Again describing the miracles, I tell of some in the Kanam region -- blessed, blessed are these devotees for whom Shri Hari showed such aid.
In a village called Uttarad, there was a Kanbi woman devotee named Sakarbai, whose heart held great love and devotion for the Lord. When the end of her bodily life came, four days before its due time, Bhagwan himself came and told this woman: "Perform Hari's worship -- from today, within four days, your body will be released."
Accepting the word of her Beloved, the woman sat down to worship, remembering Swami with every breath, becoming detached from worldly pleasure. Thus four days passed, and the Sustainer of Life came to fetch her. Her niece, named Kesar, was visited by Ghanshyam at her house.
He came himself, manifestly, the Ocean of Bliss, wise dark-hued Shyam. He gave darshan to many people; the woman became overjoyed. She said, "Blessed, blessed, my Lord -- today you have made me fortunate, having come after so long to my home, showing mercy to poor me."
Saying this she offered him a seat, and prepared various kinds of food; then Nath ate at her house, the Enchanter of Minds showing mercy. Having eaten and risen, he was given a mouth-freshener; then the devotee, joining her hands, said, "Please tell us why you have come today." Hearing this, Swamiji spoke:
"Your aunt named Sakarbai -- we shall take her to our own abode. We have come riding a horse for this purpose; whether you will be pleased or displeased at her being taken." Then Kesarbai said, "Blessed is this soul's earning -- since you yourselves have come to take her, why should we be displeased?"
Hearing this, Maharaj said, "We shall not take her today; but four days ago we had decided to come and take her. Tell her, going to her, that her body will not be released until then." Saying this, Maharaj departed, having done this uncommon deed.
I tell you another good account -- devotees, hold it dear in your hearts. In the Kanam region, in a village called Kelod, there lived a man named Sheikh Valibhai. Hearing the account of the true saints, his false faith fell away.
He recognized the true Sadguru Swami; others he found to be truly false. He gave up pirs, fakirs, mullahs, and malangs, and took to satsang. Then everyone together decided this, and excommunicated Valibhai from his caste.
Four years passed for him without the slightest doubt; he was a good devotee with nothing of the world's affairs, believing in no one but Swami. He worshipped the manifest Lord, remaining wise above all. Thus performing Hari-worship, many days passed for him.
When the appointed time of his body came, Maharaj came to fetch him then. He brought chariots, carriages and a vimana; the Lord himself came riding a horse. Nath alighted in an orchard, with many companions accompanying him. The orchard-keeper saw the chariots, carriages, and vimana of various kinds, well known.
There were many horses and countless bullocks; the watchman there spoke up at that time: "My crop will be eaten up -- this is all the livelihood we have." Then the Merciful One said, "Do not worry, watchman -- these bullocks and horses are ours; they will not eat your crop. We have come here today to fetch Valibhai."
Saying this to him, the Imperishable One then went to Valibhai. Valibhai had his darshan, fell at his feet and said, "Blessed, blessed. I had faith in you; I knew you would surely not forget me."
Then Nath said, "We have come today to take you away." Hearing his Beloved's word, Valibhai departed, leaving his body. Both satsangis and non-satsangis who saw this were greatly astonished in their minds; they said, "Blessed, blessed is satsang -- Valibhai has won the battle of life!"
"This is a manifest miracle -- a fool will not believe it." So the men and women said, seeing Swami's great power.
I also tell the account of Surat city, well known -- listen, all. Many devotees live there, worshipping Swami Shriji; the Lord fulfills miracles for them continually, and they remain overjoyed together with all. No one there thinks that the body is released without Bhagwan coming.
Chariots, carriages, horses and vimanas, Bhagwan brings at the time of death, coming to fetch his devotee; taking leave, they go with Hari. Everyone there had this faith: "We shall leave our bodies and go to the Lord." But there is one new account, listen, wise ones.
There was a Parsi named Ardeshirji, to whom the way of satsang seemed pleasing. He recognized Sahajanand Swami as true; others he found to be greedy frauds. He examined yogis, wandering ascetics, sannyasis, and renunciants of every stripe; pirs, fakirs, mullahs and malangs of many colors and sects, and even those who ate nothing, living on air alone -- such he saw in the world, in various places. Having examined the essence of them all, he concluded they were merely a burden on the earth, deluded.
When he heard the account of Swami, then his mind found peace. Then great faith arose in him, and he invited Swami and brought him to the city. With great honor he had Nath seated, with five hundred sadhus accompanying him. He performed worship and had him seated in his home, serving him well and to his heart's content.
He drank in the sight with his own eyes fully, thinking, "Such an opportunity may never come again." There Nath stayed for nine days, giving darshan to many souls. Having accomplished the work of many people, Maharaj then departed from there.
Many days passed for him, and then Ardeshir had a dream. He saw Sahajanand, the bringer of bliss, an intensely radiant, magnificent form. He fell repeatedly at his feet, his eyes never satisfied.
Then Nath, taking red vermilion, made a crescent mark on Ardeshir's forehead, and said, "Tomorrow, O king, you will be given greatness -- accept it in your heart." Saying this the Merciful One departed, and Ardeshir awoke at once. Taking a mirror, he looked at his face, and saw the mark -- astonished, he took it as truth.
What had been said happened -- Maharaj granted him the governorship of the city that very morning. Whatever had been told in the dream came true the next morning. He received a miracle, considered it wondrous -- a crescent mark manifest upon his forehead.
Even now, at this time, Maharaj does many such deeds for the people.
There was also a devotee named Bhagu, known throughout the entire village. He would take up others' disputes to settle, earning his livelihood from it daily. Everyone said, "He is a quarrelsome man, after death he will go to Yama's abode." But Bhagu had great faith: "Nath will not abandon me for my deeds. I am greedy, lustful, a wretch, but Swami will not forsake me."
Such was his true faith in his heart; he did not worship anyone else, not for a moment. Thus many days passed, and when the appointed time came he left his body. Maharaj himself came to fetch him, bringing a chariot drawn by an elephant, for Bhagu's sake.
People, seeing the elephant-drawn chariot, were astonished, everyone. They said among themselves, "We have never seen or heard of such a thing." "Today we have seen with our own eyes an elephant and chariot" -- Maharaj departed, taking Bhagu with him. Many people had darshan, and the miracle became known to all.
Such miracles are countless in this city -- they cannot all be written. No one can reach the end of writing them all, says Nishkulanand, in truth.
Thus ends the one hundred and fifty-first chapter of the Bhaktachintamani, describing the miracles of Shri Ji Maharaj toward his devotees.