Dnyaneshwar

After paying their respects, they immediately set out on their journey to Paithan. Upon reaching the banks of the Godavari, they dutifully fulfilled all the obligations of the pilgrims by performing sacred rituals in the holy waters. Then, entering Brahmapuri, they humbly bowed down before the Brahmans. Gathering a congregation of Brahmans, they candidly narrated the entire incident that had transpired. The highly esteemed Brahmans carefully listened to their account and concluded, "It is evident that you have fallen from your esteemed position."

As they read the letter from the Brahmans at Alandi, the whole matter became known, and the Brahmans remarked, "These are the children of a sannyasi. No penance can avail them. Just as bathing a Shudra in the Ganges does not make them a pure Brahman, or applying a touchstone to pottery does not transform it into gold, or watering a baked seed does not make it sprout, or administering medicine to a person on the verge of death does not lead to recovery, likewise, these individuals can never attain purity through sacred waters, religious observances, or any number of penances." This was the unanimous decision of the entire assembly of Brahmans.

They continued, "According to the teachings of the Shastras, there is only one remedy. If they follow that, there is no need for penance. They should approach Shri Hari (God) as supplicants and worship everything that exists. Donkeys, dogs, elephants, and all other creatures should be revered as if they were the same. They should bow with equal reverence to a hog and an outcast, recognizing the presence of God within them all. They should express their love and devotion towards them." Upon hearing this response, Nivritti was overjoyed, and Dnyandev and Sopan also felt immense happiness. They remarked, "This rule of religion and morality is exactly what resides in our hearts." Muktabai also accepted this decision with delight.

The Brahmans were greatly surprised upon hearing their names and questioned, "Why should we call you Dnyandev? How can we call you Dnyandev? Have you diligently studied the Vedas or become familiar with the Puranas? What good is it to consider oneself great if one lacks competence? What value do long horns hold if a cow has no milk in her udder? What use is an eye without sight or assuming responsibilities without respect? What purpose does a man without courage serve? How can one be called indifferent to earthly things if desires still persist?" As they were speaking and contemplating the significance of names, one of the Brahmans remarked, "A young male buffalo with a leather waterskin on his back is approaching. His name is Dnyan." Upon hearing this, Dnyandev joined his palms together and said, "Listen to my words. I see no difference between this male buffalo and myself. The soul that permeates every body is the same in every creature. Just as the sun is reflected in an infinite number of water-filled jars, the All-Pervading, the Holder of the disk (Krishna), exists equally in all beings. There may be eighteen types of vegetables, but the water that nourishes their roots is the same. Similarly, the Lord of Rama (Krishna) is present in every existing thing. The gold in all ornaments is the same, although the ornaments themselves appear different. One thread is used in the weaving, but the resulting cloth takes various forms. Likewise, the Holder of the disk (Krishna) pervades everything equally."

A Brahman, upon hearing this, remarked, "You are unnecessarily talking too much." He angrily struck the buffalo with a whip he held in his hand. Witnessing this, Dnyaneshwar trembled violently, and a welt appeared on his own back. Observing this, the Brahmans exclaimed, "If there is no distinction between you and the buffalo, then let the buffalo recite the Vedas." Hearing these words, the devotee who saw no differences took the following action. He approached the buffalo and placed his hand on its head, saying, "Recite the Rigveda immediately and satisfy these Brahmans, the gods of the earth." Astonishingly, the young buffalo began reciting the Vedas with proper intonation. It recited all four Vedas and delighted the Brahmans. They exclaimed, "Never before in this mortal world have we witnessed such a wondrous event. Just as a sick person's illness vanishes upon drinking nectar, or a poor man's desolation dissipates when granted the boon of a wish-fulfilling cow, or a blind man gains sight when favored by the sun, or a mute person speaks when blessed by Sarasvati (the goddess of speech), or the fourteen sciences become clear to someone who receives Ganpati's favor, similarly, by the blessings of Dnyandev, the buffalo recited the Vedas." The Brahmans were filled with astonishment and remorse in their hearts. They remarked, "We have studied the Vedanta and all the Upanishads, yet God has never bestowed such extraordinary power upon us. Today, in our very presence, we have witnessed something unheard of before. What Brahmadev himself could not accomplish has happened right here in this universe. These three individuals are evidently the incarnations of the three gods, and Muktabai is the incarnation of Adimaya (the primal force of the universe). No penance can defile them, just as the river Ganges cannot be defiled. We freely preach to others, but we do not act accordingly. We have wasted our lives seeking wealth and honor among men. We have never seen such noble Brahmans in this world. This is what all the Brahmans proclaimed, adding, 'Blessed are their mother and father. Surely, they have performed virtuous deeds in their past lives.' With expressions of astonishment, the Brahmans fell silent.

However, Dnyandev said to them, "O revered sages, what I have achieved is due to your power. I am truly an ignorant person. It is your grace that manifests this power." The people of Paithan were deeply moved and held great reverence for them. They exclaimed, "Blessed are these devotees of Vishnu, who in their earthly existence are completely detached from worldly affairs." They began bathing in the Godavari daily, listening to explanations of the Vedanta and stories from the Puranas. At night, kirtans praising Hari were held, and everyone eagerly attended. Witnessing the extraordinary miracles they performed, everyone treated them with respect.