Bhaktavijaya: Stories of Indian Saints

by Justin E. Abbott | 1933 | 306,590 words

This is the English translation of Bhaktavijaya which is a Marathi poem written by Mahipati in 40,000 lines. The text documents the legends of Indian saints from various backgrounds and extensively covers figures like Ekanath, Tukaram, and Ramadasa, highlighting their contributions to scholarship, philosophy, poetry, and social reform. The Bhaktavi...

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43.10: Rajai as a slave

102. All the eight supernatural powers, as slaves, were personally serving about the god. Suddenly the king recognized Rajai amongst them.

103. ‘She is our family goddess whom we adore in our worship in Vidyanagar,’ he exclaimed, ‘and she is sweeping the dooryard here at Pandhari!’ The king was amazed.

104. ‘Udo!’[1] The king called out to her and began immediately to question her. ‘Mother,’ he asked, ‘why are you here? You are here sweeping with your own hands!’

105. Bhavani (the wife of Bhava, Shiva) replied, ‘You hold vain pride in your heart. Endless female slaves like myself come here to Pandhari to serve.

106. Here to this dooryard of Pundalik all sacred waters come, and prostrating themselves on the ground, thereby becoming immediately pure, let their waters flow.’

107. Still amazed, the King looked further and saw to his surprise Narad [Narada] (the rishi) and Tumbara, singing the god's praise.

108. Males and females with four arms were seen as actual beings. The king threw himself prostrate before them in the fulness of his joy.

109. Both the gods, Victory (Jaya) and Conquest (Vijaya) holding weapons such as the shell, disk and others, stood before the temple door. Divine banners flashed like lightning in the heavens.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

See Bharata Itihas Sumshodhak Mandal P[???]ak 11, p. 271, and 18, p. 79.

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