''Out of Love and
Affection for All''
by Professor Anil Kumar
Kausalya varaśukti garbhamauţanu gadā
Rāmuḍu dēvuḍai ramaṇa gānce
Sītāmahāsādhvi celagi pencuţa gadā
Kavalu kuśalavulu ghanulu nairi
Jijiyā lalāmayē celagi pencuţa gadā
Vīrasivājiyu pēru gānce
Putalibāyiyē ranjilli pencuţa gadā
Gāndhi mahātmuḍai ghanata gānce
Īśvarmbā sādhvi yetti pencuţa gadā
Satyasāyīśunḍu cāţi kīrti
Prāṇikōţi yī vidhi parimaļince
Aharahambuna brōceḍi ammakanţe
Ādarambagu vastuvu avani galade
Amma prathamāksharambu ādyaksharambu.
~
Isn’t His birth in the best of pearl oysters, Kausalya’s womb,
That elevated Rama to such illustrious divinity?
Isn’t the chaste Sita’s loving upbringing
That made the twins, Kusa and Lava, ever so great?
Isn’t the illustrious Jijiya’s tender care
That made Sivaji such a famous warrior?
Isn’t the upright Putalibai’s tender care
That made Gandhi a Mahatma?
Isn’t the virtuous Easwaramba’s gentle nurture
That made Sathya Sai’s glory
Waft its fragrance over all beings in this way?
Is there on this Earth anything more worthy of devotion
Than your unfailing, unceasing protector, your “Amma”?
Of all mystic syllables, “Amma” is the first and the foremost.
How aptly, elegantly, and beautifully Swami has brought out Mother’s pre-eminence and prestige! It is imperative to realise how Swami has turned His birthday into an occasion for proclaiming to the world in simple Telugu the greatness and glory of motherhood. Lord Rama, it appears, owes His divinity to His birth from Kausalya’s womb. Kusa and Lava, it appears, won everlasting fame only by virtue of being brought up by that noble lady, Sita. Sivaji, it appears, owes His place in history solely to His pious mother, Jijiya. The key to Gandhi’s becoming a Mahatma is, it appears, his upright mother, Putalibai. The secret of the amazing world renown of Sri Sathya Sai, the incarnation of divinity, it appears, is holy mother Easwaramba.
True to the caution, "Pilaci parīkshimpuḍu mī pilupu hṛdantaramununḍi pekalagavalayun," (meaning: “Cry out for Him? Test Him? But that cry must be yanked from the inmost recesses of your heart,”) Sri Sathya Sai is a Divinity who responds to your call. For devotees, He is ever accessible. Swami is counselling us to give up sensual indulgence and turn to yoga -- union with the Divine.
Kannu vippi cūḍarō rannā śrīsāyi dēvuni
Ennagā entainā kalaḍannā
Munnu shirḍi nēḍu parti
Unnavāḍani pērē gāni
Tannu bhāvana cēyu bhaktula
Kannulandē melagunannā
Utta māţalacēta cittamu
Sattu cittānandamu nondadu
Vittanambulu lēni bhūmilō
Mottamuga panţēmi panḍadu
Rōgamunu arikaţţa nēraka
Yōgi yainanu patana mondunu
Bhōgamunu viḍanāḍu vārikē
Yōgamadi labhiyincu nayyā
Oţţi māţala vāḍu kādannā ī sāyi dēvuḍu
Buţţabommala cūḍa bōḍannā
Paţţu baţţala kaţţi bhaktula
Cuţţu tirugēţi puţţa svāmini
Indriyamulu manasu nilpina
Andhuḍainanu mukti pondunu
Indriyamulu nigrahincani
Indruḍainanu patana mondunu
~
Open your eyes wide, Brother! Behold Lord Sri Sai!
He is beyond our reckoning, O Brother,
Though all we see is that He is supposed to be
From Shirdi once and Parthi today.
Indeed He moves about before the eyes
Of devotees contemplating Him.
Even as no land yields a crop
Unless seeds are sown,
Mere words cannot offer the mind
Being-Awareness-Bliss.
Lacking the power to arrest disease
A yogi too begins to decay;
Only those, sir, who relinquish luxury
Can truly obtain yoga.
This Lord Sai is not given to empty boasts,
Playing with performing dolls;
Dressed all in silks, this Puttaparthi Swami
Himself goes round and round His devotees.
Holding at a standstill the senses and the mind,
Even a blind man can attain salvation;
One failing to curb the senses surely decays,
Even though he is Indra himself.
The festival of Bhagavan Baba’s Birthday is indeed that of Paramasiva. The following is a poem by the celebrated Andhra poet and esteemed teacher of mine, Jandhyala Papayya Sastry, also known as “Karunasri". Much to the ecstatic delight of the thousands of devotees assembled for Bhagavan Baba’s fiftieth birthday, he recited this poem in the Divine presence there:
Bhagavānuḍu puţţina panḍuga
Parama śivuḍu puţţina panḍuga
Jaganmāta satyasāyiyai
Jagatīsthali meţţina panḍuga
Vividha gaṇam gaganāngaṇamuna
Vijayabhēri koţţina panḍuga
Viśvāsam vēda savitriki
Vellagoḍugu paţţina panḍugau
Manujuni śīrshampai dēvuḍu
Maṇi makuţam peţţina panḍuga
Bhārati naludikkula mangaļa
Tōraṇālu kaţţina panḍuga
Akshayamagu kārtika kaumudi
Ātmala jōkoţţina panḍuga
Ushah kāla brāhma muhūrtam
Urvini sukha peţţina panḍuga
“Īśvarāmba” “īśvarāmba”yani
Visvam jayapeţţina panḍuga
Aditi dēvakī kausalyala
Harsham minu muţţina panḍuga
Satyadharmaśāntiprēmalu
Janula vīpu taţţina panḍuga
Divyatvam prēmatatvamai
Dīnula cēpaţţina panḍuga
Daivam avatāram dālici
Dharmam nilabeţţina panḍuga
Lōkēśuḍu viśvaprēmanu
Śrīkāram cuţţina panḍuga
Śāntiratham vijayapatākam
Kāntipatham muţţina panḍuga
Bhagavānuḍu puţţina panḍuga
Parama śivuḍu puţţina panḍuga
Jaganmāta satyasāyiyai
Jagatīsthali meţţina panḍuga
Bhagavānuḍu puţţina panḍuga
Parama śivuḍu puţţina panḍuga
Jaganmāta satyasāyiyai
Jagatīsthali meţţina panḍuga.
~
This is the festival of the Lord’s Birthday,
This, the festival of Supreme Siva’s Birthday,
This festival day at this spot the Mother of the Universe
Descended as Sathya Sai to the Earth.
This festival day the demigods sound the drums
Across the courtyards of the heavens;
This festival day is the day to honour
Veda Savitri with due ceremony.
This festival day on the head of Man
The Lord placed a jewelled crown;
This festival day auspicious festoons
Sprang up on the four sides of Bharat.
This festival day in the bright Kartika month of Akshaya (the flourishing year),
The souls of men were soothed;
This festival day Mother Earth rejoiced
In the sacred hour before dawn, Brahmamuhurta.
This festival day the entire universe
With one voice hailed, “Easwaramba,” “Easwaramba!”
This festival day the unbounded joy
Of Aditi, Dēvakī, and Kausalya touched the skies.
This festival day Truth, Righteousness, Peace, and Love
Came alive among men
This festival day Divinity turned into Love
To take charge of the helpless miserable
This festival day the Lord of the world
Launched the programme of Universal Love;
This festival day the flag of victory
On the chariot of peace points to the path of Light
This is the festival of the Lord’s Birthday,
This, the festival of Supreme Siva’s Birthday,
This festival day at this spot the Mother of the Universe
Descended as Sathya Sai to the Earth.
Lord Srinivasa is moving among us as Sri Sathya Sai. Once He asked a devotee, “What do you want?” His reply was literally the supreme Truth: “Swami! What is there for me to ask when You are the Divinity who grants us everything without our asking? What is there that You have not given me? What do I lack?” All we need to do is to seek His mercy. "Anyathā śāraṇam nāsti," (meaning: “Other than You, refuge there is none”).
Vishayavānchalu ninnu vēţāḍu tari nīvu
Nōretti sāyīśa śaraṇamanumu
Kashţa paramparal kālduvvinappuḍu
Karametti sāyīśa kāvumanumu
Samsāra tāpamul sanghāţillinapuḍu
Manasāra sāyīśa maruvananumu
Madini madahamkāra modalina yapuḍu
Talavanci sāyīśa dāsuḍanumu
Satyabhāshivai sāyīśu sākshi ganumu
Mōksha māśinci sāyīśu mrōla mānumu
Viśvamōhanagānamu vīnulalara
Ālapincina śyāmuḍe itaḍu summi!
~
When worldly desires begin to hound you
Raise you voice and cry, “Sayisa! Save Me!”
When troubles pile up to challenge you
Raise your hands and pray, “Sayisa! Save Me!”
When domestic quarrels heat up,
Cry with all your heart, “Sayisa! I won’t forget you!”
When in the mind terrible arrogance raises its hood
Bow down your head and say, “Sayisa! I am your servant!”
Speaking the truth, let Sayisa be your witness.
Seeking salvation, approach Sayisa.
He is the one who sang the world-enthralling song,
That feast for the ears, Syam Himself!
The nature and incarnation of Bhagavan is a blend of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. On any festival day, people come in such large numbers that, as the Telugu expression runs, a shower of sand would not touch the ground. Crowds upon crowds gather wherever Swami goes. There is always excitement; Perpetual Wellbeing, Perpetual Green Festoons! When Swami goes out to inspect some construction work, crowds run after Him. Where does this Divine magnetism lie?
Śīrshapīţhikamunan dēmunnadō gāni
Mrōgucunnadi ninnu mrokkinapuḍu
H ṛdayapīţhamunan dēmunnadō gāni
Toṇukucunnadi ninnu talacinapuḍu
Ī manahpīţhamunan dēmunnadō gāni
Jārucunnadi ninnu kōrinapuḍu
~
I don’t know what there is in the tablet of my head,
It makes a sound when I bow down to You,
I don’t know what there is in the tablet of my heart,
It produces a tremor when I think of You.
I don’t know what there is in the tablet of my mind,
It begins to slip away when I desire You.
One morning in Brindavan Swami was gently and gracefully coming down the steps. There are many peacocks, deer, and ducks in Brindavan. The flower garden is very beautiful and a pleasant breeze was blowing. As the sun was rising, and cast his red rays on Swami, the scene gained an added charm. In the course of His conversation with the people assembled there, He remarked, “Have you noticed this? At the sight of Swami, how happy the peacocks are, spreading their tails and dancing! The ducks too beat their wings in the water! The deer approach Me running! These flowers are waving in the air! Nature herself is thrilled. How happy should people be? They should not put on long faces, as if, as the Telugu expression runs, they have consumed castor oil.” During the incarnation of Krishna, also, the same thing seems to have happened. Cows would not go about grazing till they had darśan of Krishna nor the cowherd boys eat. As for the cowherdesses, nothing needs to be said about them. They wouldn’t have even a sip of water. The cowherd boys would not go to sleep unless they heard stories of Krishna. Such was their devotion.
Gōpāla nīvu dṛggōcaram bavakunna
Gōvulu garikaina korakavanţa
Nī darśanamu lēka nīvu centanu lēka
Gōpabāluru kūḍu guḍuvaranţa
Nīvu kanpincaka nī sēvalunu lēka
Gōpikal nīrambu guḍuvaranţa
Nī kathal vinakunḍa nī muccaţalu lēka
Gōpakulunu kannu gūrkaranţa
Nandanandana gōpikā nanya bhakti
Viśva vyāptambu dīniki sāţi galade
Intakannanu vēreddi erukaparatu
Sādhusadguṇagaṇyulau sabhyulāra!
~
Gōpāla! If you are not to be seen, they say,
The cows don’t even touch a blade of grass.
Without Your company or at least darśan, they say,
The cowherd boys don’t touch their food.
Without seeing You or serving You, they say,
The cowherdesses don’t touch even water.
Without listening to Your stories, Your exploits, they say,
The cowherd boys don’t have a wink of sleep.
The cowherdesses’ unparalleled devotion for Nanda’s son
Permeates the whole world. Is there any to match them?
What more need I add,
O Gentle, honoured members of this august assembly!
Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, one of the celebrated devotees of Bhagavan Baba and master of several languages, held a number of important positions in the country, and accompanied Bhagavan on his tour of North India. Once while Dr. Rao was governor of Uttar Pradesh, he and his wife happened to travel by a fast train and fire broke out in their compartment. Sai devotees are familiar with the story of how a railway employee in uniform entered the compartment, made the necessary repair, and made his exit out of the running train, and how Bhagavan, the mysterious employee, subsequently narrated the sequence of events to them. Similarly how they were saved from a plane accident is also well known.
Dr. Rao is an accomplished poet as well. Here is a poem he wrote on seeing the multitudes that wait longing desperately for Bhagavan’s darśan:
Vēla janammu darśanamu vēmaru sēyaka vēciyindurē
Vēļanu nē sthalamunaku veļļina nī kutilālakābhramul
Lālana sēyu nī mukha vilāsamu gangonu bhāgyalālasul
Pālana sētu vellara kṛpāmati darśana sparśanādulan.
~
Don’t thousands of people again and again wait for your darśan?
When I am there punctually, your sporting ringlets comfort me.
Those enamoured of the charm of Your countenance,
You bless with the fortune of touching Your feet and darśan.
This is the way You shower Your mercy on each.
It is no wonder, then, that universally there is the kind of response expressed in the following verses.
Ē dēśamēginā mī nāmamē sumī!
Ē mūla cūcinā mī rūpamē sumī!
Ē nōţa vinnā mī mahimalē sumī!
Ē cōţa kēginā mī bhāshaṇē sumī!
Ē jīvini palkarincinā mī līlalē sumī!
~
Your name alone, whichever be the country visited!
Your form alone, whichever way we may turn!
Your miracles alone, whoever may be the speaker!
Your speeches alone, wherever we go!
Your actions alone, whomever we address!
In fact, without acquiring religious merit over several births, it is not possible to have the good fortune of having his darśan. This is not to be gained merely through spiritual practices like chanting the Divine name and penance.
Japamula nenniyō salipi
Janmamula lekkagona
Ghōramaina tapamul cēsiyun
Daivamunu gāncaka tallaḍilla
Mī ripuḍu ayācitambuga
Nanu gānanga nikkaḍa
Mī repuḍonarinci yunţirō
Iţţi phalamu gānca puṇyamul.
~
Many devotees over countless births
Chanted ever so many sacred names
And undertook severe austerities too;
Not finding God still, they are troubled.
As for you, right here and now,
Unasked, you are able to see Me
All because long, long ago you had acquired
Some merit, realised in this fashion.
Since God Himself is our support, we are never alone. We need not agonise over our spiritual path. Swami is our shelter.
Ēlā nirāśā sāyīśu ḍunḍaga
Ēlā nirāśā partīśu ḍunḍaga
Pālincu sāyi nī prakkane nilabaḍi
Ālakincucu nīku anḍaganunḍaga
Tallibiḍḍalu gūḍi vēļa vēļalayandu
Sāyināthuni bhajana salupucunḍaga
Prēmincu sāyi nī prāpai yunḍaga
Paścāttāpamu lēla paḍabōyedavu manasā
Pāramārthikamulalō paḍarāni bādhalalō
Paḍucunna bhaktulaku paţţukommai yunḍa
Dīvincu dēvuḍu nī dikkai yunḍaga
Dīna cintala kēla digu londedavu manāsā
~
Why despair, when you have Parthisa with you?
Why despair, when you have Sayisa with you,
When Sai, the saviour, standing by your side
Is listening to you and supporting you.
When the mother and children at all times
Go on conducting bhajans of Sainath,
While loving Lord Sai is your pillar of strength,
O Mind, why do you indulge in regrets?
When Sai is there as the refuge for devotees
Going through agony on their spiritual path,
When the Lord who blesses is your support
Why do you yield to anxious thoughts, O Mind!
Nature, splendour, and beauty are mesmerised by the name “Sai”. Notice the spiritual activities, chanting Ōmkāram, Suprabhātam, and Nagarasankīrtan going on in Prashanthi Nilayam in the hours before dawn, the Brahmamuhurtam. Everywhere you see the ecstasy of chanting the Divine name of Sai. The entire neighbourhood seems to burst out with echoes of the Divine name.
Sāyināmame hāyi smariyincucunḍancu
Vṛkshamul talalūpi balkucunḍa
Sāyināmamē hāyi smariyincucunḍancu
Pakshisantānamul palkucunḍa
Sāyināmame hāyi smariyincucunḍancu
Kusumālu vāsanal kuriyucunḍa
Sāyināmame hāyi smariyincucunḍancu
Tummedal jhummani krammucunḍa
Ākasamununḍi yiviye sabdamulu vaccu
Bhūminunḍi yiviye sabdamulu vaccu
Sāyibābā yanucu sarvadikkulandu
Pikkaţillucunḍunu partiyandu
~
"There is joy in Sai, remember this,”
Say the trees, nodding their heads;
“There is joy in Sai, remember this,”
Sing the little ones, the fledglings,
“There is joy in Sai, remember this,”
Say the flowers, scattering their fragrance,
“There is joy in Sai, remember this,”
Hum the bees crowding the hive.
This is the message from the sky,
This is the message from the Earth.
“Sai Baba,” from all quarters
Rises and swells all over Parthi.
Really, what is it that we need? Are not all pleasures and enjoyment the fruit of Sai’s name? Does not that name put an end to worries of the mundane life? Then there is nothing to be sought. We have to seek only Swami. Conversing with boys of the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School, Swami asked one, “What do you want?” The instant response was, “I want You, Swami.” What is to be sought is Swami’s service alone.
Sāyināmame nīku pratipanna bhāgyambu
Jīvanādhārambu jīvitambu
Sāyirāmuḍē prākaţa daivambu
Bhajiyimpa sēvimpa śrīkarambu
Sāyi kṛshṇuḍē nīku rakshakarājambu
Samsāra kshiti nārpa satpathambu
Sāyisivuḍē nīku sarva bandhu balagambu
Sakala bhōga phalambu sammatambu
Sāyisēvayē nīkinka kāmitambu
Sāyināmame nīkinka sudhīmatambu
Sāyibhajanaye nīkinka sujanavibhrājitambu.
~
The name “Sai” is indeed a great fortune gained,
It is your life support, your life itself.
Sai Ram indeed is God manifest,
Blessed indeed is His worship and service..
Sai Krishna indeed is your supreme saviour,
The right path to end every loss in mundane life.
Sai Siva indeed is your family circle entire,
The sum of all pleasures approved.
Hereafter Sai’s service is your goal.
Hereafter Sai’s name is the counsel of the wise.
Hereafter Sai’s worship is your luminous companion.
Bhagavan is easily accessible to all worshippers. He values only the heart, not the exterior; only the intent, not the outward show. For Him it is the spirit that counts, not erudition. He takes into account only practice, not words, however pompous they may be. He values our values, not our property, position, or prestige.
Śrīmantulaku gāni cikkabōḍandurā
Bhaktakucēlu aisvaryamenta?
Panḍitulaku gāni vaśamu gāḍandurā
Nijamugā guhuni pānḍityamenta?
Saudhambulam gāni cariyinturandurā
Sarisari viduruni saudhamenta?
Tāpasulaku gāni cikkapōḍandurā
Uḍuta tapambenta? kaḍima enta?
Nāţiki nāţiki vishayacintalu vīḍi
Nēnu nādanu garvambu nēḍe vīḍi
Śaraṇu vēḍumu śrīsatya sāyi dēvu
Pādapadmambu manmanōbhramararāja.
~
If you say He is inaccessible except for the wealthy,
How much was that devotee Kuchela’s wealth?
If you say He is not amenable except for scholars,
To speak the truth, what was the erudition of Guha?
If you say He does not stay anywhere except in mansions,
Well, how big was Vidura’s mansion?
If you say He is not caught by any except ascetics,
How much was the squirrel’s penance? Its strength?
Giving up gradually worldly desires,
Giving up right now the haughtiness of ‘I’ and ‘mine,’
Seek refuge in Lord Sathya Sai’s
Lotus feet, O King Bee, my Heart!
Life has its ups and downs, and is full of worries. Whether we enjoy something or miss it, we have to experience both according to our prarabdha, the karma from earlier births. All the while, worry continues to depress us. Worship of Sai gives us the capacity to wipe away worry altogether.
Puţţuţayē cinta bhūmi nunḍuţa cinta
Samsāra moka cinta cāvu cinta
Bālyamantayu cinta vārdhakya moka cinta
Jīvincu ţoka cinta ceḍupu cinta
Karmalanniyu cinta kashţambu loka cinta
Santasa moka cinta vinta cinta
Sarvacintalu bāpeḍu sāyi bhakti
Konuḍu yikanaina janulāra kōrke mīra
Intakannanu vēreddi erukaparatu
Sādhusadguṇagaṇyulau sabhyulāra!
~
Birth itself is a worry, being on Earth another,
Mundane life is a worry, death another,
Childhood entire is a worry, old age another,
Being alive is a worry, loss another,
Actions all are a worry, troubles another,
At least now, O people, to your heart’s content,
Worship Sai, who wipes away all worries!
What more need I add,
O Gentle, honoured members of this august assembly!
It is “out of love and affection for all” that Bhagavan assumed a physical body to grant us His presence and proximity. But His true nature is formless, attribute-less, devoid of attachment, infinite, unsullied, and free. Those acquainted with Sathya Sai literature may recapitulate the truths Bhagavan has disclosed on this matter. More than fifty years ago Swami explained His true nature. There is an aspect well known to those familiar with the life of Adi Sankara. The guru asked him, “Who has come?” The way Adi Sankara introduced himself and Bhagavan Baba’s explanation of His own nature appear to be the same. Let us turn to the nature of Existence-Awareness-Bliss:
Ēnu daivambu tadbhinna mēmi kānu
Ā yakhanḍa parabrahma yaudu nēnu
Vyathayu klēśammu nannu spṛśincabōvu
Saccidānanduḍanu nēnu bhinna mēnu kānu
Nitya tṛptuḍu bhīti nan cērabōdu
Ullamā palku nīvōtatsaţancu
~
I am God, and no other,
That indivisible Parabrahma am I,
Agony and trouble do not touch Me,
I am Existence-Awareness-Bliss, and no other,
I am ever content, and fearless.
O heart! Say, Om Tat Sat.
In the Bhagavad Gita (in the chapter entitled "Vibhutiyoga"), the embodiment of the Supreme Spirit, the charioteer of Arjuna, Sri Krishna declares, “I am everything.” "Ahamātmā guḍākēśa sarvabhūtāśayasthitah ahamādiśca madhyamca bhūtānāmanta ēva ca," (meaning: “Gudakesa! I am the soul, present in all beings; I am the beginning, the middle, and also the end of all beings”). He declares, “I am indeed the Sun, the Moon, the Ocean; I am the Himalayas, Varuna, Time, the Lion, Garuda, the month of Margasira, the Spring season, Fire, the Divine horse Uccaihsrava, the Wish-fulfilling Cow, the serpent Vasuki, Wind, and the Crocodile. I myself am everything.” An echo of these is found in Bhagavan’s words. One does not fail to recognise that this perhaps is what is meant by absolute non-dualism.
Idi ghaţa mbidi paţa mbidi gṛha mmidi kuḍya
Midi araṇyamu śaila madi yaţancu
Idi bhūmiyidi jalam bitaḍu vaiśvānarun
Didi gāli ākasam bidi yaţancu
Itaḍu divākarun ḍitaḍu niśākarun
Divi tāralu grahambu livi yaţancu
Ivi acētanamuţa ivi cētanamulaţan
Cata ḍītaḍitaḍātaḍē yaţancu
Araya nākanţe bhinnambulai jaḍambu
Laina bāhya padārtha sahitamulella
Sādhanalu lēka erigeḍi sākshi nagucu
Nēnu cidrūpuḍancu mīrerugarayya
~
Saying, "This is a pot, this a picture, this a wall,
This a forest, and that a mountain,"
Saying, "This is the earth, this water, and this one fire,"
Saying, "This is air and this the sky,"
Saying, "This one is the sun, this one the moon,"
Saying, "These are stars, these planets,"
These are said to be inanimate, these animate,
Adding, "He is this One, this One He indeed,"
O Sir! Ponder further and realise:
For all the inert and physical material
Without the means of cognising Me,
I am the eternal Witness; I am indeed Pure Consciousness.
The formless, attribute-less principle, “out of love and affection for all," has come down with form and attributes as the unique avatar, Sathya Sai, to bestow beneficence and blessings on us. Can there be anyone unwise enough to miss this golden opportunity? If there is, what a misfortune it is!
Cikkina sāyini vakkalēyaka cakka cēsukonḍī
Pōyina cikkadu partīśuni pādasēva yanḍī
Bhaktini icci śaktilō munci mukti jērcu nanḍī
Ēka mansutō nammi sāyini koluva bōnḍī
Itarula māţalu impuga nammi kompa tīyakanḍī
Nērcukonḍi nērcukonḍi buddhulanniyu tīrcukonḍī karmalu!
~
Pull yourself up, sir! Quickly make the Sai you found your own.
Once missed, sir, service of Parthisa is gone for ever!
Bestowing devotion, infusing strength, sir, He grants salvation.
With full faith, offer worship to Sai!
Sir, easily believing others’ words, don’t ruin yourself!
Come to your senses, come, sir! Discharge your duties!
Wholehearted worship pleases Swami. He looks not at the offering, but the one making the offering. He looks at your worth, not at what you offer.
Citta śuddhi tōḍa cēsina pūjaku
Maţţi pātra cālu mahini cūḍa
Vitta munna danucu virravīgina vāḍu
Patana maguţa nijamu parti sūkti.
~
For the worship offered with all your heart,
Even a little clay pot will suffice, if you closely observe;
On the other hand, "One puffed up by riches,”
The Lord of Parthi declares, “is surely doomed."
Once Swami made this jocular comment about the food we offer during worship: “The sight of the food is for the deity, the taste of it is for yourselves.” In the temple we receive, as consecrated food, the offering made to God; we need to question whether we are ready to make an offering if the deity truly begins consuming it. We have indeed prepared the naivēdyam, food offering, for our own pleasure and satisfaction.
When all forms are His, which one shall we decide upon as His? When the vast oceans are His, how are we to perform abhshēkam, the ritual bath? While we pray to Him describing Him as “luminous like a million suns,” what is the point of dīpārādhana, ritual lighting of the lamp? What are we to make of that principle which is beyond the comprehension of Brahma?
Brahmāṇḍa mantayu bojjalō nunḍaga
Bhakshya bhōjyamu nāku peţţa taguna
Sarva jīvulayandu sancarinceḍi nāku
Sariyaina pēriḍa sādhya maguna
Sarva jalambula sancarinceḍi nāku
Snānambu cēyimpa nalavi yaguna
Kōţi sūryula kānti mēţi kalgina nāku
Pramida dīpamu neţlu peţţa galaru?
Ajaharādula kainanu andanaţţi
Iţţi nā rūpu kanugona nevari taramu
Intakannanu vēreddi erukaparatu
Sādhusadguṇagaṇyulau sabhyulāra!
~
Is your offering Me of all kinds of sweets appropriate,
When I hold the entire universe in My stomach?
Can you possibly give Me a name, much less the right one,
When I move about in all beings?
Is giving Me a bath feasible,
When I move about in all the waters?
How can you possibly light the oil-wick lamp for Me,
When my effulgence exceeds that of a million suns?
Is it possible for any to grasp My form
Which is beyond the ken of even Brahma and Hara?
What more need I add,
O Gentle, honoured members of this august assembly!
Once we seek shelter at the Lotus Feet of the Lord, we have no business with anyone else anymore. No need to beg, no need to be a hanger-on, no need to be frustrated. No scope at all for humiliation. Has not Sri Krishna given us His word on this matter? "Ananyāścintayantō mām yē janāh paryupāsatē tēshām nityābhiyuktānām yōgakshēmam vahāmyaham," (meaning: “I will secure and preserve the wellbeing of any who contemplates Me and no other, worships Me and is ever devoted to Me”).
Kāmitārthamiccu kāmadhēnuvu rāga
Dhanamicci yāvunu konaga nēla?
Minceḍi kāntitō mēru parvatamunḍa
Venḍi bangārukai vetuka nēla?
Aḍigina phalamiccu kalpavṛkshame yunḍa
Peraţi vṛkshamunakai prīti ēla?
Bhaktimuktulanicce bhagavantu ḍindunḍa
Pāḍu samsārambu kōra nēla?
~
When the divine Kanmadhenu has come to fulfil your every wish,
Why do you spend money on buying an ordinary cow?
When you have with you the luminous Mount Meru itself,
Why do you go out in search of silver and gold?
When you have the Kalpavṛksha, which gives you anything you seek,
Why do you have this craving for the tree in the backyard?
When you have right here the Lord who grants devotion and liberation,
Why do you have this yearning for the wretched mundane life?
Sai, the almighty eternal witness directing and overseeing the worlds, is within our reach only “out of love and affection for all.” Can there be any other reason for this?
Kramamu tappaka minţa pratidinambunu bhānu
Dudayastamayamula nanda nēla?
Gaganambunakau kāntikai sēyu tāralu
Pagalu mātramu dāgu bhangi yēla?
Kshaṇamaina viśrānti gonaka tā pavanunḍu
Jīva kōţula brōva vīva nēla?
Aniśambu kalakala dhvanula navvucu nadi
Salilamai pravahincu candamēla?
Prakṛtilō nendu jūcina bhramaye yēla?
Bhuvini dhanakula mata jāti bhēdamēla?
Evani ānadidiyella niţlu jarugu
Nataḍe yitaḍani yitaḍe yataḍanucunu
Sarvula kadhipati yanucu kāncarayya.
~
Why should the sun regularly
Rise and set in the sky every day?
Why should the stars lighting up the sky at night
Hide themselves only in the day?
Why should the wind, without a moment’s rest,
Blow and support all creatures?
Why should the river waters flow perpetually,
With gurgling ripples of laughter?
Why should Nature be filled with illusion whichever way you turn?
Why on Earth should differences of wealth, caste, religion, and race arise?
By whose order does all this happen in this manner?
Know that that same One is here, that here He is,
The One who is the Lord of all.
Baba says, “The body is a water bubble.” We do not take note of how the body ages or the life span gets shorter and shorter. We cannot anticipate our joys and sorrows. Nor do we have any idea of illusion and mystery. Further, we have forgotten the meaning of what it means to be human. In this situation, we must turn to the Lord and pray. Our Baba, the kinsman of those in distress, says that He will grant us devotion, energy, and liberation too.
Dēhambu kshīṇincu dinamevvarerugaru
Kashţambuloccuţa gāncalēru
Jagatipai nevaraina janmincu ţerugaru
Divibhuvi sukhamulan deliyalēru
Māyalōpala cikki mamata vīḍaga jāla
Rincuka tama marma merugalēru
Mānavadharmambu māţayē maraturu
Dēni nonarturō teliyalēru
Inni tīrulu gūḍa daivēccha gāna
Dīnavatsalu ḍatani prārthinturēni
Sṛshţi citrambu lenta vicitramaina
Bhakti śaktiyu muktiyu bāba yiccu
~
No one knows when the body decays and drops,
Or notices the march of troubles.
None on Earth knows the secret of his birth
Or the true joys of Earth and heaven.
Unable to escape Maya, unwilling to give up self-regard,
None knows the mystery of his own being.
None remembers the word, “Humanity,”
Or knows what he will do next.
Since all these trends accord well with the will of God,
If you pray to that kinsman of those in distress,
However awesome the secrets of creation may be,
Baba will grant you devotion, energy, and liberation as well.
Like Shirdi Baba, Sathya Sai also remarked that He would grant devotees anything they want, until they finally want what He wants to give. Therefore, we should seek His Lotus Feet, and nothing else.
Sirulanu kōranu sarvabhāgyatatula cellāra nimmancu nē
Varamulē vēḍanu nella vēļalā bhavatpādāravindambu nā
Yura manduncu śakti nimmani sadā yullambuna gōriti
Taramā ninnu nutimpa nīku daya lēdā satya sāyī prabhū!
~
I do not want riches, nor do I ask for piles upon piles of luxuries
I do not seek boons, I only pray in my heart constantly
For energy to have Your Lotus Feet resting on my chest.
I know not how to extol you, O Lord Sai! Don’t You have pity!
That exactly is our supplication. That is the reason for our prayer. Finally, we entreat you to listen to our petition.
Sirulakēmi prasanna cittunḍavainacō
Cāladē padivēlu cālu tanḍri
Sukhasampadalakēmi sumukhunḍavainacō
Cāladē padivēlu cālu tanḍri
Kōrkelakēmi nī kaţākshamunnacō
Cāladē padivēlu cālu tanḍri
Vibhavānikēmi nī yabhimānamunnacō
Cāladē padivēlu cālu tanḍri
Icchinavi ēvo unnavi yinte cālu
Adhikamula kēmi avi eppu ḍaina kalgu
Vīḍu nā bhaktuḍani ella vēļalandu
Okka rītiga anugrahamunna cālu.
~
What care I for riches, O Father! If You are kind,
That itself, for me, is a million boons.
What care I for luxuries, O Father! If You approve,
That itself, for me, is a million boons.
What care I for cravings, O Father! If You look with favour,
That itself, for me, is a million boons.
What care I for prosperity, O Father! If You shower Your Grace,
That itself, for me, is a million boons.
Whatever You granted I have, and that is enough.
Whatever extra there may be is welcome any time.
“This one is, indeed, my devotee,” if You feel always,
That unfailing Grace, for me, is a million boons.