Śrī Saptaśatī Gurucaritra – Chapter - 45

 

श्री सप्तशती गुरुचरित्र - Śrī Saptaśatī Gurucaritra
अध्याय – Chapter - 45

 

In this chapter, an arrogant Brahmin scholar named Nandi is afflicted with severe leprosy. He initially travels to the temple of Devi Bhavani in Tuljapur for a cure. The Devi rebukes his pride, questions why he bypassed Bhagavan Dattatreya, and directs him to Shri Narasimha Saraswati in Ganagapur. The Guru humbles him, commands him to take a purificatory bath at the confluence, and subsequently cures him. The text concludes with Nandi transforming into a celebrated poet (Kavishreshtha) after the Guru touches his tongue with sacred ash.

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ऐकें ईश्वर प्रभाव । नंदिनाम एक भूदेव ।
कुष्ठें व्यापुंनि घे धांव । देवीपाशी तुळजापुरीं ॥१॥

Listen attentively to the magnificent power of the Supreme Bhagavan. There was a Brahmin scholar named Nandi who was entirely covered and afflicted with leprosy. Seeking a cure, he rushed to the temple of the Supreme Devi at Tuljapur.

त्या ईश्वरीजा गुरुपाशीं । म्हणें, तो बोलेकां नरापशीं ।
धाडिसी, मग भोपे यांसीं । सांगून त्यांसी घालविलें ॥२॥

The divine Devi Bhavani addressed him in a dream, saying, "Why have you bypassed the Supreme Bhagavan and come to me? Why do you run to others?" The temple priest (Bhopa), acting on her divine guidance, formally instructed Nandi to leave and go to Ganagapur.

धी पुरःसर नावडता । तो ये भेटे गुरुनाथा ।
गुरु म्हणे तूं कां आतां । आलास रे नरापाशीं ॥३॥

His initial intellectual pride (Dhee) completely shattered, the suffering Brahmin arrived in Ganagapur and approached the King of Gurus. The Guru mockingly asked him, "Why have you come to a mere mortal human being like me now?”

स्वकीय खूण ओळखून । तो प्रार्थी त्या देव मानून ।
गुरु मह्णे पापें करुन । कुष्ठें व्यापून गेलासी ॥४॥

Instantly recognizing the inner hint and the sign given by the Bhagavan, Nandi surrendered completely, looked upon Him as the living Supreme God, and prayed intensely. The Guru addressed him, saying, "It is entirely due to the heavy accumulation of your past sins that your body has been consumed by leprosy.”

अकस्मात् पाप हो दूरी । या संगमीं स्नान तूं करीं ।
म्हणोनी त्याबरोबरीं । सोमनाथासी धाडिती ॥५॥

"To wash away these sins instantly, go and take a holy bath at this sacred confluence of rivers." Saying this, the Guru dispatched a disciple named Somnath to accompany him to the river.

तो त्याक्षणीं स्नान करी । अश्वत्था प्रदक्षिणा करीं ।
मठीये त्या अवसरीं । पाहें शरीरीं गुरु म्हणे ॥६॥

Nandi immediately took a holy dip at the confluence and performed circumambulations around the sacred Peepal tree (Ashwattha). Upon his return to the monastery (Matha), the Guru looked at him and said, "Examine your physical frame now.”

शरीर त्याचे दिव्य झालें । किंचित् जंघेसी राहिलें ।
पुसे कुष्ठ हें कां राहिलें । गुरुबोले विकल्पानें ॥७॥

His entire body had transformed, becoming exceptionally radiant and divine, except for a tiny patch of leprosy that remained on his thigh (Jangha). Nandi anxiously asked, "O Master, why has this small trace of the disease stayed behind?" The Guru replied, pointing out his subtle doubt.

त्वांजीमनुष्यधी धरिली । तीच तूज आड आली ।
माझी स्तुती करीं भली, म्हणेतोलिखितही नेणे ॥८॥

"It is because you harbored the narrow intellect of viewing me as a mere human being (Manushya-dhee). That residual doubt alone has blocked your complete recovery. Go, compose a beautiful hymn of praise to me now." Nandi replied meekly, "O Bhagavan, I am completely unlettered and do not even know how to write.”

विभूती मग जिव्हेवर । टाकूनी, गुरु म्हणे स्तोत्र ।
करीं, मग तो होयी धीर । करी स्तोत्र श्रीगुरुचें ॥९॥

The Supreme Guru then placed a portion of powerful, sacred ash (Vibhuti) directly onto Nandi’s tongue and commanded, "Sing the hymn now." Instantly infused with immense spiritual fortitude and eloquence, Nandi began to sing the praises of the Shri Guru.

आत्मा तो तूं सर्वाधीश । शुद्ध बुद्ध नित्य त्रीश ।
तुला नेणुनि कर्मपाशें । बद्ध होती जीव अज्ञाने ॥१०॥

[Nandi sang:] "You alone are the indwelling Soul (Atma) and the Supreme Ruler of all expressions of life. You are eternally pure, completely enlightened, and the Bhagavan of the three worlds (Trisha). Ignorous human beings, failing to recognize Your true divinity, remain tightly bound in the shackles of past actions (Karma-pasha).

ते अहंकारें त्रिविध । पापें, घेती योनी विविध ।
समपापपुण्यें त्रिविध । नर होती रक्तरेतें ॥११॥

"Blinded by the three material qualities, souls commit sins out of ego (Ahankara) and wander through a vast variety of animal wombs. When their past merits and demerits eventually align equally, they take birth as human beings through the combination of blood and seed.”

गर्भी महाकष्ट भोगी । सोडवाया प्रार्थी विरागी ।
उपजतां वेगीं । पुढें भोगी होउनि मरे ॥१२॥

"The soul suffers immense, agonizing tortures while confined inside the mother's womb (Garbha). In that dark space, it turns detached (Viraghi) and prays intensely to God for deliverance. Yet, the moment it takes birth into the world, it becomes heavily entangled in material enjoyments and ultimately dies in ignorance.”

त्वद्वीक्षणा विना कैसा । मोक्षा जाईल हा पिसा ।
तूंची कृपा करी ऐसा । प्रार्थीमानसां स्थिरावून ॥१३॥

"Without receiving Your merciful, divine glance (Tvad-veekshana), how can this mad worldly soul ever cross over to absolute liberation (Moksha)? Therefore, stabilize my restless mind and shower Your unconditional grace upon me.”

गेलें राहिलेलें कुष्ठ । जहाला तो गुरुप्रेष्ठ ।
कविता करी कविश्रेष्ठ । एकनिष्ठ गुरुपदीं ॥१४॥

The moment he concluded his prayer, the remaining patch of leprosy vanished completely from his skin. Nandi became a highly beloved devotee of the Guru (Guru-preshta). Blessed with extraordinary eloquence, he was recognized as a foremost, celebrated poet (Kavishreshtha), remaining single-mindedly anchored at the holy feet of the Shri Guru.

 

 

 

 

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्य श्रीमद्वासुदेवानंदसरस्वति विरचिते श्री सप्तशती गुरुचरित्रे पञ्चचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः