Stay by me and keep quiet. I will do the rest.
---SAIBABA
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SHRI SAI SATHCHARITHA
"Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat,
Sudhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam tam,
Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam
Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham"
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mhalsapati
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Chapter XVII
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abdulbaba
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Mr. Sathe
There was a gentleman named Mr. Sathe, who had attained
some publicity many year ago during Crowford Regime, which was put down by Lord
Reay, the then Governor of Bombay. He suffered servere losses in trade. Other
adverse circumstances gave him much trouble, and made him sad and dejected.
Being restless, he thought of leaving home; and going out to a distant place.
Man does not generally think of God, but when difficulties and calamities
overtake him, he turns to Him and prays for relief. If his evil actions have
come to an end, God arranges his meeting with a Saint, who gives him proper
directions regarding his welfare. Mr. Sathe had similar experience. His friends
advised him to go to Shirdi, where so many people were flocking to get Sai
Baba's darshan, for getting peace of mind and the satisfaction of their wants.
He liked the idea, and at once came to Shirdi in 1917. Seeing Baba's Form, which
was like Eternal Brahma, Self-luminous, Spotless and Pure, his mind lost its
restlessness and became calm and composed. He thought, that it was the
accumulation of merits in his former births, that brought him to the Holy Feet
of Baba. He was a man of strong will. He at once started to make a parayana
(study) of Guru-charitra. When the reading was finished in the saptaha (seven
days), Baba gave him a vision that night. It was to this effect: Baba with
Guru-charitra in His hand was explaining its contents to Mr. Sathe, who was
sitting in front and listening carefully. When he woke up, he remembered the
dream and felt very happy. He thought that it was extremely kind of Baba. Who
awakens souls like his that are snoring in ignorance, and makes them taste the
nectar of Guru-charitra. Next day, he informed Kakasaheb Dixit of this vision,
and requested him to consult Sai Baba regarding its meaning or significance --
whether one saptah (week's) reading was sufficient or whether he should begin
again. Kakasaheb Dixit, when got a suitable opportunity, asked Baba - "Deva (Oh
God), what did you suggest to Mr. Sathe by this vision? Whether he should stop
or continue the saptaha? He is a simple devotee, his desire should be fulfilled
and the vision explained to him, and he should be blessed." Then Baba replied -
"He should make one more saptah of the book; if the work be studied carefully,
the devotee will become pure and will be benefited, the Lord will be pleased and
will rescue him from the bondage of the mundane existence."
At this time, Hemadpant was present there. He was shampooing Baba's Legs.
When he heard Baba's words, he thought in his mind as follows - "What! Mr. Sathe
read for a week only and got a reward; and I am reading it for forty years with
no result! His seven days' stay here becomes fruitful while my seven years' stay
(1910 to m1917) goes for nothing. Like a Chatak bird I am ever waiting for the
Merciful Cloud (Baba) to pour its nectar on me; and bless me with His
instructions." No sooner did this thought cross his mind, Baba knew it then and
there. It was the experience of the Bhaktas that Baba read and understood all
their thoughts, and that He suppressed the evil thoughts and encouraged the good
ones. Reading Hemadpant's mind Baba at once asked him to get up, go to Shama
(Madhavrao Deshpande), get from him Rs. 15/- as Dakshina, sit and chitchat with
him for a while and then return. Mercy dawned in Baba's mind, and so he issued
this order. And who could disobey Baba's order?
Hemadpant immediately left the Masjid and came to Shama's house. He had just
bathed, and was wearing a dhotar. He came out and asked Hemadpant - "How is it
that you are here now? It seems that you have come from the Masjid. Why do you
look restless and dejected? Why are you alone? Please sit and rest, while I
shall just do my worship and return: in the meanwhile you please take pan-vida
(leaves and betel nuts etc.) let us then have a pleasant chat." After saying
his, he went inside and Hemadpant sat alone in the front varandah. He saw in the
window a wellknown Marathi book named 'Nath-Bhagwat.' This is a commentary by
the Saint Ekanath, on the eleventh Skandha (chapter) of the bigger Sanskrit
work, the Bhagwat. At the suggestion or recommendation of Sai Baba, Messrs.
Bapusaheb Jog and Kakasaheb Dixit read daily in Shirdi, BhagwadGeeta with its
Marathi commentary named Bhawartha-Deepika or Jnaneshwari (A dialogue between
Krishna and His friend devotee Arjuna) and Nath Bhagwat (A dialogue between
Krishna and His servant devotee Uddhava) and also Ekanath's othe big work, viz.
Bhawartha Ramayana. When devotees came to Baba and asked Him certain questions.
He sometimes answered them in part, and asked them to go and listen to the
readings of the above-mentioned works, which are the main treatises of Bhagwat
Dharma. When the devotes went and listened, they got full and satisfactory
replies to their questions. Hemadpant also used to read daily some portions of
the book Nath-Bhagwat.
That day, he did not complete the daily portion of his reading, but had left
it unfinished in order to accompany certain devotees, who were going to the
Masjid. When he took up the book from Shama's window and casually opened, it, he
found, to his surprise, that the unfinished portion turned up. He thought that
Baba sent him very kindly to Shama's house for enabling him to complete his
daily reading. So he went throught the unfinished portion and completed it. As
soon as this was over, Shama, after doing his worship came out, and the
following conversation took place between them.
Hemadpant :- I have come with a message from Baba. He has asked me to return
with Rs. 15/- as Dakshina from you, also to sit with you for a while and have a
pleasant chitchat and then return to the Masjid with you.
Shama (with surprise):- I have no money to give. Take my 15 Namaskaras (bows)
in lieu of rupees as Dakshina, to Baba.
Hemadpant:- Alright, your Namaskaras are accepted. Now let us have some
chitchat. tell me some stories and Leelas of Baba, which will destroy our sins.
Shama:- Then sit here for a while. Wonderful is the sport (Leela) of this God
(Baba). You know it already. I am a village rustic, while you are an enlightened
citizen. You have seen some more Leelas since your coming here. How should I
describe them before you? Well, take these leaves, betel nut and chunam and eat
the pan-vida; while I go in, dress myself and come out.
In a few minutes Shama come out and sat talking with Hemadpant. He said -
"The Leela of this God (Baba) is inscrutable; there is no end to His Leelas. Who
can see them? He plays or sports with His Leelas, still He is outside of
(unaffected by) them. What do we rustics know? Why does not Baba Himself tell
stories? Why does He send learned men like you to fools like me? His ways are
inconceivable. I can only say, that they are not human." With this preface Shama
added, - "I now remember a story, which I shall relate to you. I know it
personally. As a devotee is resolute and determined, so is Baba's immediate
response. Sometimes Baba puts the devotees to sereve test; and then gives them
'Upadesh' (instructions).
As soon as Hemadpant heard the word 'Upadesh', a flash of lightning crossed,
through his mind. He at once remembered the story of Mr. Sathe's Guru-charitra
reading and thought that Baba might have sent him to Shama, in order to give
peace to his restless mind. However, he curbed this feeling, and began to listen
to Shama's stories. They all showed how kind and affectionate Baba was to His
devotees. Hemadpant began to feel a sort of joy while hearing them. Then Shama
began to tell the following story.
Bow to Shri Sai -- Peace be to all