संत साहित्य · Guru Charitra · Chapters
Chapter 23 — Liberation of Brahma-Rakshas; Establishment of Math at Gangapur
Literal. News of the buffalo-milk miracle spreads. The town's Gramadhipati (chief officer) comes to Shri Guru with his family and asks him to establish a math (monastery-residence) in Ganagapur. Shri Guru agrees. He is escorted in palanquin with music. At the south gate of Ganagapur, a Brahma-Rakshas (a demon-spirit of a previous-life cruel man) inhabiting a peepal tree throws himself at Shri Guru's feet. Shri Guru sends him to bathe at the Sangam; he returns transformed into a human and is liberated. The Math is built; Ganagapur becomes a Punya Kshetra (place of merit).
Symbolic. Liberation of the demon at the threshold — the demon has destroyed all houses near the tree before Shri Guru arrives; his first act in the new town is to redeem the demon. The pattern is: the difficult agents are addressed first, not last; the institutional foundation comes after.
Verse by verse
श्रीगणेशाय नमः ।
śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ |
Salutations to Sri Ganesha.
The recurring invocation opening a new chapter, calling on Ganesha to bless the narration's start.
Begin each new endeavor with a moment of reverence and grounding.
विनवी शिष्य नामांकित । सिद्ध योगीयाते पुसत । पुढील कथा विस्तारत । निरोपावी दातारा ॥१॥
vinavī śiṣya nāmāmkita | siddha yogīyāte pusata | puḍhīla kathā vistārata | niropāvī dātārā ||1||
The renowned disciple entreats, asking the yogi Siddha; 'Please tell in detail, O generous one, the story that follows.'
Namdharak again asks Siddha to continue — a formulaic transition that reflects the disciple's unbroken thirst to keep learning.
Keep returning with genuine curiosity to those who can teach you more.
सिद्ध म्हणे ऐक बाळा । श्रीगुरूची अगम्य लीला । तोचि विप्रे प्रकट केला । जेणे वांझ महिषी दुभिली ॥२॥
siddha mhaṇe aika bāḷā | śrīgurūcī agamya līlā | toci vipre prakaṭa kelā | jeṇe vāmjha mahiṣī dubhilī ||2||
Siddha said, 'Listen, child, to Sri Guru's incomprehensible play; that very miracle was made known by the brahmin whose barren buffalo gave milk.'
Siddha frames the coming events as continuing consequences of the previous miracle — the brahmin's testimony is what spreads Sri Guru's fame further.
Let one witnessed act of grace strengthen your willingness to speak of it honestly to others.
तया ग्रामी येरे दिवसी । क्षारमृत्तिका वहावयासी । मागो आले तया महिषीसी । द्रव्य देऊ म्हणताती ॥३॥
tayā grāmī yere divasī | kṣāramṛttikā vahāvayāsī | māgo āle tayā mahiṣīsī | dravya deū mhaṇatātī ||3||
In that village, the next day, people came again seeking that buffalo to carry saline soil, saying they would pay for it.
Life resumes its ordinary rhythm — villagers, unaware of the miracle, treat the buffalo as before, purely as a beast of labor.
Don't expect the world to immediately recognize a change in you; be ready to reveal it in your own time.
विप्र म्हणे तयासी । नेदू दुभते महिषीसी । दावीतसे सकळिकांसी । क्षीरभरणे दोनी केली ॥४॥
vipra mhaṇe tayāsī | nedū dubhate mahiṣīsī | dāvītase sakaḷikāmsī | kṣīrabharaṇe donī kelī ||4||
The brahmin told them, 'I will not send this milking buffalo for labor now,' and he showed everyone the two vessels of milk he had obtained.
The brahmin now proudly demonstrates the miracle publicly — private grace becomes public testimony.
Don't be shy about sharing evidence of genuine blessings when it can strengthen others' faith.
करिती विस्मय सकळ जन । म्हणती वांझ दंतही । काल होती नाकी खूण । वेसणरज्जू अभिनव ॥५॥
karitī vismaya sakaḷa jana | mhaṇatī vāmjha damtahī | kāla hotī nākī khūṇa | vesaṇarajjū abhinava ||5||
All the people were astonished and said, 'She was barren and toothless; yesterday there was still the mark of the nose-rope on her — this is extraordinary.'
The crowd's amazement confirms the miracle's authenticity — nothing about the buffalo's condition had changed except through Sri Guru's word.
Let clear, verifiable facts strengthen rather than replace your sense of wonder at genuine grace.
नव्हती गर्भिणी वांझ महिषी । वत्स न होता दुभे कैसी । वार्ता फाकली विस्तारेसी । कळली तया ग्रामाधिपतीस ॥६॥
navhatī garbhiṇī vāmjha mahiṣī | vatsa na hotā dubhe kaisī | vārtā phākalī vistāresī | kaḷalī tayā grāmādhipatīsa ||6||
The barren buffalo had never been pregnant; how could she give milk without having calved? The news spread far and wide, and reached the village headman.
The impossible fact — milk without birth — propels the story upward through the social order, from villagers to the local ruler, showing how truth travels.
Let honest, remarkable good news travel on its own merit; you needn't force it upon people.
विस्मय करुनी तये वेळी । आला अधिपती तयाजवळी । नमोनिया चरणकमळी । पुसतसे वृत्तान्त ॥७॥
vismaya karunī taye veḷī | ālā adhipatī tayājavaḷī | namoniyā caraṇakamaḷī | pusatase vṛttānta ||7||
Astonished, the ruler came to him at that time; bowing at his lotus feet, he asked for the full account.
Even the powerful headman defers respectfully to the poor brahmin, seeking the truth firsthand rather than relying on rumor.
Approach even humble people with respect when seeking to learn the truth of a matter.
विप्र म्हणे तयासी । असे संगमी संन्यासी । त्याची महिमा आहे ऐसी । होईल ईश्वर अवतार ॥८॥
vipra mhaṇe tayāsī | ase samgamī samnyāsī | tyācī mahimā āhe aisī | hoīla īśvara avatāra ||8||
The brahmin told him, 'There is an ascetic at the confluence; such is his glory — he must be an incarnation of God.'
The brahmin gives credit fully to Sri Guru rather than claiming any personal merit for the miracle — honest attribution of grace.
When something good happens through you, credit its true source rather than taking sole credit.
नित्य आमुच्या मंदिरासी । येती श्रीगुरु भिक्षेसी । वरो नव्हती त्या दिवशी । क्षीर आपणा मागितले ॥९॥
nitya āmucyā mamdirāsī | yetī śrīguru bhikṣesī | varo navhatī tyā divaśī | kṣīra āpaṇā māgitale ||9||
'Sri Guru comes daily to our house for alms; that day we had no curds, and he asked us for milk instead.'
The brahmin retells the events plainly, letting the facts themselves carry the weight of wonder.
Tell your own testimony simply and factually; let the truth speak for itself without embellishment.
वांझ म्हणता रागावोनि । त्वरे क्षीर दोहा म्हणोनि । वाक्य त्याचे निघता क्षणी । कामधेनूपरी जाहली ॥१०॥
vāmjha mhaṇatā rāgāvoni | tvare kṣīra dohā mhaṇoni | vākya tyāce nighatā kṣaṇī | kāmadhenūparī jāhalī ||10||
'When I said she was barren, he grew displeased and told me to milk her quickly for milk; the instant his word left his mouth, she became like the wish-fulfilling cow.'
The brahmin recounts Sri Guru's insistence and its instantaneous fulfillment — his very word carries creative power, likened to the mythic wish-fulfilling cow.
Take a trusted person's confident instruction seriously, even when your own experience argues against it.
विप्रवचन परिसोनि । गेला राजा धावोनि । नमन केले साष्टांगेसी । एका भावे करोनिया ॥१२॥
vipravacana parisoni | gelā rājā dhāvoni | namana kele sāṣṭāmgesī | ekā bhāve karoniyā ||12||
Hearing the brahmin's words, the king ran there at once and made full prostration with single-minded devotion.
The ruler's urgency and total prostration show how quickly conviction can turn into wholehearted devotion once truth is recognized.
Don't delay in honoring what you have come to sincerely believe is true and good.
जय जयाजी जगद्गुरु । त्रयमूर्तीचा अवतारु । तुझा महिमा अपरंपारु । अशक्य आम्हा वर्णिता ॥१३॥
jaya jayājī jagadguru | trayamūrtīcā avatāru | tujhā mahimā aparampāru | aśakya āmhā varṇitā ||13||
'Victory, victory, O teacher of the universe, incarnation of the three gods; your glory is boundless, impossible for us to describe.'
The king's praise names Sri Guru as jagadguru (world-teacher) and avatāra of the Trimūrti — recognizing a scale beyond ordinary words.
Let genuine admiration for greatness humble you into acknowledging the limits of your own words.
नेणो आम्ही मंदमति । मायामोहअंधवृत्ति । तू तारक जगज्ज्योती । उद्धरावे आम्हांते ॥१४॥
neṇo āmhī mamdamati | māyāmohaamdhavṛtti | tū tāraka jagajjyotī | uddharāve āmhāmte ||14||
'We are dull-witted and know nothing, blinded by illusion and attachment; you are the deliverer, the light of the world — please save us.'
The king's confession of ignorance and delusion is the necessary humility that precedes receiving grace.
Admit your own blind spots honestly before seeking help to overcome them.
अविद्यामायासागरी । बुडालो असो घोर दरी । विश्वकर्ता तारी तारी । म्हणोनि चरणी लागला ॥१५॥
avidyāmāyāsāgarī | buḍālo aso ghora darī | viśvakartā tārī tārī | mhaṇoni caraṇī lāgalā ||15||
'We are drowning in the terrible depths of the ocean of ignorance and illusion; O creator of the universe, save us, save us,' he said, and clasped his feet.
The king's plea and physical gesture of clasping the feet enact his surrender — words and body united in seeking rescue.
When you truly need help, ask for it plainly and completely, without holding back out of pride.
विश्वकर्ता तूचि होसी । हेळामात्रे सृष्टो रचिसी । आम्हा तु दिसतोसी । मनुष्यरूप धरोनि ॥१६॥
viśvakartā tūci hosī | heḷāmātre sṛṣṭo racisī | āmhā tu disatosī | manuṣyarūpa dharoni ||16||
'You alone are the creator of the universe, fashioning creation with mere ease; yet to us you appear having taken human form.'
The king recognizes the paradox at the heart of the avatāra teaching — the infinite creator appearing deliberately limited, in ordinary human guise.
Look for depth and greatness hidden beneath an ordinary, unassuming appearance.
वर्णावया तुझा महिमा । स्तोत्र करिता अशक्य आम्हा । तूचि रक्षिता केशव्योमा । चिन्मयात्मा जगद्गुरु ॥१७॥
varṇāvayā tujhā mahimā | stotra karitā aśakya āmhā | tūci rakṣitā keśavyomā | cinmayātmā jagadguru ||17||
'To describe your glory, to compose a hymn to you, is beyond our power; you alone are the protector, pervading the sky, the pure consciousness, the teacher of the world.'
The king continues his hymn of praise, naming Sri Guru with cosmic epithets — protector, all-pervading, pure consciousness.
Set aside time regularly to express sincere praise and gratitude, even when words feel inadequate.
येणेपरी श्रीगुरूसी । स्तोत्र करी बहुवसी । श्रीगुरुमूर्ति संतोषी । आश्वासिती तये वेळी ॥१८॥
yeṇeparī śrīgurūsī | stotra karī bahuvasī | śrīgurumūrti samtoṣī | āśvāsitī taye veḷī ||18||
In this way he offered abundant praise to Sri Guru; Sri Guru, pleased, reassured him at that time.
Sri Guru responds to sincere devotion not with distance but with warm reassurance — grace meets devotion halfway.
Offer comfort and reassurance in turn to those who approach you with sincere respect.
संतोषोनि श्रीगुरुमूर्ति । तया रायाते पुसती । आम्ही तापसी असो यति । अरण्यवास करितसो ॥१९॥
samtoṣoni śrīgurumūrti | tayā rāyāte pusatī | āmhī tāpasī aso yati | araṇyavāsa karitaso ||19||
Pleased, Sri Guru asked the king, 'We are ascetics, renunciants; we dwell in the forest.'
Sri Guru states his simple ascetic identity, setting up the coming exchange about why the king has come with such ceremony.
State your true circumstances honestly, even when someone approaches you with grand expectations.
या कारणे आम्हापासी । येणे तुम्हा संभ्रमेसी । पुत्रकलत्रसहितेसी । कवण कारण सांग म्हणती ॥२०॥
yā kāraṇe āmhāpāsī | yeṇe tumhā sambhramesī | putrakalatrasahitesī | kavaṇa kāraṇa sāmga mhaṇatī ||20||
'For what reason have you come to us in such a grand procession, with your wife and children? Tell me the reason,' he said.
Sri Guru gently questions the king's motive, teaching that even ascetics engage practically to understand what is being asked of them.
Before responding to a request, take a moment to understand its real purpose.
ऐकोनिया श्रीगुरुचे वचन । राजा विनवी कर जोडून । तू तारक भक्तजन । अरण्यवास कायसा ॥२१॥
aikoniyā śrīguruce vacana | rājā vinavī kara joḍūna | tū tāraka bhaktajana | araṇyavāsa kāyasā ||21||
Hearing Sri Guru's words, the king entreated with joined palms, 'You are the savior of devotees — why should you dwell in the forest?'
The king argues that a savior of devotees belongs among the people, not in isolation — devotion desires the teacher's accessible presence.
Advocate for the presence and accessibility of good teachers and guides in your community.
उद्धरावया भक्तजना । अवतरलासी नारायणा । वासना जैसी भक्तजना । संतुष्टावे तेणेपरी ॥२२॥
uddharāvayā bhaktajanā | avataralāsī nārāyaṇā | vāsanā jaisī bhaktajanā | samtuṣṭāve teṇeparī ||22||
'O Nārāyaṇa, you have incarnated to uplift your devotees; please satisfy them according to their own heartfelt wish.'
The king appeals to Sri Guru's very purpose of incarnation — to fulfill the sincere desires of devotees, not merely to wander unseen.
Honor the sincere wishes of those who depend on you, especially when it aligns with your own deeper purpose.
ऐशी तुझी ब्रीदख्याति । वेदपुराणी वाखाणिती । भक्तवत्सला श्रीगुरुमूर्ति । विनंती माझी परिसावी ॥२३॥
aiśī tujhī brīdakhyāti | vedapurāṇī vākhāṇitī | bhaktavatsalā śrīgurumūrti | vinamtī mājhī parisāvī ||23||
'Such is your renowned nature, praised in the Vedas and Purāṇas — O Sri Guru, so fond of your devotees, please hear my request.'
The king grounds his appeal in scriptural authority, reminding Sri Guru of his own established reputation for compassion.
Appeal to someone's own best-known values when asking them for something important.
गाणगापुर महास्थान । स्वामी करावे पावन । नित्य तेथे अनुष्ठान । वास करणे ग्रामात ॥२४॥
gāṇagāpura mahāsthāna | svāmī karāve pāvana | nitya tethe anuṣṭhāna | vāsa karaṇe grāmāta ||24||
'Please sanctify the great place of Gaṇagāpura, master; perform your daily practice and dwell there in the village.'
The king's specific request emerges — that Sri Guru make his home and daily discipline visible within the village itself, not hidden at the river.
Ask directly and specifically for what you need, rather than hinting vaguely.
मठ करोनि तये स्थानी । असावे आम्हा उद्धरोनि । म्हणोनि लागे श्रीगुरुचरणी । भक्तिपूर्वक नरेश्वर ॥२५॥
maṭha karoni taye sthānī | asāve āmhā uddharoni | mhaṇoni lāge śrīgurucaraṇī | bhaktipūrvaka nareśvara ||25||
'Establish a monastery (maṭha) there and remain, uplifting us,' and so the king clasped Sri Guru's feet with devotion.
The specific request — to found a maṭha, a monastic seat — is the seed of what becomes the permanent institution at Gangapur.
Give lasting structure and continuity to something valuable, not just a fleeting gesture.
श्रीगुरु मनी विचारिती । प्रगट होणे आली गति । क्वचित्काळ येणे रीती । वसणे घडे त्या स्थानी ॥२६॥
śrīguru manī vicāritī | pragaṭa hoṇe ālī gati | kvacitkāḷa yeṇe rītī | vasaṇe ghaḍe tyā sthānī ||26||
Sri Guru reflected in his mind, 'The time has come for me to become manifest; for a certain while I shall dwell in that place in this manner.'
Sri Guru weighs the request internally and recognizes it as the destined moment — concealment giving way to open presence for a set season.
When the right moment for a needed change arrives, recognize it and act, even if you had been holding back.
भक्तजनतारणार्थ । अवतार धरिती श्रीगुरुनाथ । राजयाचे मनोरथ । पुरवू म्हणती तये वेळी ॥२७॥
bhaktajanatāraṇārtha | avatāra dharitī śrīgurunātha | rājayāce manoratha | puravū mhaṇatī taye veḷī ||27||
For the deliverance of devotees, Sri Guru had taken this incarnation; he said, 'I shall fulfill the king's heartfelt wish,' at that time.
Sri Guru's decision to grant the request is framed as consistent with his entire purpose of incarnation — helping devotees, of which the king is one.
Grant requests that genuinely align with your deeper purpose of helping others.
ऐसे विचारोनि मानसी । निरोप देती नराधिपासी । जैसी तुझ्या मानसी । भक्ति असे तैसे करी ॥२८॥
aise vicāroni mānasī | niropa detī narādhipāsī | jaisī tujhyā mānasī | bhakti ase taise karī ||28||
Having thus decided in his mind, he gave his answer to the king: 'Do as your devotion in your own heart directs.'
Sri Guru grants permission while placing the initiative back with the devotee — grace cooperates with, but doesn't replace, human devotion.
When granting someone permission to serve you or a cause, let them shape the details according to their own sincere devotion.
गुरुवचन ऐकोनि । संतोषोनि नृप मुनी । बैसवोनिया सुखासनी । समारंभे निघाला ॥२९॥
guruvacana aikoni | samtoṣoni nṛpa munī | baisavoniyā sukhāsanī | samārambhe nighālā ||29||
Hearing the Guru's words, the king rejoiced; seating him in a comfortable palanquin, he set out with great ceremony.
The king's joy translates immediately into honoring action — a royal procession begins to bring Sri Guru properly into the village.
Follow up joyful permission with prompt, honoring action rather than letting the moment pass.
नानापरींची वाद्ये यंत्रे । गीतवाद्यमंगळतुरे । मृदंग टाळ निर्भरे । वाजताती मनोहर ॥३०॥
nānāparīmcī vādye yamtre | gītavādyamamgaḷature | mṛdamga ṭāḷa nirbhare | vājatātī manohara ||30||
Instruments of many kinds, songs and auspicious trumpets, mṛdaṅga drums and cymbals resounded joyously and beautifully.
The description of festive music sets the mood of communal celebration surrounding Sri Guru's public arrival.
Mark significant, joyful occasions with appropriate celebration shared by the whole community.
राव निघे छत्रपताकेसी । गजतुरंगश्रृंगारेसी । आपुले पुत्रकलत्रेसी । सवे यतीसी घेवोनि ॥३१॥
rāva nighe chatrapatākesī | gajaturamgaśrṛmgāresī | āpule putrakalatresī | save yatīsī ghevoni ||31||
The king set out with royal umbrella and banners, with decorated elephants and horses, together with his wife and children, bringing the ascetic along.
The full royal pageantry — umbrella, banners, elephants — emphasizes the honor given to the once-hidden ascetic, now brought forth in state.
Give full, visible honor to those who deserve it, matching the sincerity of your gratitude with appropriate effort.
वेदघोष द्विजवरी । करिताती नानापरी । वाखाणिती बंदिकारी । ब्रीद तया मूर्तीचे ॥३२॥
vedaghoṣa dvijavarī | karitātī nānāparī | vākhāṇitī bamdikārī | brīda tayā mūrtīce ||32||
The eminent brahmins chanted Vedic recitations in many ways, and the court bards praised the glorious nature of that holy figure.
Both scriptural chant and courtly praise-poetry join to honor Sri Guru, blending sacred and cultural forms of tribute.
Combine different traditions and voices in honoring what truly deserves respect.
येणेपरी ग्रामाप्रती । श्रीगुरु आले अतिप्रीती । अनेकपरी आरती । घेउनी आले नगरलोक ॥३३॥
yeṇeparī grāmāpratī | śrīguru āle atiprītī | anekaparī āratī | gheunī āle nagaraloka ||33||
In this way Sri Guru came to the village with great affection; the townspeople came bearing ārati lamps of many kinds.
The community welcomes Sri Guru's arrival with the traditional light-offering ceremony, expressing collective joy and reverence.
Welcome a beloved or respected guest with warmth that reflects genuine communal joy.
ऐसा समारंभ थोर । करिता झाला नरेश्वर । संतोषोनि श्रीगुरुवर । प्रवेशले नगरात ॥३४॥
aisā samārambha thora | karitā jhālā nareśvara | samtoṣoni śrīguruvara | praveśale nagarāta ||34||
Such a great celebration the king held; and Sri Guru, pleased, entered into the town.
The formal entry into the village marks the transition from hidden ascetic at the river to publicly established teacher in the town.
Mark important transitions — moving from private preparation to public service — with due recognition.
तया ग्रामपश्चिमदेशी । असे अश्वत्थ उन्नतेसी । ओस गृह तयापासी । असे एक भयंकर ॥३५॥
tayā grāmapaścimadeśī | ase aśvattha unnatesī | osa gṛha tayāpāsī | ase eka bhayamkara ||35||
In the western part of that village stood a tall pipal tree, and near it stood an abandoned house, a fearsome one.
The scene shifts to a new site — a haunted, deserted house — introducing the next episode of the chapter, the liberation of a tormented spirit.
Be willing to approach the neglected, feared corners of a community, not just its welcoming center.
तया वृक्षावरी एक । ब्रह्मराक्षस भयानक । त्याचे भये असे धाक । समस्त प्राण्या भय त्याचे ॥३६॥
tayā vṛkṣāvarī eka | brahmarākṣasa bhayānaka | tyāce bhaye ase dhāka | samasta prāṇyā bhaya tyāce ||36||
In that tree dwelt a terrifying brahma-rākṣasa (a brahmin's spirit turned demon); fear of him gripped every living creature.
A brahma-rākṣasa — the tormented ghost of a brahmin who misused his learning — haunts the tree, a figure of spiritual bondage rather than ordinary evil.
Recognize that even learned or capable people can become trapped by their own past misdeeds and need release, not just condemnation.
ब्रह्मराक्षस महाक्रूर । मनुष्यमात्र करी आहार । त्याचे भय असे थोर । म्हणोनि गृह ओस तेथे ॥३७॥
brahmarākṣasa mahākrūra | manuṣyamātra karī āhāra | tyāce bhaya ase thora | mhaṇoni gṛha osa tethe ||37||
The brahma-rākṣasa was extremely cruel and devoured any human who came near; the fear of him was so great that the house nearby was left abandoned.
The extent of the community's terror explains why the site had been avoided entirely — a wound in the village that ordinary people could not heal.
Notice the places or problems everyone avoids out of fear; real help is often needed exactly there.
श्रीगुरुमूर्ति तये वेळी । आले तया वृक्षाजवळी । ब्रह्मराक्षस तात्काळी । येवोनि चरणी लागला ॥३८॥
śrīgurumūrti taye veḷī | āle tayā vṛkṣājavaḷī | brahmarākṣasa tātkāḷī | yevoni caraṇī lāgalā ||38||
Sri Guru at that time came near that tree; the brahma-rākṣasa immediately came and clasped his feet.
The feared spirit, far from attacking, instantly recognizes Sri Guru's authority and submits — even bound, suffering beings sense true grace.
Trust that genuine goodness can disarm even the most feared or troubled situations you approach.
कर जोडूनि श्रीगुरूसी । विनवीतसे भक्तीसी । स्वामी माते तारियेसी । घोरांदरी बुडालो ॥३९॥
kara joḍūni śrīgurūsī | vinavītase bhaktīsī | svāmī māte tāriyesī | ghorāmdarī buḍālo ||39||
With joined palms he entreated Sri Guru devotedly, 'Master, please save me — I am drowning in this terrible dark pit.'
The rākṣasa's plea shows genuine suffering beneath its fearsome exterior, seeking the same liberation any soul seeks.
Look past a frightening exterior to hear the genuine cry for help that may lie beneath it.
तुझ्या दर्शनमात्रेसी । नासली पापे पूर्वार्जितेसी । तू कृपाळू सर्वांसी । उद्धरावे आपणाते ॥४०॥
tujhyā darśanamātresī | nāsalī pāpe pūrvārjitesī | tū kṛpāḷū sarvāmsī | uddharāve āpaṇāte ||40||
'By the mere sight of you, my sins accumulated from before are destroyed; you are compassionate to all — please deliver me.'
The mere darśana (sight) of Sri Guru is enough to begin dissolving accumulated karma — grace acts instantly on sincere approach.
Seek out the mere presence of good, wise people; simply being near genuine goodness can change you.
कृपाळु ते श्रीगुरु । मस्तकी ठेविती करु । मनुष्यरूपे होवोनि येरु । लोळतसे चरणकमळी ॥४१॥
kṛpāḷu te śrīguru | mastakī ṭhevitī karu | manuṣyarūpe hovoni yeru | loḷatase caraṇakamaḷī ||41||
The compassionate Sri Guru placed his hand upon his head; taking on human form again, the spirit rolled about at his lotus feet.
Sri Guru's touch temporarily restores the spirit to a human shape, dramatizing how grace can momentarily reverse even a monstrous transformation.
Offer a comforting, restoring touch — literal or figurative — to someone suffering under a distorted state.
श्रीगुरु सांगती तयासी । त्वरित जावे संगमासी । स्नान करिता मुक्त होसी । पुनरावृत्ति नाही तुज ॥४२॥
śrīguru sāmgatī tayāsī | tvarita jāve samgamāsī | snāna karitā mukta hosī | punarāvṛtti nāhī tuja ||42||
Sri Guru told him, 'Go quickly to the confluence; by bathing there you shall be liberated, and you shall not be reborn again.'
Sri Guru prescribes a simple, concrete act — ritual bathing at the sacred confluence — as the means to final liberation (mokṣa, no rebirth).
Follow the simple, concrete instruction a trustworthy guide gives you, even if the promised result seems disproportionately large.
गुरुवचन ऐकोन । राक्षस करी संगमी स्नान । कलेवरा सोडूनि जाण । मुक्त झाला तत्क्षणी ॥४३॥
guruvacana aikona | rākṣasa karī samgamī snāna | kalevarā soḍūni jāṇa | mukta jhālā tatkṣaṇī ||43||
Hearing the Guru's word, the demon bathed at the confluence; leaving his body behind, know that he was liberated instantly.
Obedience to the guru's instruction brings immediate liberation — the tormented spirit's long bondage ends in a single act.
Don't delay acting on good instruction once you've received it; freedom can come as swiftly as your willingness to act.
विस्मय करिति सकळ लोक । म्हणती होईल मूर्ति येक । हरि अज पिनाक । हाचि सत्य मानिजे ॥४४॥
vismaya kariti sakaḷa loka | mhaṇatī hoīla mūrti yeka | hari aja pināka | hāci satya mānije ||44||
All the people were astonished and said, 'He must be a single form uniting Hari, Brahmā, and Śiva — let this be accepted as true.'
Witnessing the liberation, the crowd again affirms Sri Guru's identity as the unified Trimūrti — public testimony reinforcing the earlier private ones.
Let a witnessed act of genuine compassion strengthen your own convictions about what truly matters.
श्रीगुरु राहिले तया स्थानी । मठ केला श्रृंगारोनि । नराधिपशिरोमणी । भक्तिभावे पूजीतसे ॥४५॥
śrīguru rāhile tayā sthānī | maṭha kelā śrṛmgāroni | narādhipaśiromaṇī | bhaktibhāve pūjītase ||45||
Sri Guru settled in that place; a beautifully adorned monastery (maṭha) was built, and the foremost of kings worshiped him with devotion.
The maṭha requested earlier is now realized — Sri Guru's public establishment at Gangapur is complete, honored continually by the king.
Follow through on a good commitment until it becomes a lasting, well-tended institution.
भक्तिभावे नरेश्वर । पूजा अर्पी अपरंपार । परोपरी वाद्यगजर । गीतवाद्येमंत्रेसी ॥४६॥
bhaktibhāve nareśvara | pūjā arpī aparampāra | paroparī vādyagajara | gītavādyemamtresī ||46||
The king, with devoted heart, offered boundless worship, with music resounding in many ways, with songs, instruments, and sacred chants.
The king's ongoing worship shows sustained devotion, not a one-time gesture — daily rituals continue to honor Sri Guru's presence.
Sustain your devotion through regular, ongoing practice, not just a single grand occasion.
श्रीगुरु नित्य संगमासी । जाती नित्य अनुष्ठानासी । नराधीश भक्तीसी । सैन्यासहित आपण जाय ॥४७॥
śrīguru nitya samgamāsī | jātī nitya anuṣṭhānāsī | narādhīśa bhaktīsī | sainyāsahita āpaṇa jāya ||47||
Sri Guru went daily to the confluence for his daily spiritual practice; the king, out of devotion, would go along with his own retinue.
Sri Guru maintains his ascetic discipline (anuṣṭhāna) even amid royal honors — outward status doesn't dilute inward practice.
Keep your personal spiritual or ethical discipline intact even as your outward circumstances grow more prominent.
एखाद्या समयी श्रीगुरूसी । बैसविती आपुल्या आंदोलिकेसी । सर्व दळ सैन्येसी । घेवोनि जाय वनांतरा ॥४८॥
ekhādyā samayī śrīgurūsī | baisavitī āpulyā āmdolikesī | sarva daḷa sainyesī | ghevoni jāya vanāmtarā ||48||
At times the king would seat Sri Guru in his own palanquin and, together with his whole army, take him into the forest.
The king's devotion extends into practical care — providing comfortable transport and full escort for Sri Guru's movements.
Show devotion through practical care for someone's comfort and safety, not just words of praise.
माध्याह्नकाळी परियेसी । श्रीगुरु येती मठासी । सैन्यासहित आनंदेसी । नमन करी नराधिप ॥४९॥
mādhyāhnakāḷī pariyesī | śrīguru yetī maṭhāsī | sainyāsahita ānamdesī | namana karī narādhipa ||49||
At midday, listen, Sri Guru would return to the maṭha; the king, together with his army, joyfully bowed to him.
The daily rhythm of departure and return becomes a fixed ritual of mutual devotion between king and guru.
Build a stable daily rhythm around whatever you hold most sacred.
भक्तवत्सल श्रीगुरुमूर्ति । भक्ताधीन आपण असती । जैसा संतोष त्याच्या चित्ती । तेणेपरी रहाटती ॥५०॥
bhaktavatsala śrīgurumūrti | bhaktādhīna āpaṇa asatī | jaisā samtoṣa tyācyā cittī | teṇeparī rahāṭatī ||50||
Sri Guru, ever fond of his devotees, made himself subject to their wishes, acting in whatever manner brought contentment to their hearts.
A striking reversal — the divine teacher submits his own convenience to please sincere devotees, showing that grace bends toward love.
Let genuine love for others sometimes lead you to set aside your own preferences for their contentment.
समारंभ होय नित्य । ऐकती लोक समस्त । प्रगट झाले लोकांत । ग्रामांतरी सकळजनि ॥५१॥
samārambha hoya nitya | aikatī loka samasta | pragaṭa jhāle lokāmta | grāmāmtarī sakaḷajani ||51||
Celebration went on daily; all the people heard of it; he had now become known publicly, among all the people of the other villages too.
Sri Guru's fame, once hidden, now spreads beyond the immediate village to the wider region — the transition from concealment to open renown is complete.
Let genuine good become known naturally through the testimony of those who witnessed it, rather than through self-promotion.
कुमसी म्हणिजे ग्रामासी । होता एक तापसी । त्रिविक्रम भारती नामेसी । तीन वेद जाणतसे ॥५२॥
kumasī mhaṇije grāmāsī | hotā eka tāpasī | trivikrama bhāratī nāmesī | tīna veda jāṇatase ||52||
In a village called Kumasī there lived an ascetic named Trivikram Bhāratī, who knew three of the Vedas.
A new character is introduced — a learned but proud ascetic, setting up the chapter's next episode about humility being tested.
Value learning, but stay alert that knowledge alone doesn't guarantee humility.
मानसपूजा नित्य करी । सदा ध्यायी नरहरी । त्याणे ऐकिले गाणगापुरी । असे नरसिंहसरस्वती ॥५३॥
mānasapūjā nitya karī | sadā dhyāyī naraharī | tyāṇe aikile gāṇagāpurī | ase narasimhasarasvatī ||53||
He daily performed mental worship, always meditating on Narahari (Viṣṇu); he heard that Nṛsiṁha Sarasvatī was residing at Gaṇagāpura.
Trivikram's devotion is real and inward (mānasa-pūjā, mental worship), yet he hears of Sri Guru's growing fame with an unspoken rivalry beginning to stir.
Even sincere personal devotion should stay open to recognizing genuine greatness in others, not close itself off in comparison.
ऐकता त्याची चरित्रलीला । मनी म्हणे दांभिक कळा । हा काय खेळ चतुर्थाश्रमाला । म्हणोनि निंदा आरंभिली ॥५४॥
aikatā tyācī caritralīlā | manī mhaṇe dāmbhika kaḷā | hā kāya kheḷa caturthāśramālā | mhaṇoni nimdā ārambhilī ||54||
Hearing of his miraculous deeds, he thought to himself, 'This is mere hypocritical show — what is this game he plays with the renunciate order?' and he began to speak against him.
Pride curdles into slander — Trivikram, threatened by another's reputation, dismisses genuine grace as showmanship rather than examining his own reaction.
When you feel the urge to belittle someone else's reputed goodness, examine whether envy, not judgment, is speaking.
ज्ञानमुर्ति श्रीगुरुनाथ । सर्वांच्या मनीचे जाणत । यतीश्वर निंदा आपुली करीत । म्हणोनि ओळखिले मनात ॥५५॥
jñānamurti śrīgurunātha | sarvāmcyā manīce jāṇata | yatīśvara nimdā āpulī karīta | mhaṇoni oḷakhile manāta ||55||
Sri Guru, the embodiment of knowledge, knows the minds of all; he perceived in his own mind that this ascetic was speaking against him.
Sri Guru's omniscience is affirmed simply — he is aware of the slander from a distance, setting up how he will respond to it in the chapters ahead.
Assume that unkind words spoken about you may eventually be known; let that awareness encourage restraint, not retaliation, toward others' faults.
सिद्ध म्हणे नामांकिता । पुढे अपूर्व असे कथा । मन करोनि निर्मळता । एकचित्ते परिस तु ॥५६॥
siddha mhaṇe nāmāmkitā | puḍhe apūrva ase kathā | mana karoni nirmaḷatā | ekacitte parisa tu ||56||
Siddha said, 'O renowned one, what follows is an extraordinary story; purify your mind and listen with one-pointed attention.'
Siddha signals that the coming episode demands a receptive, undistracted mind — foreshadowing a lesson in humility to come.
Approach a challenging or humbling story with an open, unguarded mind rather than defensiveness.
म्हणे सरस्वतीगंगाधर । सांगे गुरुचरित्रविस्तार । ऐकता होय मनोहर । सकळाभीष्ट पाविजे ॥५७॥
mhaṇe sarasvatīgamgādhara | sāmge gurucaritravistāra | aikatā hoya manohara | sakaḷābhīṣṭa pāvije ||57||
Says Sarasvatī Gaṅgādhar, 'I narrate this Guru Charitra at length; hearing it is delightful, and all one's wishes are fulfilled.'
The author's traditional closing formula reasserts the text's power — hearing it fulfills desires, echoing the pattern from the previous chapter's close.
Return often to stories that nourish your deepest wishes and values; repetition deepens their effect.
इति श्रीगुरुचरित्र । गाणगापुरी पवित्र । ब्रह्मराक्षसा परत्र । निजमोक्ष दीधला ॥५८॥
iti śrīgurucaritra | gāṇagāpurī pavitra | brahmarākṣasā paratra | nijamokṣa dīdhalā ||58||
Thus in the sacred Sri Guru Charitra at Gaṇagāpura, final liberation was granted to the brahma-rākṣasa in the world beyond.
A summarizing colophon verse restates the chapter's central act of grace — freeing a tormented spirit into true liberation.
Remember that no one is too far gone to be freed by genuine compassion and the right guidance.
इति श्रीगुरुचरित्रपरमकथाकल्पतरौ श्रीनृसिंहसरस्वत्युपाख्याने सिद्धनामधारकसंवादे राक्षसमुक्तकरणं नाम त्रयोविंशोऽध्याः ॥२३॥
iti śrīgurucaritraparamakathākalpatarau śrīnṛsimhasarasvatyupākhyāne siddhanāmadhārakasamvāde rākṣasamuktakaraṇam nāma trayovimśo'dhyāḥ ||23||
Thus ends the twenty-third chapter, named 'The Liberation of the Demon,' in the dialogue of Siddha and Nāmadhārak, in the supreme wish-fulfilling story-tree of Sri Guru Charitra, in the legend of Sri Nṛsiṁha Sarasvatī.
The formal Sanskrit colophon closes the chapter, naming it for its central act of liberating the tormented spirit and reaffirming the teaching frame.
Close out any significant chapter of effort or growth with a clear, deliberate acknowledgment of what was accomplished.
श्रीगुरूदत्तात्रेयार्पितमस्तु ॥
(ओवीसंख्या ५८)
śrīgurūdattātreyārpitamastu ||
(ovīsamkhyā 58)
May this be offered to Sri Guru Dattātreya. (Verse count: 58)
The dedicatory formula offers the merit of the chapter to Dattātreya, followed by a scribal note recording the ovī count for manuscript tracking.
Dedicate your completed work to a purpose greater than personal credit, and keep an honest record of what you've done.