6 - A Magnificent Marvel

One day as usual Kunvarji, Gangji and Dhanji went to the orchard. Abjibhai was working in the orchard. Gangji asked, ‘Abjibhai, let us go to play.’ Abjibhai replied, ‘Let me ask my father.’ Kunvarji said, ‘Come on, no need to ask!’ Abjibhai explained, ‘We must ask the permission of our parents before going out or before going to play. Let me go and ask. I will be back in a moment.’ They waited for him. Abjibhai took permission and joined them. ‘Let us go.’ he said. Proposed Gangji, ‘It is very hot today. Let us go to the well and play the game of jumping into the water.’

They all agreed. Abjibhai suggested, ‘Let us play, but we should not jump without some condition.’ ‘Then?’ they asked. Abjibhai replied, ‘We must keep one condition. Everyone should speak ‘Jai Swaminarayan’ loudly, clap his hands and jump into the water. But the whole body should not immerse into the water. The portion below waist should remain under water and the portion above waist should remain above water. Tell me, do you agree?’

They agreed ‘You are our leader, so we agree to whatever you say!’

Kunvarji cried out ‘Jai Swaminarayan’ loudly, clapped his hands and plunged into water. Poor child! He completely submerged into water.

Gangji also dipped himself in water. For Dhanji, only head remained above water.

Gangji said, ‘Abjibhai, now it is your turn.’

Dhanji reminded, ‘You have challenged us, now you have to perform it.’ Abjibhai clapped his hands, uttered ‘Jai Swaminarayan’ loudly and jumped into water.

And behold! They were astonished. Kunvarji screamed, ‘Hey! look there! Look at the body of Abjibhai! It is exactly fulfilling the condition.’ Gangji confirmed, ‘Oh Yes! The portion above his waist is not even wet! Exactly half the portion of his body is immersed into the water!’

They inquired Abjibhai, ‘Abjibhai how did you manage to achieve this? Would you teach us also?’ Abjibhai replied, ‘I visualized the divine form of God in my heart, recited the name of God and jumped. I had a feeling that God also jumped with me, therefore I could achieve it.’ Kunvarji, Dhanji and Gangji were fascinated.

Difficult words:
Magnificent - Splendid
Marvel - Wonderful happening or event
Submerge - To sink completely
Utter - To express in words

Points to ponder:
- We can create wonders by involving God with us in our activity.
- If we perform any task with the remembrance of God, we can make impossible things possible.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Which game did the friends decide to play?
2. Which condition had been placed by Abjibhai?
3. Who could perform as per the challenge? Why?

Fill in the blanks:
1. We should not _________ without any condition.
2. Everyone should speak _________ loudly, _________ his hands and jump.
3. Kunvarji completely_________.
4. Exactly _________ the body was immersed.