One gentleman from Poona by name Anantrao Patankar, wished to see Baba. He came to Shirdi and took Baba's darshan. His eyes were satisfied and he was much pleased. He fell at Baba's Feet and after performing proper worship said to Baba,
"I have read a lot, studied
but still, I have not got any peace of mind so I think all my reading was useless. Simple ignorant devout persons are better than myself. Unless the mind becomes calm, all book-learnings is of no avail. I have heard from many people that, You easily give peace of mind to so many people by Your mere glance and potent word so I have come here, please take pity on me and bless me."
Then Baba told him a parable, which was as follows :
Parable of Nine Balls of Stool (Nava-vidha Bhakti)
'Once a merchant came here. Before him a mare passed her stool(nine balls of stool). The merchant intent on his quest, spread the end of his Dhotar and gathered all the nine balls in it, and thus he got concentration(peace) of mind.'
Mr. Patankar could not make ot the meaning of this story so, he asked Ganesh Damodar alias Dada Kelkar, "What does Baba mean by this?" He replied, "I too do not know all that Baba says and means but at His inspiration I say what I come to know. The mare is God's grace and the nine balls excreted are the nine forms or types of Bhakti,viz.
"I have read a lot, studied
- Vedas,
- Vedanta and Upanishads, and
- Puranas
Then Baba told him a parable, which was as follows :
Parable of Nine Balls of Stool (Nava-vidha Bhakti)
'Once a merchant came here. Before him a mare passed her stool(nine balls of stool). The merchant intent on his quest, spread the end of his Dhotar and gathered all the nine balls in it, and thus he got concentration(peace) of mind.'
Mr. Patankar could not make ot the meaning of this story so, he asked Ganesh Damodar alias Dada Kelkar, "What does Baba mean by this?" He replied, "I too do not know all that Baba says and means but at His inspiration I say what I come to know. The mare is God's grace and the nine balls excreted are the nine forms or types of Bhakti,viz.
Next day when Patankar went to Baba for salutation, he was asked whether he collected the 'nine balls of stool'. Then he said that he being a poor fellow, should first be graced by Baba and he would be enabled to collect them. Then Baba blessed and comforted him, saying that he would attain peace and welfare. After hearing this, Patankar became overjoyed and happy.
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