42.3: Honest Bhanudas becomes an unwilling peddler of cloth

34. When the allotted life of Bhanudas’ parents had come to an end they passed away. Bhanudas, however, without concern for consequences was unwilling to engage in any worldly occupation.

35. He would serve no one for remuneration; he would engage in no trade or commercial dealings; he would have no borrowing or lending of money; he refused ever to enter the king’s service. He wished only to be occupied with the worship of Pandurang.

36. There was need, however, in his home for food and clothing. His wife moreover was distressed in mind. And although he had children, yet he lived indifferent to all worldly needs.

37. A few men of influence therefore came together to speak to Bhanudas on his affairs: ‘Your wife needs food and clothing,’ they urged, ‘but you seem unable to comprehend this.

38. While your father and mother were living they bore on their own heads the burden of your worldly necessities. But what is going to happen in the future, if your mind continues indifferent to these things?

39. It is also true that you have not acquired much learning. Hence we make you a certain proposal. Let your ear listen to it with respect.

40. We will supply you with a hundred rupees as working capital. Buy cloth and peddle it.

41. From the profit you gain, you will be able to provide your family with food and clothing. Carefully preserve the principal and return it to us gradually as you may find it convenient.’

42. These men’ben went to the market, purchased cloth and handed it over to Bhanudas. These men had other peddlers under them, and Bhanudas was committed to their care.

43. ‘When you go to the market-place take him along with yen.’ they told them. ‘Seat him at your side, and put him in the way of gaining his livelihood.

44. The pedlars listened to the words of the men and consented. They took Bhanudas with them and seated him beside them.

45. They taught him their secret numerical code: mulu (five), udanu (three), angolu (ten), kevala (one), kathi (twenty), pavitru (seven),

46. selu (six) poku (four), dhakar (one thousand), avaru (two), and other numerals. They explained to him about the cloth and how to sell it;

47. how one should carefully protect the principal, and what pains should be taken to sell at a price that would yield a profit; how also if one should tell the exact truth, one would certainly meet with loss

48. To this last advice Bhanudas replied, ‘I will never, so long as time lasts, speak an untruth. I will speak only the absolute truth.’

49. At this all the pedlars laughed. ‘It is evidently written on his forehead that he must live by begging,’ they exclaimed. ‘This explains why it is that he will not listen to anything we say. His name should rather be Poor man.’

50. One remarked, ‘Let him once get the taste for gain, then he will utter falsehoods in plenty. One has never seen anyone favoured by Fortune who speaks the truth in his business relations.

51. How true it is that one who is born blind thinks that all men are blind. Evon savoury food seems bitter to one bodily sick.

52. So it is that the man who is false in heart sees no one true. As a man’s heart is, so others seem to him.

53. But Bhanudas showed great courage. He refused to utter any falsehood in his business. The result was that every one marvelled at it and people flocked to his stall.

54. If a customer asked him about the cloth he would tell him the exact cost price to him and the profit he was asking on the principal. He gave them but one answer

55. ‘If you approve of it take it. If not, pass to another stall.’ This is all he would say to them and then continued his repeating of the names of God.

56. And all came to recognize the truth that Janardan [Janardana] (God) does fill man. ‘Bhanudas will never even to the end of time speak an untruth,’ they declared.

57. Customers appreciating his truthfulness all came to him. The other pedlars, dishonest in their dealings, had to watch the marvel from where they were.

58. They began to murmur, ‘That we have given him a place beside us has been to our injury.’ And hatred now arose in the heart of these evil-doers.

59. ‘He sits beside us and draws away to himself our customers,’ they cried. ‘(Hypocritically) we look him boldly in the face, but within we burn with rage to no avail.’

60. Another remarked, ‘He throws a spell on people. That is why they have become bewitched. They pay down whatever price he asks, and no one even haggles over it.’

61. Still another observed, ‘People have come to believe in him and that is why they patronize him. We are untruthful. We are the slaves of worldly desires. And God does not approve of this.’

62. Finally one said, ‘Let us now speak the truth.’ To this another objected saying, ‘Though we should do so, no one would regard us now as really worthy of confidence.

63. Once character is fixed it continues the same through life. This we see exemplified in Bhanudas before our very eyes.

64. A dog may be siting quietly in the house. Thieves may come and steal away the bread. The accusation, however, will fall on the dog, for no one could know by intuition who really took it.

65. A tiger may be lying down peacefully but it will be said he is crouching to spring and kill. A miser may become an ascetic, but it will be said that he has started out on a course to deceive.

66. An adulterer may indeed visit sacred watering places, but it will be said that he is in search of others’ wives. A cat may be lying perfectly quiet, but people will remark that it is looking for a rat.

67. So it is with us. Our whole life has been spent openly in the sight of others, speaking untruths. And now, though we should act with honesty, people will say, “This is useless hypocrisy.”

68. Bhanudas began before our very eyes with a very small business in cloth, and now he has become a prosperous man. God has been his Helper.

69. We make great effort, but we are unable to obtain sufficient bread to satisfy our appetites. Our creditors come and sit at our doors. What are we to do?

70. Ever since we gave Bhanudas a place beside us we have become bankrupt. He has drawn away all our customers and weare now in distress.’