43.12: The King takes the image of Vithoba to Vidyanagar

125. The king now thought to himself ‘Why should I now in vain worship Bhavani? If the ocean of milk is near at hand, why should I leave that to bathe in riverwater?

126. If I see a lake of nectar, why should I take even heaven-made medicines? When a wish-tree is close by, one should not sit in the shade of a babhul tree.

127. Why throw away the touchstone already in one’s hand, and become an alchemist? If a wish-cow comes to one’s house, why worship a goat?

128. When the sun is shining into the house, why bring in a lamp? So having had a vision of Pandurang, why now worship a goddess?’

129. Thus reasoning with himself Ram [Rama] Raja besought the eagle bannered One thus, ‘God supreme, King of heaven, fulfil the desire of my heart.

130. I have the desire in my heart to take You to Vidyanagar. So giving to me, Your suppliant, the assurance of Your blessing, come along quickly with me, O God, my King.’

131. The god replied, ‘(I agree to come) but if you during the journey should rest me on the ground I shall certainly remain at that very spot. Or if in your kingdom you are guilty of any injustice I shall come back to Pandhari.’

132. As Chakrapani (Holder of the disk, Krishna) thus replied, the king was overjoyed in heart. ‘I shall place relays of men at intervals along the route and thus take the god with me,’ he said to himself.

133. And with this idea he stationed men at intervals from the sacred city of Pandhari as far as Vidyanagar, and taking the idol (out of the temple) started to carry it away.

134. The officiating Brahmans did not resist. They knew their power could not prevail against that of the king. The idol was lifted up and carried along from hand to hand.

135. Thus Pandurang [Panduranga] was carried along swiftly to Vidyanagar and there installed. The king in his own person performed the installation rites and the ceremonies of worship.