40 - Sweetened The Salty Water!

Once Bapashri went on a pilgrimage along with a group. A lot of Haribhaktas used to join when Bapashri went with the group.

They used to sing Bhajans while travelling. One day they left for another village. The other village was far away. They were talking among themselves, ‘The next village is far off. It would be very late by the time we reach there. We are very hungry.’

A Haribhakta suggested, ‘Let us talk to Bapa.’ They spoke to Bapashri, ‘Bapa, we all are feeling hungry. The next village is far off. If you permit, let us have some refreshments.’

Bapashri asked, ‘This is the outskirts of which village?’ A Haribhakta informed, ‘Bapa, Joshipura.’

Bapashri consented, ‘All right, let us have refreshments.’ There was a well close by. Some of the members went to the well to fetch the water. A haribhakta informed, ‘The water in that well is salty and bitter.’ They came back.

Haribhaktas proposed, ‘Why don’t you sit here? We shall go somewhere and bring some drinking water.’

A few Haribhaktas went together. Bapashri said, ‘I want to have bath.’ Bapashri went to the well. Haribhaktas informed, ‘Bapa, the water in that well is hard and bitter. Even the animals do not drink it.’

Bapashri said, ‘Let us check up.’ Haribhakta confirmed, ‘Bapa, We know it. For years nobody drinks water from this well. Bapashri fetched a jug full of water. He recited the name of God and emptied the jug into the well.

Then he asked one Haribhakta, ‘Please, fill up one jug of water from the well.’ Haribhakta fetched the water. Bapashri filtered it and had a sip.

And asked, ‘Is this salty water? This is nice and fresh sweet water.’ Hearing such statements of Bapashri, all the group members went there running.

They tasted the water. Water was really tasty. The all had refreshments and drank the water. They talked among themselves, ‘Due to prowess of Bapashri, hard water turned into soft water.’

Then they proceed towards their next destination.

Difficult words:
Out skirts - Out lying area of a city
Bitter - Not good in taste
Refreshments - Light food or drink

Points to ponder:
- With the contact of an Anadimukta the living beings of Rajas and Tamas nature who are like hard and salty water, become of Satwik nature just like soft and tasty water.
- Bapashri had converted the hard water of a well situated in the outskirts of Joshipura village, into soft water. Even today the water is soft and tasty. And it is the evidence of Bapashri’s prowess.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. With whom did Bapashri go for the pilgrimage?
2. What did the members of the group want to do before arrival of the next village?
3. How was the water of well?
4. How did Bapashri convert the water of the well into soft water?

Fill in the blanks:
1. They were travelling with the __________ of God.
2. If you permit, let us have some ___________.
3. The water in that well is ______________ and _____________.
4. He fetched a jug full of water ____________ the name of God and emptied the jug into the _____________.
5. By the prowess of Bapa, hard water turned into _____________ water.