ACHYUTA’S ADVENT

by Professor Anil Kumar

Nēnu sāyini teliyumu nikkamuganu.

Mamata bāyumu yatnamul mānukonumu.

Pāse mīku nātōḍi sambandhaminka.

Kādu nanpaţţa yeţţi ghanunikaina.

~

Know that I am truly Sai.

Cast off attachment! Give up your attempts!

From now on your ties to Me are dead.

Not even the greatest can bind Me.

These are the words Baba spoke to His family roughly 66 years ago, on October 20, 1940, directly after discarding His books upon returning from school. In those days, none would have heard the name “Sai” in the whole state of Andhra Pradesh. In fact, it is only after our Baba’s declaration that He was the Avatar of Shirdi, that people became acquainted with the name “Shirdi Sai.” Now the name is well known in every nook and corner. The earlier Avatar is now very widely worshipped, and Shirdi Sai mandirs have come up in the hundreds and thousands.  Baba’s amazing and marvellous declaration “Know that I am truly Sai” is indeed the prelude for all this.

Baba decided who His parents and close associates should be, as also His lineage of descent, the Ratnakaras. To the delight of everyone, He began performing numerous amazing miracles right from the moment of His birth. Our revered Baba uttered these words on a supremely auspicious morning. This Declaration of the Avatar marks a new dawn for the Earth and a new era for the universe. For the human race, it is a beacon of hope, a gentle shower of love, a great gift of peace, a radiant truth, and a lamp of dharma.

Prostrating at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan and offering my respectful salutations, I submit this article, a modest attempt to recapitulate revered Baba’s sweet teachings and poems. Reading this with devotion, diligence, and faith, and acknowledging our debt to Him for guiding us on the path of life, let us present to the Avatar our flower blossoms of gratitude for being His contemporaries. Let us bathe with tears of joy our Swami, who has always protected, nourished, and cared for us. Let us pray to Sai to make our lives meaningful by rededicating ourselves to fully understanding and implementing Sai’s message.

Once Krishna had left behind His parents, Devaki and Vasudeva, He never returned to them again. Nor did Rama meet Kausalya and Dasaratha after leaving Ayodhya. History tells us that Bhagavan Buddha set out on His quest for nirvāṇa from the women’s apartments of the royal palace. It is well known that the Great Adi Sankara took leave of His mother and became the sovereign of the world of Advaita. It is common knowledge that Raman left home and acquired great fame as Ramana Maharshi. This is true of Sri Aurobindo as well. But the Avatar who declared at a very tender age “Know that I am truly Sai,” cautioned everyone to “Cast off attachment,” and added, “Give up your attempts [to bring me back],” asserted in no uncertain terms, “From now on your ties to me are dead,” and indicated that the nature of the Avatar is beyond  enquiry and investigation, saying, “Not even the greatest can bind me,” is the matchless Avatar, the Pūrṇāvatār, Sri Sathya Sai Avatar.

Sri Sathya Sai is a unique, marvellous, and most urgently needed Divine Avatar. This great and glorious Avatar offers solace to four types of people: those in distress, those in quest of wealth, those in quest of knowledge, and those who are wise.

Padi dinambulanunḍi pastunnavāniki

    Mancibhōjanamu labhincinaţlu     

Ceruvubāvula nīļļu karavaina yappuḍu

    Varusagā varshambu kurisinaţlu   

Santati lēkanu cintillu vāniki

    Puṇya suputrunḍu puţţinaţlu

Kūţiki lēkanu allāḍucunnaţţi

    Pēdaku bhakshyambu dorikinaţlu

Dharmanāśana magucunna dharaṇiyandu

Prabhavamandenu  śrī sāyi partiyandu

Intakannanu vēreddi erukaparatu

Sādhusadguṇagaṇyulau sabhyulāra!

 ~

Like the chance of a good meal

     For one starving for ten days,

Like a ceaseless downpour

      After a drought had left every tank and well dry,

Like the birth of a good, pious son

       To one grieving without offspring,

Like a few dainty dishes

        For a poor man in need of food,

When dharma is declining in the world,

Sri Sai took birth in Parthi.

What else is there for Me to add,

O Gentle, noble, honoured, cultured people!

Rama, Krishna and the other Avatars destroyed the wicked, protected the virtuous, and revived dharma. Bhagavan Sri Krishna revealed this in the Bhagavad Gita, saying: "Paritrāṇāya sādhūnām / Yināśāya ca dushkṛtām/ Dharmasamsthāpanārthāya/ Sambhavāmi yugē yugē," meaning: “For the preservation of the righteous, the destruction of the wicked, and the establishment of dharma, I take birth age after age.”

 Revered Baba described his Avatarhood in these words:

Durguṇambulu savarinci toḍaruţakunu

Sādhusamrakshaṇammunu salpuţakunu

Garbhaduhkha mokintayu kāncakunḍa

Puţţucunḍu svēcchagā  puḍami sāyi.

 ~

To amend and reverse evil traits,

To undertake the care of good men,

Without even an iota of pain during birth

Sai incarnates on Earth of His own will.

The Lord’s declaration in the Bhagavad Gita, "Yadā  yadā  hi dharmasya  glānirbhavati bhārata abhyutthānamadharmasya tadātmānam  sṛjāmyaham," underscores  the decline of dharma in the world. Swami has once again reminded us of the promise made by the Gitacharya. The Krishna of that time and the Sai of today are identical, and have the same mission for Their advent. Long ago Swami explained in detail the goals of the present Avatar, and these are being accomplished all the time. He is a siddhasankalpa -- one who can work miracles. He has clarified that the Sai Avatar descends to Earth not to punish, but to transform wicked people, to “amend and reverse evil traits.”

Bhagavan has outlined the objectives of the Avatar in these lines:

Akhilamānavulaku nānandamonagūrci

    Rakşimcucumdutē dīkşa nāku

Sanmārgamunu vīḍi cariyimcu vārala

     Patti kāpāḍutē vratamu nāku

Bīdasādalakaina penubādha tolagimci

     Lēmini bāputē prēma nāku

Manci ceddalu kūda manasulō samamugā

     Bhāvimcucumduṭē bhakti nāku

Anaga bērondi  nāyanḍa nalaruvāri

Nennaḍunu maruvani vāḍananna māţa

Neţţi kucitamu madiki nēnērpakundu

Aţţi nā pēru ceḍuţa yeţlagunu bhuvini!

 ~

Bestowing on all men happiness

And protecting them is My Vow;

Bringing back those straying from the path of virtue

And saving them is My Mission;

For Me, wiping away agony and penury,

And protecting the destitute is Love;

For Me, holding both good and evil

In the mind as equals is Devotion.

Thus, I never forsake those under My care,

Nor teach them any kind of meanness.

That being so, how could My name ever be tarnished on this Earth!

Giving us the reassurance of security with the words, “Bring your sorrows, leave them at My feet, and carry home happiness;” ”Your happiness is indeed My food;” “Be happy and Swami is happy;” and “Why fear, when I am here;” Swami adds, “Bestowing on all men happiness, and protecting them is My Vow.” The good fortune of Swami’s darśan has brought about a transformation in so many people given to bad habits, corrupting ways, and sinful deeds. Many  have reformed themselves, responding to Swami’s call to “Give up smoking, drinking, and eating meat.” This is why Swami observed, “Bringing back those straying from the path of virtue and saving them is My Mission.”  Bhagavan Himself conducts numerous service and welfare activities. He demonstrates the ideal, and is “wiping away agony and penury, and protecting the destitute” all over the world through the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations. Counselling us to maintain equanimity, and not to be elated by success or be depressed by failure, Swami asserted, “For Me, holding both good and evil  in the mind as equals is Devotion.”

On another occasion Swami described the activities of the Avatar in these words:

Yugadharmapaddhatul vigaļitamaiyunḍa

      Nayamārgamuna trippi naḍupukoraku

Lōkambulella kallōlamai ceḍiyunḍa

     Nishkalmashamu cēsi negaḍukoraku

Durmārgabuddhulai krungi dīnata nunḍa

     Sādhu samrakshaṇa salupukoraku

 Kālasandigdhavigrahadīptulai yunḍu

      Bhāshyārthagōpyamul palukukoraku

Kshmābhāramu bāpi bhūdēvi manupukoraku

Trētanosagina kōrkelu tīrcukoraku

Avatarincenu acyutu ḍavaniyandu

Satyarūpuḍai partilō cūḍu ḍipuḍu.

 ~

When modes of yugadharma tumble down,

To reverse their course and to set them aright;

When nations in turmoil head towards ruin,

To remove the rot and to aid in their success;

When, with evil minds, men droop dejected,

 To carry on the support of the meek and gentle;

When time passes leaving doubts unillumined;

To explain the secret keys of interpretation,

To nourish the Earth, easing her burden,

To fulfill the boons granted in Treta Yuga,

The imperishable Achyuta came down to the Earth.

Come! See Him in Parthi as Sathya.

In this modern age when men move about despising the nation’s culture, traditions, and customs, bidding goodbye to her values, Bhagavan Baba is reviving and implementing the cherished values of dharma, morality, and spirituality. A clue to the way he guides Bharat’s progress is suggested in the description: “When modes of yugadharma tumble down,  to reverse their course and to set them aright.”

Swami announced an aspect of His mission in the passage: “When nations in turmoil head towards ruin, to remove the rot and to aid in their success.” Today mankind is lost and bogged down in jealousy, hatred, and ostentation. Through Education in Human Values (EHV), Swami holds out a new hope for humanity and will imbue it with truth, righteousness, peace, and love. Swami’s spiritual campaign, “to carry on the support of the meek and gentle,” is geared to the transformation of man through encouraging righteousness and inspiring righteous conduct and activities. As “time passes leaving doubts unillumined,” the truth and inner meaning of ancient scriptures such as the Vedas, the Upanshads, and Puranas, are lost and a variety of meanings for them are fabricated. This accounts for Baba’s remark, “to explain the secret keys of interpretation” and clarifies the meaning of the statement: “the imperishable Achyuta came down to the Earth.“

The concept of Avatar is a special feature of Sanātanadharma. In other religions the mention of Avatar is not to be found. This is the speciality of Hinduism. As the Divine plan unfolds, the immutable Lord, without shape or form, takes on form and attributes as an Avatar in accordance with the time and the society. He uplifts mankind by demonstrating the truth of the ideals He proclaims. Swami has pointed out that the Divine Sathya Sai Avatar, moving amongst us and making us happy, as well as the earlier Avatars, are indeed part of the will of the one Supreme Spirit.

 Ē guṇambu gaṇinci ētencenō nāḍu

       Prahlādu pālimpa paramapurushudu

Ē guṇambu gaṇinci ētencenō nāḍu

       Pēda kucēlu brōva vēdacaritudu

Ē guṇambu gaṇinci ētencenō nāḍu

       Karini gāceḍu tari kamalanayanudu

Ē guṇambu gaṇinci ētencenō nāḍu

       Balicakravarti kāvanga nōrci

Ā guṇambe gaṇinci yī amaravandyudu

Artajananādhu  ḍīnāḍu avatarince

Śrīnivasunḍu lōkaikacinmayunḍu

 Velge partīśuḍai nēḍu pṛthiviyandu.

 ~

Which trait had the Supreme Spirit weighed,

The day He came to protect Prahlada?

Which trait had the very embodiment of  the Vedas weighed,

The day He came to save poor Kuchela?

Which trait had the Lotus-Eyed One weighed,

The day He came to rescue Gajendra?

Which trait had the Lotus-Eyed One weighed,

The day He came to bless Emperor Bali?

That very trait this Adored of Gods weighed

To descend, and relieve suffering mankind.

Today the all-pervading Consciousness, Srinivasa,

Manifests Himself on Earth as the Lord of Parthi.

We should always keep in mind that Srinivasa, the all-pervading Consciousness, who out of His infinite compassion protected Prahlada, Kuchela, Gajendra and Emperor Bali, appears on Earth in visible form as the Lord of Parthi. On another occasion, echoing as it were, Krishna’s assurance, “I shall take birth in each yuga depending on the state of the yugadharma,” revered Baba remarked:  "Palumāru puţţu nā caluva yella," meaning: “My Beneficence manifests itself several times.” Thus, the connection with earlier Avatars has been suggested.

 Makara pīḍita mattēbhamunu nāḍu

      Vīkshinci brōcu nā prēmaphalamu

Valuvalūḍceḍināḍu vaidarbhi vadinanu

       Vaḍi gācinaţţi yavyājakaruṇa

 Āhlādamoppa nā  prahlādu saragunan

        Pālincinaţţi yapāra kṛpayu

  Dushţulan degaţūrci śishţulan dari jērca

  Palumāru puţţu nā caluva yella

   Telisikommu kastūri nā ţēne manasu

   Janmadinamuna nā dīvenala nandukommu.

~ 

Seeing the elephant king tormented by the crocodile,

My Love it was, which that day came to His rescue.

That day when Draupadi was being disrobed,

My free Grace it was, which flew to save her honour.

When Prahlada was protected in a trice,

It was but my infinite Compassion sporting merrily.

Drawing close the good, and humbling the wicked

My Beneficence manifests itself several times.

Realise now, Kasturi, how tender my heart is

And receive on your birthday these blessings of mine.

The “Love” which rescued the elephant king, Gajendra, the “free Grace” which saved Draupadi’s honour in the royal palace, the “infinite Compassion” which protected Prahlada, and the “Beneficence” which ceaselessly manifests to humble the pride of the wicked  ---- all point to His tender heart. Bhagavan Baba, the Bhōlāśankar (Easily Pleased Sankara), Abhayankar (Granter of Fearlessness) is verily the embodiment of Siva. The Paramasiva, who has vibhūti daubed all over himself, became Sathya Sai to bless devotees with the most sacred vibhūti, which fulfils all our earthly desires and grants salvation too.          

In Kodaikanal once it so happened that I could see Swami’s feet at close quarters. On the left foot I saw the marks of anklets, and the right foot appeared normal. I asked Swami, “What is this, Swami? This is so amazing.” Swami replied, “Don’t you know even this much? This is the form of Ardhanariswara.” Bhagavan is indeed aparaśankara, another Sankara. Let us note what He said on another occasion:

Mauļi gulkeḍu candra makhanḍa kaļatōḍa

     Beḍagāru gulkeḍu jaḍalatōḍa

Jaḍalatō pravahincu cadalēţi  jigitōḍa

     Dambaina phāla nētrambu vāḍu

Nallanēreḍu vanţi nallani meḍamīda

     Karamuna nāgakankaṇamutōḍa

Naḍumuna cuţţina nāgacarmamutōḍa

     Maininḍa naladu bhasmambutōḍa

Nuduţa cērcina doḍḍa kumkuma boţtutō

     Tāmbūla rāgādharambutōḍa

Āru śāstrambulanduna nandaginci

Nallakaluvala hasiyinci kollalāḍu

Merugu cāmanacāya mēnitōḍa

Partivāsuḍu nēḍu sākshātkarince.

 ~

With a bright moon beaming over the top-knot,

With locks of bright hair playfully stirring,

With dazzling Ganges gushing down matted locks,

With a gorgeous third eye adorning the forehead,

With a bracelet of snakes

Over the neck and arms dark as black plums,

With snakeskin winding round the waist,

With sacred ash smeared all over the body,

With a charming vermilion mark gracing the brow,

With lips reddened by chewing betel,

Elegantly sketched in all the six sciences,

With a smile making the blue lotuses blush,

And a body swarthy and lustrous

This day the Lord of Parthi appeared in visible form.

Looking at the pupils from our revered Baba’s institutions, we feel they might have been the cowherd friends of Krishna. Swami’s mandir in Bangalore is indeed Brindavan. Puttaparthi strikes one as though it once was Repalle with its own Gokulam started by Swami. Lord Krishna, the son of Nanda, turning Himself into Sai, the embodiment of Bliss, has come down to identify His kith and kin. That Ramachandra became this Sai Ram and is looking after His former “soldiers.” The child Sai Isa is busy playing with His band of friends. MahaVishnu, the Great Vishnu himself had come down as Mahivishnu, Vishnu on Earth, and got possession of His weapons. What else do we want besides watching, rejoicing, and recalling how the Supreme Spirit is at play now with His puppets on this world stage as He did in the past!

Ā nanda bāluḍē ānanda bāluḍai

     Tana vāri gurtimpa tarali vacce

 Ā rāmacandruḍē ārāmacandruḍai

     Tana banţulanu kangonaga vacce

Ā  yīśuḍē bāla sāyīśuḍai

     Tana gumputō āḍukonaga vacce

Ā  mahāvishṇuvē ī mahīvishṇuvai

     Tana  āyudhamulu cēgonaga vacce

Aţţi paramātmayanu bommalātagāḍu

Tānu jīvula rangasthalāna nilipi

Āḍu ānāţi īnāţi āţa jūci

Sunta varṇinci konta santasamu ganuḍi!

 ~

To recognise His former kith and kin,

     That son of Nanda set out as this Blissful Child.

To spot His erstwhile troops,

     That Ramachandra descended as this Sylvan Moon,

For some fun with His previous playmates, 

     That Isa arrived here as Bala Sai Isa,

To once again take up arms,

      That Mahavishnu turned into this Vishnu on Earth.

That puppeteer, also known as the Supreme Spirit, 

Himself assigns each creature a role on this world stage.

Now go, watch His old familiar game,

Recount it a little, rejoice a little!

Bhagavan Baba is ever subservient to the devotees. If you call out, “Sai,” he answers, “Ōyī!  Yes!” When you address Him saying, “Swami!” His reply is, “Ēmī! What now!” These instant responses confer immeasurable solace, relief, and courage.  Sai Sarvesvara and no other, grants Divine experiences and protects even those living in far-flung areas of the Earth. That is why the poem runs:

Kalata dīrcu nokaţa kalalōna kanipinci

Dhyāna manduna  tōci dariki pilucu

Manasulōna yunḍi manciki naḍipincu 

Śautisaukhyadāyi satyasāyi!

 ~

Appearing in a dream, He removes worry at one place.

In dhyana at another, He beckons you to come closer.

From within our mind He guides us for our good.

Bestower of peace and comfort, O Sathya Sai!

Once a pilot lost control of his plane and direction too. While he was utterly helpless, suddenly there emerged from the sky clear, loud instructions and directions saying, “right,” “left,” and “straight”. The plane landed safely at an airport. He thought to himself, “Oh God! What a lucky escape!” Nobody knows who gave the instructions and directions. Eventually the pilot reached Prasanthi Nilayam. A few days later, Swami gave him an interview and remarked, “I am the one who saved your plane that day.” Guess who the pilot was? He is none other than the well-known James Sinclair, an American from Connecticut.   

Once a gentleman and his grandson went to Darjeeling. The boy was playing with some friends. It was getting dark. The grandfather wanted to go catch a bus all by himself and lost his way. Now everyone knows how some young lad appeared there and led him to the bus.  Well, that lad was no other than our Swami.  

On another occasion, many years ago, a somewhat stout lady, a devotee from our town (Guntur) came to Parthi for Swami’s darśan. She slipped and fell down from the top of the hill. Fortunately, nothing happened to her. That evening during the darśan hour, Swami was joking with her saying, “What? Did you mean to break the rocks of the hill?” Even today her family recounts this event and bursts out laughing.

And once there was in the Foreign Ministry a certain gentleman, Anantaraman. He did not have much faith. Yielding to the insistence of his mother, he accompanied her to Brindavan for Baba’s darśan. His son had been  playing in the swimming pool of the hotel. Suddenly they discovered the dead body of the boy floating there. In utter desperation, they moaned and prayed to Bhagavan, and attempted to revive him. The boy came back to life, and their faith was strengthened. Irrespective of time and place, Sri Sai saves us and grants us freedom from fear.

Aḍavilōnunna ākāśamunanunna

Paţţaṇamuna nunna palle nunna

Guţţa nunna naţţēţa nunna

Madini  sāyi ninnu maruvaḍepuḍu.

 ~

In the forest or the sky,

In a town or a village, wherever you may be,

On a hill or in the middle of a stream,

Sai, the resident of your heart, will never forsake you.

Go anywhere, and ask any devotee, whatever his nationality or language may be, “What is your experience?” He begins to roll his eyes, raise his eyebrows and, shedding tears of joy, becomes instantly voluble. Even if the sea were to turn into ink, the trees into pens, and the Earth into a book, we doubt whether these would be sufficient to record all the experiences of every devotee. After all, how many can be recorded? Each of them has a novel feature, a unique touch to it.  What matters most to the devotee is experience. That explains the song:

Ē dēśamēginā yī nāmamē sumī

     Satyasāyi yanucu nitya paţhana

Ē ūra jūcinā ī nāmamē sumī

     Satyasāyi yanucu nitya japamu

Ē nōţa vinnanu ī nāmamē sumī 

     Sāyi rāma yanucu satya japamu

Ē cōţa cūcinā ī nāmamē sumī 

     Satyasāyi yanucu nitya bhajana

Viśva mellaḍa vyāptiyai baraguvāḍu

Bhakta janulaku prāptuḍai paraguvāḍu  

Bhakti nosagi  rakshinceḍivāḍu

Partivāsuḍu mimmēla hattukonaḍu?

 ~

Whichever be the country we visit, this name alone,

"O Sathya Sai!" thus runs the constant refrain.

Whichever be the town we visit, this name alone,

"O Sathya Sai!" thus runs the unending chant.

Whomever we meet, this name alone,

 "Sai Rama!" thus runs the daily greeting.

Whichever place we look, this name alone,

   "O Sathya Sai!" is the daily bhajan 

He who pervades the universe entire,

He who is ever the prop of devotees,

Who, instilling faith, protects us,

Why won’t He, the Lord of Parthi, clasp you?

When I was in Brindavan I read out this poem. Swami said, “Read it again” and enquired, “What did you say towards the end?” I replied, “Swami, I concluded, ‘Why won’t the Lord of Parthi clasp you?’” “No, no,” Swami said. “Correct it to read, 'Partivāsuḍu mimmēla ettukonaḍu,' ('Why won’t the Lord of Parthi pick you up and hold you, like a child, in His arms?')” Swami’s love is lofty like the Himalayas. Swami remarked, “Even if you leave Me, I shall not abandon you.”

When, after my retirement, I sought permission to leave for my native town, Swami remarked, “There or anywhere else, I myself have to look after you. Who is there for you?” Isn’t that true? Wherever I look, here, there, or elsewhere, there is only One, Bhagavan.

Śrī  puţţaparti nilayuḍu

Kāpaḍunu ninnu nepuḍu karuṇākaruḍai

Cēpaţţi ninnu  brōcucu  

Ē paţţuna viḍuvaka ēlunu ninnun.

~

The Lord of Parthi, the Compassionate Sai,

Looks after you for ever and ever.

Holding you by the hand, He watches over you,

And never letting go, He guides you.

For us, who struggle, drown, float, and choke in this ocean of worldly life, the boat that can lead us to the shore happily and safely is indeed Bhagavan Sathya Sai. He says, “With faith in Me, patiently wait a little and your own experience will teach you.”

Sāramu lēni yaţţi bhavsāgaramandu muningi tēlucun

Dāriyu tennunu ganaka tattara mandeḍi

Vōrimi yincukanta madi nūnucu bhaktini kalgicuḍu śri

Kāruḍu satyasāyi ninu kāvaga vaccina nāva gāncavē!

 ~

Why sink and float in this dull ocean of earthly ties,

And become agitated, lacking means and method?

Have a little patience, and with devotion, watch!

Behold the rescue boat, the giver of plenty, Sathya Sai!

Swami says, “Do not try to understand me. Experience me.” Understanding, explaining, clarifying – all these have to do with the mind. The amazing thing to note is that Divinity is not accessible to the mind; it transcends the mind. In fact, we should say that it is beyond the reach of language and thought, but directly accessible through experience. Speech, writing, memory, intellect, and erudition are all linked to the mind. That is why Bhagavan has been described as avāŋmānasagōcara -- not cognisable by speech or thought. The Upanishad declares, “The one who says, ‘I know,’ does not know.” As experience is the only evidence, nothing more is required. If we place our trust in the mind, we will be ruined.

Centa cērce naţancu santasinceda ranna

     Venţanē eḍabāpi cinta gūrcu

Ēḍipincuţa sāyi vēḍuka yandurā

     Kaḍupubba navvincu naḍuma  naḍuma

Pogaḍucunnāḍani pongi pōyeda rēmo

     Tappa kappuḍe egatāļi sēyu

Abhaya miccenu gāna hāyiga nunḍeda nanna

     Paḍu bādhalaku antu paţţakunḍu

Venuka kēga nīḍu cana nīḍu mundnku

Manasu marulu golpi madhana beţţu

Iţţi cinni sāyi cinmaya mūrtini 

Eţţu tiruga galaru ilanu mīru?

 ~

When you want to rejoice over a little nearness,

At once distancing Himself, He makes you sad.

If you think your grief is fun for Sai,

From time to time He makes you burst with laughter,

If you are ever elated over His words of praise,

Certain it is, He will tease and mock you next.

If you relax, as He assured you freedom from fear,

You learn your troubles have no end.

He does not permit any retreat, or advance either.

Enthralling your heart, He leaves it agitated.

How can you possibly manage with

This little Sai, this Embodied Consciousness?

Offering our humble salutations at Swami’s Lotus Feet during the Declaration of Avatar celebrations, let us earnestly pray that all of us may receive His boundless grace and blessings, and bear in mind that Sai’s protection is the salvation of the world.