22.10: Gorakshanath gives an eye for hot cakes

110. She said, ‘You obstinate fellow. You have seated yourself here with obstinacy; (but if you like to have it satisfied) take out one of your eyes and at once give it to me.’

111. Hearing her, Goraksha replied, ‘I will give you one of my eyes.’ She replied, ‘Talking without corresponding action is useless.

112. Mendicants like you give others knowledge and themselves act unreasonably in their ignorance’

113. Hearing her say this, Goraksha putting his finger into his eye, quickly took out one of his eyeballs and placed it on her hand.

114. Seeing this the lady of the house became full of fear. Said she, ‘If the officials should hear of this affair, they would take from us all we have.’

115. Then through fear she closed the door. She made a namaskar to Goraksha, and said, ‘I spoke merely from a casual point of view. I did not know your fixed determination.’

116. The blood that flowed from his eyes she wiped away with her garment. But Goraksha said to her, ‘Let there be no fear in your mind.’

117. If Goraksha had become angry, then the whole universe would have burned up with his curse. But he is a tree of peace and forgiveness. He never is angry.

118. Wherever his footsteps fall all the Siddhis (accomplishments) come and stand before him there. But he does net care for them and continues begging from house to house. 119 A sannyasi may perform many austerities, and yet be subject to lust and anger losing thereby his store of good deeds. This saying must be regarded as true.

120. Or if he should suddenly have a great desire for the riddhis and Siddhis (accomplishments)he would lose the supreme spiritual riches and become entangled in great hindrances.

121. Therefore the son of Matsyendra quickly conquering his lust and pride, kicked away the riddhis and Siddhis and lived a life indifferent to worldly things.

122. The lady then went into her house. She collected the materials for making hot cakes. She ground the dal with her own hand and added salt and cummin seeds.

123. She fried the cakes in melted butter. She then brought them outside and placed them at the feet of Goraksha, making him a prostrate namaskar.

124. She put the cakes in his knapsack and joining her hands together palm to palm, respectfully said, ‘Let no one outside learn of this matter.’

125. ‘I will not,’ He replied. ‘Let your mind be without any fear about this.’ He covered his eye with his lotus-hand and came back to Matsyendra.

126. He bowed to Him with reverence, and said, ‘I begged for food and have brought it here. So let the Swami show his favour to me. Let him eat it according as may suit his taste.’