Many devotees in Burhanpur worship Bhagwan with love; Shri Hari aids them at every moment, endlessly. With such vigor in their bodies, their minds could not contain their joy; men and women, free of doubt, sing the qualities of Govind.
There is intense intoxication in their hearts, seeing the bliss of satsang; all remain intoxicated in their minds, none considers himself poor. The manifest Lord, manifest attainment, manifest liberation they hold; the wise, dark Shyam fulfills manifest miracles at every moment.
So all the men and women, remembering Swami Shriji, worship him. They sit daily in satsang; no other thought enters their minds. When satsangis gather together, they sing of Maharaj's divine plays; they meditate on all the great festivals and gatherings, men and women alike.
Contemplating this in their minds, they see it in dreams whether waking or sleeping; then they speak of it among themselves, remaining joyful. Thus, as day and night passed, meditation would deepen into samadhi, with darshan in dreams.
Then the devotees said, "Let us go to the presence of the manifest Lord; going there we shall have darshan, and be exceedingly joyous." Speaking thus among themselves, a group set out, prepared, in the morning.
Women, men, elders and children went together, all with great enthusiasm; they packed provisions for the journey, and took offerings to worship Maharaj. Making camp slowly along the way, they walked chanting the name of Hari. When they came into a forest, robbers created an obstacle.
They took the horses, carriages and ornaments, and clothes and utensils too; they left no provisions or food, looting everything. They then bound the devotees' hands behind their backs and led them along as the robbers' own. When they had gone into the dense forest, the devotees spoke at that time,
saying among themselves, "Do not any of you grieve. Perhaps there has been some flaw in our devotion -- that is why this misfortune has come upon us. So let all be watchful, and worship Hari with love and devotion. Soon he will come riding a horse, our Beloved, without delay. He will come and free us, the Imperishable One, knowing us his own captive servants."
As they spoke thus among themselves, Bhagwan himself arrived. Many companions were with him; he himself rode a swift horse. He came and began to strike the robbers; the robbers dropped everything and fled at once.
Wherever they had scattered, all were caught and rounded up as before. Everything that had been taken was recovered; nothing was left with the robbers. Still Nath did not let the robbers go -- he had them bound and brought along with him. Then the robbers said, "What can we do -- we were all starving from hunger. That is why we did this wrong deed, and we have received its fruit at once. Now do as you say" -- hearing this, Hari showed mercy. "Go, we release you today -- do not do such a thing again."
Thus freeing the devotees from the robbers, the Life of the World continued with the group. Until they had cleared the forest, he remained with them, day by day. When they reached inhabited villages, Shyam became invisible. Then all the satsangis gathered together and spoke among themselves: "See this power of Shri Hari -- there is nothing great or small to him.
He gave a manifest miracle, coming and freeing us from the robbers' hands. Where else could such an account be told -- nowhere but in satsang." Then, slowly, they all continued walking and came near Maharaj. Having darshan, they became joyful, and then told of the obstacles on the way.
Then, smiling, Maharaj said, "Why have we come to do this task?" Then the devotees said, "In the forest, who else would give such aid without you?"
I also tell of the Nimad region -- hearing this, all will be delighted. In the village of Sarsod there was a devotee named Ramji, of the Kanbi caste. There was no comfort in his body, great suffering in his flesh. He was much tormented by his pain, seeking a means to relieve it.
He made many vows to gods, ancestral spirits, Bhairav and Bhavani, believing greatly in them; he fed sadhus and sannyasis, yogis, wanderers and forest ascetics in great numbers. Yet not the slightest bit of his disease was relieved -- in fact the affliction only intensified.
Then the Sahajanandi sadhus came to his house uninvited. Ram Patel had their darshan, and grasped their feet, unwilling to let go. He said, "I am under your protection -- please look after my welfare."
Then the sadhus said, "Very well -- hold to our discipline." Then, taking water in his hand, he placed it at the sadhus' feet as a pledge. The sadhus said, "Chant the name Narayan; give up all sensory desire. Whether your body survives or not, know that your liberation is accomplished -- accept this. When the time of your body's end comes, the Merciful One will come to fetch you." Saying just this much, the sadhus departed, having shown him devotion. Then Ram began this recitation, remembering Swami Shriji.
Some days passed, and then, in due time, he gave up his body. Then Maharaj came to fetch him, accompanied by a gathering of sadhus and companions. Nath came to the edge of the village; many people there were made blessed.
They said, "Who are you, where are you going, how will you fit within this village?" The Lord said, "We are Swaminarayan, come for the sake of the devotee Ramji. We shall now stay in the garden, then go to Ramji." Saying this he stayed in the garden, redeeming many souls. He gave darshan to many people, Bhagwan himself being pleased. Then he came to Ramji's house, Maharaj showing great mercy.
Ramji rose and fell at his feet, his eyes never satisfied gazing at Nath. He saw the sadhus with Bhagwan, the same who had given him the vow with their own hands. Then Nath said, "Listen, devotee -- come with us, giving up your body." Hearing his Beloved's words, Ramji immediately gave up his life-breath. Before the eyes of his household, he departed his body at once, going with him. Everyone seeing this was astonished, and said, "Blessed, blessed," bowing their heads.
Then the whole village learned of this, and this great wonder became known. They said, "We did not know anything -- now we know the manifest Lord has come here. He will stay here two or four days -- let us all, men and women, have darshan. If we had known his uncommon nature, we would have grasped his feet and not let go of his company. But that moment has passed -- it is a matter of great fortune that we had this meeting at all."
"This is an exceedingly great matter -- a sinner might call it false." So the village people spoke -- a manifest miracle had occurred.
In this way, without limit, miracles occur by the lakh and the thousand. They cannot be told or written to their end -- write one, and countless remain. In country after country, village after village, Nathji continually grants such miracles.
For each and every person, different miracles occur continually and anew. Such power as is wielded today cannot be written down at all.
In the past he took many incarnations, know them all to be this same Shri Hari's; but today he has done what he has not done in any previous incarnation -- a full moon has manifested. Whatever deeds have been done this time, Maharaj did not do in earlier times.
Hearing accounts from all the scriptures, nothing like today's has been found anywhere. Today's manner is truly beyond reckoning, but only the wise perceive it. Today he has poured forth abundantly beyond measure, says Nishkulanand in certainty.
Thus ends the one hundred and fifty-third chapter of the Bhaktachintamani, describing the miracles of Shri Ji Maharaj toward his devotees.