Śrī Saptaśatī Gurucaritra – Chapter - 38

 

श्री सप्तशती गुरुचरित्र - Śrī Saptaśatī Gurucaritra
अध्याय – Chapter - 38

 

In this chapter, a deeply devoted but impoverished Brahmin named Bhaskara arrives in Ganagapur to offer alms (Bhiksha) to the Guru. He has only brought enough rations to feed three people. To satisfy his deep devotion, the Guru performs a famous miracle—similar to the multiplication of loaves and fish—where a tiny portion of food is magnified to satisfy over four thousand people of all castes, including animals, with plenty left over.

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गुरुंस भिक्षाद्याया आला । भास्कर विप्रसामग्रीला ।
तिघापुरति घेऊनी त्याला । भक्तीनेला प्रसादा ॥१॥

A destitute Brahmin named Bhaskara arrived to offer ritual alms (Bhiksha) to the Supreme Guru. He brought along simple raw cooking ingredients that were strictly sufficient to feed only three people, intending to prepare it with utmost love and devotion.

तो सर्व सामग्रीला । निजे घेऊनि उसेला ।
तीन मास असा त्याला । न मिळाला शून्य वार ॥२॥

He carried those meager rations with him everywhere, using them as a pillow while sleeping. Three long months passed in this manner, and he never found a single empty day or an opportunity to serve the Guru, as wealthy donors kept booking the alms-giving slot.

त्या हास्य करिती लोक । गुरु करविती पाक ।
म्हणती सांगे सर्व लोक । तो सांगे सर्वा भोजना ॥३॥

The local villagers began to mock his small stash of rations. Witnessing this, the Supreme Guru smiled and commanded Bhaskar, "Go ahead and cook your food today." The Guru then told him, "Go and invite the entire village to come for lunch." Bhaskara went out and invited everyone.

ते त्याचा बोला हंसती । कण वाटयान ये म्हणती ।
तें तो सांगे गुरुप्रती । बोलाविती तें त्यां सर्व ॥४॥

The townspeople laughed out loud at his invitation, mocking, "A single grain of rice won't even fall to anyone's share!" Bhaskar returned to the monastery and reported their ridicule to the Guru. The Guru calmly instructed him to go out again and firmly bring everyone inside.

निरहंकार तो ब्राह्मण । करी पाक सुनिष्पन्न ।
गुरु वस्त्रें झांकवून । नेववून वाढविती ॥५॥

The completely egoless Brahmin went ahead and beautifully completed cooking the small meal. The Guru then covered the cooking vessels entirely with a sacred cloth (Vastra), and ordered the disciples to carry the pots out and begin serving without looking inside.

द्विज हृष्टचित्त जेविती । थोर सान सर्व येती ।
चार हजार झाली मिती । ते जेविती आकंठा ॥६॥

The Brahmins sat down to dine with immensely joyous hearts. People of all ages—young and old, prominent and simple—came rushing in. The final count of the diners reached four thousand people, and every single one of them ate to their absolute heart's content.

अन्न दिल्हें सर्व जातीला । आचंडालश्वकाकांला ।
तरी तोटा नाहीं आला । जेवविला गुरुनें विप्रा ॥७॥

The blessed food was distributed universally across all sections of society, reaching right down to the outcasts, dogs, and crows. Yet, there was absolutely no shortage or depletion of food. In this manner, the Guru fed the massive gathering through a handful of grain.

अन्न संपेना तें जळीं । जलचरां दे त्या वेळीं ।
झाली ख्याती भूमंडळीं । वर त्यावेळीं देती विप्रा ॥८॥

Even after everyone was fully fed, the food in the vessels refused to run out. The remaining abundance was taken and cast into the river to satisfy the aquatic creatures (Jalacharas). This incredible miracle spread Bhaskar's and the Guru's fame across the entire earth, and the Guru blessed the poor Brahmin with great boons.

हर्षुनियां वदती लोक । तिघांपुरतां होता पाक ।
जेविले हे अमित लोक । हें कौतुक दुसरें ऐक ॥९॥

The townspeople exclaimed in sheer amazement, "The food prepared was mathematically sufficient for only three people, yet an uncountably vast multitude of people has eaten today!" Listening to this, Siddha Muni says to Namadharaka, "Now, hear another wonderful story of His divine play.”

 

 

 

 

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्य श्रीमद्वासुदेवानंदसरस्वति विरचिते श्री सप्तशती गुरुचरित्रे अष्टत्रिंशोऽध्यायः