked by those who revile them.

151. A sinful man does not like good conduct. An out-caste does not like to fix his thoughts on the Shastras. Ghosts do not enjoy the music of the kirtan [kirtana], nor does a fool give thought to reason.

152. The sick do not like milk. Thieves do not like the bright moonlight. Misers do not like giving away of wealth. The deaf do not enjoy hearing singing.

153. Those who eat flesh have no kindness. Those who kill are not fond of compassion. The poor through their fate do not care for the shade of the wish-tree.

154. So those who are not bhaktas do not like the devotion of those who are bhaktas.’ Well in this way they went on quickly to the marriage.

155. The wedding deities were installed; all were feasted’ and holding the marriage curtain the Brahmans repeated the eight verses of blessing.

156. Thinking of the Husband of Lakshmi, the (officiating) Brahman said, ‘Beware, Beware.’ Just as they dropped the marriage curtain, the loud music from the instruments began.

157. The marriage ceremonies continued for four days. The procession marched through the town. The mother-in-law and father-in-law then thought to themselves,

158. ‘He has been given the eld st and the youngest of the daughters. He has taken a dislike to one of them, and men will now laugh at us.

159. “Just as both your eyes are alike to you; in the same way consider both of them your wives”—in this way putting our son-in-law under oath, we must make him accept her hand.’

160. They then said to Gora, ‘Both these wives now belong to you. Care for them and treat them alike in your domestic life.

161. If you do not treat them kindly, Vithoba will be your witness.’ Hearing them say this, he told them that he assented.

162. Said he,‘If the Lord of the world is merciful, the bondage of this life will break of itself. He will not allow His bhaktas to be influenced by worldly passions.’

163. Thus happy in his mind, he quickly returned to his home, and gave exactly the same garments and ornaments to his two wives.

164. Just exactly as he regarded his elder wife, so he regarded his younger wife. Seeing him so regard her, the elder wife began to feel concerned.

165. She asked Gera, ‘Why does not the younger wife please you He replied, ‘Your father placed me under an oath,

163. namely, that I would not treat you two partially. He put me under an oath to Vithoba. and this is the oath under which my father-in-law placed me. And I have his words firmly fixed in my mind.’

167. Hearing her husband say this, the younger wife began to cry. Said she, ‘O sister, why did you get me entangled in this?

168. Then the elder sister said to her younger sistar, ‘O my dear sister, do not ba troubled about this. When night comes we shall test his heart.’

169. When it was night, seeing the bhakta, of Vishnu asleep, his two wives came near him, and slept at his side.

170. Each of them took one of his hands, and placed it on her breast. When he awoke he began to wonder.

171. Said he, ‘Although my mind was not thinking of any sensual pleasure, it was my hand that broke the vow.’ Thus repenting in his heart, listen to what he did.

172. He took a sword and fastened it to a post, and with a firm heart he cut both hands off.

173. As he sat there worshipping, the sun now arose. The wives seeing him now without hands, began to cry out loudly.

174. Said they, ‘A great disaster has happened. Who will now carry on our domestic life? Everywhere the evil-minded will laugh at us, seeing what our conduct has been.

175. We had him perform, a second marriage in order to increase our family line. But what can we do before the wrath of God?’

176. Gora then said to both bis wives, ‘You mourn needlessly. If the Husband of Rukmini is your Protector, why should you sorrow?

177. No one who receives the wish-cow need be troubled as to how he is to get his livelihood.

178. If one is sitting under the wish-tree, how can’there be any lack of food or ornaments to him? So if the Husband of Rukmini is bestowing His favour, why should there be bondage to things of this life?

179. If anyone gets a touchstone in his hand, what can he lack of money and property? So if one’s love is given to the repeating of names of Vitthal [Vitthala], he cannot be injured by entanglement in worldly affaire.

180. Just as all diseases clear away when one drinks all he can of nectar, so no diseases of this earthly life can injure anyone who is repeating with his lips the names of Ram [Rama], Krishna, Hari.’

181. Thus explaining things to his wives, he continued happy in mind. He was continually repeating the names of God, and never stopped for a single moment.

182. Then came the tenth day of the month of Ashadh [Ashadha] (July), and Gora with joy in his heart came to the sacred city of Pandhari together with his two wives.

183. They bathed in the Chandrabhaga river and paid their respects to Pundalik. They circumambulated the sacred town and then arrived at the great door of the temple.

184. Along with him his two wives reverently prostrated themselves on the ground. They embraced the god and with reverence worshipped His feet.

185. Nama was standing at this time by the eagle-platform. With cymbals and a band of singers and with love and joy he was performing a kirtan [kirtana], and with enthusiasm was repeating the names of God.

186. With the sound of the vina and the drum, there was great enthusiasm in the kirtan [kirtana]. He danced before Pandurang, Destroyer of the earthly bondage, the merciful One.

187. Nivritti, Dnyandev, Savata, Sopan, Jagamitra the beloved sat listening to the stories related by Nama.

188. There were also present many saints, Mahants, and good men. Many Vaishnavas had gathered there. With the joy of love they worshipped, and in their love listened to the kirtan [kirtana].

189. Then Namdev [Namadeva] lifted up his hands and motioned them like banners, and with his lips he told everyone to raise his hands like banners in a similar manner.

190. With the joy of love clapping their hands, they shouted aloud the names of Hari. Tears now flowed from the lotus-eyes of Gora.

Other India history Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘17.9: Gora marries his living wife’s sister’. Further sources in the context of India history might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Gayatrimantra, Kirtan, Lotus-eye, Good conduct, Nectar, Sandalwood paste, Chandrabhaga river, Domestic life, Husband of Lakshmi, Younger wife, Great enthusiasm, Elder wife, Marriage procession, Bright moonlight, Divine blessing.

Concepts being referred in other categories, contexts and sources.

Flesh, Husband of Rukmini, Wish-tree, Merciful One, Earthly bondage, Touchstone, Sacred town, Great disaster, Chanting of names, Eldest and youngest.