Nath said, "Listen, all of you, to what you have called me Bhagwan for — this is not right; you are merely speculating without cause.
We did not bring back the Vedas, nor did we slay Shankhasura and the rest; whoever you consider Bhagwan for that deed, that was Lord Matsya who did it, not us.
We did not hold up Mount Meru upon our back, nor churn it; the taking of the fourteen treasures — that was the doing of Lord Kurma , not us.
We did not restore the earth this time by slaying Hiranyaksha; whoever's might you call that of Bhagwan, that was the Boar incarnation.
By slaying Hiranyakashipu and caring well for Prahlad — that power, if you call it Bhagwan's, was Nrisimha's incarnation, not ours.
Growing his body and covering the whole earth, tricking Bali and taking his kingdom — we did not do that; that was Lord Vamanji, Maharaj.
Slaying the Kshatriyas out of love for his father, wielding the axe twenty-one times over — if you call that the power of Bhagwan, that was the Parashuram incarnation.
We did not slay Khar, Dushan, Kumbhakarna, and King Ravana; that was Lord Raghunathji, who bound a bridge for his wife's sake.
Subduing Kaliya, holding up the mountain, breaking Indra's pride, humbling Brahma's mind, and showing the universe within his own mouth — Aghasura, Bakasura, Keshi, the calf, Dhenukasura, the bull-demon, Vyomasura, Bhaumasura, Muradanava, and Madhukaitabha, Kansa, and Kalayavan, Shankhachuda, Shalva certainly, Banasura, Shishupal alike, and one like Jarasandh, Dantavakra and other wicked ones subdued, sporting with the young women of Vraj — that power, that of Krishna Prabhu, we did not perform in this body.
Seeing the wicked performing sacrifices, becoming a drunkard and meat-eater, deluding them and thereby delivering their souls — that was Lord Buddhaji, they say.
When many heretics have arisen, and true dharma is about to be destroyed, to give pure teaching to souls, the Kalki form shall be taken.
These and countless other bodies have been assumed upon this earth; churning up wickedness, they delivered many people in this way.
So, in many such incarnations, they performed many, many deeds — what have you seen in us today that resembles any of this?
Such Godly power is not present in us at all; if you do not believe it, look for yourselves — what more can I tell you?"
Having spoken thus, Hari, while all the sadhus listened, hearing the Beloved's words, the sadhus smiled and finally spoke.
The sky says, "I am not the sky," the wind says, "I am not the wind," light says, "I am not light" — thus spoke Shri Bhagwan.
Water says, "I am not water," earth says, "I am not earth," the ocean says, "How am I the ocean?" — so too Prabhu says, "I am not Prabhu."
The sun says, "What am I as the sun," the moon says, "I am not the moon" — for none of these does an answer come easily; the people considered this in their minds.
Thus it came about in this matter, and the sadhus understood it well: "We ourselves have the bliss, but it seems others' understanding has gone astray."
Hearing this, all the sadhus began to shake their heads: "What talk has Hari made, to confound the wicked!"
The devotees of Hari rejoiced in their hearts, seeing Jivan's cleverness: "By this talk, other people's understanding will go quite askew."
"It is the nature of Bhagwan to act as he pleases according to his own will; the sadhus, hearing it, find happiness, while it confuses those who are not devotees."
All the sadhus, understanding this play, reflected on it constantly in their hearts: "The unbelievers say, considering him like themselves, that he is just a man like us.
Thinking him a mere man, great ones too have wandered astray, deceived; through their own cleverness they make assumptions, abandoning the trunk and climbing onto a branch instead.
Seeing merely human-seeming deeds, even Parvati failed to recognize Shri Ram, and, seeing Ram weeping, Bhavani herself was deceived.
Garuda, who always stays near Hari, was himself deceived seeing Nath bound by the serpent-noose.
Brahma came to see, and even he strayed in other conduct, deceived, seeing the pastimes of Maharaj, deep in confusion.
The horse, the calf, and the little boys — after seeing all this thoroughly, in every possible way, he could not find even the smallest fault."
If even such great ones became so confounded, what refuge is there for lesser souls?
He who does not waver upon seeing such pastimes, that devotee is Hari's true devotee.
Having taken a human form, Nathji does whatever he does — sleeping, sitting, waking, eating, drinking, speaking.
Whatever pastimes Hari performs are meant to captivate people's hearts; these charming pastimes of the Beloved are meant for the sadhus to hold in meditation.
Understanding this, all the sadhus were not deluded in their minds; the more they saw these pastimes, the more joyful they remained.
Whatever talk Hari made, all the sadhus listened to it; though he denied being Bhagwan, the sadhus' conviction did not waver.
Then the sadhus spoke, having reflected within: "Whatever deeds you performed in the forms of the Fish and the rest, those you certainly did not perform in this body.
But as it appears to us, so we shall tell you, taking your hand; having reasoned it through together, knowing you as the Inner Knower — whatever you said before, this is how it appears to us today.
We shall state it now with certainty, folding our hands, Maharaj."