Śrī Saptaśatī Gurucaritra – Chapter - 7

 

श्री सप्तशती गुरुचरित्र - Śrī Saptaśatī Gurucaritra
अध्याय – Chapter - 7

 

In this section, Sage Gautama narrates two stories to demonstrate the immense sin-cleansing power of Gokarna: first, the story of King Mitrasaha (who was cursed to become a demon), and second, the story of an utterly fallen outcast woman (Chandali) who was liberated simply by an accidental act of devotion.

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होता नरपती एक । मित्रसह तत्सेवक ।
श्राद्धीं नृमांस दे ठक । वसिष्ठादिक ऋषींसी ॥१॥

There was once a king named Mitrasaha. A demon disguised as a cook, playing a deceptive trick, served human flesh during a ritual feast (Shraddha) in Mitrasaha’s house to Sage Vasishtha and other holy ascetics.

ऋषी रुसे देयी शाप । ब्रह्मराक्षस हो भूप ।
विप्रा मारी तत्स्त्री शाप । दे स्त्रीसंपर्के मरसी ॥२॥

Infuriated by this act, the sage cursed the King to become a flesh-eating demon (Brahmarakshasa). While roaming in this demonic form, the King killed a Brahmin. The Brahmin’s grieving wife then cursed the King, saying, "The moment you intimately touch a woman, you shall die."

तो भूप बारा साल । जातां प्राग्वत् हो विमल ।
सांगे राणीसी सकल । शापबोल ब्राह्मणीचा ॥३॥

After twelve long years passed, the curse expired, and the King became pure and restored to his normal human self. He returned to his palace and told the Queen everything, including the deadly curse uttered by the Brahmin woman.

दुःखें मरुं इच्छी राणी । राजा तिला सांवरोनी ।
केलें पाप सांगोनी । तारा म्हणूनी प्रार्थी विप्रा ॥४॥

Filled with profound grief, the Queen wished to end her life. The King comforted and restrained her. Acknowledging the terrible sins he had committed; he pleaded with the learned Brahmins for a way to achieve redemption.

मनस्येकं वचस्येकं । असा नोहे हा सेवक ।
हें जाणोनी द्विज लोक । सांगे सम्यक् तीर्थयात्रा ॥५॥

Knowing that the King was not a hypocrite—whose mind thinks one thing while his tongue speaks another—the Brahmins carefully advised him to undertake a pilgrimage to holy sites (Tirthayatra).

ब्रह्महत्या न जाय ती । मग भूपा वाटे भीती ।
मिथिलापुरीं महामती । सांगे खंती गौतमाते ॥६॥

However, the terrifying sin of killing a Brahmin (Brahmahatya) refused to leave him. Filled with dread, the King travelled to the city of Mithila and poured out his deep sorrow to the wise Sage Gautama.

मुनीं तया आश्वासून । सांगे क्षेत्र गोकर्ण ।
तेथें दोष निवारुन । तूं पावन होशील बा ॥७॥

Comforting the King, Sage Gautama told him about the sacred land of Gokarna. He assured him, "By going there, all your sins will be utterly dissolved, and you will become pure and sanctified, my child."

ऐक थोडेसें आख्यान । म्यां देखिलें तें सांगेन ।
शिवदूत येती धांवून । चंडाळी मरतां एक ॥८॥

Sage Gautama continued, "Listen to a brief history that I witnessed with my own eyes. Once, when a wretched outcast woman (Chandali) died, the divine messengers of Bhagavan Shiva came rushing down to claim her."

हर्ष पाहतां हो तयां । म्यां पुसतां, करुनी दया ।
ते सांगती मातें राया । विप्रजाया प्राग्जन्मीं हे ॥९॥

"Seeing the joy and respect with which they treated her soul, I asked them out of curiosity to explain the reason. Showing mercy to me, O King, the divine messengers revealed her past life."

ही बालविधवा झाली । जारकर्मी रमली ।
स्वजनांनीं सोडिली । व्यक्त झाली वैश्यकांता ॥१०॥

"[They said:] In her previous birth, she was a Brahmin's wife. She became a widow at a very young age and fell into adulterous ways. Abandoned by her own family, she eventually became the mistress of a merchant."

असभ्य संगें दुष्ट । जारकर्में झाली भ्रष्ट ।
मद्यमांसें झाली पुष्ट । नेणे कष्ट पुढील ती ॥११॥

"Living in vulgar company, she grew completely corrupt through her continuous sinful acts. Feeding herself on alcohol and meat, she grew physically plump, entirely blind to the immense spiritual suffering that awaited her in the future."

मत्ता ते मेष म्हणून । गोवत्सा खायी मारुन ।
दुजे दिनी शिर पाहून । शिव म्हणून छपवी तें ॥१२॥

"Once, in a state of heavy intoxication, she mistook a young calf for a sheep, slaughtered it, and ate it. The next morning, when she discovered the calf’s severed head, she hid it out of fear, crying, 'O Shiva!'"

असी नांदता ती मेली । गोवघें हो चंडाळी ।
अविचारें हो आंधळी । व्रणे झाली जारकर्में ॥१३॥

"Living such an unrighteous life, she eventually died. Due to the terrible sin of slaughtering a cow (Go-vadha), she was reborn as an outcast woman (Chandali). Born blind as a result of her past thoughtless actions, her body was covered in foul sores due to her history of adultery."

असी तोकपणें झाली । मायबापें रक्षियेली ।
लवकर तेही मेलीं । पोरी झाली निराश्रय ॥१४॥

"She suffered terribly in this state during her childhood. Although her parents protected her for a while, they died early, leaving the young girl completely helpless and without shelter."

ती जन संयोगेशीं । आली गोकर्णक्षेत्रासी ।
वस्त्रहीन उपवासी । व्रतदिवशी मागे अन्न ॥१५॥

"Wandering aimlessly in the company of a group of travellers, she eventually arrived at the holy site of Gokarna. Starving and clothed in rags, she begged for food on a highly auspicious day of religious fasting (Shivaratri)."

ती याचावया कर । पुढें करी, कोणी नर ।
करीं टाकी बिल्वपत्र । टाकी दूर हुंगोनी ती ॥१६॥

"As she stretched out her hand to beg, a devotee passing by accidentally dropped a Bael leaf (Bilva-patra, sacred to Bhagavan Shiva) into her hand. Not knowing what it was, she smelled it and discarded it, throwing it away."

पडे दिष्टें लिंगावर । तेणें तुष्टे गौरीवर ।
करी इला भवपार । धाडी शीघ्र आम्हां येथें ॥१७॥

"By divine coincidence, that Bael leaf landed directly upon a sacred Shiva Lingam. This simple act deeply pleased Bhagavan Shiva (the husband of Gauri). He delivered her from the ocean of worldly existence and ordered us to bring her to his heavenly abode immediately."

पुनर्न जन्मेल ही । म्हणोनियां नेली त्यांहीं ।
गौतम म्हणे तूंही । नृपा पाहीं गोकर्णातें ॥१८॥

"The divine messengers concluded, 'She will never have to face rebirth in this mortal world again,' and they took her away. Gautama said, 'Therefore, O King, go and seek the holy sight of Gokarna.'"

नृप चमत्कार मानून । जातांची हो पांवन ।
तेथ साक्षाच्छिव जाण । म्हणोन ये श्रीपाद ॥१९॥

Filled with profound wonder, the King visited Gokarna and was instantly purified of all his sins. Knowing that Bhagavan Shiva resides there in physical manifestation, Bhagavan Shripada Shrivallabha chose to dwell at this sacred site.

 

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्य श्रीमद्वासुदेवानंदसरस्वति विरचिते श्री सप्तशती गुरुचरित्रे सप्तमोऽध्यायः