55.11: Krishna’s image becomes black

116. After his bath Keshav Swami looked at the metal image of Krishna. It appeared black at which he was astonished;

117. just as in an eclipse the moon loses its brightness, in the same way the Husband of Rukmini looked dark.

118. Seeing this the bhakta Keshav wondered in his mind and said, ‘The image was very bright. How has it become so intensely black today.’

119. Hearing his wonderful account of this, men and women rushed there to see it. In the meantine the grocer came there and addressed Keshav Swami:

120. ‘As 1 was feeling for the sack of ginger in the dark at night I happened, to go to the sack of bachanag. I measured seven seers of it and gave it to the ma.

121. But that disaster has been warded off by the Lord of Pandhari, and all the listeners have been saved. Now, O Swami, tell me how I should atone for it.’

122. Keshav Swami heard him and tears of joys streamed out of his eyes. His voice was choked, and he addressed God thus:

123. ‘Victory, victory to Thee, O Mother Vitthal [Vitthala], Merciful to the lowly. Thou hast today averted a great calamity and preserved Thy reputation, by Thy favour protecting Thy servants.

124. The terrible poison of bachanag has affected Thee but Thou didst save the lives of many by Thyself becoming black.

125. By the taking of Thy name, the deadly poison which was given to Thy bhakta Pralhad changed to nectar. Then how could a bit of the poisonous bachanag harm Thee to-day?

126. Thou art the highest and the God of gods. By singing Thy praises Shiva had his burning heat cooled. That the poison of bachanag should harm Thee today is a new thing, O Shri Vitthal [Vitthala].

127. Thou didst easily trample upon the serpent Kaliya (in the Yamuna river). His poison did not affect Thee; and that the poison of bachanag should turn Thee black is a wonder, O Shri Hari.

128. The demoness Putana with her breasts full of poison nursed Thee. Is bachanag deadlier than that poison, that Thou hast become dark?

129. Has nectar suffered death today or has darkness swallowed the sun, or has the river Bhagirathi by its own sins become foul by the sins she has washed away?

130. Or has the earth felt the burden, of grass, or has the adamant (of Indra) feared a mountain and run away? Or has the sky been covered by dust?’ It is just like that

131. Can one imagine the round moon to feel the heat, or the ocean of milk to feel hungry, or the Husband of Parvati to be harmed by devils?

132. Or can one imagine that Kuber (the god of wealth) could be poverty-stricken, or the word of Brahmadeva be false, or the sky lose its brightness?

133. O Govinda, all the foregoing impossible things may be possible but Thou canst not be harmed, for in order to increase the reputation of Thy servants Thou dost reveal Thy sagun form.

134. Thou art without birth and unconquered, O Lord of Pandhari. Thou art the Controller even of Kali (the Dark Age) and Kal (god of death). O Lord of the helpless, kindly be bright again as before.’

135. Hearing this praise, the Husband of Rukmini was pleased and the metal image looked bright again.

136. As the people saw this miracle with their own eyes they very much wondered and said, ‘In the Kali Yuga there is no better means of salvation than the kirtan [kirtana].’

137. The grocer greatly repented and gave up all his worldly affairs, and in the company of Keshav Nath he listened to the stories of Hari.