43.16: Vithoba’s reply

166. The Life of the world listened to these chidings of Bhanudas and replied, ‘You are speaking without due thought these disconsolate words.

167. I am not enjoying these many kinds of rites with which I am worshipped, nor these garments, adornments and ornaments. My soul is really pining away for a sight of the banks of the Bhima river.

168. It is the king who has brought Me here and imprisoned Me. And you have also hardened your hearts in that no one has come here to take me back.

169. I used to give you riddhi (prosperity), Siddhi ( supernatural powers) and the four forms of deliverance, but you used to worship Me out of love alone, disregarding those benefits.

170. Aside from those benefits I had nothing I could give you. So that My debt to you, incurred by your service of love, I was unable to repay, hence I deserted you.’

171. As the Husband of Rukmini uttered these words (of explanation), He became choked with emotion. But tears of joy flowed from His eyes and moved by mutual love both sobbed together.

172. The Life of the world then embraced Bhanudas and said, ‘Tomorrow in the early morning, as you worship I shall reveal Myself to you’

173. The Holder of the Sharang [Sharanga] bow then removed his necklace of nine jewels and placed it on Bhanudas, adding, ‘Hasten now to your lodgings, for the king will soon be coming to worship Me.’

174. As soon as Bhanudas had stepped outside, the padlock returned again to its place on the door. Thus the god had met His bhakta without anyone having the least knowledge of it.