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...
55.10: A grateful grocer
99. To return to our story. The bhakta Keshav was dancing with loving delight in his kirtan [kirtana]. and clapping his hands while singing of the deeds of Hari.
100. The kirtan [kirtana] went on through the four watches of the night, lights were waved over the Husband of Rukmini, and the sweetmeats of bachanag were distributed to all.
101. Some tied it as Hari’s favour in the end of their cloth, but several ate it on the spot and then went home.
102. At sunrise the grocer got up in his shop, and suddenly he saw before him the sack of bachanag.
103. He said ‘A great disaster has occurred. What shall I do? I sold bachanag for ginger.
104. Many loving saints, God’s bhaktas, must have come to listen to the kirtan [kirtana] and must have died, and I am the cause of it.
105. If the thing is known in the town who will save me (front death)? And even after death I shall be thrown into a horrible hell.
106. Bad as I am, I am shut out from this world and the next. No sinner like myself will be found in all three worlds.
107. Among animals the donkey and the pig are the two kinds that are considered the lowest, but I am worse than these.’ In this way the grocer repented.
108. ‘Then why should I now live? I must drown myself in a well’ With this determination he left his shop and started off.
109. As he enquired in the town he learned that none had died. He attentively listened hut he found none weeping.
110. He asked the people whether they had gone to the Hari-kirtan, and if they had taken any of the sweetmeat favour.
111. They said, ‘We had observed a fast on account of Ekadashi, so we ate the favour of ginger and sugar just there and came home.’
112. On that the grocer said to them, ‘You had a fast yesterday, so you must be very hungry now, therefore dine at once.’
113. They replied, ‘We observe religious rules. We are not as anxious for food as you are, for we hope to be able to fast yet for one more night.’
114. At this answer he went away and inquired of others indirectly. Then he went to the cemetery and looked about.
115. But he saw not a single dead body. At this the grocer very much wondered and said, ‘The Lord of Pandhari has prevented a disaster and saved many from it’