Namdev

Now Rajai felt very much comforted at heart and said, "My husband served God, and He has been pleased." She tore open the bag and took out a lapful of gold coins. She immediately went to the market and gave the coins to the grocer. She said to him, "You know what materials are needed for one's domestic life. Send them to my house." After conveying her instructions to the grocer, she hurried back home.

The merchant was perplexed but thought to himself, "God must be helping him." He sent various garments, ornaments, melted butter, rice, sugar, and other materials to Nama's house. Rajai, overwhelmed with joy, could not contain herself.

Meanwhile, Gonai had gone out and was unaware of what had transpired. She had collected some grain and was returning home. She thought to herself, 'Nama must be upset and has left. I will go to the temple, console him, and bring him back." With that in mind, she hastened to the grand entrance of the temple. She bowed to God on the Garuda platform and then entered the assembly hall. As she looked around, she saw God standing before her. When God saw Gonai, He positioned Nama behind Him.

Gonai said, "O God, turn your face towards me. You have made Nama love You immensely, and as a result, we are facing difficulties in our worldly affairs. Through his association with You, O Govinda, he has neglected his home and business. He is suffering distress in his worldly matters because he no longer has an interest in sensory pleasures. Giving up all attachments, he has wholeheartedly embraced Your feet. Due to our lack of material possessions in our domestic life, we are ridiculed by wicked people. By disregarding his own needs, he finds perfect contentment. It is You who have turned his mind towards non-duality, and he no longer harbors worldly thoughts. Those who become associated with You are transformed in Your likeness. I have never seen or heard of anyone associated with You returning to their worldly life. You have deliberately created conflict between us and placed Nama behind You. Your wife at home is in great distress, but O God, You show no pity. By showing compassion to Nama, You are destroying my life. I will no longer hold You in reverence, O Husband of Rukmini. I have lovingly borne him for nine months, but You, O God, have made me hopeless. You have caused a division between us in our worldly affairs. You claim to be generous, but tell me, whom and what have You given?

O Life of the world, I do not believe the praises bestowed upon You. You accepted a handful of parched rice from Sudama and bestowed upon him a city of gold. You never come to the aid of anyone unless they give You something. When Ravana displayed his power, You turned Vibhishana against him and, taking advantage of the domestic division, gave him the gift of Ceylon. When Draupadi was in great distress, You first took a vegetable leaf from her (to satisfy Your own hunger) and then feasted the rishis, thus demonstrating Your generosity. Even the serpent Shesha grew weary while describing Your negative qualities. I have held some reverence for You, and that is why Your divinity remains."

Upon hearing Gonai's reply, God laughed and said, "You are needlessly angry with me. Your foolish Nama, who does not care for himself, insisted on clinging to My feet. If you possess a counterfeit coin, why quarrel with another about it? With love in your heart, you view Nama from the perspective of being his mother. You attempt to create a division between us and reproach us with your words. If you truly love him, take your son away from here. Do not unjustly attribute your grievances to Me. A fruit ripens on a tree, the wind blows against it, and it falls down. Similarly, in Nama's case, you have falsely accused Me. I am the Unborn, the Imperishable, the Unconquerable, and I have no association with the three gunas (qualities of nature: goodness, passion, and ignorance). Out of love for Nama, I assumed a form with visible attributes. I existed in a formless state when there was no space, air, water, earth, light, fire, and even when Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva did not exist, and everything was formless. Since then, Nama has been my associate, and our love has been intense. Why do you wish to quarrel with me? Just as when a tree bears fruits, the gardener plucks and takes them away. The tree itself cannot enjoy them. This separation has occurred due to its own past misdeeds. So consider Me as a tree in the form of the universe, and the loving Nama was the nectarous fruit on it. You have plucked that fruit, and it troubles Me greatly!"

Gonai replied, "O God, You speak very arrogantly. You compel me to swallow pebbles due to the lack of grain and create a division between us. Farmers make great efforts to cultivate crops from the earth. Then the king arrives and imposes taxes, claiming a share of the produce. I have endured countless hardships in raising Nama from childhood to adulthood, and now You unjustly claim ownership of him."

Hearing Gonai's reply, the Life of the world laughed and said to Himself, "I must clearly explain this to her. If I do not, she will tarnish my reputation." Thus, the Husband of Rukmini responded to her. The dark-complexioned One said to Gonai, "Your good deeds are purely driven by selflessness, which is why this God-devoted devotee came into your womb. Just as the great Vaishnava Narada was born to Brahma and Savitri, so it is with you and the fortunate devotee Damashet, through whom Nama has descended as an avatar. Just as in the line of demons, the devotee Prahlada became an avatar by being born to Kayadhu, similarly, Nama, the servant of Vishnu, has been born from you for the salvation of the world. Among the sixty-five million Yadavas, Uddhava was the most distinguished Vaishnava. In the lineage of tailors, Nama has become an avatar. Just as among saints, ascetics, and yogis, the son of Anasuya was the most esteemed, so you, dear Gonai, seem to be the most fortunate of women, having such a precious jewel of a son in Nama. Or just as King Uttanacharan had the distinguished Suniti as his wife, and she gave birth to their son Dhruva, who made me subservient to him. Or as Maruti was born in the race of monkeys from his mother Anjani, similarly, Nama, the embodiment of virtue, has been born to you. O Gonai, blessed is your devotion, for this Vaishnava has come into your womb. Your fortune is beyond description, for you have become the mother of Nama. Taking Nama into your bosom, you rested with him on your bed. I cannot adequately describe your incredible fortune. While eating with Nama, you shared your meal with him. Only you are aware of the countless virtuous acts you have performed, dear friend. I, who am above all other beings and unconquerable, am describing your exemplary character. You alone possess the blessed privilege of having Nama as your son."

Gonai replied, "O Life of the world, O Pervader of the universe, the Delight of the heart, give me my son Nama, and let his love for worship remain."

Upon hearing her words, God looked up and realized that she would influence Nama to engage in worldly affairs. Therefore, He became greatly troubled. As the Life of the world remained silent, Gonai understood His intention.

The power of reasoning is the highest form of knowledge, so say the wise. Even when one acquires knowledge of the fourteen spheres and various forms of wisdom, if the mind lacks reasoning, all fourteen spheres become entirely useless. One may display learning in the king's assembly, engage in discussions on justice and morality, and the replies may vary depending on the assembly present, but reasoning is indispensable. Reasoning is essential in arranging a matrimonial connection or in establishing business relations with others. It is necessary when reading books or forming friendships, trusting someone with a secret, or writing a book. Reasoning is vital in offering a gift to a deserving person or providing the right medicine to the sick. It is necessary to perform the appropriate praise service in the presence of an assembly.