Sai Satcharitra-Shirdi Sai-Next Life-47

Sai Satcharitra

oi-Priya Devi

By Priya Devi

Thursday, January 13, 2011, 16:28

In the next life, the rich miser was born at Mathura in the Brahmin family and was named Veerbhadrappa. His devout wife was born as the daughter of the priest of the temple, and was named Gouri. The woman Dubaki (the mortgagor) was born as a male in the family of the Gurav (attendant) of the temple and was named Chenbassappa. The priest was a friend of Mine, He often came to Me, chatted and smoked 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 this, as the bridegroom himself would come seeking her. Then there came a poor boy named Veerbhadrappa of their caste, wandering and begging his bread to the priest's house.

With My consent Gouri was given in marriage to him. He was also at first devoted to Me, as I recommended his marriage with Gouri. Even in this new life he was hankering after money; and asked me to help him to get it, as he was leading a married man's life.

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 Lakh of rupees (100 times the worth of her ornaments given to Lord in her earlier birth). Half the amount was paid in cash and the remaining was to be paid in 25 installments or Rs. 2,000/- each. All agreed to this transaction, but 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 that Gouri was his sole heiress and proprietress and no amount should be spent without her consent and that her husband had no right whatsoever to the amount. On hearing My opinion, Veerbhadrappa was angry with Me and said, that I wanted to establish Gouri's claim and embezzle her property. On hearing his words, I remembered God and kept quiet.

Sai Ram. Excellent advice and we too should remember God and keep quiet when others threaten or abuse us or for that matter praise us too! Sai Ram.

Veerbhadrappa scolded his wife (Gouri) and she came to Me at noon and requested Me not to mind the words of the other 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 money is yours, do not give anything to anybody, spend some amount 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 told Me the vision; and I gave her the proper advice in the matter. I told her to take the principal or capital amount to herself, give half the amount of interest to Chenbassappa and that Veerbhadrappa had nothing to do in the matter. While I was thus talking, both Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa came there quarreling. I tried My best to appease them and told them God's vision to Gouri.

Veerbhadrappa got wild and angry and threatened to kill Chenbassappa cutting him to pieces. The latter being very timid, he caught My Feet and sought My refuge. After some time Veerbhadrappa died and was born as a snake and Chenbassappa died and was born as a frog. On hearing the croaking of Chenbassappa and remembering My pledge, I came here, saved him and kept My word. God runs to His devotees for help in times of danger. He saved Chenbassappa (the frog) by sending Me here. All this is God's Leelas or sport.
Sai Ram. Unless Siva wills it, not even an ant can bite us is the saying. How then can the snake kill the frog when Baba, who is none other than Siva Himself, assured it protection in its earlier birth? Sai Ram.

The Moral

The moral of the 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 dealing with others, and that greed for money drags the greedy man to the lowest level and ultimately brings destruction for him and for others.

Sai Ram. The stories of the two goats in the earlier chapter and the above story should make us Sai devotees very careful in our conduct with others in all matters and more importantly in matters of money. Greed, lust etc. are our real enemies and the debts that we pile up because of these internal enemies need several births and the grace of Sadguru Sai to clear off. Sai Ram.

Sai Satcharitra

Sai Satcharitra, a spiritual text, is the reflection of the story of Shirdi Sai (baba), a noted Indian Saint and His teachings, written by Hemadpant, a direct devotee and disciple of Shirdi Sai. This article is an excerpt from Sai Satcharitra-Chapter 47 which talks Shirdi Sai narrating the next life of the rich miser, his wife and Dubaki, the present life of the snake and the frog.

About the author

S V Swamy

Swarna Venkateswara Swamy, (also known as Venkateswara Swamy Swarna, S.V.Swamy or simply Swamy) is a physicist and a metallurgist by education. He considers Sai Baba of Shirdi as his Sadguru but respects all Gurus. He is an avid reader, a book reviewer and an editor. He has an abiding interest in holistic health systems.