Namadharaka said: "Swami, my mind which was at first buried deep under the dense darkness of ignorance and illusion is now awakened by the dawn of your teaching and as such, it is thirsting to know ever more of the divine acts of Sree Guru and not content, however much I have already listened to".
Siddha was happy to hear this and replied" "My son, you are indeed awakened. The very fact that you hunger and thirst to know more of Sree Guru and his deeds shows that divine grace has indeed dawned on your heart. Now listen further:
Once there lived a brahmin who was content with whatever he had. He never dined at another's house or expense. Such is a natural tendency of the peaceful and of those devoted to the scrupulous performance of the religious rites and both in the letter and the spirit of the holy writ as their life-long vow. But his wife noticed that their neighbors freely dined at other's houses as holy guests at religious ceremonies and accepted the gifts of money and new clothes given away by the hosts. She found fault with her husband for not doing like-wise and securing for her such a variety of possessions. One day, a wealthy man invited this pair also, along with several others for a feast at his house. But as usual, this brahmin would not consent to attend the same. His wife, finding all her persuasions in vain, approached Sree Guru and complained to him of her husband's indifference to her wishes. Sree Guru tried his best to explain to her the desirability of his vow, but she persisted.
He then summoned her husband and ordered: "Today, break your vow and take your wife to the feast." The brahmin obeyed the Master's word and took his wife to the feast. When everyone was feasting, the housewife came to know that the food was polluted by a pig and she at once complained of it to her husband. The pair was much disgusted and later complained to Sree Guru. He said to the house-wife: 'Have you realized the wish of eating another's food?' She apologized for her folly. He then extorted her that it is always good for her to be guided by him in all matters. The brahmin was wild with her and yelled: 'It is owing to the stupid obstinacy of this wicked woman that my vow had to be broken, and with such consequence! I never committed such a vile error since I was born' and then he burst into tears.
Sree Guru comforted him saying, 'My son, don't fear. No sin or blame occurs to you on this account;on the other hand, your wife has learnt a lesson from it and her attitude, in that matter is permanently corrected and she will never repeat her folly. Besides, when any pious householders’ ceremonies were to suffer owing to the non-availability of a brahmin and a priest, you should help him by accepting his invitation for lunch'.
'Then Sir, tell me whose food could be accepted and whose food is forbidden', said the brahmin. The Master replied:' Pious brahmins, those well-versed in the vedas, the teacher, the ones own kith and kin, ones disciples, maternal uncle-one can properly take food from them. The food that is offered by one who is on the ritual world of performing a yagna, or of one who is dedicated to the contemplation of brahmin, or the food that is left over after the offerings at a yagna-such food is by far the holiest. Food cooked exclusively for one's own self is unworthy. One who is not given to righteous living, one who undertakes the duties that, as per the religious law belong to a person of another caste or stage of life, the man given to rancor, the impure man, impure food and those who are bent on harassing their kinsfolk-food should never be accepted from any of these. By constantly eating at another's expense, one exchanges one's own religious merit for the hosts sins and demerits. Another's food accepted on the holy day of full moon will destroy all the religious merit that accrues from months of righteous living.
Eating in the company of those who are forbidden or eating without the proper consecration by the chanting of the related prayers, constitutes sin. The meal cooked by even one's own daughter could be eaten only after the latter is married and is blessed with offspring. One should accept food or money from persons of noble nature and noble way of living, and even that, only on auspicious occasions like eclipses, and in holy cases. Articles and materials of use should never be accepted or received if under any inescapable situation, one were to transgress the ancient code in any manner, one can purify oneself by performing japa of the gayatri mantra.
Those noble ones who take particular care of those who are in dire, in misery in giving away gifts would never suffer from want, debt or disease. Those who neglect their holy duties, those who are fond of tasks that legitimately belong to others, would come to grief even in this life. Hence, adhere to your religious law with all reverence and faith in it. But remember that faith in the Lord is the bedrock of all righteousness.
Topic: Shree Guru Charitra - Chapter 18 (Read 1581 times)