The compassionate friend of the fallen gives wonders to his devotees; seeing Shyam's power, the mind stays enraptured, like a swan afloat in bliss. He gave countless different wonders to each and every one, so that men and women remained intoxicated with joy in their hearts.
Let me tell one more story, praised in many ways — listen, all you truthful and wise people. I bow to Vyapakanand, foremost among Maharaj's great sadhus; hearing of his renown brings joy to the heart.
Blessed is the sadhu Vyapakanand, giver of joy to people, revered by the world. He shone with the thirty-two qualities of a sadhu, undisturbed by lust, anger, or greed. Though offered the eight siddhis and nine treasures, his mind never wavered at the sight of them. Such was this foremost of sadhus, a man of meditation, dear to the Lord.
From the day he entered natural samadhi, he beheld the boundless power of Hari; he saw all worlds and abodes and their masters, knowing them all within Maharaj's power. He saw the cause of all causes by fixing his attention on Hari; he himself moved beyond body and universe, no longer subject to bodily condition at all.
Without intending it, he descended from the forest and came into an uncivilized land ahead. There he came to a certain city, whose king was a Muslim (mlechchha). The king's minister was a Vaishya who conducted the affairs of the kingdom for many days. One day he fell into some wrongdoing, and the king had him imprisoned. He remained many days in prison; afterward a fine was set upon him — a crore of rupees was demanded, and only on surety was he released, with a month's time set to pay, or else be forcibly converted to Islam — such were the terms of his bond, with a great merchant's guarantee around his neck.
To pay the fine, the Vaishya sold his entire household's belongings. He gave much of the household money and borrowed more on credit, yet even so the fine remained unpaid, falling short again and again as he paid. Then the Vaishya, thinking to die, went before a Shiva temple in the town, circling it and crying out, "Who will save me from such suffering? Alas, alas, my Hindu faith will be lost! Alas, this human life will be made worthless!" Crying out in such grief, he saw two sadhus there.
Among them the elder was Vyapakanand; seeing him, the Vaishya was filled with hope. He came and fell at the two sadhus' feet, weeping with tears that would not stop. The sadhu comforted him and asked, "Vaishya, tell us your story." The Vaishya told his whole tale, and the sadhu heard it all.
Then Vyapakanandji said, "Take the name of Swaminarayan, keep the vows, do satsang, and you will be happy in every way." The Vaishya then did exactly this, taking the vows along with his wife and son. The Vaishya came to the sadhu's feet, and the sadhu, taking pity, resolved to be a refuge for the refugeless: now this matter must be resolved. Maharaj himself made ready and, taking on the guise of a Vaishya, bound a fine turban upon his head.
He wore a long-sleeved coat, its wide skirts trailing at his feet, tied a saffron sash about his waist, gleaming brilliantly with a gold-bordered end. Tucked into it was a fine inkstand; over his shoulder a fine woolen shawl. Smiling, dimples showing in his cheeks, his forehead gleamed like a great man of wealth. Speaking with a slight lisp, he carried bags full of rupees, and with two or three attendants, Shyamalo (the Dark One) came into the middle of the city.
He came and asked for the merchant's shop, saying, "I have come to pay the debt — take your money that is due." He said, "Give back the bond," but the Lord said, "I shall give you the bond, servant, only when I have taken water for it." "For a debt for which a servant suffers without payment — such greed is not in me," he said. They said, "Do not delay in the least — take the rupees," they urged repeatedly. He gave the rupees and took the bond, and put it into the Vaishya's hand.
Having thus fulfilled the wonder, the compassionate one departed at once. Vyapakanandji's word — the true Lord himself made it come true. Fulfilling the wonder, the compassionate one departed, subject to his devotees, protector of the humble; Vyapakanand's word too the Lord of Sarangpur made true. Let me tell the renowned story of Vyapakanand further.
The two sadhus set off from there and came to the region of Bundelkhand. There they came to a fine city, where the custom was always to lodge outside; seeing a quiet, pleasant spot, the two munis lodged there. There a devout Brahmin came and said, "Come, eat at my home." Vyapakanand, after consideration, said, "Prepare a good meal for us." A fine meal was then prepared, and the Brahmin came again to fetch them, brought them to his home, and worshipped them with the sixteen offerings.
Then, as he served them a full and generous meal, the Brahmin's son died. The Brahmin then reasoned: this has fallen into a religious dilemma — the sadhus will not eat where death has occurred, and they will go hungry, which is a great fault. Then, folding his hands, he fell at their feet, praying with an agitated mind, saying, "Brahmin that I am, I am most unfortunate — after so long I have met with renunciates, and I did not bring you here to feed you but to waste my own good intention. And now my son has met death — what shall I do, refuge of the refugeless?"
Then the wise sadhu spoke: "A person does not suddenly lose their life. Go and see — the soul may still be in the body; come back and tell us." The Brahmin said, "I have looked again and again — the soul has certainly departed." The sadhu said, "Go there again, surely, taking the name of Swaminarayan." The Brahmin, trusting the word, went to his dead son.
He came and looked, and was astonished — his son had come alive, and all grief vanished. Then the Brahmin fell at the sadhu's feet: "From today I am under your refuge. You are not men, you are gods, come at this very moment for my sake." Having thus given a manifest wonder, the sadhu departed, having removed the Brahmin's suffering.
Thus Vyapakanandji too received many wonders through meeting Hari. Thus the compassionate friend of the fallen accomplishes the work of his sadhus with grace. Countless wonders occur moment by moment; even crores of poets could not tell them all. Great is the power that Shyam wields, accomplishing so much of his own people's work.
I have told what I have heard within the satsang — moment by moment, Hari looks after his own. Because of this, unbroken joy prevails; blessed, blessed is Swami Sahajanand.