22.9: Gorakshanath’s pertinacity

100. Gorakshanath then went and sat down at the door of the Brahman’s house. There he called out, ‘O mother, give me at once in my cloth some more fried hot cakes.’

101. The lady of the house came out and said to Gorakshanatha, ‘There are no fried hot cakes at all left in my house.

102. Yesterday the Brahmans dined in my house, therefore I was able to give you food. If you ask of me now the same food, tell me where I am to obtain it.

103. I can give you a pice (a small copper coin) or grain, but I have no fried hot cakes in the house.’

104. Gorakshanath said to her, ‘I have no other wish. If you should give great heaps of money, they would look to me as if but clay.

105. Even if Riddhis and Siddhis (the accomplishments) or a royal fortune, or the dignity of Indra, should come into my hand, or indeed all the four forms of deliverance, I value none, of them.

106. I ask you to fulfil the wish of my sadguru. Therefore I ask you for fried hot cakes. If I leave here before I obtain them, I swear by him.’

107. She replied, ‘You are using force on me, while I am doing a charitable action it is interfered with by my ill luck. You are not a guest. You are a supreme deceiver. You are asking for the daintiest of food.

108. Sometimes one throws bread to a dog and it then comes again and again to the door in the same way to get the food. So it was with you. I understand you now.’

109. Goraksha replied to her, ‘We are even inferior to dogs, but unless I take these fried hot cakes, I will never leave this place.’