This story has been adopted from Avadhuta Gita, a treatise based on conversation between Uddhav and Sri Krishna.
One day, Sri Krishna was sitting and conversing with Uddhav.
Uddhava said, “O Lord, Is there still a possibility in life of a person, who emerges in the world, and lives a life full of bad deeds, nothing worth humanity exists in him, then is there any scope for his salvation?
Sri Krishna said, “Uddhav, there is a strong chance. Let me tell you a story.
There was a brahmin man. He grew up as an ambitious one, and earned money through all means, irrespective of the morality. The money piled up with him. He also gained a married life, with wife and children. Life was flourishing materially. As the showers of cash enhanced in his life, misery grew logarithmically. Misery troubled his family and relations as well. He couldn’t spend enough, even for his own enjoyments. As money became his breathes, he was conquered by fears and doubts about treachery and theft, which could succumb him. Negativities entwined him and was left as bonkers. Soon, his wife left him. Children were grown ups, and also left him. Tax collectors hatched a raid in his house, and took away all the riches he owned. The remnants were extorted by his relatives. He was in a situation that he was forced live on the pavements, with a begging bowl. Such severe shakedown made him realize his mistake.
He realized that he had wasted his entire life, in gathering filth, in the world, and lost a glorious opportunity to know the Self. He felt that his life would have been blissful, if he had utilized the opportunity of life in knowing Lord. Within a fraction of second, he received a reminiscence of all his past deeds. He even gained an understanding that he could realize the Self, in a fraction of time. Guilt made him dull, but a flame of hope illuminated his mind. He asked God to give him sufficient sufferings, for he could cleanse himself. He asked for grave devotion and detachment, for he could attain Him, through chanting. He pleaded for strength, for he could practice the six tenets of life, with perseverance.
| The six tenets of Life- 1. Patience, 2. Tolerance, 3. Detachment, 4. Self-control, 5. Faith, 6. Contentment For detail, refer- https://divineselflessservice.wordpress.com/2020/05/30/6-spiritual-armors/ |
He worked ceaselessly, and he began with the tool of silence. He kept his mouth shut, and never responded to cruel acts of people. The one who were once extorted for money, often flung stones, spitted on him, ridiculed him, and did their best to hamper his Divine esteem. Despite all sorts of troubles, he always thanked Lord and accepted it as the fruits of his past deeds. He rejoiced that those acts of cruelty were cleaning him inside out. He never retaliated, even in body and mind. His family members often howled on the streets about him as a traitor, and a treacherous sage. But, he accepted their words as the discourses form Lord, and cherished in the Name. Hunger and lack of alms never tormented him. He always uttered the vocables of thanksgiving.
| Bhala hai vo insaan jo har haal mein masta hai, mile maal toh us haal mein bhi mast, rhe behal to us haal mein bhi mast, kabhi ghee ghana, kabhi muthhi bhar chana, kabhi voh bhi mana. It means, the one who enjoys in abundance and scarcity, is the real Yogi. |
Bliss began descending unto him. Till forty-five years of his age, he earned in multitudes, but by the end of forty-fifth year, the dice was flipped upside down. Contrast imaged his life. But, faith and chanting preserved the essence. He suffered severe worldly setbacks, but the practice of tenets was also carried out with immense dedication. Retaliations never touched him. The goodness conquered and he always forgave all the people. He was ever ready to face all the executions and torments, on behalf of his deeds.
The time of his departure arrived. And, he welcomed the event, and a grand syllable, “OM” slipped out of his mouth. He left the physical abode and united with the Divine Oneness.
| Moral- He attained the Eternal state, despite his deeds were strongly immiscible. But, the persistent practice of the tenets made him, realize the Soul. |
This was the Avdhuta Gita. He was the man, who roamed on the streets, without garments, and with a begging bowl, and also with a life full of torments.