Sri Saisatcharita Chapter - 46

In this chapter Hemadpanth talks about how Baba tells Syama that he will be in Gaya before he reaches that place. He also talks about the story of 2 goats. Like in every chapter there will be some introduction in the beginning. Baba's blessings will remove obstacles from our life and how he pulls his devotees to Shirdi with an invisible thread. It was mentioned that Sai will bring them and keep them at his feet, and embrace them, hugging them close to his heart, like a mother holds her child. Baba nurtures them easily. 

Hemadpanth says "Inwardly and invisibly you play all the games, but show the flag of detachment. You do things and pose yourself as a non-doer. Nobody ever knows your ways". Therefore, let us surrender body, speech and mind at your feet and always chant your name for destroying our sins. You fulfill the desires of the desirous and to the detached, give the bliss of your abode. Chanting your sweet name is the easiest sadhana for your devotees. By that the sins will be destroyed. Passion and ignorance will undoubtedly be wiped out. Goodness will gradually arise; and after that, the store of merits will increase. Once righteousness is awakened, dispassion will follow quickly. The sense pleasures lose their hold and self knowledge manifests immediately. Knowledge is reached due to discrimination. Then we abide in our Self and become humble at the Guru’s feet. This is what is called complete surrender to the Guru. The one and only sure sign of the surrender at Sai’s feet is that the disciple becomes calm and peaceful and perfects his devotion with eagerness and joy. Loving devotion to the Guru is the sacred law; ‘ I am That’ is the essence of Knowledge; dislike for the sense pleasure is the supreme dispassion. Aversion for conditioned
existence comes at that stage.

Baba going to Gaya before Syama

Next in this chapter Baba was invited to attend the ceremonies of Dixit son's thread ceremony and at the same time Nana Chandorkar's eldest son is also getting married. Baba himself never went anywhere so he decided to send Syama on behalf of him. Thread ceremony was in Nagpur and marriage was in Gwalior. Baba tells everyone there that after doing Kashi and Prayag quickly I will wait there for Syama. How much time will I need to arrive there? after lunch Madhavrao began to think that once he had reached Gwalior, Kashi would not be far away from there. He borrowed one hundred rupees from Nandram (Marwadi) for his travelling expenses. Then he went to get Baba’s permission to leave and asked him with great reverence:  “ Since I am going to Gwalior for these

ceremonies, I feel that it would be proper to take the opportunity to incidentally go to Kashi and Gaya. Therefore, Lord, I touch your feet and ask if I can visit Kashi and Gaya. ” Baba happily gave permission to Madhavrao to go . Appa also joins Syama and they both head to Nagpur to attend the thread ceremony, where Kaka Saheb gave two hundred rupees to Madhavrao for expenses. From there, they went to Gwalior for the wedding. Nana Saheb gave one hundred rupees to Madhavrao, at that time. Shrimant Jathar, a relative (the father-in-law of his child), also gave one hundred rupees. Thus Nana showered his affection on his Guru bandhu. Then Shyama goes to Kashi and then Ayodhya. Jathar's manager received both Syama and Kote in in Ayodhya. They stayed there for 21 days. Then they left for Gaya but heard about plague in Gaya and hesitant to go there. But person who organized Gaya trip reassures them that there was no plague. Then they go to Prayag. This person gave Syama and Kote accommodation in his house. That house was big and what surprised Syama was big portrait of Baba in his house. Syama was overwhelmed with emotion and remembered Baba's words that he will be in Prayag before Syama. Then he asks hm how he got this Baba's portrait. Syama learns that he took care of him long time ago and gave him this portrait when he came to Shirdi.Then this Gayawala was very happy and both remembered this incident. This happened 12 years prior to the current meeting. Then this Gayawala gave royal welcome to both Syama and Kote. This is how Baba takes care of his devotees. 

Goats past lives story
In the end Hemadpanth closes this chapter by talking about how Baba bought 2 goats and showed love towards them. Once Baba saw a flock of goats and two goats attracted his attention and bought them for Rs. 32. Everyone felt that Baba paid too much and was duped in this bargain. But Baba later explained that these two goats were brothers in previous life. The younger one was hard working and the older one was lazy. Older one got jealous of the young and started fighting with him. One day the older one wanted to kill his brother and get all his money. He went after him with a stick and hit him in the head. Then younger one hit the older with an ax. Both died and took life as goats in this life. Baba showered his love towards them and fed them.  In the end Baba gave these goats back to owner.  Here Baba gave a glimpse of how the past life events will influence our current lives. No matter what Parama Gurus will not leave their devotees without showering their love.

Om Sri Sainatharpanamasthu!