8 - Marvellous Miracle Of Sling

It so happened one hot summer day.

Abjibhai was playing the game of Amli-Pipli with his friends. Nobody could catch Abjibhai. Jadavji gave up, ‘I am not going to chase. I am exhausted.’ said he. Gangji also joined him and said, ‘Me too, I am hungry too.’ Kunvarji and Kesra said, ‘We are also feeling hungry.’

Dhanji asked, ‘What shall we do? Let us bring food from somewhere.’ Abjibhai suggested, ‘Let us go to my house and eat whatever is available.’ They consented happily, ‘Come - come, let us go.’

Kesran hesitated, ‘Abjibhai, your mother would be at home. She will not give food to so many children and will scold.’ Abjibhai assured, ‘My mother has gone out. No one is at home. Let us go.’ All of them went to Abjibhai’s house happily.

Abjibhai checked up in the kitchen. Food was not ready. What possibly could he offer to eat? Kesra asked, ‘Abjibhai, what happened? Is there no food?’ Abjibhai replied, ‘Food is not ready. But there is jaggery kept in the sling. If we can bring it down, we can eat it.’ Kunvarji observed, ‘Sling is very high. How to bring it down?’ Abjibhai said, ‘There is a solution.’ ‘Please tell quickly. I am starving!’ said Natha hastily.

Abjibhai instructed, ‘All of you form a circle and bend down. Rest of the children would stand on their back. I will climb on top and bring down the sling.’ All of them followed the instructions and Abjibhai brought down the sling. Then Abjibhai held the jaggery in his hands and closed his eyes.

Kanji was impatient, ‘What are you doing? Please, give me jaggery immediately.’ Abjibhai explained, ‘I have been offering jaggery to God. We should not eat anything without offering it to God.’

Abjibhai distributed jaggery which had been offered to God, to all his friends. Jadavji kept looking at the door. Kanji whispered, ‘Jadavji, keep eye on the door. Please inform us if someone comes back.’

Gangji said hungrily, ‘Abjibhai, it would be more satisfying if there is something to eat with jaggery.’

Abjibhai proposed, ‘Let us grind Bajra and prepare Kuler. All of them welcomed the idea cheerfully. Abjibhai provided Bajra to grind. Dhanji helped in grinding Bajra. Abjibhai prepared Kuler. Kesran requested, ‘Please give me more.’ Abjibhai informed, ‘All of you will get equal quantity. God does not like partiality.’ Abjibhai offered Kuler to all his friends with remembrance of God. Jadavji shouted, ‘All hide! Devba has returned.’ They were scared. They couldn’t decide which way to go. They ran here and there.

During this commotion, Devba entered the house. She noticed that the sling was brought down and the children were having jaggery. She lost her temper. Devba bent down to keep the container of butter milk on the ground. Gangji sneaked out saying,’Abjibhai, I am leaving.’ All the friends followed him. Kunvarji was about to fall down. Natha banged with Jadavji. They ran out of fright without looking back.

Abjibhai was laughing. Devba was enraged looking at Abjibhai. She scolded Abjibhai, ‘Why did you bring all your friends home?’ Abjibhai replied politely, ‘We all were feeling hungry and Maharaj was also feeling hungry.

Devba was irritated, ‘It seems you have finished all the jaggery. Let me check it up.’ She checked the sling and found that jaggery was untouched. She also checked the grinder and realized that it had been unused. Devba was surprised. Her anger vanished.

Abjibhai reminded her, ‘I am not an ordinary child who is mischievious. I have been offering Kuler to God. Why are you so upset with me?’ After witnessing the miracle, Devba realized that her son was an Anadimukta.

Difficult words:
Chase - To run after someone
Exhausted - Extremely tired
Sling - A rope or strip by which something is hung
Enraged - Extremely angry
To Vanish - To disappear completely

Points to ponder:
- Any object to wear or eat can not be used by a person without offering it to God.
- Abjibhai teaches us that we should have food after offering it to God. Food should be divided in equal quantities. Partiality should be avoided. Impartial behaviour pleases God.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Which game was being played by the friends?
2. Why did friends go to Abjibhai’s place?
3. How did they bring down the sling?
4. What did Abjibhai give everyone to eat?
5. Why did Devba’s anger vanish?

Fill in the blanks:
1. Gangji said, ‘I am also _____________.’
2. Abjibhai your ___________ would be at home she will not give _________ to so many children.
3. Abjibhai said, ‘____________ is not ready but there is jaggery kept in the ___________.’
4. I have been offering ____________ to God.

Who speaks the following statements?
1. We should not eat anything without offering it to God.
2. It seems you have finished all the jaggery.

Arrange in proper sequence:
1. Is mischievious child who an am I not ordinary.