In Ujjain, a True Shiva Devotee Teaches the Deceitful Disciple as a Son
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 101
Doha 106 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bhushundi reaches Ujjain impoverished, unclean, and sorrowful. In time he gains some wealth and resumes the worship of Shambhu. There he meets a brahmin wholly devoted to Vedic worship of Shiva.
The teacher is a true saint and knower of the highest good. His love for Shambhu contains no hostility toward Hari. Bhushundi, however, serves him with deceit, hiding pride behind the appearance of humility.
The compassionate brahmin sees only the bowed exterior and teaches him like a son. He gives the mantra of Shiva and many auspicious instructions. Bhushundi enters the temple and repeats the sacred syllables, but hypocrisy and ego grow inside the heart. The contrast is severe: pure teaching descends, sincere affection surrounds it, and correct practice is outwardly performed, yet the disciple uses every gift to enlarge the very self the mantra was meant to dissolve.
A true servant of Shiva places mantra into Bhushundi's hands, while unseen pride builds its altar inside the disciple.
Read the passage from the Manas
गयउँ उजेनी सुनु उरगारी। दीन मलीन दरिद्र दुखारी।। गएँ काल कछु संपति पाई। तहँ पुनि करउँ संभु सेवकाई।। बिप्र एक बैदिक सिव पूजा। करइ सदा तेहि काजु न दूजा।। परम साधु परमारथ बिंदक। संभु उपासक नहिं हरि निंदक।। तेहि सेवउँ मैं कपट समेता। द्विज दयाल अति नीति निकेता।। बाहिज नम्र देखि मोहि साईं। बिप्र पढ़ाव पुत्र की नाईं।। संभु मंत्र मोहि द्विजबर दीन्हा। सुभ उपदेस बिबिध बिधि कीन्हा।। जपउँ मंत्र सिव मंदिर जाई। हृदयँ दंभ अहमिति अधिकाई।।
I went to Ujjain, O enemy of serpents, in a wretched, impoverished, and sorrowful state. After some time I gained some wealth and began serving Lord Shambhu once again. There was a brahmin who daily performed Vedic worship of Shiva, having no other occupation. He was supremely virtuous, devoted to the highest truth, a worshipper of Shambhu, yet never a critic of Hari. I served him with deceit and cunning, though that brahmin was compassionate and an abode of righteousness. Seeing me humble on the surface, that master taught me like his own son, O Lord. That excellent brahmin gave me Shiva's mantra and offered various auspicious teachings. I would chant the mantra in Shiva's temple, but my heart was filled with pride, ego, and arrogance.