The Deaf Guru Takes Wealth while the Blind Disciple Remains in Sorrow
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 97
Doha 100 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Bhushundi sees desire, greed, and anger enter the foundations of relation. Men and women abandon fidelity. Social and religious signs are assumed for gain, while gods, sacred learning, saints, and those entrusted with knowledge become objects of hostility.
The Guru and disciple resemble one who is deaf joined to one who is blind. The first does not hear the disciple's true need, and the second cannot see the path. A teacher takes wealth but does not remove sorrow, turning the sacred bond into transaction.
Parents summon children only toward survival and teach that filling the belly is the whole of dharma. Household, marriage, initiation, instruction, and parenthood remain visible, but their purpose has been replaced by appetite. Bhushundi's images reveal Kali through severed function: the ear exists but does not hear; the eye exists but does not see; the teacher receives but does not heal; the parent feeds but does not guide.
The forms of relationship remain standing, but their lamps have gone out and each room is governed by appetite.
Read the passage from the Manas
नारि बिबस नर सकल गोसाई। नाचहिं नट मर्कट की नाई।। सूद्र द्विजन्ह उपदेसहिं ग्याना। मेलि जनेऊ लेहिं कुदाना।। सब नर काम लोभ रत क्रोधी। देव बिप्र श्रुति संत बिरोधी।। गुन मंदिर सुंदर पति त्यागी। भजहिं नारि पर पुरुष अभागी।। सौभागिनीं बिभूषन हीना। बिधवन्ह के सिंगार नबीना।। गुर सिष बधिर अंध का लेखा। एक न सुनइ एक नहिं देखा।। हरइ सिष्य धन सोक न हरई। सो गुर घोर नरक महुँ परई।। मातु पिता बालकन्हि बोलाबहिं। उदर भरै सोइ धर्म सिखावहिं।।
All men are enslaved by women, O Lord, and dance like puppets or trained monkeys. Those of low birth give spiritual instruction to the learned, wearing sacred threads and accepting donations unlawfully. All are devoted to lust, greed, and anger, opposing gods, the learned, scriptures, and saints. Unfortunate women abandon their virtuous and handsome husbands to pursue other men. Married women remain without ornaments, while widows adorn themselves with new decorations. The teacher is deaf and the disciple is blind; one cannot hear and the other cannot see. Such a teacher, who takes the disciple's wealth but does not remove his sorrow, falls into terrible hell. Parents call their children only to fill their own bellies, teaching them such dharma.