Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 39 - English

Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 39Show more

Chapter 39 of Shrirdi Sai Satcharitra (English Version)

Complete English Playlist Link : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI6LdKwBZwGiaZfO_IEhX0ivQonA0FMSu
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This chapter of the Sai Satcharitra covers the following:
Baba’s Knowledge of Sanskrit
His Interpretation of a Verse from the Gita
And the Construction of the Samadhi Mandir
Some believed that Baba did not know Sanskrit and Hemadpant wrote another chapter (chapter 50) refuting that notion. As that chapter deals with the same subject matter, it is incorporated into this chapter.

Preliminary

Blessed is Shirdi, blessed is the Dwarkamayi where Shri Sai lived; And blessed are the people of Shirdi whom He obliged and for whom He traveled such a long distance. Shirdi was a small village at first, but it attained great importance on account of His contact and became a Tirtha− a holy place of pilgrimage. Equally blessed are the womenfolk of Shirdi; blessed is their whole and undivided faith in Him. They sang the glories of Baba while bathing, grinding, pounding corn and doing other household work. Blessed is their love, for they sang sweet songs which calm and pacify the minds of the singers and listeners.

Baba’s Interpretation

Nobody believed that Baba knew Sanskrit. One day, He surprised everyone by providing a good interpretation of a verse from the Gita, to Nanasaheb Chandorkar. A brief account about this matter was written by Mr.B.V.Deo, Retired Mamlatdar, and published in Marathi in the Shri Sai Leela magazine. Short accounts of the same are also published in Sai Baba’s Charters and Sayings and in The Wondrous Saint Sai Baba, both by B.V.Narsimhaswami. Mr.B.V.Deo has also written an English version of this in his statement dated 27th September 1936. As Mr.Deo had first-hand information about this matter from Nanasaheb himself, his version is given below:

“Nanasaheb Chandorkar was an avid student of the Vedanta. He had read the Gita with its commentaries and prided himself on his knowledge in that domain. He fancied that Baba knew nothing of all this or of the Sanskrit language. So Baba one day pricked that bubble. These were the days before crowds flocked to Shirdi, when Baba had solitary talks at the Masjid with a few devotees. Nana was sitting near Baba and was massaging His Legs and mumbling something to himself.

Baba: Nana, what are you mumbling to yourself?

Nana: I am reciting a verse in Sanskrit.

Baba: What verse?

Nana: It’s from the Bhagawad-Gita

Baba: Say it out loud.

Nana then recited B.G.IV-34 which is as follows:

Tadviddhi Pranipatena Pariprashnena Sevaya,

Upadekshyanti Te Jnanam Jnaninastattwadarshinah

Baba: Nana, do you understand it?

Nana: Yes.

Baba: If you do, then tell me what it means.

Nana: It means, “By Sashtanga Namaskar (prostration), questioning the guru and by serving him, learn what Jnana is. Then, those Jnanis who have attained the real knowledge of the Sad-Vastu (Brahma) will give you upadesha (instruction) about Jnana.”

Baba: Nana, I do not want this sort of summary of the whole stanza. Give me each word, its grammatical force and meaning.

Then Baba made Nana explain it word by word.

Baba: Nana, is it enough to merely prostrate?

Nana: I do not know any other meaning of the word “pranipata” other than “prostrating”.

Baba: What is pariprashna?

Nana: Asking questions.

Baba: What does Prashna mean?

Nana: The same (asking questions).

Baba: If pariprashna means the same as prashna (question), why did Vyasa add the prefix ‘pari‘? Was Vyasa out of his mind?

Nana: I do not know of any other meaning for the word pariprashna.

Baba: Seva, what kind of seva is being referred to?

Nana: Service- the kind we always do.

Baba: Is it enough to just render such service?

Nana: I do not know what more is signified by the word seva.

Baba: In the next line “upadekshyanti te jnanam“, can you replace the word Jnanam with any other word?

Nana: Yes.

Baba: What word?

Nana: Ajnanam.

Baba: Using that word (instead of Jnanam) can any meaning be made out of the verse?

Nana: No, the rules of the language give no such construction.

Baba: Never mind if it does not. Is there any objection to using the word Ajnana, if it gives a better sense?

Nana: I do not understand how to interpret it by placing Ajnana in it.

Baba: Why does Krishna ask Arjuna to see Jnanis or Tattwadarshis and to prostrate before them and serve them? Was not Krishna a Tattwadarshi, in fact a Jnani, himself?

Nana: Yes He was. But I cannot understand why he referred Arjuna to other Jnanis?

Baba: Have you not understood this?.....

Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all

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