42.2: The birth and boyhood of Bhanudas

8. In the previous chapter there was recorded the deeply delightful story of the life of Mrityunjaya, in which you hearers became absorbed as you listened. Such is the infinite glory of the saints.

9. Now it happened that the sun appeared as an avatar at Pratishthan. And I would that you good people would listen with loving attention to the interesting story.

10. To a wise, holy and pious Brahman, a worshipper of the sun,there was born the treasure of a son to the great delight of his heart.

11. Day by day the boy grew and in due time the ceremony of the sacred thread was performed. His father and mother bestowed on him boundless love.

12. It happened one day that in assigning him the task of studying the Vedas the father showed anger. Out of fear of that anger the boy sulked.

13. He left the house. He made great efforts to find a place in which to conceal himself. At first he failed, but suddenly in his wandering his eye fell on a temple.

14. This temple lay underground. People did not visit it, so the boy at once entered and remained there in hiding.

15. There was an antique image of the sun in that temple and the boy at once prostrated himself lovingly at its feet.

16. Seeing the boy’s devotion the sun was pleased and said to himself, ‘Although this child is ignorant his heart has firm trust in me.’

17. The sun then assumed human form and approached him. He gave the boy milk as much as he could drink and gave him the assurance of his protection from all fear.

18. He said to him, ‘Let your heart be without fear, keep Shri Pandurang [Panduranga] in your remembrance. If you should ever fall into any distress at your call I will immediately be present with you.’

19. Turning now to the father and mother, who with sad hearts were searching for their son, it happened that seven days passed and yet they had not found him.

20. But one day the Brahman’s son stepped outside the temple. There happened to be there one of the twice-born and he spied the lad.

21. He called out to him but the boy at once ran back into the temple. The Brahman then came into the town and related the event to the father.

22. The father and mother rejoiced to think that their son had been found, and taking some of their townspeople with them, started to find him.

23. There in the forest they discovered to their surprise a deserted temple. They lighted torches and bravely descended into it.

24. As they entered they all saw the image of Narayan (sun) and the Brahman’s son sleeping with his head on the feet of the image.

25. The father and mother bent over their son and drew him to their lotus-hearts exclaiming, ‘How has it happened that you have survived in this place all alone?’ Tears flowed- from their eyes.

26. The people then asked him, ‘How have you kept yourself alive here? For your hunger and thirst you surely could not obtain food here.’

27. He replied, ‘A supremely glorious, radiant Brahman has appeared to me here. He has fed me with milk and thus saved my life.’

28. Hearing these words of the child, all marvelled, exclaiming, ‘Evidently seeing the child’s trust and devotion, Suryanarayan [Suryanarayana] (the sun) has manifested himself to him.’

29. And it was because the sun had manifested this delight in the boy, that he was given the name of Bhanudas (slave of the sun). The parents carrying him on the hip returned to the town.

30. They remarked to one another, ‘It is God who has saved his life. Let us forbear speaking to him in harsh words. Narayan (God) in His mercy has given us this gift of a son.

31. Whatever events are fated to occur they will take place in time. Why should we needlessly distress his heart?’

32. Thus comforted in mind, the parents let affection govern them. ‘We will not assign him the task of acquiring knowledge,’ they said, ‘lest he should again sulk and leave us.’

33. They now made search for a bride, and had Bhanudas married. But in the intervening days Bhanudas devoted himself entirely to the worship of Sri Hari.