CHAPTER – 16

Suvrat said:-
O King, in the last hour of night, Shri Hari got up early morning, and went to the river Ganga with some of his attendants. 1

Apparently, not everybody was aware of this gesture of Shri Hari. But few sages who were aware about this, followed Him. 2

Anticipating the fear of the exasperating public, after finishing His bath and performing all the rites and rituals, Shri Hari, hurriedly returned to His abode. 3

Dressed in clean white attire, He sat on a knitted woollen seat, and applying the five customary marks (Urdhvapundra) on His fore-head etc., performed His daily rituals sandhya ritual. 4

He, then chanted the Gayatri mantra and offered morning oblations to Agni. He muttered glorifying hymns and reverentially worshipped Lord Shri Krishna. 5

King Uttama arrived there and having saluted Shri Hari, worshipped Him by offering sandal paste, whole rice grains, flowers, clothes and ornaments. 6

The King was somewhat astonished, to know that Shri Hari had already done away with His morning bath etc. He then, respectfully appeased the Lord by reciting the Dhanyashtaka Stotra, as: 7

Dhanyastak Stuti of Shree Hari performed by Dada Khachar.

‘O, Shri Hari ! when the assemblage of sages watch the stride of Your lotus-like feet, they also run after you carrying with them their water-pots and their garments. 8

‘O Shri Hari! Your act of bathing in the waters of Ganga, early in the morning is certainly beneficial to the people belonging to this mundane world. Your very appearance is really a bliss to all the onlookers. 9

The trees also which belong to Tama Prakruti, due to the very sight of Yourself, suddenly discard their Tamoguna and being very much delighted, seep honey. They become very modest due to the flowers and fruits which they bear, and engage themselves in Your worship, like the Sages, who are also eager to worship You. 10

Blessed are the myriad of birds who, in spite of their natural instinct of chirping, observe silence and sit motionless, by just holding on to the branches of the trees, meditating as it were on Your person. 11

Blessed are also the deer and the other wild animals, who do not pay any heed to (ignore) their bodily existence, while they stare at You, and without winking their eyes, meditating like the sages (ascetics). 12

Blessed are those Bhil tribal ladies, who, keeping aside their own household and corporal activities, run and bow down to You by prostrating their entire body by touching the earth. 13

Blessed is the river Ganga, who, having caught sight of You, who have touched its banks is endlessly oozing with the joy of devotion. She is expressing her excessive joy by her waves rising high by Your presence. 14

Blessed are the flamingos (Maral-Hansa), as it were awestruck (engaged) and fixed their eyes on Your divine self, ignoring the deportment of their own gait, and kept staring at Your adorable saintly feet, resemble the blessed, liberated great ascetics, who experience Your presence pervading in and out, (as though have freed themselves from all the bonds). 15

Blessed indeed am I, by Your divine Self, a lotus-eyed One with a smiling face, after taking holy bath in the river Ganga, along with the devout ascetics, Who has put on a shining white dress (robe), and has honored me by making my home as Your virtual
abode of residence. 16

Hari enjoyes the company of devotees seating on the outer altar of the temple.The citizens of Shripur, who could not worship Shri Hari, even though they had come a day before, arrived on the spot, while the King Uttama was praising Shri Hari. When the messenger informed about their arrival, as per the directive of Shri Hari, they came there hurriedly, bowed down to Him and worshipped Him with extreme reverence. 17-18

They offered Him a crimson stole of a very delicate texture, woven with golden dots, very expensive finely woven long red turbans, upper and lower garments, girdles, golden bracelets etc. They worshipped Him with sandal paste, auspicious rice grains, and garlands of flowers, and respectfully waved lights before Him. 19-20

They offered Him sugar, fruits, sugar cakes and candies and after taking His permission went back. 21

Thereafter, Shri Hari, wearing a red costume, came to the altar in the outskirts, and took His auspicious seat. Many ascetics and other people came there in groups and took their seats according to their respective ranks. 22-23

All the attendants also engaged themselves in the respective duties assigned to them. The expert musicians began playing their instruments and the vocalists gave their recitals. 24

Shri Hari, being pleased to notice Dinanathabhatta standing there, suddenly offered His valuable clothes, stole and waist loin turban to him. 25-26

Shri Hari poured a cavity-full of silver coins on him, and fostered special grace on him which, even the devout ascetics would desperately aspire for. 27

Malla-Kusti of Malla-Bhakta of Bhuj.

Gangeya and other wrestlers began flapping their arms, in order to catch the attention of Shri Hari. 28

Having noticed those over-enthusiastic devotees, who were eager to display their gymnastic art, Shri Hari, by raising His fingers, smilingly hinted them to perform their presentation. 29

They immediately tied up the waist-bands of their lower garments, and entertained Shri Hari and other people, by performing various wrestling skills like jumping, leaping, elevating etc. 30-31

Shri Hari admired the skill of the wrestlers, and being very much pleased, gave away plenty of clothes to them. 32

Brahmanand muni, who was very intelligent, ready-witted, and expert in argument jokingly alleged, O Shri Hari! ‘Can we now act upon Your latest declaration! Except the ascetics, everybody has fulfilled their wishes.’ 33-34

Brahmananda muni having said thus, Shri Hari, told all the ascetics, ‘ now all of you quickly start worshipping me individually’. 35

O King! Shri Hari, having said thus, taking sandal paste etc. in their hands all the ascetics geared up to worship Shri Hari. 36

The respectable attendants of Shri Hari, like Mukundanand and others, and the distinguished ascetics like Muktanand and others, were very much delighted. They, whose mind was (only) full of pious thoughts, moved forward towards Shri Hari whose vision was virtually full of mercy, and worshipped Him with reverence. 37

Thus ends the sixteenth chapter entitled, ‘Narration of Lord Shri Hari sitting on the outer altar worshipped by King Uttama,’ in the third prakaran of Satsangi Jivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as Dharmashastra, (the rules of the code of conduct). 16