Shri Sai Satcharita Chapter XLVII

Shri Sai Satcharita Chapter XLVII 

Baba’s Reminiscences

Story of Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa (snake and frog)

The last chapter described Baba’s reminiscences about two goats. This chapter

depicts more recollections and relates the story of Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa.

Preliminary

Blessed is the face of Sai. If we cast a glance at Him for even a moment, He
destroys the sorrow of many past births and confers great bliss on us. If He looks at us
with grace, our bondage of karma is immediately snapped away and we are led to
happiness.

The river Ganges washes away the dirt and sins of all the people who go to her for a
bath, but she longs intently for saints to come to her and bless her with their holy feet,
thereby removing all the dirt (sins) accumulated in her. She knows with certainty that this
accumulation can be removed only in this way.

Sai is the crest jewel of the saints. Baba tells the following purifying story.

The snake and the frog

Sai Baba told a story about a snake and a frog in this manner: “One morning after
taking My breakfast, I strolled along until I came to a small river bank. As I was tired, I
rested there, washed My hands and feet, had a bath, and felt refreshed. The breeze was
blowing gently. I noticed a foot path and cart track sheltered by shady trees. I sat down
and as I was preparing to smoke chillim (pipe), I heard the croaking of a frog. As I was
striking a flint to light a fire, a traveler turned up, sat by My side, bowed to Me and politely
invited Me to his house for meals and rest. He lit his pipe and handed it to Me. Just then,
the croaking was heard again and the traveler wanted to know what it was. I told him that a
frog was in trouble and was tasting the bitter fruit of its own karma. We have to reap the
fruit of what we sow (do) in our past life, and there is no use crying about it. He then
smoked and handed the pipe to Me and said he would go in person and see for himself
what was the matter.

I told him that a frog was caught by a big snake and was crying. Both were very
wicked in their past life and were now reaping the fruit of their actions in these bodies. The
traveler went off and found that a huge black serpent was holding a big frog in its mouth.

He returned to Me and said that in about ten or twelve minutes, the frog would be
eaten up by the snake. I said, “No, this cannot be allowed to happen. I am its father
(protector) and I am here now. I will not allow the snake to eat the frog. Just see how I
release it.”

After smoking again, we walked back to where the helpless frog was meeting his
fate. The traveler was afraid and asked Me not to proceed further as the snake might
attack us. Not minding him, I went ahead and addressed the creatures thus, “Oh
Veerbhadrappa, has your enemy, Chenbassappa, still not repented even though he has
been born as a frog? And you, too, though born as a serpent, still maintain bitter enmity
against him? Fie upon you! Be ashamed! Give up your hatred now and rest in peace.”

Hearing these words, the snake dropped the frog quickly and dove into the river and
disappeared. The frog also jumped away and hid in the bushes.

The traveler was very surprised to hear this story. He said he could not understand
how the snake dropped the frog and disappeared when I uttered those words. Who was
Veerbhadrappa and who was Chenbassappa? What was the cause of their enmity? The
traveler was perplexed.

I then returned with him to the foot of the tree where we originally met and after
sharing a few puffs of smoke with him, I explained the whole mystery as follows:

There was an ancient holy place sanctified by a temple of Mahadev about four or
five miles from My place. The temple was old and dilapidated. The residents of the place
collected funds for its repair. After a large amount was collected, arrangements for worship
were made and plans with estimates for repairs were prepared. A rich local man was
appointed the treasurer and the whole work was entrusted to him. He was to keep regular
accounts and be honest in all his dealings. He was, however, a first class miser, and
spent very little for the repairs, which, consequently, made very little progress. He spent all
the funds, swallowed some amount himself, and spent nothing from his own pocket. He
had a sweet tongue and was very clever in offering plausible explanations regarding the
poor and tardy progress of the work.

The people went to him again and said that unless he lent his helping hand and tried his
best, the work would not be complete. They requested him to work out the plans, and
again, collected subscriptions and sent the amount to him. He received it, but acted as
before. Thus, no progress was made on the temple repairs.

After a few days, God (Mahadev) appeared in his wife’s dream and said to her, “You
must get up and have the dome of the temple built. I will give you a hundred fold of what
you spend.” She related the vision to her husband. He was afraid it would involve him in
some expenses and therefore laughed about it saying it was a mere dream, something not
to be relied and acted upon. After all, why didn’t God appear to him and tell him? Was he
far off from her? He continued that it all appears to have been a bad dream, having for its
object the creation of ill feeling between husband and wife. Hearing this, the wife remained
quiet.”

God does not like big subscriptions and donations collected against the wishes of
the donors, but He likes even trifling amounts given with love, devotion and appreciation.
Some days after, God again appeared in the wife’s dream and said, “Do not concern
yourself with your husband’s attitude and the collections he manages. Do not press him to
spend any money for the temple. What I want is feeling and devotion. So give, if you like,
anything of your own.” She consulted her husband about the vision and decided to give
God the jewelry her father had given her. The miser felt disconcerted by this and decided
to cheat even God. He undervalued the ornaments at Rs. 1,000/ and bought them
himself, but in lieu of money, he gave a field to God as an endowment (security). His wife
agreed to this. The field (land), however, did not belong to the miser. Rather, it belonged
to a poor woman named Dubaki, who mortgaged it to him for Rs. 200/. Thus, the cunning
miser cheated every one - his wife, Dubaki and even God! The land was sterile,
uncultivated and yielded nothing, even in the best seasons. It was virtually worthless, but
the transaction was completed and the land was given to a poor priest who was pleased
with the endowment.

Sometime later, strange things happened. There was a terrific storm with a heavy
down pour of rain. Lightening struck the miser’s house, killing both he and his wife.
Dubaki also passed away.

In the next life, the rich miser was born in a Brahmin family in Mathura and was
named Veerbhadrappa. His devout wife of his past life was born as the daughter of the
priest of the temple and was named Gouri. Dubaki, the mortgagor of the barren land, was
born as a male in the family of the temple’s gurav, and was named Chenbassappa. The
priest was a friend of Mine. He often came to chat and have a smoke with Me. His
daughter, Gouri, was also devoted to Me. She was growing fast and her father was
seeking a good husband for her. I told him not to worry about that as the bridegroom
himself would come seeking her.

In time, a poor boy named Veerbhadrappa, of their caste, came wandering to the
priest’s home, begging for bread. With My consent, Gouri was given to him in marriage.

At first, the young man was devoted to Me, as I recommended his marriage with
Gouri. Yet even in this new life, he was hankering after money and asked Me to help him
get some, as he was leading a married man’s life.

Then, strange things happened. There was a sudden rise in prices. By Gouri’s
good luck, there was a great demand for land and the endowment land was sold for one
lac of rupees (one hundred times the worth of her jewelry). Half the amount was paid in
cash and the remaining was to be paid in twenty-five installments of Rs. 2,000/ each.
Although all agreed to this transaction, they began to quarrel over the money. They came
to Me for consultation. I told them that the property belonged to God and was vested in the
priest, and Gouri was his sole heiress and proprietress. I said no amount of money should
be spent without her consent and that her husband had no right whatsoever to the amount.

spent without her consent and that her husband had no right whatsoever to the amount.
Hearing My opinion, Veerbhadrappa was wroth with Me and said that I wanted to
establish Gouri’s claim and embezzle her property. Hearing his words, I remembered God
and kept quiet. Veerbhadrappa scolded his wife (Gouri) and she came to Me at noon
requesting Me not to mind the words of others and not to discard her, as she was My
daughter. As she thus sought My protection, I gave her a pledge that I would cross seven
seas to help her. Then, that night, Gouri had a vision. Mahadev appeared in her dream
and said, “The whole amount of the money is yours. Do not give anything to anyone.
Spend some of it for temple purposes in consultation with Chenbassappa, and if you want
to use it for some other purpose, consult Baba in the masjid (Myself).”

Gouri described her dream to Me and I gave her the proper advice in the matter. I
told her to take the principal, or capital, amount for herself and to give half the amount of
the interest to Chenbassappa. Veerbhadrappa should have nothing to do in the matter
whatsoever. While I was thus talking, both Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa, who were
quarreling with each other, came in. Veerbhadrappa became angry and wild and
threatened to kill Chenbassappa by cutting him to pieces. The latter was timid. He caught
My feet and sought My refuge. I then pledged Myself to save him from the wrath of his foe.
Then, after some time, Veerbhadrappa died and was born as a snake and Chenbassappa
died and, according to his karma, was born as a frog. Hearing the croaking of
Chenbassappa and remembering My pledge, I came here, saved him, and kept My word.
God runs to His devotees to help in times of danger. He saved Chenbassappa (the frog)
by sending Me here. All this is God’s leela or sport.”

The Moral

The moral of this story is that one has to reap what one sows, and there is no
escape unless one suffers and squares up one’s old debts and dealings with others.
Greed for money drags the greedy man to the lowest level and ultimately brings
destruction on him and others.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all