In Chapter 16 and 17 of Sai Satcharitra, we had seen how Sai Baba treated a rich gentleman, who wanted Brahma Gyan from Him. Now we will see how He treated a poor fellow, who wanted ten crore rupees from Sai Baba, through other saint.
Sai Baba never avoids any person, even if he has cheated the whole world. If such a person goes to Sai Darbar, Sai Baba welcomes him generously. So it is recommended that we should leave our ego, ignorance and stubbornness while going to Sai Darbar. Only Sai Baba is God, Brahma, Creator and He has no beginning and no end. There is no person on this earth whom greed has not touched. Everyone in some point of time has hoped for something or the other and tried his/her level best to achieve it.
There was a devotee (not of Sai Baba and name of other God is unfortunately not given nor his ware bouts are mentioned). He had only one wish and that was to get ten crore rupees by hook or by crook without working hard to get it. One thing had made place in his mind that if a saint is pure and real, then Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of wealth) resides with him and if Goddess Laxmi does not reside then he is not real saint.
Somebody advised him and said, “Oh brother, you can find such a rich saint in Shirdi. Sai Baba of Shirdi is a crorepati (very rich) saint and moreover He is very king and humble.
So the gentleman came to Shirdi and stayed there for three to four days. He used to observe Sai Baba’s Leela, but he was more attracted towards the long pocket of Sai Baba’s kafani. Whosoever comes to Sai Baba gives Him money and Sai Baba used to put His hand in the pocket of His kafani and whatever amount came to in His Hand was given. So no one went back bare handed. Seeing this, it was confirmed to the gentleman that surely Sai Baba must be having ten crore rupees.
The gentleman said to Sai Baba, “O Baba, I have roamed much, but I haven’t found a true saint. You donate so much money daily, so You only seem to be real saint to me. It is now clear to me that Goddess Laxmi resides in Your feet, so I have come to You. Please get me only ten crore rupees from Goddess Laxmi, I don’t want anything else from You.”
Sai Baba answered in very sweet words, “O gentleman, see I am begging, so how can I have ten crore rupees?” you do one thing. Go to Gondavlekar in Gondavle.
Then Sai Baba called him near and whispered in his ears, “if you get ten crores rupees, then you must give Me one crore out of that and in this way I will also get rid of this Fakiri ( begging food and living).
The gentleman some how found out Gondavlekar Maharaj and put forward the same request to him. Gondavlekar Maharaj said, “This is not a big issue. But today you are late, so come tomorrow. Next day the gentleman again went to Gondavlekar Maharaj and sat in his feet.
Maharaj Gondavlekar questioned him, “Say brother, why have come from far distance?”
The gentleman said in an unrespectable manner, “I told you yesterday only that I want ten crore rupees.
Maharaj Gondavlekar said, “Oh I forgot. So you want just ten crore rupees. That is not a big thing. I will arrange for you, still then you stay here.”
In this way Maharaj Gondavlekar promised him again and again and made him stay for a week. The gentleman became more restless now. He decided not to eat anything, so Maharaj Gondavlekar made him take his lunch.
Maharaj Gondavlekar said, “I have made arrangements for money and packed all of them in small bags. How will you take all the bags now?”
The gentleman replied, “Will you take it in a cart?”
Maharaj then said, “how may carts will be required to carry bags of ten crore rupees?”
The gentleman said, “it will require maximum hundred carts”.
Maharaj said, “Go my brother and bring hundred carts quickly and I will give you ten crore rupees at once.”
The gentleman thought, “From where I will bring the carts, neither one nor two, total hundred carts!”
At last the gentleman left his obstinacy of receiving ten crore rupees from any saint forever and also left the place heavy heartedly.
Source : Translated from Gujarati Book “Sai Sarovar“
© Shirdi Sai Baba Life Teachings and Stories
