44.8: Bahirambhat obtains Soul knowledge

86. Nagnath placed his hand upon Bahirambhat’s head and gave him the instruction needed to make him his disciple. He became at once a knower of soul and set himself to the worship of Hari.

87. Bahirambhat full of joy exclaimed, ‘Blessed is the sadguru Nagnath. He has given me another birth without a moment’s delay.

88. There are a great many gurus with the knowledge of the sou! who can remove births and deaths; but they certainly cannot change the body, for the action of karma cannot be resisted.

89. Bringing the image of Pandurang [Panduranga] into their minds, a great number of bhaktas worship him. Namdev [Namadeva] caused the stone idol to eat and this seems most strange.

90. Everywhere the people speak of the illusory nature of Maya, and in distress they show themselves very brave. But Kabir killed bis son and this seems most strange.

91. Old men can teach young men knowledge in many forms of the Vedas and the Shastras, but in causing a buffalo to repeat the Vedas Dnyandev did a most wonderful thing.

92. Blessed is Savata the noble bhakta who when Pandharinath [Pandharinatha] came to him to be hidden, with his own hand he ripped himself open and bid Him in his heart.

93. Thus the God-loving bhaktas of Vishnu seemed to be greater one after the other. No one understands properly their glory by which Krishna, who is dark as a cloud, is made subservient to them.’

94. Going now back to the story. Nagnath [Nagnatha] manifested his mercy and Bahirambhat arrived at an understanding of his soul.

95. Then going at once to Pandhari he looked upon the sagun form of Krishna. Full of love he danced with love in the kirtans.

96. It was the same Bahirambhat who made a Marathi commentary on the tenth Skandh of the Shri Bhagavata, and pious men listening to those loving and priceless verses become happy.

97. Bahirambhat finally composed many padas and other poems and the moment one listens to them, sins flee away,

98. Listening to the fame of God’s bhaktas, all the dull-minded become purified. Mahipati therefore pleads with his hearers to listen with love.

99. Swasti (Peace)! This book is the Shri Bhaktavijaya. In listening to it the Lord of the world will be pleased-Listen then, you God-loving, pious bhaktas. This is the forty-fourth very delightful chapter; it is an offering to Shri Krishna.