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...

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51.7: Nimbaraja visit the Jyotirlingas

98. With repentance at heart, he started out to visit sacred places. On visiting the twelve Jyotirlingas[1] his mind was comforted.

99. He visited all the beautiful sacred places on earth, hard to travel to; then after visiting the seven[1] salvation-giving sacred towns he went into the Himalayas.

100. To describe the glory of the travel, the story would be far too long drawn out, therefore I will abbreviate. Let the listeners understand it.

101. Thrice he took a kavadi (sling) full of the water of the Bhagirathi, and in it bathed the god Rameshwar with love. Thus accumulating good deeds, he returned quickly home.

102. Now he wished to utter the names of Hari with his lips, and with this longing at heart he kept on repeating God’s names.

103. One who has performed religious rites and austerities without the desire of their fruit, he alone out of repentance gives himself up with love to the praise of Shri Hari.

104. Visits to sacred places, performance of sacrifices, and the study of the Vedas, fructify only when one sings of the good qualities of Shri Hari with an unreserved mind.

105. Now enough of this lengthy talk. The Vaishnavas know the lovely secret. They abandon all sense of honour and dishonour, and sing the praises of God day and night.

106. When one does not give himself up solely to singing the praise of Shri Hari all other means become useless as a deep well without water;

107. or as in a grain field there are a large number of ears without kernels; or as when a village officer is successful in acquiring a hereditary office, but is without an issue;

108. or as though one should study a good deal, but is not able to make a timely use of it; or as the sitting of a king on a throne is vain without power;

109. or as plates with various kinds of dainty food without any ghee (melted butter) on them; so all religious means become useless without the description of Shri Hari's doings.

110. Therefore Nimbaraja had a desire to sing the praise of God. So one day the Lord of Pandhari gave a command to Gajavadana (Ganpati).

111. Said He, ‘Give Nimbaraja the boon that with inspiration he will sing My praise.’ As the Husband of Rukmini gave this order, Ganpati replied ‘Verily, verily.’

112. One night while Nimbaraja was asleep, the son of Parvati appeared to him in a dream in the guise of a Brahman.

113. He stroked him to rouse him and said, ‘Accept this boon of mine.’ Saying this He put on his palm a vida (rolled betelnut leaves).

114. Nimbaraja in a drowsy state threw it into his mouth. Then Gajavadana (Ganpati) said: ‘This is an everlasting boon.

115. Now without study you will be able to delineate Hari’s good actions. The genius of pleasure will everlastingly be present at your performance.’

116. The son of Parvati offered this boon and at once disappeared. When Nimbaraja awoke he brought to his mind the dream.

117. He did not see the Brahman near him, but there was the vida in his mouth. He swallowed it, and got up and sat down.

118. As he looked at his palm he found on it a red stain. He tried to wash it with water, but could not get rid of it;

119. just as the ocean supplies the well with water and it does not get dry even in a drought or as a person with divine knowledge satisfies a Yogi and he is no more troubled with the hunger;

120. or as iron with the touch of the parts (touchstone) becomes gold, and no more can rust remain; or as when the Ganges accepts an insignificant rivulet, it becomes sacred to all;

121. or if Brahmadeva gives one a long life, he is unhindered by fear and disease; or if a prince supports a pauper, his fortune knows no decrease;

122. or when the sun gives one a physical lustre, how can it be impaired by cold? So the stain of the vida could not be washed off.

123. From that day Nimbaraja began to perform kirtans. The Vaishnavas who listened to him were engrossed.

124. Having given up all idea of shame, honour, and social etiquette, and having forsaken all ties of hope, and discarded all differences, he enjoyed the pleasure of the love of God.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

See Appendix on ‘Words With Numerical Significance’ under 12, ‘The Twelve Jyotirlingas’; and under 7. ‘Saptapuris.’

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