Sakkubai – 3
Paripalaya nah kripaalayethi asakruth jalpitham athma
baandhavah
Murali mrudula svanaanthare vibhuh aakarnnayithaa
kadaa nu?
Radhekrishna! The above sloka is from
Krishna Karnamritham by Sri Leela Suka.He cries out to the Lord,
‘hey the source of mercy! When you are playing sweet music in your flute (venu)
how will you be able to hear our cries to save us from this samsara, world? We
keep crying out again and again but can you hear our cries amidst the sweet
music of your venu?’ The truth is the Lord is straining His ears to hear us
calling out to Him even when He is engaged otherwise. We must have the full
faith in Him to do that. Panduranga was listening to Sakkubai's calls with love!
Sakkubai never doubted the
Lord’s mercy. She believed the words of her guru and kept on chanting. She did
all her work for her Panduranga only. She thought she was washing clothes for
Panduranga. She cooked for her Vital only. She cleaned the house for her
Panduranga’s comfort. Her heart was
fully dedicated to Panduranga only. People of the world could not understand
her bhavam. Her in laws and husband started torturing her in many ways. But she
never considered them as sufferings. She accepted everything as bhagavath
prasadam only. So she was happy.
One day when she was washing clothes in a
pond she heard some people singing bhajans. She came up to the road and saw a
group of bhakthas with various musical
instruments singing abhangs and moving forward very happily. She was very much fascinated by their
singing. She slowly approached one of them and enquired where they were going
to. The man replied that they are
proceeding towards Pandarpur. She was thrilled to hear that. The desire to go
to Pandarpur which she kept in her heart now jumped out. She became so excited
and forgot everything. Till now she was enjoying her Vital in her heart. But
now she wanted to see Him directly. She can even touch Him she thought. “Can I also come with you?” she blurted out
in excitement. The bhakthas saw her enthusiasm and eagerness. But since they
thought she was a married woman they advised her to get permission from her
husband.
In the meantime some of her neighbours
who did not like Sakkubai told her in laws that Sakkubai was flirting with some
people on the way. The infuriated in laws received Sakkubai with harsh words
mid way. Sakkubai was very happy to see her husband coming towards her and told
him that some bhakthas are going to Pandarpur. She begged that they should also
go with them. Her husband red with anger slapped her harshly. By the unexpected reaction she fell down. She
got up and again asked him whether they can also go with them. But the man had
turned an animal and began to beat her in front of everybody. The antharyami Lord in Sakkubai inspired her
to ask him again. She felt she should go to Pandarpur now. She again asked him to let her go at least
for once. She wanted to see Panduranga once.
Her husband got more irritated now. He
pushed her down and began to draw her to their house. Her whole body was bruised.
But she was adamant in her demand. Her
mother in law kept asking whether she had a secret lover in Pandarpur. Sakkubai
shivered at her words. But some how she was obsessed with the idea of going to
Pandarpur. All her in laws’ admonitions didn’t help at all. Whatever happened
Sakkubai wanted Vital only! Her faith was so firm! At last her husband got
tired and tied her to a pillar in the house. Sakkubai was hurt all over. They
locked the room from outside. Sakkubai felt miserable. She was not bothered by
the tortures to her body; her only concern was that the bhakthas might have
left for Pandarpur without her. She wanted to go with them. She prayed to her Vital whole heartedly.
“Bhagavan! Are you not aware of my desire?
Is it wrong on my part to wish so? Don’t you think I too have the right
to come and see you? I very much want to come and see you my Lord! I am not
asking much. I am asking only to let me go to Pandarpur and see you. Can’t you
do something? You are karuna sagara – ocean of mercy! Please hurry my Lord.
Please I beg you to fulfill my life’s desire.” The Lord was moved by her
sincere prayers. The Lord never desserts
His devotees.
Suddenly a woman’s soft voice called
out to Sakkubai 'why are you crying'? Startled she saw a woman standing by the
window on the road looking at her. Sakkubai told her that she very much wanted to see
Panduranga. Then the other woman asked her why she was kept tied to the pillar.
Sakkubai replied that since she said she wanted to go to Pandarpur her husband
has tied her up. The woman asked whether Sakkubai hasn’t seen Panduranga
before. Sakkubai replied she has not. Then the woman said that it is a real loss
that she hasn’t seen Panduranga. She started describing the Lord. The elegant way He stands on the brick, His
style of wearing the peethambara, the unique way of tilak on the forehead, long
nose, lotus like eyes, coral lips all very enchanting, she said. Sakkubai’s
desire flame was fanned by this woman. You must see Him at least once in your
life said the woman. Hearing her Sakkubai broke down and cried. 'It is only
asking for that I am suffering now' she said. What a loss for her! Such a beautiful
chance slipped away from her! She couldn’t control her sorrow.
The woman silently entered the room from the
back door. She came to Sakkubai and dried her eyes. She tried to console her. Sakkubai
told her that the only wish in her life cannot be fulfilled. For that the woman
told her that to see Panduranga one can adopt any means. She can even cheat her
family members! Surprised Sakkubai looked at her face. The woman now came near
her and said both of them had strong resemblance. She would untie Sakkubai and
help her get out of the back door to see Panduranga. Instead Sakkubai can tie
the other woman in her place and slip away before anyone notices. If those
people come, the woman herself will pretend to be Sakkubai till she comes back.
Sakkubai couldn’t believe her ears and just kept staring at the woman’s face. The
woman released her from rope and hurried her to do as she told. She repeatedly
told Sakkubai that there was nothing wrong in that. Sakkubai somehow got
convinced and did as she has told. She sent a thankful look at her and hurried
out through the back door. She felt like a bird freed from its cage. She ran as
fast as her legs could carry her in the direction of the devotees. Without long
she could catch up with them. They were totally surprised at her appearance
there. They happily took her in their group and they all proceeded towards
Pandarpur loudly singing bhajans.
You would be eager to know what
happened to Sakkubai and the woman afterwards. We will be back with that in our
next issue. Till then keep chanting the divine nama! Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!
