Sant Tukkaram- Part-4 by Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji

[Guest guest]

Radhe Krishna to All,

 

Since his visit to Tukkaram, Shivaji was unable to eat or sleep. He felt guilty

when food was served. He felt guilty when he went to lie on the soft silken bed.

Samarta Ramdas and Tukkaram were like his two eyes. He was reminded of his Guru

Tukkaram and his children. He was deeply disturbed about the condition under

which they lived. They neither had a proper roof over their heads nor a square

meal a day. He decided to offer gold and grains to his Guru. Carrying a big

block of gold and cart full of food stocks, Shivaji set out to meet his Guru.

Meanwhile at Tukkaram's home he instructed his wife, " Shivaji is coming to see

me. I do not desire to meet him. I am leaving for the forest. Do not tell him my

whereabouts.†Tukkaram then went away to the nearby forest taking his

˜tamboora™ with him. Soon Shivaji arrived at Tukkaram™s hut.

 

Shivaji asked Tukkarm's wife, " Where is my Guru? " Shaken by the appearance of

the King the timid lady blurted out, " He does not desire to meet you and has

left for the forest. Please do not tell him that I had informed you about his

whereabouts. "

 

Ordering his army to stay there, Shivaji went all alone into the forest to meet

Tukkaram. Tukkaram turned his face away as Shivaji went up to him. Pained and

with tears in his eyes, Shivaji asked sorrowfully, " Master! you have always

welcomed me smilingly and spoken to me. Even a single word uttered by you is

like a drop of water that an extremely thirsty man receives. Any amount of talk

by any number of people is like the water of the ocean that serves no purpose

for the thirsty. Why do you turn your face away from me today? "

 

Tukkaram asked him curtly, " Is there not a difference in your visit this

morning? What have you got with you? " Shivaji said humbly, " I have brought gold

and grains for cooking food. " Tukkaram, " Why? "

 

Shivaji explained, " I find it difficult to eat or sleep when you and your family

suffer, living in a simple hut without proper food and clothing. " Tukkaram

exclaimed, " Oh! Is that so? How long have you known me? "

 

Shivaji replied, " For the past two months or so. "

 

Tukkaram, " Well! Your relationship with me has been only for the past two

months. Yet you feel sorry and compassionate towards my living condition. (Lord)

Panduranga knows me since my birth. How would He feel to see me living in the

condition that I am? It is he who has placed me in such a condition. You may

feel that my family and I are suffering. But, we do not feel so. We are very

happy. Do not deem only material comfort as happiness. If it were so then all

those who have huge wealth must be happy. But, they are not. Do not think that

we are unhappy. Nama sankirtan is the wealth in my possession. Take back all

that you have brought. " Shivaji pleaded with him, " Please accept them for my

sake. "

 

Tukkaram said, " Do you know how this sounds? It is like placing a plate of beef

and asking me to accept it. Just take them all back with you. " Shivaji pleaded

with him again, " Please accept them. You may do charity with it. Do something

good for the people of this place. "

Tukkaram would not listen to this. He said, " I am not here to help anyone. I am

a Sadhu always lost in the thought of the Lord. You are a king and it is your

duty to help the people. You carry on your duty. "

 

!!! Will continue !!!

 

Regards