Bhaktachintamani Prakaran 34

Hear now what happened next, a most excellent story. Having accomplished this much, HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary → then traveled toward the southern lands.

His mind was content to dwell alone in the wilderness; even in dream he had no wish for cities, but held the forest dear.

BhaktiBhaktiDevotion to Bhagvãn. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma. There are nine types of bhakti:Tap to open in glossary →, DharmaDharma1) Universal law or principle that 'sustains' or 'upholds' the entire world. Righteousness, morality, religion,Tap to open in glossary →, and the others remained with him, having taken on divine bodies; besides them, he desired the company of no other worldly soul.

Renunciation and detachment filled his being, and his mind remained absorbed in them; those who were not devotees of HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary → held no place in his sight.

Such was Shri HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, exceedingly free of desire; he walked on without seeking anything for himself. He came to the sacred site of Adi KurmaKurmaAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a turtle. During the samudra manthan (churning of the ocean), the Mount Mandarãnchal that was used to churnTap to open in glossary →, the powerful, joy-giving HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →.

Near it lay the town of Mansa, where HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, out of grace, arrived. Its king was exceedingly devout, and had established charitable feeding grounds for travelers,

feeding with love whoever came there hungry. He saw this brahmachari, and, beholding him, reflected within his mind,

"This must be someone truly great." Then, with earnest entreaty, he kept the king of ascetics there, seeing how exceedingly renounced and austere he was.

He gave him a fine private platform (ota) to himself, and the Lord remained there upon it. Then the king and his servants attended upon him with great care and courtesy,

serving him daily in this way, regarding him as a great and divine soul. Seeing the honor given to this renunciate, the standing of the other ascetics there was shattered.

Then the demons dwelling in that place said, "This is the one who is our killer - the very cause behind the destruction of our fellow demons before, know this to be him."

Then the demons dwelling there said, "We must surely kill him." So all these sinful ones made their plan, and brought stones to kill him with.

Knowing he satsat1) True. Real. 2) Permanent, imperishable and unchanging. Is unbound by the past, the present, and the future.Tap to open in glossary → there alone upon his platform, they came running to strike him down. At night the night-wandering demons came, and began hurling many stones.

Thousands upon thousands of demons gathered, hurling stones without number. From evening until deep into the night, they rained down a torrent of stones.

But HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, of saintly nature and good wisdom, free of enmity and unopposing, exceedingly forbearing and patient, remained wholly unharmed in body.

Stones fell all around the platform, piling higher than an elephant around it. HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, beholding this, remained unharmed, and at that moment took up the demons' own weapons.

He thought, "If the king learns of this, it will cause great disturbance." Then indeed the king came to learn of it, and he came at once to the Lord's side.

Other people gathered too, and, seeing the piled stones, were struck with astonishment. Seeing this, the king thought within his mind, "God himself has protected the innocent one.

As with Prahlad, so it is here too - there is no difference between the two." Saying this, the king bowed, saying, "We are your subjects, our Maharaj."

Then the Lord made him his disciple, and gave instruction to many others besides. Then the king thought, "These sinners would have killed this ascetic today.

He is truly our chosen deity, yet we could not even witness proper service being given to him. They surely would have killed him today, and thereby brought shame upon us all.

So these are truly murderous demons; we must deal with them ourselves." Then he raised his army and surrounded the demons at once,

saying, "Seize them, root them out!" Saying this, he had their heads cut off. Countless unrighteous ones died there, and thus much of the earth's burden was lifted.

Thus, through their own sins, those demons brought about their own destruction. HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary → himself remained free of sin and fault, holding no anger toward anyone.

Such was the merciful Krishnadev; he then departed from there at once. He came to Venkatadri, the Lord of Life, and had the darshandarshanSeeing. To see with admiration and devotion. To see Bhagvãn, a sat-purush, and murtis, with inner or outer vision, with the intention of receiving their grace and blessings. By doing darshan properly a bhakta develops affection for Bhagvãn, and Bhagvãn develops affection for that bhakta. [Sãrangpur – 2].Tap to open in glossary → of Thakorji (the deity) there.

Then the detached one traveled onward, beholding ShivShivThe dev of destruction. Part of the trimurti. He lives in Kailas with his wife Pãrvati.Tap to open in glossary → Kanchi and VishnuVishnuThe dev of sustenance. Part of the trimurti. He lives in Vaikunth with his wife Lakshmi.Tap to open in glossary → Kanchi. From there Shyam came to Shrirang, to accomplish the work of great souls.

He bathed in the Kaveri, holy as the Ganga, and rested in a flower garden there. The garden shone beautifully, filled with abundant fruit and flowers.

He remained there two months, working for the liberation of many souls. There he spoke to Vaishnavas, and had HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary → cause them to give up their false practices.

Other performers of theatrical and deceptive tricks had been doing many dark deeds; he overcame them at once, and the merciful one established his own true authority there.

He departed from there with resolve, and came to Setubandh Rameshwar. He bathed in the sea there, the Lord of Life, and had the darshandarshanSeeing. To see with admiration and devotion. To see Bhagvãn, a sat-purush, and murtis, with inner or outer vision, with the intention of receiving their grace and blessings. By doing darshan properly a bhakta develops affection for Bhagvãn, and Bhagvãn develops affection for that bhakta. [Sãrangpur – 2].Tap to open in glossary → of Rameshwar.

This is an exceedingly sacred place, fit to be served by ascetics. He remained there two months, and then the imperishable one departed from there.

Shyam came to Sundarraj, and rested there a while. Then he traveled toward Bhutapuri, without asking the way there,

walking by direction alone, the merciful one who gave no thought to his own body's needs. Ahead lay a forbidding forest, exceedingly dark and dense.

As he walked on and on, night fell; he slept there and continued at dawn. Thus five days passed with no water or food found there.

Evening fell with no water found; his throat grew dry, unable even to speak. He himself grew utterly faint, so great was the hardship he endured, all out of love.

Then, walking on slowly and steadily, he came upon water in the wilderness. Ghanshyam bathed in it, and then bathed the Shaligram stone as well.

There he found four wild pods (fruits), which he roasted and offered as nivedya (food offering). Ghanshyam himself then ate it, and remained there one watch of time.

Then the merciful one departed from there, and by the next day it was noon. There in the wilderness he came upon a well, filled with pure, unparalleled water.

He bathed there, drawing the water out, and then satsat1) True. Real. 2) Permanent, imperishable and unchanging. Is unbound by the past, the present, and the future.Tap to open in glossary → in the shade he found, cool and pleasant. He filled a fine leather water-pouch holding about ten sher (a measure) of water,

and, taking the Shaligram stone, placed it in a small bowl. He poured water over it from above, and the pouch emptied out at once.

Then he reflected, wondering where so much water had gone so quickly - he checked whether the pouch was perhaps torn, but found it whole and intact.

Then Ghanshyam understood: "Surely the Shaligram itself has drunk this water." Thinking there might still be thirst remaining, he pondered further in his mind,

and drew out water again and again, giving it repeatedly to the Shaligram. As he continued to pour the water, the vessel kept emptying out.

He did not consider his own need at all, giving the entire pouch of water. Ghanshyam grew tired from pouring so much, until the Shaligram was finally satisfied.

Then he worshipped it with sandalwood paste, and then reflected: "My thirst is quenched, but there must be hunger too" - this thought caused him great distress,

for he himself had not eaten - six days had now passed without food for him. But he gave this no thought at all for himself, so mountain-like was his patience.

At that moment, a kapadi (a wandering religious mendicant couple) arrived there, a manmanMind. One of the four antah-karans, with the function of (pronounced mun) generating thoughts and desires, and governing all of the indriyas.Tap to open in glossary → and a woman riding on a bullock. They wore fine ochre-colored garments, and both were filled with great devotion.

They came into that forest, and, seeing HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →, offered him salutation. When they offered him a seat with respect, the couple then spoke,

saying, "From where have you come here alone? Why is there no attendant with you? You must be hungry, my brother" - so saying, their eyes filled with tears.

Then the wise one said to the woman, "Give him some provisions (sathu, a roasted flour mixture); he is exceedingly hungry." Then she gave him sathu with salt, which he offered to VishnuVishnuThe dev of sustenance. Part of the trimurti. He lives in Vaikunth with his wife Lakshmi.Tap to open in glossary → with love as nivedya.

Then HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary → said, "I wish to ask - who are you, such compassionate ones?" Then the yogiyogi1) A person who has mastered the art of yog. 2) A person who has attained siddh-dashã and other extraordinary powers.Tap to open in glossary → said, "Eat first, and then, once settled, drink water.

After that I shall tell you my story, exactly as it is, plainly." Then, having eaten and drunk water, the yogiyogi1) A person who has mastered the art of yog. 2) A person who has attained siddh-dashã and other extraordinary powers.Tap to open in glossary → spoke with joy,

"Listen, ascetic, austere and free of anger - we have recognized you as the pure Shri KrishnaKrishna1) An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a cowherd. This is considered to be a greater avatãr than the others, as Shree Krishna possessed all of the powers of Bhagvãn, whereas other avatãrs possessed less power. Shree Krishna conveyed the message of love and humanity to the world. Also, He recited the epic poem, the Bhagvad Geetã, to Arjun in which He stated: ‘Whenever dharma declines and adharma increases, I shall incarnate myself as a human to save the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, and to establish dharma. I come into being from yug to yug’. 2) In the Vachanãmrut, Shreeji Mahãrãj also uses the name “Shree Krishna” to describe Bhagvãn Purushottam Nãrãyan.Tap to open in glossary → himself. So I shall not speak falsely, O wise one; know me to be Ishwar (Shiva), and this to be SatiSatiA widow who, out of her total dedication and commitment to her husband, voluntary kills herself by throwing herself on her dead husband’s burning funeral pyre.Tap to open in glossary → (Parvati).

Knowing you to be hungry, merciful one, we came here at once. I wander to Shrirang and other sacred places, knowing them to be holy.

For the sake of having the darshandarshanSeeing. To see with admiration and devotion. To see Bhagvãn, a sat-purush, and murtis, with inner or outer vision, with the intention of receiving their grace and blessings. By doing darshan properly a bhakta develops affection for Bhagvãn, and Bhagvãn develops affection for that bhakta. [Sãrangpur – 2].Tap to open in glossary → of ones such as you, Lord, know that this is why we remain here." Hearing this account from Mahesh (Shiva), HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary → was filled with great joy.

"Sadashiv, dweller of Kailash, has met me directly." He touched his feet in recognition, and then the Lord folded both his own hands in return,

saying, "Lord, grant me the vision of Shiva's true nature, by which firm detachment may arise." Shivji said, "Listen, brave one - firm and steadfast detachment shall indeed come to you."

Praising one another thus, the two met with great joy. Then Ishwar (Shiva) vanished from sight, and the Lord came on to Bhutapuri.

Thus in the Bhaktachintamani, composed by Nishkulanand MuniMuniSãdhu.Tap to open in glossary →, disciple of Shri Sahajanand Swami, the establisher of the exclusive path of devotion, ends the thirty-fourth chapter, named "The Deeds of Shri HariHariAn avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in His four-armed svarup to save an elephant from being killed by a crocodile. He cut off the crocodile’s head with His chakra.Tap to open in glossary →."