Śrī Saptaśatī Gurucaritra – Chapter - 30

 

श्री सप्तशती गुरुचरित्र - Śrī Saptaśatī Gurucaritra
अध्याय – Chapter - 30

 

This chapter narrates the story of a devout couple from the sacred town of Mahur, who lost all their children except one son, survived by a boon from Bhagavan Datta. However, after his marriage, the son falls fatally ill with a wasting disease and passes away upon arriving in Ganagapur. As his young, fiercely devoted wife (Sati) prepares to end her life in grief, a mysterious ascetic (the Guru in disguise) appears and delivers a profound discourse on the nature of life, death, and the soul.

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दत्ताधिष्ठित माहोर । तेथें गोपीनाथ विप्र ।
तया होउनी मेले पुत्र । दत्तवर वांचवी एक ॥१॥

In the holy town of Mahur, which is a powerful seat of Bhagavan Dattatreya (Dattadhishthita), there lived a Brahmin named Gopinath. All of his children died prematurely, but through a divine boon from Bhagavan Datta, one son survived.

ते निष्ठा दत्तावर । ठेउनी करिती संस्कार ।
त्याचा विवाह केला थोर । हर्षे सादर मायबापें ॥२॥

Placing their absolute faith and trust in Bhagavan Datta, the parents performed all the sacred childhood rituals for the boy. As he grew up, his mother and father joyfully and respectfully arranged a grand marriage for him.

त्यां होय रुप समान । साजे जोडें देवासमान ।
पतिसेवेवांचून । सतीमन न विसंबे ॥३॥

The young bride was as beautiful and virtuous as the son; they looked like a divine couple matched by the divinities themselves. Without rendering dedicated service to her husband (Pati-seva), the chaste young woman’s mind never found rest.

सून महा पतिव्रता । तयां हर्ष हो पहातां ।
तंव आली दुर्दैवता । रोग सुता त्या हो असाध्य ॥४॥

Seeing their daughter-in-law's supreme devotion to her husband (Pativrata), the parents were filled with immense happiness. However, a dark twist of misfortune soon struck them, and the son was afflicted with an incurable, fatal illness.

होऊन क्षयरोग । क्षीण झालें पतिचें आंग ।
जेवीना तो तसी चांग । सती हो रोग नसतांही ॥५॥

Struck by a severe case of tuberculosis (Kshaya-roga), the husband’s body grew intensely emaciated and weak. Whenever he was unable to eat, the virtuous young wife would also fast out of deep empathy, even though she was completely healthy and free of disease.

हो पश्चात्ताप द्विजांला । व्यर्थ वरिली सुभगेला ।
म्हणे तुझा भोग सरला । माहेराला जांई सुखें ॥६॥

Filled with deep remorse, the ailing Brahmin said to his young wife, "I feel absolute regret for marrying a beautiful, virtuous woman like you. It seems your time to enjoy worldly happiness with me has come to an end. You should return to your maternal home and live in peace.”

ती भयंकर वाचा । ऐकून म्हणे तुमचा ।
जेथ देह तेथ हा साचा । असे तुमचा अर्धात्मा हा ॥७॥

Hearing these painful words, she replied, "Wherever your physical body goes, this soul of mine shall follow. In truth, a wife is nothing but the living half-soul of her husband.”

नसो वियोग म्हणून । सासुसासर्‍यां प्रार्थून ।
धवा घेऊन डोंळींतून । ये गाणगाभुवना ॥८॥

Praying to her parents-in-law that she might never be separated from her husband, she placed him safely inside a covered litter and set out toward the holy land of Ganagapur to seek the Guru's grace.

त्रिदोष वाढुनी जाण । द्विज झाला गतप्राण ।
सती उठे द्याया प्राण । निवारण करी जन ॥९॥

However, upon arriving at Ganagapur, the husband’s health deteriorated he drew his last breath. As the devastated young wife rose to end her life alongside him, the local people gathered to restrain her.

तीं तयाचे आठवी गूण । रडे शीर्ष आपटून ।
म्हणे रुसे गौरिरमण । कोण चोरुन ने सौभाग्या ॥१०॥

Recalling her husband's endless virtues, she wept bitterly and beat her head against the ground in absolute agony, crying, "Has Bhagavan Shiva grown angry with me? Who has stealthily snatched away my marital bliss (Saubhagya)?”

जैं धेनु जातां शरण । राखुनि घे यवन प्राण ।
भेटूं जातां देवा पडून । टाकीं चुरुन देऊळ कीं ॥११॥

"Even a ruthless Muslim ruler saves the life of a cow that runs to him for shelter! Yet, just as I came running to fall at the feet of Bhagavan, the very temple of my life has been violently crushed to pieces!”

तेणें अप्री झालें मज । देवा शरण येतां आज ।
न राखसी माझी लाज । देवा तुज कींव न ये कीं ॥१२॥

"A terrible injustice has been dealt to me today. Even though I surrendered entirely to You, O Bhagavan, you failed to protect my modesty and honour. Does Your heart feel absolutely no pity or compassion for my plight?”

ती असे करी विलाप । तंव आला आपोआप ।
तो दीनाचा मायबाप । गुरु रुप पालटोन ॥१३॥

While she was wailing and lamenting in this heart-wrenching manner, a mysterious ascetic suddenly arrived at the spot on his own accord. Changing his outer appearance (Rupa), he was none other than the Supreme Guru, the ultimate protector and parent of the distressed.

तीसि वदे कां रडसी । जीव ये कीं रडतां यासी ।
मायामय संबंधासी । व्यर्थ म्हणसी पति मेला ॥१४॥

He addressed her gently, saying, "O daughter, why do you weep so bitterly? Will your crying ever bring life back into this lifeless frame? You are weeping merely for a temporary, illusory relationship, crying out in vain that your husband is dead.”

देव तेही काळाधीन । तुम्ही तरी मर्त्य जाण ।
पाहूं जातां विचारुन । मेला कोण कोण जन्मला ॥१५॥

"Even the mighty divinities are eventually devoured by the wheel of time; you must realize that all mortals are bound to perish. If you analyze this with deep spiritual discrimination, tell me: who truly dies, and who is ever born?”

देह उत्पन्न होऊन । मरे त्याहुन विलक्षण ।
आत्मा निंत्य विकारहीन । संबंधी न कवणाचा तो ॥१६॥

"The physical body is born and it perishes, but the indwelling soul (Atma) is entirely distinct from it. The soul is eternal, unchangeable, and free from modifications; it does not belong to anyone, nor is it bound by worldly relationships.”

त्या उत्क्रान्तीव्यापकाकैंची । वार्ता न त्या संबंधाची ।
नदीकाष्टवत्‌ हो देहांची । भेटी हेची कर्मयोगें ॥१७॥

"The all-pervading life-force that departs at death has no connection to these temporary earthly names and lineages. The coming together of two physical bodies in this world is just like two pieces of driftwood floating down a river that momentarily meet due to the current of past actions (Karma-yoga).”

ह्या अमंगळ देहाच्या । तादात्में भ्रम कर्मांचा ।
गुणमूल अज्ञानाचा । हो कीं साचाम परिणाम ॥१८॥

"It is only due to an individual's false identification with this impure, fragile physical body that the illusion of karma arises. This entire cycle of suffering is the direct consequence and manifestation of primal spiritual ignorance (Ajnana).”

तूं अतंद्रित होऊन । दे हा संबंध सोडून ।
जेणें जासी उद्धरुन । तें साधून घेई शीघ्र ॥१९॥

"Therefore, shake off your stupor and become fully alert. Cast away your attachment to this temporary relationship. Strive to achieve that ultimate spiritual liberation through which your soul will be delivered forever, and accomplish this goal swiftly.”

रक्तास्थि मांसा न रडें । हें ऐकून ती पायां पडे ।
म्हणे बापा शोकीं पडे । काढा कडे सोयरे तुम्हीं ॥२०॥

Hearing him say, "Do not shed tears for a combination of blood, bones, and flesh," the young woman fell prostrate at his holy feet and cried, "O holy father, I am drowning in a deep ocean of grief! You speak like a true, ultimate kinsman—please lift me out of this misery!”

 

 

 

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्य श्रीमद्वासुदेवानंदसरस्वति विरचिते श्री सप्तशती गुरुचरित्रे त्रिंशोऽध्यायः