44.2: Bahirambhat repents at his wife’s taunt

6b. In the previous chapter you listened to an intensely interesting story,

7. how Bhanudas went to Vidyanagar in his state of love and by pleading with the god he brought back the idol of Pandurang [Panduranga] and reinstalled it at Pandhari.

8. Listen to another most interesting story. Bahirambhat [Bahiram-bhat] lived at Pratishthan (modern Paithan). He was a learned pandit in the six systems of philosophy, and skilled in the knowledge of Vedanta.

9. Brahmans who read the Vedas called themselves his pupils. A number of Brahmans associated themselves with him and studied the stories of the Puranas.

10. Although he was so great a personage, he would never go to visit the king. At his own home he maintained a perpetual sacred fire, performed many holy deeds, and had no sorrow in his heart.

11. Without any desire to ask anything of anyone, the Brahman carried on the occupation of an ordinary Brahman. Bathing on the banks of the Godavari river he performed there his austerities.

12. Then arising in the middle of the day Bahirambhat was accustomed to return to his home. After making his offering to fire and the gods he used to invite noble Brahmans to dine with him.

13. After the dinner was over at the third watch of the day he would read aloud the Purams. Wise people who were learned in the philosophy of the Vedanta would come there to listen.

14. One day while sitting eating ho playfully referred to his wife saying that she had served vegetables without salt. His wife heard him say this

15. and replied to him, ‘You are now sixty years of age. Why do you wish for a keen sense of taste on your tongue?’

16. Hearing these words of his wife he felt repentant. He said to himself, ‘Why should I pass my life in vain? I must make it fruitful.’

17. Bahirambhat at once arose and made a namaskar to his wife. He said to her, ‘Mother you have given me a valuable instruction in your love.

18. All the good deeds which I performed in a former birth have surely now come to their fruitage. Therefore through the instrument of words I have become possessed of strenuous indifference to worldly things.’

19. Bahirambhat thought to himself,’ If now I go straightaway into the forest, they will bring me back through the influence of others.

20. Still I must plan that my relations with my own caste should suddenly break so that no one should question me.’ Such were his thoughts.

21. ‘If I should now become a Sannyasi, all the Brahmans will worship me. If I enter into the highest stage of the order they will still pay honour to me as one absorbed in the eternal Brahma.

22. Those who are in the highest positions, however, seeing me thus, will spit upon me. Evil men will seek to dishonour me. This is what ought to follow on such an occasion.

23. By this happening to me, my body will become pure.’ Holding such repentance in his heart, he went away from his home.