35 - Rescued The Steamship

A faithful devotee of God named Somchandbhai lived in the city of Karanchi (now which is in Pakistan). He used to run a night school for the children.

He taught religious teachings of God to the children. He taught children how to worship God. Children enjoyed all these. Once Bapashri visited Karanchi. Haribhaktas welcomed Bapashri ceremoniously.

They took Bapashri to temple. They took him around for sight seeing. But Bapashri kept on asking, ‘Do you have something in Karanchi which I am looking forward to visit?’ Haribhaktas wondered, ‘Which place does Bapashri want to visit?’

Daily Haribhaktas invited Bapashri at their place. Bapashri used to visit their place. On returning back to temple he used to say, ‘What I want to see is not here.’

One day Muktaraj Somchandbhai came to see Bapashri. He bowed down to Bapashri. Bapashri noticed that Somchandbhai was a very simple person. His clothes were also simple. Bapashri asked, ‘Maharaj! Are you involved in any activity related to Satsang?’

Somchandbhai replied humbly, ‘Bapa, Nothing much. I run a night school for the kids.’ Bapashri cheered up hearing about the children, ‘Really! What do you do?’ asked he.

Somchandbhai replied, ‘Bapa, I teach the narratives of God to the children and also teach them how to worship God. Bapashri confessed, ‘From the day I reached Karanchi, I wanted to visit a place where children are being taught good values.’

Haribhaktas were astonished. One of them asked, ‘Bapa, did you want to visit a night school for the children? What is there to see?’ Bapashri replied, ‘It has all to be seen.’

Haribhakta inquired, ‘What all? Bapashri explained, ‘Kids are like tender plants. They could be moulded the way we want to. If we teach them right from their childhood how to worship God, then they grow up as Muktas of God.’

Nobody said anything. They agreed with Bapashri. Bapashri was pleased with Somchandbhai. He asked, ‘Muktaraj, when would you take me to show your school?’

Somchandbhai replied happily, ‘Bapa, today a lot of people have come to visit you. Please, come tomorrow.’ Bapashri accepted the invitation, ‘All right! I will visit your school tomorrow.’

Somchandbhai was very glad. He informed all the children to be present the next day. Somchandbhai informed the kids, ‘We are very lucky. Bapashri is going to visit us. Bapashri is a great Mukta. All of you ask for his blessings.

Children were also delighted. The next day, Bapashri arrived. All the children welcomed him enthusiastically. Then all of them took their seats with discipline.

Bapashri was very impressed by the cleanliness of the school and the discipline of the children. He asked the children, ‘who taught you all these?’ The children replied, ‘Our teacher.’

Bapashri announced, ‘Today, I am going to take a test. Let me see how Muktaraj has taught you. May I take the test?’ Children were excited. They said in a chorus, ‘Yes, Bapa. Certainly.’ Bapashri was already delighted by the decent behaviour of the children. He asked simple questions to the children, ‘Who is our God?’ Nobody answered, but all of them raised their hands. Bapashri said, ‘Please answer! Don’t you know?’ Somchandbhai intervened, ‘Bapa, all of them know. All of them have raised their hands. But only that child would answer whom you would ask.’ Bapashri was very happy seeing such discipline among the children.

He asked one child, ‘Who is our God? Please answer. He answered, ‘The ultimate God Lord Swaminarayan.’ Bapashri asked next question, ‘Where was He born?’ Again all of them raised their hands.

Bapashri smiled and asked another child, ‘You answer.’ He answered, ‘In Chhapaiya.’ Bapashri asked a few more questions. To whomever he asked, ‘That child answered properly.’ Bapashri was pleased by all.

He told children, ‘All of you have passed the test and your teacher who has tought you such good lessons and proper behaviour also passes.’ Children bowed down to Bapashri. Bapashri adviced them, ‘Always worship God in this manner. If right now you make it a habit to worship God, Maharaj would be pleased.’

Children requested, ‘Bapa, please bless us!’ Bapashri granted their request, ‘Bless you all. I am very pleased by all of you.’ He praised Somchandbhai, ‘You are doing a very good activity. We must teach our children how to worship God right from their childhood.’

Somchandbhai bowed down to Bapashri. Bapashri informed, ‘You teach good values to the children. Therefore, Maharaj is pleased with you. I am also delighted.’ Bapashri blessed Somchandbhai and returned back to the temple.

Difficult words:
Ceremoniously - Excessively formal
Tender - Gentle and kind
To mould - To shape up

Points to ponder:
- Bapashri was very fond of kids.
- Bapashri was pleased, if someone worked for the children and taught them good values.
- As Bapashri used to say, we should develop the habit of worshipping God from today itself. Therefore, we could please God and His Muktas.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Which city did Bapashri Visit? Who lived there?
2. What was Bapashri looking for?
3. What did Bapashri like the most about children?
4. How did Bapashri praise Somchandbhai?

Fill in the blanks:
1 There lived a great devotee named_________ in the city of ____________.
2 Somchandbhai was running a ___________ for the children.
3. All the children raised their _____________.

Arrange in proper sequence:
1. Maharaj right now worship make God it would you habit be pleased if a to.
2. Children their worship we God must right to from teach our how childhood.