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...
56.10: Niloba and his daughter’s wedding
147. There is another very interesting story. May the fortunate listeners pay attention to it with reverence.
148. O pious ones, listen to the sweet life of him (Niloba) to whom Tukaram [Tukarama], bestowing a great favour, gave the mystic mantra in a dream.
149. Niloba did not know what public honour and hypocrisy were. He performed the kirtan of Hari with devotion. He used to describe the lives of saints by quoting the words of the ancient saints.
150. He bad children and other relatives. Even then he was far away from egoism. He accepted what was given him without begging, and with what he received he was hospitable to guests who came to him. 151, One day ho planned the wedding of his daughter. His relatives were impious and hypocrites, and at his house there were no provisions of food, and so forth.
152. His wife said to him, ‘You are indifferent to worldly things. In the end the evil-minded will make fun of us; so I think.’
153. The Life of the world knew this and assuming the form of a old Brahman he wore a torn cloth and came to their house.
154. He had a scarf on his shoulder at the end of which some small provisions of food were tied. In this way he went to Niloba and said,
155. ‘I am a poor and weak Brahman. I have some provisions of food on me. Take them and give me a dinner.’
156. Niloba bowed to the Brahman and said, ‘Your provisions are not needed. Now at dinner-time make an offering of food to God and dine just here.’
157. On this Shri Hari Said, ‘I long to eat a stuffed cake, for I like sweet food. Therefore get the cooking ready at once and give me a meal to my heart’s content.’
158. Niloba told his wife, ‘Keep aside the provisions of the Brahman. Cook the food at once and feed the Brahman.’
159. ‘By all means,’ she said and took the provisions in her garment. She added, ‘These provisions are too scanty; then how will you get full satisfaction?’
160. On this the Husband of Rukmini said, ‘You put this in the provisions of the wedding, and take your own provisions and quickly satisfy my hunger.
161. If you do not accept my provisions I will not dine at all.’ On this the loving bhakta said to his wife, 162 ‘What difficulty can there be in feeding one Brahman? Now quickly do the cooking and satisfy the Brahman.’
163. Then the Husband of Rukmini said, ‘Cooking will take a long time. Therefore I will eat with love just what is ready.’
164. Then the Pervader of the world dined with His bhakta and at night while He was sitting quietly He said to Niloba Bowa,
165. ‘Tomorrow is the wedding of your daughter. In your house there is no Brahman to fetch water, therefore if you keep Me (to do the work) I shall be able to prepare dainty foods.
166. Just for the love of God, I will fetch water.’ ‘Very well,’ said Niloba who fell at His feet.
167. The next morning Vanamali ( Krishna) got up quickly and without the knowledge of anyone performed the sweeping, also sprinkling the ground with water.
168. In the meantime the father of the bridegroom arrived with five hundred men as his wedding party. The bridegroom was honoured at the boundary or the town and then all bis party went to lodge in a house assigned to them.