संत साहित्य · Guru Charitra · Chapters
Chapter 9 — A Washerman Blessed to be a King
Literal. A washerman at Kuravpur is a great devotee of Shri Guru. He watches a Muslim king pass by with his harem and, briefly, wishes for such glory. Shri Guru, knowing his thought, asks him about it. The washerman demurs but admits the wish. Shri Guru tells him: he will be reborn in a Muslim royal family at Bidar, will live as a king, and will reunite with Shri Guru — who will himself be reborn as Narasimha Saraswati — fifteen years later. The washerman dies soon after. Shripad disappears into the Krishna on Ashwin Vadya 12 (Guru Dwadashi).
Symbolic. The chapter establishes the Bidar arc — a multi-chapter narrative thread that resolves only in Chapter 50, more than forty chapters later. The washerman's brief wish is honored in his next life; identity persists across rebirth and is recognized when the agents meet again.
Structural. 15 years to reunion. Bidar as the geographic anchor (Bahmani Sultanate, mid-15th c.). The Krishna river, on Ashwin Vadya 12, as the location of Shripad's mahasamadhi.
Verse by verse
श्रीगणेशाय नमः ।
śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ |
Salutation to Śrī Gaṇeśa.
The chapter opens, as every chapter does, by bowing to Gaṇeśa (remover of obstacles) — the storyteller clears the path before the story begins.
Begin any undertaking with a moment of humility and invocation, not straight into the doing.
ऐकोनि सिद्धाचे वचन । नामधारक करी नमन । विनवीत कर जोडून । भक्तिभावे करोनिया ॥१॥
aikoni siddhāce vacana | nāmadhāraka karī namana | vinavīta kara joḍūna | bhaktibhāve karoniyā ||1||
Hearing the Siddha's words, Nāmadhārak bows in reverence; joining his palms he entreats him, filled with devotion.
The disciple Nāmadhārak again postures himself to receive teaching — folded hands and bowed head are how the next chapter of the Guru's story is invited.
When you want to learn something important, ask for it with visible respect, not casual curiosity.
श्रीपाद कुरवपुरी असता । पुढे वर्तली कैसी कथा । विस्तारूनि सांग आता । कृपामुर्ति दातारा ॥२॥
śrīpāda kuravapurī asatā | puḍhe vartalī kaisī kathā | vistārūni sāmga ātā | kṛpāmurti dātārā ||2||
'While Śrīpād was at Kuravapur, what story unfolded next? Please tell it in full, O compassionate giver.'
Nāmadhārak asks what happened during Śrīpād's long stay at Kuravapur (the guru's riverside abode) — the narrative frame that carries the whole chapter forward.
Stay curious about the ordinary days of a teacher's life, not just the dramatic moments — wisdom often hides in the routine.
सिद्ध म्हणे नामधारका । पुढे कथा अपूर्व देखा । तया ग्रामी रजक एका । सेवक झाला श्रीगुरूचा ॥३॥
siddha mhaṇe nāmadhārakā | puḍhe kathā apūrva dekhā | tayā grāmī rajaka ekā | sevaka jhālā śrīgurūcā ||3||
The Siddha said, 'Nāmadhārak, listen — a wondrous story follows. In that village there was a washerman who became a servant of Śrī Guru.'
The story's hero is introduced: a humble rajaka (washerman), a low-status trade, chosen as the vessel for the coming teaching — greatness will come from an unlikely place.
Do not judge where grace will appear; be ready to receive it even in the humblest circumstances of your own life.
भक्तवत्सल श्रीगुरुराव । जाणोनि शिष्याचा भाव । विस्तार करोनि भक्तीस्तव । निरोपित गुरुचरित्र ॥४॥
bhaktavatsala śrīgururāva | jāṇoni śiṣyācā bhāva | vistāra karoni bhaktīstava | niropita gurucaritra ||4||
Śrī Gururāv, tender toward his devotees, understanding the disciple's heart, narrates the Guru's life story at length out of love.
The Guru's compassion for his listener shapes how the tale is told — bhaktavatsala (tender toward devotees) describes a teacher who tailors depth to the student's readiness to receive.
When teaching or guiding someone, match the depth of what you share to their genuine eagerness to learn.
नित्य श्रीपाद गंगेसी येती । विधिपूर्वक स्नान करिती । लोकवेव्हार संपादिती । त्रयमूर्ति आपण ॥५॥
nitya śrīpāda gamgesī yetī | vidhipūrvaka snāna karitī | lokavevhāra sampāditī | trayamūrti āpaṇa ||5||
Every day Śrīpād would go to the Gaṅgā, bathe according to ritual, and, though a form of the Trinity himself, observe worldly custom.
Though Śrīpād is an avatāra of the divine trayamūrti (three gods in one), he still keeps the daily discipline of ritual bathing — even the highest being models ordinary practice for others to follow.
Keep your daily disciplines even when you feel you have outgrown the need for them; your consistency teaches others.
ज्याचे दर्शन गंगास्नान । त्यासी कायसे आचरण । लोकानुग्रहाकारण । स्नान करीत परियेसा ॥६॥
jyāce darśana gamgāsnāna | tyāsī kāyase ācaraṇa | lokānugrahākāraṇa | snāna karīta pariyesā ||6||
For one whose very sight is as purifying as a bath in the Gaṅgā, what need has he of such observance? Listen — he bathed only for the sake of guiding people.
The narrator explains that Śrīpād's ritual bathing was not for his own purification but lokānugraha (grace toward the world) — leading by visible example rather than private need.
Sometimes do the expected, humble thing publicly, purely so others are encouraged to do the same.
वर्तता ऐसे एके दिवशी । श्रीपाद यति येती स्नानासी । गंगा वहात असे दशदिशी । मध्ये असती आपण ॥७॥
vartatā aise eke divaśī | śrīpāda yati yetī snānāsī | gamgā vahāta ase daśadiśī | madhye asatī āpaṇa ||7||
One day, as things went on so, the ascetic Śrīpād came for his bath; the Gaṅgā flowed on every side, and he stood in its midst.
A specific ordinary day is set up — Śrīpād standing amid the flowing Gaṅgā — the calm scene before the chapter's turning event.
Pay attention on ordinary days; life-changing encounters often arrive without warning inside routine moments.
तया गंगातटाकांत । रजक असे वस्त्रे धूत । नित्य येऊनि असे नमित । श्रीपादगुरुमूर्तीसी ॥८॥
tayā gamgātaṭākāmta | rajaka ase vastre dhūta | nitya yeūni ase namita | śrīpādagurumūrtīsī ||8||
On that riverbank a washerman was washing clothes; every day he would come and bow to the guru-form of Śrīpād.
The washerman's daily namaskāra (bow) to Śrīpād, offered simply while doing his ordinary work, is the seed of devotion that the rest of the story grows from.
Weave small acts of reverence into your daily work rather than waiting for a special occasion to be devout.
नित्य त्रिकाळ येवोनिया । दंडप्रमाण करोनिया । नमन करी अतिविनया । मनोवाक्कायकर्मे ॥९॥
nitya trikāḷa yevoniyā | damḍapramāṇa karoniyā | namana karī ativinayā | manovākkāyakarme ||9||
Coming three times daily, prostrating himself full-length, he would bow with the deepest humility, in mind, word, body and deed.
The washerman's devotion is total — manovākkāyakarme (in mind, speech, body, and action) — showing that sincerity, not status, is what devotion requires.
Let your reverence show consistently in your thoughts, your words, and your actions, not just one of the three.
वर्तता ऐसे एके दिवशी । आला रजक नमस्कारासी । श्रीपाद म्हणती तयासी । एकचित्ते परियेसा ॥१०॥
vartatā aise eke divaśī | ālā rajaka namaskārāsī | śrīpāda mhaṇatī tayāsī | ekacitte pariyesā ||10||
One day, as things went on so, the washerman came to pay homage; Śrīpād spoke to him, listen closely.
After many days of silent, faithful bowing, the Guru finally speaks directly to the devotee — persistence in devotion draws the teacher's attention.
Keep showing up faithfully even when you receive no response; recognition often comes only after sustained effort.
श्रीपाद म्हणती रजकासी । का नित्य कष्टतोसी । तुष्टलो मी तुझ्या भक्तीसी । सुखे राज्य करी आता ॥११॥
śrīpāda mhaṇatī rajakāsī | kā nitya kaṣṭatosī | tuṣṭalo mī tujhyā bhaktīsī | sukhe rājya karī ātā ||11||
Śrīpād said to the washerman, 'Why do you toil so every day? I am pleased with your devotion — now go and rule a kingdom in comfort.'
The Guru rewards years of unnoticed devotion with an extraordinary boon — kingship — showing that sincere bhakti (devotion) is never wasted, even from the lowliest servant.
Trust that quiet, faithful service is seen and eventually honored, even when no reward seems to be coming.
ऐकता गुरूचे वचन । गाठी बांधी पल्लवी शकुन । विनवीतसे कर जोडून । सत्यसंकल्प गुरुमूर्ति ॥१२॥
aikatā gurūce vacana | gāṭhī bāmdhī pallavī śakuna | vinavītase kara joḍūna | satyasamkalpa gurumūrti ||12||
Hearing the Guru's words, he ties the sign in the corner of his garment; the Guru of true resolve, he entreats him with joined palms.
The washerman ties the blessing like a keepsake and still bows in supplication — even a granted boon is received with humility, not grasping.
Receive good fortune with gratitude and humility rather than triumph or entitlement.
रजक सांडी संसारचिंता । सेवक जाहला एकचित्ता । दुरोनि करी दंडवता । मठा गेलिया येणेचि परी ॥१३॥
rajaka sāmḍī samsāracimtā | sevaka jāhalā ekacittā | duroni karī damḍavatā | maṭhā geliyā yeṇeci parī ||13||
The washerman set aside worldly cares and became a single-minded servant; from a distance he would prostrate himself whenever he came to the monastery, in just this manner.
Instead of chasing the promised kingdom, the washerman keeps serving — his devotion outweighs his desire for the reward itself.
Let devotion to your practice matter more to you than the reward you hope it will bring.
ऐसे बहुत दिवसांवरी । रजक तो सेवा करी । आंगण झाडी प्रोक्षी वारी । नित्य नेमे येणे विधी ॥१४॥
aise bahuta divasāmvarī | rajaka to sevā karī | āmgaṇa jhāḍī prokṣī vārī | nitya neme yeṇe vidhī ||14||
In this way, for many days, the washerman continued his service — sweeping the courtyard, sprinkling water, and other daily rounds by fixed rule.
The washerman's service becomes routine and disciplined — sweeping, sprinkling, daily rounds — ordinary chores done with unwavering regularity as an expression of faith.
Turn small, repeated chores into acts of devotion by doing them with full attention and care.
असता एके दिवशी देखा । वसंतऋतु वैशाखा । क्रीडा करीत नदीतटाका । आला राजा म्लेछ एक ॥१५॥
asatā eke divaśī dekhā | vasamtaṛtu vaiśākhā | krīḍā karīta nadītaṭākā | ālā rājā mlecha eka ||15||
One day, in the season of spring, in the month of Vaiśākh, a Muslim king came sporting by the riverbank.
A worldly rājā (king) arrives in splendor at the same river — the story now contrasts his outward grandeur with the washerman's inward wealth.
Notice when outward display of wealth and power crosses your path, and use it to reflect rather than to envy.
स्त्रियांसहित राजा आपण । अलंकृत आभरण । क्रीडा करीत स्त्रिया आपण । गंगेमधून येतसे ॥१६॥
striyāmsahita rājā āpaṇa | alamkṛta ābharaṇa | krīḍā karīta striyā āpaṇa | gamgemadhūna yetase ||16||
The king himself, together with his women, richly adorned with ornaments, came sporting through the Gaṅgā with his womenfolk.
The king's procession is described in lavish sensory detail — jewels, women, festivity — setting up the coming contrast between his opulence and true contentment.
When you witness someone else's luxury, pause before assuming it equals happiness.
सर्व दळ येत दोनी थडी । अमित असती हस्ती घोडी । मिरविताती रत्नकोडी । अलंकृत सेवकजन ॥१७॥
sarva daḷa yeta donī thaḍī | amita asatī hastī ghoḍī | miravitātī ratnakoḍī | alamkṛta sevakajana ||17||
His whole retinue came along both banks; countless elephants and horses were there; adorned attendants displayed heaps of jewels.
The scale of the royal procession is emphasized — armies of servants and animals — a spectacle meant to overwhelm the eye before the story turns to what really matters.
Do not let an impressive show distract you from asking what truly matters underneath it.
ऐसा गंगेच्या प्रवाहात । राजा आला खेळत । अनेक वाद्यनाद गर्जत । कृष्णावेणि थडियेसी ॥१८॥
aisā gamgecyā pravāhāta | rājā ālā kheḷata | aneka vādyanāda garjata | kṛṣṇāveṇi thaḍiyesī ||18||
Thus in the flow of the Gaṅgā the king came at play, many instruments resounding, along the bank of the Kṛṣṇaveṇī.
Music and celebration fill the riverbank as the king passes — the washerman is about to witness this from his place of quiet labor.
Continue your own quiet work steadily even amid the noise and celebration happening around you.
रजक होता नमस्कारित । शब्द झाला तो दुश्चित । असे गंगेत अवलोकित । समारंभ राजयाचा ॥१९॥
rajaka hotā namaskārita | śabda jhālā to duścita | ase gamgeta avalokita | samārambha rājayācā ||19||
The washerman was in the midst of his bow when the sound distracted him; he looked up and beheld the king's festivities on the Gaṅgā.
Mid-prayer, the washerman's attention is pulled toward the spectacle — a very human moment where devotion and worldly distraction meet.
When distraction pulls at you during a moment of devotion or focus, notice it gently and return to your purpose.
विस्मय करी बहु मानसी । जन्मोनिया संसारासी । जरी न देखिजे सौख्यासी । पशुसमान देह आपुला ॥२०॥
vismaya karī bahu mānasī | janmoniyā samsārāsī | jarī na dekhije saukhyāsī | paśusamāna deha āpulā ||20||
Great wonder arose in his mind: 'Having been born into this world, if one never sees such happiness, then my body is no different from a beast's.'
Seeing the king's splendor, the washerman feels the ache of comparison — a candid, relatable moment of longing before deeper reflection sets in.
Allow yourself to notice envy honestly rather than suppress it — awareness is the first step past it.
धन्य राजयाचे जिणे । ऐसे सौख्य भोगणे । स्त्रिया वस्त्रे अनेक भूषणे । कैसा भक्त ईश्वराच ॥२१॥
dhanya rājayāce jiṇe | aise saukhya bhogaṇe | striyā vastre aneka bhūṣaṇe | kaisā bhakta īśvarāca ||21||
'Blessed is the king's life, enjoying such pleasure — women, many garments, ornaments; what a favored devotee of God he must be!'
The washerman assumes the king's opulence must mean divine favor, mistaking outer luxury for inner blessedness — a natural but mistaken judgment the story will correct.
Question the assumption that visible wealth equals God's favor or true well-being.
कैसे याचे आर्जव फळले । कवण्या देवा आराधिले । कैसे श्रीगुरु असती भेटले । मग पावला ऐसी दशा ॥२२॥
kaise yāce ārjava phaḷale | kavaṇyā devā ārādhile | kaise śrīguru asatī bheṭale | maga pāvalā aisī daśā ||22||
'How did his sincere effort bear fruit? Which deity did he worship? How did he come to meet Śrī Guru, that he attained this state?'
The washerman imagines an elaborate spiritual cause behind the king's fortune, unaware that his own quiet devotion is worth infinitely more — irony threading through his wondering.
Before assuming someone else earned their fortune through hidden virtue, examine the value of your own daily efforts.
ऐसे मनी चिंतित । करीतसे दंडवत । श्रीपादराय कृपावंत । वळखिली वासना तयाची ॥२३॥
aise manī cimtita | karītase damḍavata | śrīpādarāya kṛpāvamta | vaḷakhilī vāsanā tayācī ||23||
Thinking thus in his mind, he continued his full prostration; the compassionate Śrīpādrāy recognized the desire within him.
Even while his mind wanders in comparison, the washerman's body keeps bowing — and the Guru, all-knowing, perceives the unspoken wish forming in his heart.
Continue your practice even when your mind wanders; the practice itself still counts.
भक्तवत्सल श्रीगुरुमूर्ति । जाणोनि अंतरी त्याची स्थिति । बोलावूनिया पुसती । काय चिंतिसी मनांत ॥२४॥
bhaktavatsala śrīgurumūrti | jāṇoni amtarī tyācī sthiti | bolāvūniyā pusatī | kāya cimtisī manāmta ||24||
The Guru, tender toward his devotees, knowing the state of his heart, called him near and asked, 'What are you brooding on in your mind?'
The Guru gently invites the washerman to voice his hidden longing rather than leaving it to fester — compassionate teaching begins by naming what is unspoken.
When someone close to you seems distracted or troubled, ask directly and kindly what is on their mind.
रजक म्हणे स्वामीसी । देखिले दृष्टी रायासी । संतोष झाला मानसी । केवळ दास श्रीगुरूचा ॥२५॥
rajaka mhaṇe svāmīsī | dekhile dṛṣṭī rāyāsī | samtoṣa jhālā mānasī | kevaḷa dāsa śrīgurūcā ||25||
The washerman said to his master, 'I saw the king with my own eyes, and my mind felt joy — yet I am wholly a servant of Śrī Guru.'
The washerman is honest about the pull of envy but reaffirms his deeper loyalty — devotion is strong enough to hold competing feelings without collapsing.
It is fine to admit a fleeting temptation as long as you name where your real commitment lies.
पूर्वी आराधोनि देवासी । पावला आता या पदासी । म्हणोनि चिंतितो मानसि । कृपासिंधु दातारा ॥२६॥
pūrvī ārādhoni devāsī | pāvalā ātā yā padāsī | mhaṇoni cimtito mānasi | kṛpāsimdhu dātārā ||26||
'Having worshipped some deity in a past life, he has now attained this rank — so I brood in my mind, O ocean of compassion, giver of grace.'
The washerman's wondering returns to the logic of karma (past deeds bearing fruit) — trying to make moral sense of another's fortune.
When puzzling over why others prosper, look inward at your own effort rather than only outward at their result.
ऐसे अविद्यासंबंधेसी । नाना वासना इंद्रियांसी । चाड नाही या भोगासी । चरणी तुझे मज सौख्य ॥२७॥
aise avidyāsambamdhesī | nānā vāsanā imdriyāmsī | cāḍa nāhī yā bhogāsī | caraṇī tujhe maja saukhya ||27||
'Yet through this bond of ignorance, the senses hold many such desires; still I have no real craving for these pleasures — my happiness is at your feet.'
The washerman resolves his own inner conflict: fleeting curiosity about royal pleasure gives way to a settled preference for the Guru's feet — true refuge over passing desire.
When tempted by another's apparent good fortune, return your attention to what genuinely grounds and satisfies you.
श्रीपाद म्हणती रजकासी । जन्मादारभ्य कष्टलासी । वांछा असे भोगावयासी । राज्यभोग तमोवृत्ति ॥२८॥
śrīpāda mhaṇatī rajakāsī | janmādārabhya kaṣṭalāsī | vāmchā ase bhogāvayāsī | rājyabhoga tamovṛtti ||28||
Śrīpād said to the washerman, 'From birth you have toiled; you long to enjoy — the pleasure of kingship is born of a dull, worldly disposition.'
The Guru names the washerman's desire plainly and classifies it as tamovṛtti (a dull, inertia-bound craving) — not condemning it, but seeing it clearly for what it is.
Name your own cravings honestly to yourself instead of dressing them up as something nobler.
निववी इंद्रिये सकळ । नातरी मोक्ष नव्हे निर्मळ । बाधा करिती पुढे केवळ । जन्मांतरी परियेसी ॥२९॥
nivavī imdriye sakaḷa | nātarī mokṣa navhe nirmaḷa | bādhā karitī puḍhe kevaḷa | janmāmtarī pariyesī ||29||
'Satisfy all the senses fully, otherwise liberation will not be pure; unmet desires will only trouble you again in a future birth.'
The Guru explains a subtle spiritual law: suppressed desire does not vanish but resurfaces in a later life — better to let it play out and be spent than to bury it.
Address your unresolved desires honestly rather than pretending they do not exist; unacknowledged longing tends to resurface.
तुष्टवावया इंद्रियांसी । तुवा जावे म्लेछवंशासी । आवडी जाहली तुझे मानसी । राज्य भोगी जाय त्वरित ॥३०॥
tuṣṭavāvayā imdriyāmsī | tuvā jāve mlechavamśāsī | āvaḍī jāhalī tujhe mānasī | rājya bhogī jāya tvarita ||30||
'To satisfy your senses, you must be born into the Muslim king's lineage; since this wish has arisen in your mind, go quickly and enjoy that kingdom.'
The Guru grants the very wish the washerman voiced, however unexpected the form — a lesson that the divine takes desires seriously enough to fulfill them completely.
Be careful what you wish for and voice your desires thoughtfully, since they may be granted exactly as spoken.
ऐकोनि स्वांमीचे वचन । विनवी रजक कर जोडून । कृपासागरू तू गुरुराज पूर्ण । उपेक्षू नको म्हणतसे ॥३१॥
aikoni svāmmīce vacana | vinavī rajaka kara joḍūna | kṛpāsāgarū tū gururāja pūrṇa | upekṣū nako mhaṇatase ||31||
Hearing the master's words, the washerman entreats him with joined palms: 'You are the ocean of mercy, the perfect Guru-king; do not forsake me,' he says.
Faced with the strange boon of a future birth as a king, the washerman's first instinct is fear of separation from the Guru, not excitement for the reward.
When gaining something new, make sure you do not lose sight of what matters to you most.
अंतरतील तुझे चरण । द्यावे माते पुनर्दर्शन । तुझा अनुग्रह असे कारण । ज्ञान द्यावे दातारा ॥३२॥
amtaratīla tujhe caraṇa | dyāve māte punardarśana | tujhā anugraha ase kāraṇa | jñāna dyāve dātārā ||32||
'Your feet will pass from my sight — grant me a reunion with you again; your grace is the very reason, O giver, please bestow that knowledge.'
The washerman asks not for more pleasure but for continued connection to the Guru across lifetimes — his real desire, once tested, is revealed to be reunion with the divine, not the throne itself.
When pursuing a worldly goal, keep the relationships and truths that matter most firmly in your plan.
श्रीगुरु म्हणती तयासी । वैदुरानगरी जन्म घेसी । भेटी देऊ अंतकाळासी । कारण असे येणे आम्हा ॥३३॥
śrīguru mhaṇatī tayāsī | vaidurānagarī janma ghesī | bheṭī deū amtakāḷāsī | kāraṇa ase yeṇe āmhā ||33||
Śrī Guru said to him, 'You will take birth in the city of Vaidurānagarī; I will meet you at your final hour — that is my reason for coming.'
The Guru promises a reunion at the moment of death, showing that the bond of devotion outlasts an entire lifetime spent elsewhere.
Trust that a sincere spiritual bond endures even through long periods of separation or worldly distraction.
भेटी होतांचि आम्हांसी । ज्ञान होल तुझे मानसी । न करी चिंता भरवसी । आम्हा येणे घडेल ॥३४॥
bheṭī hotāmci āmhāmsī | jñāna hola tujhe mānasī | na karī cimtā bharavasī | āmhā yeṇe ghaḍela ||34||
'The moment we meet, your mind will gain knowledge; have no anxiety or doubt — this meeting with us will surely come to pass.'
The Guru offers certainty and reassurance: the promised meeting is guaranteed, so present anxiety about the future is unnecessary.
Release anxious worry about a distant future by trusting a promise or commitment you have already made or received.
आणिक कार्यकारणासी । अवतार घेऊ परियेसी । वेष धरोनि संन्यासी । नाम नृसिंहसरस्वती ॥३५॥
āṇika kāryakāraṇāsī | avatāra gheū pariyesī | veṣa dharoni samnyāsī | nāma nṛsimhasarasvatī ||35||
'For a further purpose I shall take another avatāra, listen — wearing the garb of a renunciant, by the name Nṛsiṁha Sarasvatī.'
Śrīpād reveals his next incarnation — Nṛsiṁha Sarasvatī — linking this chapter's small local story to the larger unfolding of the divine narrative across the whole text.
Trust that today's small encounters connect to a larger unfolding purpose, even if you cannot yet see the whole picture.
ऐसे तया संबोधूनि । निरोप देती जाय म्हणोनि । रजक लागला तये चरणी । नमस्कारीत तये वेळी ॥३६॥
aise tayā sambodhūni | niropa detī jāya mhaṇoni | rajaka lāgalā taye caraṇī | namaskārīta taye veḷī ||36||
Having thus instructed him, he gave leave saying, 'Go now'; the washerman clung to those feet, bowing at that very moment.
Even after receiving the extraordinary promise, the washerman's final act is simply to bow once more — devotion expressed through the body, not argument.
Let gratitude for a blessing show itself through humble action rather than words alone.
देखोनि श्रीगुरु कृपामूर्ति । रजकासी जवळी पाचारिती । इह भोगिसी की पुढती । राज्यभोग सांग मज ॥३७॥
dekhoni śrīguru kṛpāmūrti | rajakāsī javaḷī pācāritī | iha bhogisī kī puḍhatī | rājyabhoga sāmga maja ||37||
Seeing him, the compassionate Śrī Guru called the washerman close: 'Will you enjoy the kingdom now, or later? Tell me.'
The Guru offers a real choice — immediate or later enjoyment — testing whether the washerman truly understands what he is asking for.
Before accepting a reward, pause and consider carefully when and how you actually want to receive it.
रजक विनवीत श्रीपादासी । झालो आपण वृद्धवयेसी । भोग भोगीन बाळाभ्यासी । यौवनगोड राज्यभोग ॥३८॥
rajaka vinavīta śrīpādāsī | jhālo āpaṇa vṛddhavayesī | bhoga bhogīna bāḷābhyāsī | yauvanagoḍa rājyabhoga ||38||
The washerman entreated Śrīpād: 'I have grown old now; let me enjoy it in the sweetness of youth, in the joy of a kingdom, from childhood onward.'
The washerman's practical answer — asking for a fresh young life to fully enjoy the kingdom — shows earthy, believable humanity even amid this cosmic exchange.
When granted an opportunity, be specific and honest about what conditions will let you truly make use of it.
ऐकोनि रजकाचे वचन । निरोप देती श्रीगुरु आपण । त्वरित जाई रे म्हणोन । जन्मांतरी भोगी म्हणती ॥३९॥
aikoni rajakāce vacana | niropa detī śrīguru āpaṇa | tvarita jāī re mhaṇona | janmāmtarī bhogī mhaṇatī ||39||
Hearing the washerman's words, Śrī Guru himself gave leave: 'Go quickly,' he said, 'you shall enjoy it in your next birth.'
The Guru grants the specific request — enjoyment in a future birth, not this one — confirming the terms exactly as the washerman asked.
Accept that some rewards will unfold on their own timeline rather than immediately, once you have asked sincerely.
निरोप देता तया वेळी । त्यजिला प्राण तत्काळी । जन्माता झाला म्लेछकुळी । वैदुरानगरी विख्यात ॥४०॥
niropa detā tayā veḷī | tyajilā prāṇa tatkāḷī | janmātā jhālā mlechakuḷī | vaidurānagarī vikhyāta ||40||
As soon as leave was given, at that very moment he gave up his life; he was born into a Muslim family, renowned in the city of Vaidurānagarī.
The washerman's earthly life ends immediately, and rebirth follows at once — devotion and destiny meet without delay once the Guru's word is spoken.
Recognize that some transitions in life happen swiftly once a decision or commitment has truly been made.
ऐसी रजकाची कथा । पुढे सांगून विस्तारता । सिद्ध म्हणे नामधारका आता । चरित्र पुढती अवधारी ॥४१॥
aisī rajakācī kathā | puḍhe sāmgūna vistāratā | siddha mhaṇe nāmadhārakā ātā | caritra puḍhatī avadhārī ||41||
Such is the washerman's story; narrating it further, the Siddha said to Nāmadhārak, 'Now attend to the story that follows.'
The narrator closes this episode and signals a shift ahead — a natural pause built into the storytelling itself.
After completing one chapter of a task or story, pause briefly before turning your full attention to the next.
ऐसे झालीया अवसरी । श्रीपादराय कुरवपुरी । असता महिमा अपरंपारी । प्रख्यात असे परियेसा ॥४२॥
aise jhālīyā avasarī | śrīpādarāya kuravapurī | asatā mahimā aparampārī | prakhyāta ase pariyesā ||42||
When this had come to pass, Śrīpādrāy, staying at Kuravapur, had a glory beyond measure, renowned as such — listen well.
The narrator steps back to summarize Śrīpād's enduring fame at Kuravapur, preparing to shift focus to what comes next in his story.
Take a moment to appreciate the lasting good someone has done before moving on to what comes next.
महिमा सकळ सांगता । विस्तार होईल बहु कथा । पुढील अवतार असे ख्याता । सांगेन ऐक नामधारका ॥४३॥
mahimā sakaḷa sāmgatā | vistāra hoīla bahu kathā | puḍhīla avatāra ase khyātā | sāmgena aika nāmadhārakā ||43||
'To tell his full glory would make for a vast tale; the next avatāra is renowned — I shall tell it, listen, Nāmadhārak.'
The Siddha acknowledges that Śrīpād's full greatness cannot be exhausted in words and turns the narrative toward the coming incarnation, keeping the listener's appetite alive.
Accept that you cannot capture the whole of something wonderful in words; share what you can and let curiosity carry the rest.
महत्त्व वर्णावया श्रीगुरूचे । शक्ति कैची या वाचे । नवल हे अमृतदृष्टीचे । स्थानमहिमा ऐसा ॥४४॥
mahattva varṇāvayā śrīgurūce | śakti kaicī yā vāce | navala he amṛtadṛṣṭīce | sthānamahimā aisā ||44||
'What power has this tongue to describe Śrī Guru's greatness? Wondrous is this nectar-vision, such is the glory of the place.'
The narrator confesses the limits of language before greatness — a note of humility before praising the sacred site of Kuravapur further.
Approach truly great things with humility about your own ability to fully describe or contain them.
श्रीगुरु राहती जे स्थानी । अपार महिमा त्या भुवनी । विचित्र जयाची करणी । दृष्टान्ते तुज सांगेन ॥४५॥
śrīguru rāhatī je sthānī | apāra mahimā tyā bhuvanī | vicitra jayācī karaṇī | dṛṣṭānte tuja sāmgena ||45||
'Wherever Śrī Guru dwells, that world holds boundless glory; wondrous are its workings — I shall tell you through examples.'
The narrator promises concrete stories (dṛṣṭānta, illustrative examples) to demonstrate the sanctity of the place rather than abstract praise alone.
When explaining something's value to others, offer concrete examples rather than vague praise.
स्थानमहिमाप्रकार । सांगेन ऐक एकाग्र । प्रख्यात असे कुरवपूर । मनकामना पुरती तेथे ॥४६॥
sthānamahimāprakāra | sāmgena aika ekāgra | prakhyāta ase kuravapūra | manakāmanā puratī tethe ||46||
'I shall tell of the glory of this place, listen with one-pointed attention; Kuravapur is renowned — there, heart's desires are fulfilled.'
Kuravapur is named as a wish-fulfilling holy place, drawing the listener's focused attention before the closing verses of the chapter.
Give your full, undivided attention when someone is about to share something meaningful with you.
ऐसे कित्येक दिवसांवरी । श्रीपाद होते कुरवपुरी । कारण असे पुढे अवतारी । म्हणोनि अदृश्य होते तेथे ॥४७॥
aise kityeka divasāmvarī | śrīpāda hote kuravapurī | kāraṇa ase puḍhe avatārī | mhaṇoni adṛśya hote tethe ||47||
So, for a good many days, Śrīpād remained at Kuravapur; since a purpose lay ahead in a future avatāra, he became invisible there.
Śrīpād's disappearance is framed not as an ending but as a transition — invisibility in service of the avatāra (incarnation) still to come.
Understand that an apparent ending in your life may simply be a quiet transition toward what comes next.
आश्विन वद्य द्वादशी । नक्षत्र मृगराज परियेसी । श्रीगुरु बैसले निजानंदेसी । अदृश्य झाले गंगेत ॥४८॥
āśvina vadya dvādaśī | nakṣatra mṛgarāja pariyesī | śrīguru baisale nijānamdesī | adṛśya jhāle gamgeta ||48||
On the twelfth day of the dark fortnight of Āśvin, under the constellation Mṛgaśira, listen — Śrī Guru, seated in his own inner bliss, disappeared into the Gaṅgā.
A precise date and constellation mark Śrīpād's disappearance into the Gaṅgā — sacred time recorded exactly, as befits a momentous, quietly joyful departure.
Mark important turning points in your own life with intention and attention, however quietly they occur.
लौकिकी दिसती अदृश्य जाण । कुरवपुरी असती आपण । श्रीपादराव निर्धार जाण । त्रयमूर्तिचा अवतार ॥४९॥
laukikī disatī adṛśya jāṇa | kuravapurī asatī āpaṇa | śrīpādarāva nirdhāra jāṇa | trayamūrticā avatāra ||49||
Know that he only appears invisible to the world — in truth he remains at Kuravapur; know for certain that Śrīpādrāv is the avatāra of the divine Trinity.
The narrator clarifies that Śrīpād's disappearance is only from ordinary sight — he is still truly present at Kuravapur for those able to perceive it.
Trust that a wise or beloved presence can remain real and available to you even when it is no longer visible.
अदृश्य होवोनि तया स्थानी । श्रीपाद राहिले निर्गुणी । दृष्टान्त सांगेन विस्तारोनि । म्हणे सरस्वतीगंगाधरू ॥५०॥
adṛśya hovoni tayā sthānī | śrīpāda rāhile nirguṇī | dṛṣṭānta sāmgena vistāroni | mhaṇe sarasvatīgamgādharū ||50||
Having become invisible in that place, Śrīpād remains there beyond attributes; I shall narrate the illustrative story at length, says Sarasvatī-Gaṅgādhar.
The narrator, Sarasvatī-Gaṅgādhar (the poem's author), promises to continue with proof-stories of Śrīpād's ongoing, formless presence at the sacred site.
Look for evidence in your own life of a guiding presence that continues to support you, even unseen.
जे जन असती भक्त केवळ । त्यांसी दिसती श्रीगुरु निर्मळ । कुरवपूर क्षेत्र अपूर्व स्थळ । असे प्रख्यात भूमंडळी ॥५१॥
je jana asatī bhakta kevaḷa | tyāmsī disatī śrīguru nirmaḷa | kuravapūra kṣetra apūrva sthaḷa | ase prakhyāta bhūmamḍaḷī ||51||
Those people who are true devotees alone see the pure Śrī Guru; Kuravapur, a wondrous holy place, is renowned across the whole earth.
Only sincere bhaktas (devotees) can perceive Śrīpād's continuing presence — devotion itself becomes the instrument of perception.
Cultivate sincere devotion or attentiveness as the very means by which you come to perceive what others miss.
सिद्ध सांगे नामधारकासी । तेचि कथा विस्तारेसी । सांगतसे सकळिकांसी । गंगाधराचा आत्मज ॥५२॥
siddha sāmge nāmadhārakāsī | teci kathā vistāresī | sāmgatase sakaḷikāmsī | gamgādharācā ātmaja ||52||
The Siddha tells Nāmadhārak that very story at length; the son of Gaṅgādhar narrates it to everyone.
The narrator steps forward by name, Gaṅgādhar's son (Sarasvatī-Gaṅgādhar), affirming that this teaching is being passed on faithfully to all listeners.
Take responsibility for passing on what you have learned faithfully to others, as it was given to you.
इति श्रीगुरुचरित्रपरमकथाकल्पतरौ श्रीनृसिंहसरस्वत्युपाख्याने सिद्धनामधारकसंवादे रजकवरप्रदानं नाम नवमोऽध्यायः ॥९॥
iti śrīgurucaritraparamakathākalpatarau śrīnṛsimhasarasvatyupākhyāne siddhanāmadhārakasamvāde rajakavarapradānam nāma navamo'dhyāyaḥ ||9||
Thus ends the ninth chapter, named 'The Granting of the Boon to the Washerman,' in the dialogue of Siddha and Nāmadhārak, in the tale of Śrī Nṛsiṁha Sarasvatī, in the wish-fulfilling tree of the supreme story of Śrī Gurucaritra.
The traditional Sanskrit colophon formally closes the chapter, naming it 'The Granting of the Boon to the Washerman' and situating it within the whole Gurucaritra text.
Bring closure to each stage of your own work or story with a clear, deliberate marking of its end.
श्रीगुरुदत्तात्रेयार्पणमस्तु
śrīgurudattātreyārpaṇamastu
May this be offered to Śrī Guru Dattātreya.
The chapter closes with a dedication of the whole telling to Dattātreya (the divine source) — the storyteller offers his own effort back to the guru.
Offer the fruit of your own effort back in gratitude to whatever or whoever inspired it.