17 - Inclination Towards Selfless Service

Days were passing by. Abjibhai had stopped to go to play with his friends.

Kunvarji was concerned, ‘Why does Abjibhai not join us to play?’ Kesra informed, ‘His Ma is ill.’ Dhanji added, ‘Whole day Abjibhai looks after her.’ Kesra missed him, ‘Nobody tells the stories of God in his absence.’

Vashram confessed, ‘There is no fun playing without Abjibhai.’ Jadavji said, ‘His Ma is feeling better now. Yesterday I visited Abjibhai’s house, but he was not at home.’ Gangji pointed out, ‘See, there is Abjibhai. Let us call him to play.’ They ran towards Abjibhai. Kanji asked, ‘Abjibhai, please join us. Let us play.’

Vashram complained, ‘For so many days, you have not joined us to play. Now your Ma is also feeling better.’ Abjibhai replied, ‘Do you know that aged gentleman, who stays near temple? He is very sick. No one is there to look after him. So I remain with him for the whole day to attend him.’ ‘But he remains in bed throughout the day.’ said Kunvarji.

Abjibhai replied, ‘I give him food, wash his clothes, massage his feet and he has severe headache sometimes. So I massage his head also. Poor soul! He is all alone! I will not go to play for a few days.’

Kesra was disappointed, ‘Abjibhai, there is no fun without you.’ said he. Abjibhai consoled, ‘I will definitely join you all, once he feels allright.’ Dhanji requested, ‘Abjibhai, I will also go with you. Please teach me how to serve.’

Abjibhai was delighted, ‘Come on! Let us go. It is very easy to serve.’ Kesra also joined, ‘I will also go with you.’ said he. Kesran and Jadavji refused saying, ‘We would not join you. We are going to play.’

Jadavji said, ‘We enjoy playing games.’ Vashram tried to convince, ‘That elderly gentleman is not your relative. Let us go to play.’ Abjibhai explained, ‘If we serve sick people, they bless us. It pleases God, too.

Kunvarji said mysteriously, ‘Abjibhai, if I disclose a secret, you would not go to that old gentleman.’ Abjibhai declared firmly, ‘That is impossible! What is the secret?’ Kunvarji revealed, ‘Saints are going to visit the temple after four days.’ Abjibhai inquired, ‘Who told you?’ Kunvarji informed, ‘These days you are hardly seen at the temple. As soon as Aarti is over, you rush to take care of the sick. People were talking in the temple.’ Abjibhai promised, ‘When saints visit the temple, I will go there to attend to them. But right now we are going to look after the elderly gentleman.’

Kesra said, ‘Oh yes! Now onwards we will also join Abjibhai to serve people. When saints arrive we would visit them for their Darshan.’ Abjibhai, Kesra and Dhanji proceeded towards the house of sick, old gentleman.

Abjibhai taught them how to massage his feet, head etc. Dhanji and Kesra experienced a great pleasure.

They confessed to Abjibhai, ‘Today we have realized that how pleasing it is to serve other people.’ Four days passed like a blink of eyes.

The old man recovered slowly. Fourth day he went to temple with the support of Abjibhai. Abjibhai asked Dhanji, ‘Dhanji, please check up if the saints have arrived.’ Dhanji went to find out. ‘Abjibhai, saints have arrived.’ said he.

Abjibhai was delighted. He went to see the saints. He bowed down. He returned home hurriedly. He requested Devba, ‘Ma, saints are visiting the temple. Please give Dal, rice, flour etc. raw materials to cook.’

Devba did not respond. What possibly could she say? Alas! There was no ration in the house. All the containers were empty. Abjibhai requested again, ‘Ma, please, give me required ingredients to cook.’

Devba was sad. She said, ‘Son! what could I give? Everything is over all the containers are empty.’ Abjibhai went to the kitchen. He filled up required materials in a bag and left for a temple. Devba inquired, ‘Son! what are you carrying?’ ‘Raw food materials to cook.’ answered Abjibhai.

Devba went to the kitchen and checked up all the containers. They were empty. She came out and inquired, ‘Son! All the containers are empty. From where did you get the stuff?’ Abjibhai informed, ‘Maharaj gave the materials for His saints.’ And he left smiling softly.

Vaalba was puzzled, ‘Ma, how did brother get the stuff?’ Debva explained, ‘He is an Anadimukta of God. He is very fond of selfless service. Therefore, he can manage anything miraculously. Recently, he looked after that aged gentleman. Today he has performed this miracle.’

Panchabhai also joined them, ‘He enjoys serving people. He even forgets to go to play while serving people.

Abjibhai went to the temple and offered the raw food materials to the saints, ‘Please accept these ingredients and cook the food and offer the food to Maharaj.’ Saints were pleased. They blessed Abjibhai, ‘You have served us. God will be pleased with you. We also bless you!’

Abjibhai went home cheerfully.

Difficult words:
Inclination - Liking, tendency
To console - To comfort in sadness
To derive - To draw a conclusion
Ration - A fixed daily allowance of food

Points to ponder:
- Shreeji Maharaj has instructed in Shikshapatri that one must serve one’s parents and the people who are sick.
- Here, Abjibhai’s virtue of serving people is highlighted. Other friends went to play, but he did not join them and attended to the old gentleman. He served the saints also by providing them raw materials to cook.
- Shreeji Maharaj had also served Sevakram in the forest.
- God and His Anadimuktas perform all the activities to teach us.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Why did Abjibhai not go to play?
2. How did Abjibhai attend to the aged gentleman?
3. What reason did Vashram give for not serving the old gentleman? How did Abjibhai respond?
4. Who joined Abjibhai to attend to the old gentleman?
5. What do we learn from Abjibhai’s behaviour?

Fill in the blanks:
1. There is no fun ___________ without Abjibhai.
2. If we serve the ___________ we get their __________ and it pleases _________ too.
3. Abjibhai is very fond of ___________ people.
4. He forgets to ___________ also while serving people.

Who speaks the following statements?
1. That elderly gentleman is not your relative. Let us go to play.
2. Today we have realized that how pleasing it is to serve other people.

Arrange in proper sequence:
1. If sick serve we bless people they us and God too it pleases.