THE STORY OF KARMABAI
49. Again listen, you pious people, to the recital of a most delightful story. The moment you listen to it the three kinds of aifiiction and all doubts will be destroyed.
50. Because Bhagwan is in the city of Jagannath in the form of Buddha, His bhaklas continually live there as It is a great sacred city.
51. There wjus a Brahman woman by name of Karmabai whose mind was ever at the feet of
Hari. While she was with child her husband died.
52. She mourned bitterly. She was in great distress and at the end of nine months a son was born to her.
53. She exclaimed, ' O God Supreme, Jagannath, let this bhakta of Thine live. ' The son grew from day to day. Then she had him married.
54. When his wife became with child Karmabai was greatly pleased. Just when her grandson
was born, however, her son died.
55. She mourned for him day and night, but she controlled her mind and said, * If this child but lives he will be of use to me. *
56. Karmabai took special care of him day and night. She never neglected her grandson even when she was sitting or virhen she was lying down or when she was eating.
57. Many days passed in this way, but the god of death took away the child, and Karmabai's heart felt no peace anywhere.
58. Mourning day and night she would exclaim, ' O merciful One, Shri Hari, why hast Thou placed
me in this sad world ? '
KARMABAI AND THE SAINTS
59. Just then some sadhus and saints who were on a pilgrimage to Jagannath arrived and took lodgings in the lioose of Karmabai.
60. Seeing her mental distress, they asked her for the reason of it and Karmabai told them just
what had happened,
61. The Vaishnavas said to her, 'This world is of a sorrowful nature. Know for certain that
there is not the least happiness here.
62. If one should sleep upon a bed infested with bugs, then it would only be as in a dream that he could see any happiness in this world.
63. If one is distre^ed with thirst, then he can only find happiness in this world by the satisfaction derived from seeing in a mirage floods of water.
64.. If one can live after ending life by drinking poison, only then can he find the happiness dreamed of in this world,
65. If a reader of Puranaa can receive happiness by explaining Putvmic stories to a deaf man, then only as in a dream can he find everlasting happiness in this world,
66, So now, Xaimabai, give attention. All worldly things are perishable. ' As the Vaishnava bhaktas said this, her heart melted.
67, Karmabai exclaimed to those sadkus and saints, ' I will do as you tell me. ' They said to her, ' Day
and night you must worship Jagannath. '
68. The sadhus preach according to one's worth. They have come as caxdars into this mortal world in order to save sinners.
69. They have come into this mortal world as avatars In order to help men to listen to the praise of the good qualities of Shri Hari, and to give to them the happiness of love.
70. It is to teach knowledge to the ignorant and the dull-minded. They have come into this mortal world to sweep away the pride of evil men.
71, Lest the path of bhaki u should become fouled and all men sink- into worldly things, therefore Vaishnavas in the Kali Yuga hxve deeoended as avcjUars to this mortal world.
AN IDOL CARESSED - BEEEAVED KARMABAI FONDLES GOPAL'S IMAGE
72. Well, Karmabai devoted herself to the feet of the saints. They took out of their things an image of Gk>pdl and gave it to her.
73. The Vaishnavas said to her, 'Con-tinue to worship it. Give to it the same love that you had
given to your son.'
74. Saying this the sadhus went to live at the sacred bathing-places- and Karmabai's heart felt
great joy.
75. Just as she used to play with her grandson, so now she acted crazily over the idol. The moment she saw it she would take away from it the efifeot bf an evil eye and caress it in her love.
76. She would take warm water and bathe the idol as she used to do with her little child on her feet. Then placing the god in a cradle, with love she would swing it.
77. In her love she used to dress it in garments and adornmsnts. Nothing else pleased her aside from the idol of Krishna.
78. Plao-ing buttermilk and rice in a plate, she would present it to this image of Gopal and tell it stories. She would exclaim, ' Eat this, eat this, O Lord of the world; You are hungry.*
79. Seeing her feelings of devotion, Hari began to eat at her house. Just then a Brahman who had maintained a perpetual fire came to lodge there.
80. She had arisen early one morning and was feeding the god. The Brahman asked her in reference to it and she told him her story.
81. The Brahman said to her, ' Listen to my words, Karmabai, give attention. Perform your bath and then wor-ship Shri Krishna.
82. If you make your food offerings to God with unclean clothes, He will not pay respect to
them.' Hearing what he said, she replied, ' I will do as you say.'
83. The next morning arising early she cleaned the floor and the yard, and then she brought holy water and prepared to cook.
84. In performing her domestic affairs she was delayed and therefore Jagannath became
hungry. Privately He went into the dream of the priest and told him what had happened.
KRISHNA BEYOND EARTHLY RULES
85. ' At the house of Karmabai, a very orthodox Brahman was staying. He placed a doubt
in her mind, and then hastened on his way.
86. He advised her to observe a very strict cleanliness and the offering of food is therefore delayed. Go to her at once and inform her.
87. The Paramatma (Supreme Spirit), the Pure Intelligence, One beyond all illusions, the Atmaram
( Divine Soul ) is never harmed by any bondage to reli-gious deeds.
88. Although a Doer, He is still a Non-doer, and yet Witnesser of the hearts, of all creatures. He
Who for the sake of His bhaktas has become an avatar can never be harmed by any bondage to religious deeds.
89. The Pervader of the universe, the Life of the world, in preaching knowledge of divine things, can never be harmed by any bondage to religious rites.'
90. The priest went and gave the information to Earmabai. She then brought the offering, and Hari in the presence of all ate from her hand>
91. Cries of ' Victory, Victory ' followed the clapping of bands. All the assembly of bhaktas rejoifeed. All the holy Brahmans were astonished.
92. They exclaimed, * Where the sacrifices and yoga practices are, there Shri Hari does not come, but He is eating herefrom the hand of Karmabai. This indeed is a novel sight.
93. He Whom Brahmadev and other gods and Shiva continually contemplate in their hearts, He eats from the hand of Karmabai. This is novel indeed.
94. He Whom the various forms of yoga and various opinions continually search for. He eats from the hand of Karmabai. It is novel indeed.'
95. One said, ' Even Brahmadev is unable to describe the power of a bhakta.' All the peqple then worshipped the feet of Earmabai.
96. Even today at the sacred place of Jagannath, the god Jagannath gives the evidence of this. After the food of Karmabai arrives, then the offerings are presented.
https://archive.org/search.php?query=StoriesofIndianSaints
49. Again listen, you pious people, to the recital of a most delightful story. The moment you listen to it the three kinds of aifiiction and all doubts will be destroyed.
50. Because Bhagwan is in the city of Jagannath in the form of Buddha, His bhaklas continually live there as It is a great sacred city.
51. There wjus a Brahman woman by name of Karmabai whose mind was ever at the feet of
Hari. While she was with child her husband died.
52. She mourned bitterly. She was in great distress and at the end of nine months a son was born to her.
53. She exclaimed, ' O God Supreme, Jagannath, let this bhakta of Thine live. ' The son grew from day to day. Then she had him married.
54. When his wife became with child Karmabai was greatly pleased. Just when her grandson
was born, however, her son died.
55. She mourned for him day and night, but she controlled her mind and said, * If this child but lives he will be of use to me. *
56. Karmabai took special care of him day and night. She never neglected her grandson even when she was sitting or virhen she was lying down or when she was eating.
57. Many days passed in this way, but the god of death took away the child, and Karmabai's heart felt no peace anywhere.
58. Mourning day and night she would exclaim, ' O merciful One, Shri Hari, why hast Thou placed
me in this sad world ? '
KARMABAI AND THE SAINTS
59. Just then some sadhus and saints who were on a pilgrimage to Jagannath arrived and took lodgings in the lioose of Karmabai.
60. Seeing her mental distress, they asked her for the reason of it and Karmabai told them just
what had happened,
61. The Vaishnavas said to her, 'This world is of a sorrowful nature. Know for certain that
there is not the least happiness here.
62. If one should sleep upon a bed infested with bugs, then it would only be as in a dream that he could see any happiness in this world.
63. If one is distre^ed with thirst, then he can only find happiness in this world by the satisfaction derived from seeing in a mirage floods of water.
64.. If one can live after ending life by drinking poison, only then can he find the happiness dreamed of in this world,
65. If a reader of Puranaa can receive happiness by explaining Putvmic stories to a deaf man, then only as in a dream can he find everlasting happiness in this world,
66, So now, Xaimabai, give attention. All worldly things are perishable. ' As the Vaishnava bhaktas said this, her heart melted.
67, Karmabai exclaimed to those sadkus and saints, ' I will do as you tell me. ' They said to her, ' Day
and night you must worship Jagannath. '
68. The sadhus preach according to one's worth. They have come as caxdars into this mortal world in order to save sinners.
69. They have come into this mortal world as avatars In order to help men to listen to the praise of the good qualities of Shri Hari, and to give to them the happiness of love.
70. It is to teach knowledge to the ignorant and the dull-minded. They have come into this mortal world to sweep away the pride of evil men.
71, Lest the path of bhaki u should become fouled and all men sink- into worldly things, therefore Vaishnavas in the Kali Yuga hxve deeoended as avcjUars to this mortal world.
AN IDOL CARESSED - BEEEAVED KARMABAI FONDLES GOPAL'S IMAGE
72. Well, Karmabai devoted herself to the feet of the saints. They took out of their things an image of Gk>pdl and gave it to her.
73. The Vaishnavas said to her, 'Con-tinue to worship it. Give to it the same love that you had
given to your son.'
74. Saying this the sadhus went to live at the sacred bathing-places- and Karmabai's heart felt
great joy.
75. Just as she used to play with her grandson, so now she acted crazily over the idol. The moment she saw it she would take away from it the efifeot bf an evil eye and caress it in her love.
76. She would take warm water and bathe the idol as she used to do with her little child on her feet. Then placing the god in a cradle, with love she would swing it.
77. In her love she used to dress it in garments and adornmsnts. Nothing else pleased her aside from the idol of Krishna.
78. Plao-ing buttermilk and rice in a plate, she would present it to this image of Gopal and tell it stories. She would exclaim, ' Eat this, eat this, O Lord of the world; You are hungry.*
79. Seeing her feelings of devotion, Hari began to eat at her house. Just then a Brahman who had maintained a perpetual fire came to lodge there.
80. She had arisen early one morning and was feeding the god. The Brahman asked her in reference to it and she told him her story.
81. The Brahman said to her, ' Listen to my words, Karmabai, give attention. Perform your bath and then wor-ship Shri Krishna.
82. If you make your food offerings to God with unclean clothes, He will not pay respect to
them.' Hearing what he said, she replied, ' I will do as you say.'
83. The next morning arising early she cleaned the floor and the yard, and then she brought holy water and prepared to cook.
84. In performing her domestic affairs she was delayed and therefore Jagannath became
hungry. Privately He went into the dream of the priest and told him what had happened.
KRISHNA BEYOND EARTHLY RULES
85. ' At the house of Karmabai, a very orthodox Brahman was staying. He placed a doubt
in her mind, and then hastened on his way.
86. He advised her to observe a very strict cleanliness and the offering of food is therefore delayed. Go to her at once and inform her.
87. The Paramatma (Supreme Spirit), the Pure Intelligence, One beyond all illusions, the Atmaram
( Divine Soul ) is never harmed by any bondage to reli-gious deeds.
88. Although a Doer, He is still a Non-doer, and yet Witnesser of the hearts, of all creatures. He
Who for the sake of His bhaktas has become an avatar can never be harmed by any bondage to religious deeds.
89. The Pervader of the universe, the Life of the world, in preaching knowledge of divine things, can never be harmed by any bondage to religious rites.'
90. The priest went and gave the information to Earmabai. She then brought the offering, and Hari in the presence of all ate from her hand>
91. Cries of ' Victory, Victory ' followed the clapping of bands. All the assembly of bhaktas rejoifeed. All the holy Brahmans were astonished.
92. They exclaimed, * Where the sacrifices and yoga practices are, there Shri Hari does not come, but He is eating herefrom the hand of Karmabai. This indeed is a novel sight.
93. He Whom Brahmadev and other gods and Shiva continually contemplate in their hearts, He eats from the hand of Karmabai. This is novel indeed.
94. He Whom the various forms of yoga and various opinions continually search for. He eats from the hand of Karmabai. It is novel indeed.'
95. One said, ' Even Brahmadev is unable to describe the power of a bhakta.' All the peqple then worshipped the feet of Earmabai.
96. Even today at the sacred place of Jagannath, the god Jagannath gives the evidence of this. After the food of Karmabai arrives, then the offerings are presented.
https://archive.org/search.php?query=StoriesofIndianSaints
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