Vasishthji says in the ‘Sri Yogavasishtha Maharamayana, “O Ramji! Who in the three worlds can remain happy by disobeying the saint?”
Saints are supremely benevolent. We should be determined to do what they say. In this lies our supreme good. We should not fail t act on their orders.
Lord Shankara says :
One should never ignore the orders of the Guru, be it just or unjust. Carrying out His behests, one should live, day and night like a servant with the Guru.’
The disciple should not doubt the Guru’s words even if they appear false to him. He should carry out His orders in right earnest.
The story dates back to the time when Delhi was ruled by Akbar. Akbar had made his son Jehangir the ruler of Lahore. Jehangir was very fond of hunting and also of the flesh of wild ducks. Once he planned a hunting expedition for seven days along with his bodyguards, soldiers and hunters in the dense forest of Gurudaspur near Lahore. He had also taken his cooks along with him. Everyday they would kill and eat the flesh of wild ducks.
Once in the course of their expeditions, they lost their way in the jungle. Some of them went towards the north while the others proceeded towards the southern direction. The battalion which had took off towards the north reached the ashram of a saint named Bhagawandas. The saint, along with his disciples lived in the natural, pure environment of that place called Pindori. Taking recourse to spiritual discussions and silence, they would remain reposed in the Brahman.
Bhagawandasji Maharaj had a disciple name Narayandas. One day the Guru said to him, “Son! Strength is depleted through speech. Be silent and do japa of ‘Om’ or ‘SOHAM’ with the incoming and outgoing breaths. You will experience natural joy by this. Stay here till I come.”
‘Only the saint knows what obedience and service to the Guru is.
The ignorant knows not what it is.’
Having listened to the Guru’s command, Narayandas bowed in reverence and became silent. Now Jehangir’s soldiers came to Narayandas and asked him, “We have lost our way. Where does this road lead to?” Narayandas was silent, he didn’t say anything. The soldiers shook him telling him to speak. They also threatened him but when they saw it having no effect upon him, they thought, ‘Let us take him to Jehangir’s camp. He will speak when he is punished and beaten.’ They took Narayandas, the true and worthy disciple, along with them and hurled all kinds of abuses on him, scolded and threatened him but Narayandas had made a firm resolve, ‘The Guru has ordered me to remain silent till he comes. I will carry out his orders even at the cost of my life.’ He bore the beatings and abuse but did not say anything.
Be it the material world or the spiritual world, without faithful adherence to a particular rule, without self-effort or without going through tests and trials, one is not blessed with any great endowment and even if he is, it does not last. I too had to face many trials and difficulties at the Guru’s place. Hurdles, obstacles and difficulties make us capable of receiving divine endowments. Therefore, we should not fear or lose heart.
The soldiers presented Narayandas before Jehangir, who as he was tired, said, “We will see him tomorrow.” The soldiers were Muslims and Narayandas was the disciple of a Hindu Sadhu. They had lost their way and he was silent. Angered at this, they said, “He is a hyprocrite and causing trouble to us. He is our enemy and an infidel!”
Now the soldiers were many and Narayandas was alone. Yet he bore their beatings and abuses. How great was his determination! In the morning, the offender was presented before Jehangir. He had not committed any offence, he was just obeying his Guru’s order to remain silent. Jehangir scolded and threatened him. Carrying out his orders, the soldiers beat him up but he didn’t speak a word. Jehangir was more furious, “We are inquiring him and he doesn’t speak! What does he think he is! Take him to Lahore. There he will be made to speak through severe punishment.”
When Narayandas refused to speak even after being severely tortured in Lahore, Jehangir was mad with anger. He ordered, “Make him drink poison.” The poison was prepared and brought in a bowl. Narayandas looked one-pointedly at the bowl, remembered his Guru and contemplated,’ Aum Aum…..this poison can do no harm to me. I will not be affected by the poison.’
He gulped down the poison while mentally repeating ‘Aum’. When he has obeyed the Guru, how can the poison disobey him? Jehangir stood shocked with his eyes wide open. He waited for Narayandas to stagger and collapse but there was the same peace and fearlessness on his face. Fuming with anger, Jehangir said, “There is no effect on you yet! Give him a second bowl.”
Narayandas drunk the second as well. When the third was given and there was again no effect on him, Jehangir thought that the poison must be artificial. It was given to a cat which died immediately. Jehangir stood dumbfound. He exclaimed, “The poison is strong. How come he is not affected then? Give him a fourth bowl.” He drank the fourth as well. Then the fifth and the sixth. Jehangir in his anger continued with his atrocity just like a defeated gambler who bets double the amount he had staked in the previous game.
Narayandas had such firm faith in his Guru that through the power of remembering his Guru and thoughts his firm resolve, he rendered the poison ineffective till he was given six bowls to drink. However, Jehangir didn’t want to stop. He said, “You don’t speak yet, nor do your die! Give him the seventh bowl.” When the seventh bowl was given, Narayandas prayed to God, “May Your Will be carried out.”
Amazing is the sport of the Supreme Lord, the Lord of the universe, Who dwells in all hearts! While it was Narayandas, the obedient, true and worthy disciple of Bhagawandas, who had drunk the seventh bowl.” When the seventh bowl was given, Narayandas prayed to God, “May Your Will be carried out.”
Amazing is the sport of the Supreme Lord, the Lord of the universe, Who dwells in all hearts! While it was Narayandas, the obedient, true and worthy disciple of Bhagawandas, who had drunk the seventh bowl of poison, it was Jehangir who was affected by it!
Touba, Touba……! Allah………!! I am dying……..” saying so, he staggered and collapsed to the ground. “Your Highness! Your Highness!! Saying so, his men wrung their hands in despair as they tried to revive him. His Highness was no more. All shivered in fear. When the beloved saint and devotees of God bear injustice and atrocities, God cannot tolerate it. When somebody perpetrated injustice against me, I didn’t retaliate but is so happened that he died due to brain hemorrhage while flying by a helicopter. Another one who crossed the limit trying to do harm to me, fell into a wretched condition. One went to jail, somebody had to face some misfortune while another had to face some other trouble. So, when you bear injustice and remains steadfast in God, the perpetrators of injustice are sure to be punished by God.
On his return, Bhagawandas Maharaj saw that Narayandas was not in his place. He thought, ‘My disciple Narayandas is not one who will leave the ashram against my order.’ The Guru became silent and sat in meditation. The whole incident was revealed to him. He saw how his worthy disciple was dragged and beaten by Jehangir’s soldiers and how he was made to drink poison and was now held in captivity.
Maharaj could not stand it any longer. He reached there in moment through his astral body and said, “He is my disciple and is observing a vow of silence. I had ordered him not to break his silence till I came. You people have administered poison to him for no reason at all. The six bowls of poison were rendered ineffective by Nature, by the grace of God, but the effect of the seventh bowl was sent towards you. Your emperor has died because of that.”
The commander and soldiers started entreating the saint, “Maharaj! Have mercy on us……pardon our emperor Jehangir.”
The saint said, “First release my disciple.”
They immediately freed Narayandas and begged him forgiveness.
Bhagawandasji said, “Okay, I am going. Rajvaidya (the court physician)! Treat him for the deadly poison. Everything will be alright by the grace of God.”
“Your Holiness! Have mercy, have mercy upon us.”
“Okay, you treat him while I am here.”
After some treatment, the saint cast a Jehangir’s astral body, which was wandering, returned back to his physical body. As his body stirred, there was joy all around. Maharaj was thanked. Bhagawandas set out towards the forest accompanied by his disciple Narayandas. Jehangir recovered completely within a week but he was so frightened after this incident that he went to Pindori to beg forgiveness from Bhagawandas. He prayed before him and asked him how he could atone his sins. Bhagawandas said, “Son! Go hence forth never trouble a saint. This itself is the real atonement.” The cruelty of Jehangir and his soldiers, Narayandas’ vow of silence and his steadfast devotion to the Guru, those circumstances and Naryandas’ ability to overcome them have all been carried away in the stream of time. The cruelty of the cruel has forced them into miserable life-forms, the sadhana and resoluteness of the devotees of Guru will help them rise to a higher plane of existence but the supreme truth is that nobility, cruelty and their fruits come and go by the power of the Truth-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute, the Immutable Atman. Blessed is the Self-realized saint who is established in that Atman! Blessed are those who have their darshanm, and blessed are those who listen to and understand their ideas!
Saints are supremely benevolent. We should be determined to do what they say. In this lies our supreme good. We should not fail t act on their orders.
Lord Shankara says :
One should never ignore the orders of the Guru, be it just or unjust. Carrying out His behests, one should live, day and night like a servant with the Guru.’
The disciple should not doubt the Guru’s words even if they appear false to him. He should carry out His orders in right earnest.
The story dates back to the time when Delhi was ruled by Akbar. Akbar had made his son Jehangir the ruler of Lahore. Jehangir was very fond of hunting and also of the flesh of wild ducks. Once he planned a hunting expedition for seven days along with his bodyguards, soldiers and hunters in the dense forest of Gurudaspur near Lahore. He had also taken his cooks along with him. Everyday they would kill and eat the flesh of wild ducks.
Once in the course of their expeditions, they lost their way in the jungle. Some of them went towards the north while the others proceeded towards the southern direction. The battalion which had took off towards the north reached the ashram of a saint named Bhagawandas. The saint, along with his disciples lived in the natural, pure environment of that place called Pindori. Taking recourse to spiritual discussions and silence, they would remain reposed in the Brahman.
Bhagawandasji Maharaj had a disciple name Narayandas. One day the Guru said to him, “Son! Strength is depleted through speech. Be silent and do japa of ‘Om’ or ‘SOHAM’ with the incoming and outgoing breaths. You will experience natural joy by this. Stay here till I come.”
‘Only the saint knows what obedience and service to the Guru is.
The ignorant knows not what it is.’
Having listened to the Guru’s command, Narayandas bowed in reverence and became silent. Now Jehangir’s soldiers came to Narayandas and asked him, “We have lost our way. Where does this road lead to?” Narayandas was silent, he didn’t say anything. The soldiers shook him telling him to speak. They also threatened him but when they saw it having no effect upon him, they thought, ‘Let us take him to Jehangir’s camp. He will speak when he is punished and beaten.’ They took Narayandas, the true and worthy disciple, along with them and hurled all kinds of abuses on him, scolded and threatened him but Narayandas had made a firm resolve, ‘The Guru has ordered me to remain silent till he comes. I will carry out his orders even at the cost of my life.’ He bore the beatings and abuse but did not say anything.
Be it the material world or the spiritual world, without faithful adherence to a particular rule, without self-effort or without going through tests and trials, one is not blessed with any great endowment and even if he is, it does not last. I too had to face many trials and difficulties at the Guru’s place. Hurdles, obstacles and difficulties make us capable of receiving divine endowments. Therefore, we should not fear or lose heart.
The soldiers presented Narayandas before Jehangir, who as he was tired, said, “We will see him tomorrow.” The soldiers were Muslims and Narayandas was the disciple of a Hindu Sadhu. They had lost their way and he was silent. Angered at this, they said, “He is a hyprocrite and causing trouble to us. He is our enemy and an infidel!”
Now the soldiers were many and Narayandas was alone. Yet he bore their beatings and abuses. How great was his determination! In the morning, the offender was presented before Jehangir. He had not committed any offence, he was just obeying his Guru’s order to remain silent. Jehangir scolded and threatened him. Carrying out his orders, the soldiers beat him up but he didn’t speak a word. Jehangir was more furious, “We are inquiring him and he doesn’t speak! What does he think he is! Take him to Lahore. There he will be made to speak through severe punishment.”
When Narayandas refused to speak even after being severely tortured in Lahore, Jehangir was mad with anger. He ordered, “Make him drink poison.” The poison was prepared and brought in a bowl. Narayandas looked one-pointedly at the bowl, remembered his Guru and contemplated,’ Aum Aum…..this poison can do no harm to me. I will not be affected by the poison.’
He gulped down the poison while mentally repeating ‘Aum’. When he has obeyed the Guru, how can the poison disobey him? Jehangir stood shocked with his eyes wide open. He waited for Narayandas to stagger and collapse but there was the same peace and fearlessness on his face. Fuming with anger, Jehangir said, “There is no effect on you yet! Give him a second bowl.”
Narayandas drunk the second as well. When the third was given and there was again no effect on him, Jehangir thought that the poison must be artificial. It was given to a cat which died immediately. Jehangir stood dumbfound. He exclaimed, “The poison is strong. How come he is not affected then? Give him a fourth bowl.” He drank the fourth as well. Then the fifth and the sixth. Jehangir in his anger continued with his atrocity just like a defeated gambler who bets double the amount he had staked in the previous game.
Narayandas had such firm faith in his Guru that through the power of remembering his Guru and thoughts his firm resolve, he rendered the poison ineffective till he was given six bowls to drink. However, Jehangir didn’t want to stop. He said, “You don’t speak yet, nor do your die! Give him the seventh bowl.” When the seventh bowl was given, Narayandas prayed to God, “May Your Will be carried out.”
Amazing is the sport of the Supreme Lord, the Lord of the universe, Who dwells in all hearts! While it was Narayandas, the obedient, true and worthy disciple of Bhagawandas, who had drunk the seventh bowl.” When the seventh bowl was given, Narayandas prayed to God, “May Your Will be carried out.”
Amazing is the sport of the Supreme Lord, the Lord of the universe, Who dwells in all hearts! While it was Narayandas, the obedient, true and worthy disciple of Bhagawandas, who had drunk the seventh bowl of poison, it was Jehangir who was affected by it!
Touba, Touba……! Allah………!! I am dying……..” saying so, he staggered and collapsed to the ground. “Your Highness! Your Highness!! Saying so, his men wrung their hands in despair as they tried to revive him. His Highness was no more. All shivered in fear. When the beloved saint and devotees of God bear injustice and atrocities, God cannot tolerate it. When somebody perpetrated injustice against me, I didn’t retaliate but is so happened that he died due to brain hemorrhage while flying by a helicopter. Another one who crossed the limit trying to do harm to me, fell into a wretched condition. One went to jail, somebody had to face some misfortune while another had to face some other trouble. So, when you bear injustice and remains steadfast in God, the perpetrators of injustice are sure to be punished by God.
On his return, Bhagawandas Maharaj saw that Narayandas was not in his place. He thought, ‘My disciple Narayandas is not one who will leave the ashram against my order.’ The Guru became silent and sat in meditation. The whole incident was revealed to him. He saw how his worthy disciple was dragged and beaten by Jehangir’s soldiers and how he was made to drink poison and was now held in captivity.
Maharaj could not stand it any longer. He reached there in moment through his astral body and said, “He is my disciple and is observing a vow of silence. I had ordered him not to break his silence till I came. You people have administered poison to him for no reason at all. The six bowls of poison were rendered ineffective by Nature, by the grace of God, but the effect of the seventh bowl was sent towards you. Your emperor has died because of that.”
The commander and soldiers started entreating the saint, “Maharaj! Have mercy on us……pardon our emperor Jehangir.”
The saint said, “First release my disciple.”
They immediately freed Narayandas and begged him forgiveness.
Bhagawandasji said, “Okay, I am going. Rajvaidya (the court physician)! Treat him for the deadly poison. Everything will be alright by the grace of God.”
“Your Holiness! Have mercy, have mercy upon us.”
“Okay, you treat him while I am here.”
After some treatment, the saint cast a Jehangir’s astral body, which was wandering, returned back to his physical body. As his body stirred, there was joy all around. Maharaj was thanked. Bhagawandas set out towards the forest accompanied by his disciple Narayandas. Jehangir recovered completely within a week but he was so frightened after this incident that he went to Pindori to beg forgiveness from Bhagawandas. He prayed before him and asked him how he could atone his sins. Bhagawandas said, “Son! Go hence forth never trouble a saint. This itself is the real atonement.” The cruelty of Jehangir and his soldiers, Narayandas’ vow of silence and his steadfast devotion to the Guru, those circumstances and Naryandas’ ability to overcome them have all been carried away in the stream of time. The cruelty of the cruel has forced them into miserable life-forms, the sadhana and resoluteness of the devotees of Guru will help them rise to a higher plane of existence but the supreme truth is that nobility, cruelty and their fruits come and go by the power of the Truth-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute, the Immutable Atman. Blessed is the Self-realized saint who is established in that Atman! Blessed are those who have their darshanm, and blessed are those who listen to and understand their ideas!
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