Chapter – 47
Baba’s
Reminiscences - Story of Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa (snake and frog)
The
last chapter described Baba’s reminiscences about two goats. This chapter depicts
more recollections and relates the story of Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa.
Preliminary
Blessed
is the face of Sai. If we cast a glance at Him for even a moment, He destroys
the sorrow of many past births and confers great bliss on us. If He looks at us
with grace, our bondage of karma is immediately snapped away and we are led to happiness.
The river Ganges washes away the dirt and sins of all the people who go to her
for a bath, but she longs intently for saints to come to her and bless her with
their holy feet, thereby removing all the dirt (sins) accumulated in her. She
knows with certainty that this accumulation can be removed only in this way. Sai
is the crest jewel of the saints. Baba tells the following purifying story.
The
snake and the frog
Sai
Baba told a story about a snake and a frog in this manner: “One morning after taking
My breakfast, I strolled along until I came to a small river bank. As I was
tired, I rested there, washed My hands and feet, had a bath, and felt
refreshed. The breeze was blowing gently. I noticed a foot path and cart track
sheltered by shady trees. I sat down and as I was preparing to smoke chillim
(pipe), I heard the croaking of a frog. As I was striking a flint to light a
fire, a traveler turned up, sat by My side, bowed to Me and politely invited Me
to his house for meals and rest. He lit his pipe and handed it to Me. Just
then, the croaking was heard again and the traveler wanted to know what it was.
I told him that a frog was in trouble and was tasting the bitter fruit of its
own karma. We have to reap the fruit of what we sow (do) in our past life, and
there is no use crying about it. He then smoked and handed the pipe to Me and
said he would go in person and see for himself what was the matter. I told him
that a frog was caught by a big snake and was crying. Both were very wicked in
their past life and were now reaping the fruit of their actions in these
bodies. The traveler went off and found that a huge black serpent was holding a
big frog in its mouth.
He
returned to Me and said that in about ten or twelve minutes, the frog would be eaten
up by the snake. I said, “No, this cannot be allowed to happen. I am its father
(protector) and I am here now. I will not allow the snake to eat the frog. Just
see how I release it.” After smoking again, we walked back to where the
helpless frog was meeting his fate. The traveler was afraid and asked Me not to
proceed further as the snake might attack us. Not minding him, I went ahead and
addressed the creatures thus, “Oh Veerbhadrappa, has your enemy, Chenbassappa,
still not repented even though he has been born as a frog? And you, too, though
born as a serpent, still maintain bitter enmity against him? Fie upon you! Be
ashamed! Give up your hatred now and rest in peace.” Hearing these words, the
snake dropped the frog quickly and dove into the river and disappeared. The
frog also jumped away and hid in the bushes. The traveler was very surprised to
hear this story. He said he could not understand how the snake dropped the frog
and disappeared when I uttered those words. Who was Veerbhadrappa and who was
Chenbassappa? What was the cause of their enmity? The traveler was perplexed. I
then returned with him to the foot of the tree where we originally met and
after sharing a few puffs of smoke with him, I explained the whole mystery as
follows:
There
was an ancient holy place sanctified by a temple of Mahadev about four or five
miles from My place. The temple was old and dilapidated. The residents of the
place collected funds for its repair. After a large amount was collected,
arrangements for worship were made and plans with estimates for repairs were
prepared. A rich local man was appointed the treasurer and the whole work was
entrusted to him. He was to keep regular accounts and be honest in all his
dealings. He was, however, a first class miser, and spent very little for the
repairs, which, consequently, made very little progress. He spent all the
funds, swallowed some amount himself, and spent nothing from his own pocket. He
had a sweet tongue and was very clever in offering plausible explanations
regarding the poor and tardy progress of the work.
The
people went to him again and said that unless he lent his helping hand and
tried his best, the work would not be complete. They requested him to work out
the plans, and again, collected subscriptions and sent the amount to him. He
received it, but acted as before. Thus, no progress was made on the temple
repairs. After a few days, God (Mahadev) appeared in his wife’s dream and said
to her, “You must get up and have the dome of the temple built. I will give you
a hundred fold of what you spend.” She related the vision to her husband. He
was afraid it would involve him in some expenses and therefore laughed about it
saying it was a mere dream, something not to be relied and acted upon. After
all, why didn’t God appear to him and tell him? Was he far off from her? He
continued that it all appears to have been a bad dream, having for its object
the creation of ill feeling between husband and wife. Hearing this, the wife
remained quiet.”
God
does not like big subscriptions and donations collected against the wishes of the
donors, but He likes even trifling amounts given with love, devotion and
appreciation. Some days after, God again appeared in the wife’s dream and said,
“Do not concern yourself with your husband’s attitude and the collections he
manages. Do not press him to spend any money for the temple. What I want is
feeling and devotion. So give, if you like, anything of your own.” She
consulted her husband about the vision and decided to give God the jewelry her
father had given her. The miser felt disconcerted by this and decided to cheat
even God. He undervalued the ornaments at Rs. 1,000/ and bought them himself,
but in lieu of money, he gave a field to God as an endowment (security). His
wife agreed to this. The field (land), however, did not belong to the miser.
Rather, it belonged to a poor woman named Dubaki, who mortgaged it to him for
Rs. 200/. Thus, the cunning miser cheated every one - his wife, Dubaki and even
God! The land was sterile, uncultivated and yielded nothing, even in the best
seasons. It was virtually worthless, but the transaction was completed and the
land was given to a poor priest who was pleased with the endowment.
Sometime
later, strange things happened. There was a terrific storm with a heavy down
pour of rain. Lightening struck the miser’s house, killing both he and his
wife. Dubaki also passed away. In the next life, the rich miser was born in a
Brahmin family in Mathura and was named Veerbhadrappa. His devout wife of his
past life was born as the daughter of the priest of the temple and was named
Gouri. Dubaki, the mortgagor of the barren land, was born as a male in the
family of the temple’s gurav, and was named Chenbassappa. The priest was a
friend of Mine. He often came to chat and have a smoke with Me. His daughter,
Gouri, was also devoted to Me. She was growing fast and her father was seeking
a good husband for her. I told him not to worry about that as the bridegroom himself
would come seeking her.
In
time, a poor boy named Veerbhadrappa, of their caste, came wandering to the priest’s
home, begging for bread. With My consent, Gouri was given to him in marriage. At
first, the young man was devoted to Me, as I recommended his marriage with Gouri.
Yet even in this new life, he was hankering after money and asked Me to help
him get some, as he was leading a married man’s life. Then, strange things
happened. There was a sudden rise in prices. By Gouri’s good luck, there was a
great demand for land and the endowment land was sold for one lac of rupees
(one hundred times the worth of her jewelry). Half the amount was paid in cash
and the remaining was to be paid in twenty-five installments of Rs. 2,000/
each. Although all agreed to this transaction, they began to quarrel over the
money. They came to Me for consultation. I told them that the property belonged
to God and was vested in the priest, and Gouri was his sole heiress and
proprietress. I said no amount of money should be spent without her consent and
that her husband had no right whatsoever to the amount.
Hearing
My opinion, Veerbhadrappa was wroth with Me and said that I wanted to establish
Gouri’s claim and embezzle her property. Hearing his words, I remembered God and
kept quiet. Veerbhadrappa scolded his wife (Gouri) and she came to Me at noon requesting
Me not to mind the words of others and not to discard her, as she was My daughter.
As she thus sought My protection, I gave her a pledge that I would cross seven seas
to help her. Then, that night, Gouri had a vision. Mahadev appeared in her
dream and said, “The whole amount of the money is yours. Do not give anything
to anyone. Spend some of it for temple purposes in consultation with
Chenbassappa, and if you want to use it for some other purpose, consult Baba in
the masjid (Myself).” Gouri described her dream to Me and I gave her the proper
advice in the matter. I told her to take the principal, or capital, amount for
herself and to give half the amount of the interest to Chenbassappa.
Veerbhadrappa should have nothing to do in the matter whatsoever. While I was
thus talking, both Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa, who were quarreling with
each other, came in. Veerbhadrappa became angry and wild and threatened to kill
Chenbassappa by cutting him to pieces. The latter was timid. He caught My feet
and sought My refuge. I then pledged Myself to save him from the wrath of his
foe.
Then,
after some time, Veerbhadrappa died and was born as a snake and Chenbassappa died
and, according to his karma, was born as a frog. Hearing the croaking of Chenbassappa
and remembering My pledge, I came here, saved him, and kept My word. God runs
to His devotees to help in times of danger. He saved Chenbassappa (the frog) by
sending Me here. All this is God’s leela or sport.”
The
Moral
The
moral of this story is that one has to reap what one sows, and there is no escape
unless one suffers and squares up one’s old debts and dealings with others. Greed
for money drags the greedy man to the lowest level and ultimately brings destruction
on him and others.
Bow
to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
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