34 - Rescued The Steamship

Once Bapashri was travelling by a steamship. Bapashri was chanting the name of God, sitting in a corner of the ship.

In a shortwhile, wind started blowing. Big waves rose in the sea. The sailors tried to control the ship. The intensity of the storm increased.

The ship was swinging here and there. The people, travelling by the ship looked worried. They were anxious. The stormy weather became worse. The sailors tried very hard, but due to storm, water filled up into the ship.

The travellers panicked. They thought that the steamei was about to sink. The sailors warned everyone, ‘Please remember your God. Now it is upto God. The situation is out of our control.’

Travellers were frightened. They prayed to God. Bapashri was sitting quietly. Water raised into the ship. There was a Muslim travelling by the ship. He asked Bapashri, ‘Aren’t you scared?’ Bapashri replied, ‘God will take care of everything. Why should we worry?’ The Muslim asked again, ‘Aren’t you scared of dying?’

Bapashri replied quietly, ‘If this body dies, we would go to God. What is so scary about it?’ Muslim prayed, ‘It seems you are a saint. You are not scared. But please save us.’

Bapashri sat with his eyes closed. The Muslim prayed again and again, ‘Bapji, Families of all these people would become orphans. My relatives also must be waiting for me. Please, save us.’

The Muslim offered prayers to his God too. The ship was almost filled up with the water. They thought that they were going to drown. Steamer would sink. Bapashri extended both his hands. He slipped his hands under the ship and placed it on the water.

No one noticed this. They were surprised. How come the ship was floating on the water? But the Muslim noticed this. He was flabbergasted! People were talking among themselves, ‘By grace of God the ship is saved from sinking.

The Muslim tried hard to speak that the gentleman sitting in that corner had saved them all. But he could not speak. He kept on watching.

Till the ship reached the shore, Bapashri supported it with his hands and saved it from sinking. The travellers thanked God after reaching the shore. Now, the Muslim was able to speak, ‘This saint has saved us today.’ said he. They said, ‘But he was sitting quietly in a corner!’

The Muslim revealed, ‘You are not aware, but I witnessed it. He extended both his hands and lifted the ship from down below. He has saved us.’ They asked again, ‘Did you notice that?’ The Muslim confessed, ‘Yes, I watched it all the time, but then I could not speak.’

The Muslim bowed down to Bapashri. He said gratefully, ‘Bapji, You have saved us all today.’ The travellers also bowed down to Bapashri. The Muslim offered, ‘Bapji, I have a basket of dry fruits. Please accept it.’

Bapashri refused politely, ‘No, I can not take it.’ The Muslim gave it forcibly. He himself became a devotee of Lord Swaminarayan.

Bapashri distributed the dry fruits among the passengers as Prasad.

Difficult words:
Intensity - Quality of being intense
Flabber gasted - Completely astonished

Points to ponder:
- Anadimukta can achieve whatever they decide. Nothing is impossible for them.
- When a Mukta unfolds (demonstrates) his prowess, even a Muslim surrenders to Lord Swaminarayan.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Why was steamship swinging to and fro?
2. What did the sailors inform the travellers?
3. What did the Muslim ask to Bapashri?
4. What did Bapashri answer?
5. What did the Muslim pray to Bapashri?
6. How did Bapashri save the passengers travelling on steamship?

Fill in the blanks:
1. Bapashri was travelling on a ___________.
2. _____________ were trying hard to save the steamship.
3. Aren’t you scared of ____________?
4. If I loose this ___________, I will be able to go to Maharaj.
5. Bapji, ___________ of these people would be orphaned.
6. Bapashri extended his _____________.
7. This ______________ has saved us today.

Arrange in proper sequence:
1. Please remember your God. Now, it is up to God.
2. Aren’t you scared of death?
3 God will take care of everything.