44.6: Brahmans silenced

64. Having listened to his words, the Brahmans remained silent. They remarked, ‘How shall we be able to remove his doubts?’

65. If he met any wise man anywhere, he asked him to tell him who he was, and having put to him that question he went on.

66. If people said he was a Muhammadan he would become angry and would say to them, ‘You do not know the facts, and in vain you try to delude me.

67. If 1 were truly a Muhammadan then why are my ears still pierced? Without knowing anything you try to delude me. You speak out of your foolishness.’

68. If anyone said that Bahirambhat was a great Brahman of Pratishthan (modern Paithan) he scolded him saying,

69. ‘You call me a Brahman. If so, why is the sign of circumcision still there?’ He showed it to them and all wondered.

70. As he thus questioned every one he met, he got the name of ‘Crazy Bahira.’ He said to himself, ‘When shall I meet with a sadguru who will remove the impression of my doubt?’

71. Thus wandering about for many days, he came to the town of Vadaval. Here Nagnath [Naganatha] the spiritual expert lived in the hermitage of his sadguru.

72. He was building a great tomb for his Swami. He used in the work some carts made of Sharakand wood, and placing on them stones as big as mountains he hitched monkeys to them in order to draw them.