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...
43.15: Bhanudas chides the God and pleads
156. ‘Husband of Rukmini, Dweller in Vaikunth (Vishnu’s heaven), Giver of the promise to Pundalik, King of the Yadavas, have You dropped Your affection for us and become subject to the king?
157. You gave a promise to Pundalik that You would never go away from Pandhari. And now this promise is seen to be false.
158. It is evident You do not care for our lowly worship. The king here worships You with the sixteen rites. Regarding that as happiness, You, Adhokshaja (Vishnu), eagle bannered One, choose to remain here.
159. Because of these heavenly garments and adornments and these offerings of various dainty foods you have lost recollection of us, poor people!
160. O Purushottama (Good Being), You have left Rukmini, Radha and Satya-bhama. O dark as a cloud, the king by his professions of love has caused You to leave us.
161. You have left Pandharpur and made Vidyanagar Your abode. But great rishis and noble bhaktas are waiting there for You.
162. Rambha, Tillottama, Urvashi, Menaka and the eight chief wives of Yours came there to serve You, but leaving them, O Father of Brahmadev [Brahmadeva], You have comfortably settled Yourself here!
163. Or is it because of some awful fault of ours, the fear of which has caused you to run away from us? Or may it be because we have asked of You tokens of Your love that You have run away?
164. Can it be that it is the noise and confusion in the kirtans whereby You are unable to sleep? And so You.have selected for Yourself this quiet spot? I now understand what the facts are.
165. Or could it be the countless pilgrims who gather there, in meeting whom You become weary, that has made You to come here to Vidyanagar for a quiet rest?