37 - Cooked Vegetables Served As Medicine

There lived a Muslim. He had an only son. He loved his son very much. Unfortunately, he caught an uncurable disease.

The Muslim went to a Hakim. Hakim was helpless, ‘I do not have any medicine for this. Please go to someone else.’ said he. The Muslim went to a doctor.

The doctor prescribed a lot of medicines, but there was no improvement. Son was loosing weight day by day. Finally, the Muslim went to a Vaidya.

The Vaidya prepared some medicine but there was no effect. The Muslim was distressed, ‘Is there nobody who could cure my son?’ thought he. A Haribhakta suggested, ‘Abji Bapashri lives in Baladiya. Please go and meet him.’

The Muslim inquired, ‘Is he a Vaidya?’ Haribhakta replied, ‘No, he is not.’ The Muslim asked again, ‘Is he a Tantrik?’

Haribhakta denied, ‘No, brother. He is a great Mukta of God. If he is pleased, he can cure your son. Please go and pray to him.’

This advice invoked a new hope in the heart of Muslim. He took his son, lying in a cot, to Bapashri. He bowed down to Bapashri and prayed, ‘Bapji, please save my son.’ Bapashri inquired, ‘Why? What is wrong with him?’

Muslim replied, ‘Bapji, Nobody knows. Several Hakim, Vaidya and doctors tried, but nobody could cure him.’ Bapashri asked, ‘Since how long he has been sick?’

Muslim replied, ‘For a long time. I am tired of running around. Nobody has been able to cure him.’ The Muslim broke down into tears. Bapashri looked at the boy. He was looking fragile. He was not even able to sit.

He raised his hands to offer salutation to Bapashri lying down on the cot. Bapashri was touched looking at the boy. He felt tremendous compassion for the boy. Bapashri signed, ‘So much suffering for such a young boy?’

Muslim replied, ‘Bapji, now he is in your hands.’ Bapashri went inside and looked for something. There was a bowl of cooked beans. Bapashri brought this bowl outside.

The Muslim asked, ‘Bapji, what is this?’ Bapashri replied, ‘This is medicine. Muslim was puzzled, ‘Bapji, cooked vegetables are not medicine! Please give some medicine or charm for my son.’

Bapashri did not respond. He offered the beans to God. Then he went to the boy. Lovingly, Bapashri caressed his head. He spoke to the boy, ‘Son! If you finish the whole dish, you will be cured completely, if you finish half of it, you will be cured half and if you will have it a little, you will be cured only a little. So have faith in God and finish this.’ Muslim tried to interrupt, ‘But Bapji!’

Bapashri smiled. Bapashri had explained so nicely and lovingly, that the boy was fully convinced. He began to eat the vegetable. The Muslim gasped at him. He complained to Bapashri, ‘Bapji’, ‘I wish you had given some medicine. I've heard a lot about you that is why I come here.’ Meanwhile, the boy finished the vegetable.

He felt new energy in his body. He got up from the cot. He washed his hands and bowed down to Bapashri. Bapashri blessed him.

He reminded the boy, ‘Never forget Lord Swaminarayan. He has cured your disease.’ The Muslim stared at them. What a miracle!

The boy informed his father, ‘Father I am completely all right. Bapashri has cured me.’ The Muslim fell down at the feet of Bapashri.

He spoke with gratitude, ‘Bapji, You are a saint. You have done that nobody could perform. That also without prescribing any medicine! Just by feeling cooked beans! Nobody could have performed such a miracle! You are a marvellous person.’

He kept on talking while bowing down to Bapashri. The boy who had come lying down on a cot, went home on feet with his father.

He took initiation and wore Kanthi. He became a Satsangi. He remained a Satsangi his entire life.

Difficult words:
To prescribe - To recommend
Invoke - To put in use
Tremendous - Very large or impressive
Charm - A magic spell

Points to ponder:
- Maharaj and His Anadimukta are kind and merciful towards all, irrespective of their caste or creed. Therefore, they are called the most compassionate.
- Bapashri is very fond of children. Therefore, he instantly relieves them of pain. He does not discriminate on the basis of caste or creed among the children. Each and every child is equally dear to him.
- Hakim, doctors etc. could not achieve any improvement, but Bapashri performed the miracle without any medicine.
- Anadimuktas have great prowess. They can achieve whatever they want.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. The son of a Muslim was suffering from what kind of disease?
2. To whom did the Muslim go for the treatment?
3. To whom did the Muslim go in the end?
4. What did Bapashri give as medicine?
5. What did Bapashri tell the boy?
6. What did the Muslim ask in place of cooked vegetables?
7. How was the son of the Muslim cured?
8. What did the Muslim tell Bapashri after his son was cured?

Fill in the blanks:
1. The boy had an ___________ disease.
2. The Muslim asked is he a _________?
3. Bapji, please ___________ my son.
4. Please, give my son some __________ or a ____________.
5. Have ___________ in God and finish it.
6. You are a ___________.