Also in the Kanam region, in Amod, there was a Brahmin, Bhatt Dinanath, who remained doubtful in satsang, not understanding it, without a true refuge. At such a time there came to him a man greatly opposed to Hari, of dull understanding. By misfortune he happened to meet one Nirvikalpanand, a teacher of another view. He confused the Brahmin, and disbelief arose in him; he was made to fall into complete doubt, and this opposed man made him worship instead.
He abandoned the shelter of Maharaj, and then the ghost found its opportunity; it came and attached itself to his offspring, when he gave up satsang.
He had recited hymns, the Ashtak, and the Arti -- with these he had made his supplication to Hari. So there is no trickery of ghosts there -- a ghost attaches only to one opposed to Hari.
So it was his daughter, opposed through the father's abandonment, to whom the ghost attached, giving her suffering. It would carry off things from the house, and tear the clothes she wore. When food was cooked and made ready, it would come and throw filth into it. Into jaggery, ghee, water, milk, and curds, the ghost would bring and throw filthy matter.
Thus the ghost gave suffering, coming and tormenting Jamuna, the daughter. Much was tried to expel it, but the ghost would not leave by anyone's efforts. Then the Bhatt, terrified in his heart, brought his daughter to the presence of the Lord. Bowing his head at Hari's feet, he said, "Nath, I have come to your shelter. This daughter of mine, Jamuna -- from today she is yours. A ghost has attached to her, and it torments her body and mind. It has left her wretched -- so she has come to your shelter. She will keep the vows and worship -- please look favorably upon her, Life of the World."
Then Shri Hari said thus: "God, Brahmin, and ghost -- how can these coexist?" Then the Brahmin said, joining his hands, "God and Brahmin too are helpless before this. So from today you are our Lord -- Lord, do not hold our fault against us." Saying this he bowed his head, and then the ghost fled, screaming.
This became known to all the people, and, seeing this wonder, they accepted it in their minds. A manifest miracle occurred -- the ghost that had been tormenting her was gone.
In the region of Dhandhuka, in Vishnagar, there was a Nagar Brahmin named Shobharam. He held to demonic ways, constantly opposing satsang. Whoever among men and women turned to satsang, he had them excommunicated from caste. He also lodged complaints with the government, bringing trouble upon satsangis. Wherever he went, whatever he did, he slandered satsangis at all hours of the day. As some days passed thus, he spoke, becoming pleased with himself: "For many days I have held enmity, yet I remain healthy and prosperous."
Then he said to a satsangi, "Is your Swami false -- has your heart gone mad? If Swamiji is truly Bhagwan, then I ask this boon: from today, within eight days, let me become blind, unable to see anything at all. Then Swami and satsang would be proven true -- if I become blind within eight days."
Then the satsangi said, "You who oppose him -- why do you ask for suffering with your own mouth? Why would Swami blind anyone -- do not ask such a foolish thing, dull-minded one." Then Shobharam spoke again: "What I have asked, let it happen, whatever it brings me."
Then, since Shri Hari is like a wish-fulfilling tree, what was wished for came to be -- he became blind. The appointed time did not even pass fully -- within four days he became blind.
Such is the way of an opposed soul, unable even to think straight. Then, seeing him, others too accepted this as a manifest miracle in their minds. Thus, without limit, Hari grants miracles by the thousands and thousands. These cannot be told or written to their end -- understand this, you of good intellect.
I tell one more good account -- devotees, hold it dear in your hearts. In Kutch, in Bhuj city, there was a carpenter named Sundar. He was foremost in satsang, but kept much worldly engagement, being friendly with important people, companion to wealthy merchants and moneylenders. All these were opposed to Hari, and he kept their company continually. Thus his whole life passed, and even so he could not become alert to the danger. Then the time of his death arrived, and his body came under another's control.
He could not remain in the waking state, and would go entirely into a dream-like state. When he spoke while in that dream-state, he described distress. Then, when he came into wakefulness, he would feel intense regret.
Then, repentant, he would say, "No fool is equal to me. Such satsangis and Shri Maharaj -- I abandoned them and did wrong. So I am foremost among the wicked" -- thus he repented greatly. "Now the Lord is the redeemer of the fallen -- if he takes my side, he may yet forgive me; but nothing could be done by me to deserve it." Saying this he offered praise.
Then Hari, being merciful to the poor, knowing him humble, came at once. He gave darshan to his servant, and the carpenter beheld Shri Bhagwan. His joy knew no bounds, and he began to make supplication. As he had seen Nath at the time of death, so he began to describe him, joining his hands: "I bow to the Infinite, the Boundless, whose form is thousands upon thousands -- with thousands upon thousands of eyes and thousands upon thousands of ears, thousands upon thousands of heads and thighs, many arms and boundless names. At the beginning, middle, and end, Imperishable -- through millions of ages he does not perish." Such a form the carpenter beheld, and thus he described Swami's true nature.
He also saw the satsangi men and women, likewise a mass of radiance. Having seen Hari and Hari's devotees thus, he repented in his mind: "I did not understand at all -- this is a matter beyond measure and boundless. I lost out through worldly self-interest, and now, at the end, having earned and earned -- none of it has been of use to me now -- sons, wealth, brothers, relatives -- all my beloved ones have become my enemies," thus he lamented over and over.
Then he told everyone: "Now my body will fall. Nath has come to fetch me -- I go with Maharaj. How long has he been standing, having brought a vimana for my sake!" Saying this he asked for leave, and at once gave up his body. He left his body at once, and the Merciful One departed, taking him with him. Seeing this the people were astonished, and then began to say, "Blessed, blessed."
A miracle occurred, accepted by all, and seeing it, joy arose. Such miracles, without limit, occur now by the lakh and thousand. How can their end be told -- understand it, wise ones, as but a little. In country after country, village after village, the Merciful One does the work of his devotees. For each and every person, different, such miracles occur, uncountable. He has given happiness to all his devotees -- this vow he took from the very beginning, from Swami Ramanandji himself, asked for gladly: "Let whoever is called a satsangi never suffer in any way. Whatever suffering would come to them, let it come to us instead -- let them always experience happiness." That promise the Beloved made true, giving happiness to all satsangis.
There is no satsangi for whom Nath does not come to fetch at death -- know this vow to be certain: the body is released only when Hari comes. Let no one doubt this wonder -- wherever Bhagwan is, this is how it is. Bhagwan himself, today, is Sahajanand, and through him joy pervades all. No devotee who has attained Sahajanand Swami lacks anything at all. Rejoicing at having attained him, the Ocean of Compassion, the Merciful One, says Nishkulanand.
Thus ends the one hundred and fifty-seventh chapter of the Bhaktachintamani, describing the miracles of Shri Ji Maharaj toward his devotees.