14 - Detachment Towards Worldly Affairs

It was a pleasant evening. Abjibhai was sitting in the courtyard with his parents and sisters. Abjibhai was reading Vachanamrit. Other people from the town also joined them.

Recitation of Vachanamrit was over. Chieftain of the town addressed Panchabhai, ‘Abjibhai is nine years old now. Why don’t you fix his marriage?’ Panchabhai expressed his fear, ‘We are poor, who would be ready to give his daughter to my son?’ Panchabhai’s neighbour reminded him, ‘You are poor, but your son Abjibhai is a great Mukta of God. He has miraculous powers. Everyone knows that.’

Nathabhai agreed, ‘Yes, it would be a great honour to send off one’s daughter to your house!’ Abjibhai protested, ‘But I do not want to marry. I want to worship God.’

Chieftain explained, ‘Son, you are still young. You do not understand customs and formalities.’ Abjibhai argued, ‘Because I am young. I do not want to marry at such a young age.

Nathabhai tried to explain, ‘Son, It is a custom in our village to get married in young age.’ That day Gangji Bhakt from Maankuva was present there. He proposed, I am ready to marry my daughter with Abjibhai.’

Panchabhai was delighted. Abjibhai protested again, ‘I do not want to marry now.’ But everyone insisted, ‘You must marry.’ Abjibhai did not say anything. He went inside the house. Abjibhai’s marriage was fixed with Devubai.

Gangbai was Devubai’s mother. She was also pleased when she knew about it. Abjibhai was singing the Keertan, ‘Re Sagpan Harivarnu....’ Devba heard this. She told Panchabhai, ‘Abjibhai is not at all willing.’ Panchabhai replied, ‘That is true. But later on we shall not be able to find such a good family.’

Although Abjibhai was not willing, Panchabhai fixed the wedding. Abjibhai spent a lot of time meditating God from the day his marriage was fixed.

Devba tried to reconcile, ‘Son! we should follow the custom of our town. But don’t be disheartened. Do not go into meditative state on the day of wedding. After marriage, worship God as long as you like. Nobody would object.’

Abjibhai was relieved listening to such statements of his mother. He promised his mother, ‘Ma, please do not worry. I will not meditate on that day.’ Thus Abjibhai married Devubai with a lot of gaiety and celebration.

Difficult words:
Customs - Traditional practice

Points to ponder:
- An Anadimukta has no interest in worldly formalities. He has no inclination towards any worldly activities, except worship of God. But they behave as per worldly customs.
- An Anadimukta should not be treated as a human being looking at his humanly behaviour.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Who were sitting in the courtyard? What were they doing?
2. What did the people of the village advice?
3. Who proposed to marry his daughter with Abjibhai?
4. Why was Abjibhai not ready to get married?
5. Whom did Abjibhai marry? Where?

Fill in the blanks:
1. Abjibhai was reading ____________.
2. Abjibhai got married at the age of _________.
3. The name of Abjibhai’s wife was __________.

Who speaks the following statements?
1. Son, you are still young. You do not understnad formalities.
2. Abjibhai is not at all willing to get married.

Make sentences using following words:
insist, reconcile