Shri Sai Satcharitra · Chapter 14

TL;DRChapter 14 is the canonical Satcharitra teaching on Dakshina — the small monetary offering Baba asked of devotees.

Listen to this chapter

4:12 · 1.4 MB

0:00

Editor’s note

Chapter 14 is the canonical Satcharitra teaching on Dakshina — the small monetary offering Baba asked of devotees. Hemadpant frames the chapter with the strange episode of Ruttonji Wadia of Nanded, in which Baba's request "I have already received Rs. 3-14-0 from you; pay the balance only" turns out, on Das Ganu's investigation, to match exactly the sum Ruttonji had spent receiving the Muslim coolie-saint Moulisaheb at home — establishing the principle that Baba identifies himself with other true fakirs across distance. The chapter then turns to Hemadpant's "Dakshina-Mimansa" — a theological reading of the practice via the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad's three "Da" (Dama, Dana, Daya) — and two cases (Prof. Narke, Mrs. Tarkhad) where the requested amount was symbolic of inner surrender. B. V. Deo's postscript article is included as authoritative supplement: Baba never got angry at refusals, distributed every day's collection the same day, and held only a koupin, kafni, and tumrel as personal property at his Mahasamadhi. For modern readers Chapter 14 is the definitive source on why Baba asked for money and what the practice meant.

Chapter XIV — Ruttonji Wadia of Nanded; Saint Moulisaheb; Dakshina Mimansa

Source: Shri Sai Satcharitra, trans. Gunaji
Marathi original: Sai Satcharita (archive.org scan) · Devotee testimonies: Narasimha Swami 1936 (Internet Archive) · Full bibliography: /sources.html

URL: https://www.saibaba.org/satcharitra/sai14.html

Sections

Ruttonji Wadia of Nanded — Childlessness Granted

Ruttonji Shapurji Wadia of Nanded (Nizam State) was a wealthy Parsi mill-contractor with property and servants but no children. After many years of brooding he opened his heart to Das Ganu Maharaj, who advised him to go to Shirdi. He came, prostrated, placed a garland on Baba's neck, and offered fruit.

Baba asked for Dakshina of Rs. 5. Ruttonji intended to give that amount but Baba added:

"I have already received Rs. 3-14-0 from you; pay the balance only."

Ruttonji was puzzled — it was his first visit. He paid the balance, prayed for a son, and received Baba's blessing with udi.

Back at Nanded, he told Das Ganu about Baba's strange remark. Das Ganu pondered. He realised that Ruttonji had recently received the Muslim coolie-saint Moulisaheb in his house and spent a small sum entertaining him. The yadi (memo of expenses) of that reception was found to be exactly Rs. 3-14-0 — neither more nor less. Baba had identified himself with Moulisaheb across distance.

In due time Ruttonji was blessed with children. He had twelve issues in all, of whom four survived.

(Footnote: Baba similarly told Rao Bahadur Hari Vinayak Sathe, after the death of his first wife, that he should remarry and that he would get a son. After two daughters his third issue was a son.)

Dakshina — Mimansa (Why Baba Asked for It)

For a long time Baba did not accept anything; he stored burnt matches and filled his pocket with them. If someone placed a pice before him he pocketed it; a two-pice coin he returned. As his fame spread he began asking for Dakshina.

Hemadpant explains the principle: the Brihadaranyak Upanishad teaches the syllable "Da" in three directions — for the gods, Dama (self-control); for men, Dana (charity); for the demons, Daya (compassion). For men the prescribed practice is charity.

Two notable instances where Baba did not want money:

Prof. G. G. Narke. Baba asked Rs. 15 as Dakshina. Narke had no money. Baba said:

> "I know you have no money; but you are reading Yoga-Vashistha. Give Me Dakshina from that."

(Meaning: derive lessons from the book and lodge them in the heart where Baba resides.)

Mrs. R. A. Tarkhad. Baba asked Rs. 6. She felt pained, having nothing. Her husband explained: Baba wanted the six inner enemies (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, envy) surrendered. Baba agreed with the interpretation.

Hemadpant notes: though Baba collected thousands of rupees over a decade, he distributed every day's collection the same day and had only a few rupees in his possession when he took Mahasamadhi.

B. V. Deo's Article (postscript)

A summary of B. V. Deo's article in Sai Leela Vol. VII, pp. 6–26:

Baba did not ask Dakshina from all. From some he asked small amounts, from others large; from women, from children, from a few rich and a few poor.
He never got angry with those who refused; if money was offered against his wish he refused to touch it.
Baba sometimes returned part of the amount, asking the donor to "guard it" or keep it in their shrine — a procedure that benefited the donor.
Out of all that was collected, Baba spent very little on himself: chilim and fuel for the Dhuni. Nearly everything went out as charity that same evening.
Baba told Nanasaheb Chandorkar that all his property consisted of one koupin, one stray cloth, one kafni, and a tumrel; he objected to costly gifts.

"Woman and wealth are the two main obstacles in the way of our Pramartha (spiritual life)."

In Shirdi, Baba's two institutions were Dakshina and Radha-Krishna Mai's house ("the school") — the two tests for attachment.

Verbatim Sai Baba quotes documented in this chapter

(To Ruttonji Wadia) "I have already received Rs. 3-14-0 from you; pay the balance only."
(To Prof. G. G. Narke) "I know you have no money; but you are reading Yoga-Vashistha. Give Me Dakshina from that."
(Continuous teaching) "Woman and wealth are the two main obstacles in the way of our Pramartha."

Frequently asked about this chapter

Why did Sai Baba ask for Dakshina?

Hemadpant offers the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad teaching of the syllable **"Da"** in three directions — for the gods *Dama* (self-control), for men *Dana* (charity), for the demons *Daya* (compassion). For men the prescribed practice is charity. Baba's request for Dakshina was the practical enactment of this Upanishadic injunction; the giver, not the recipient, was the beneficiary.

How was Ruttonji Wadia given a son?

Ruttonji Shapurji Wadia of Nanded was a wealthy Parsi mill-contractor with no children. On Das Ganu's advice he came to Shirdi. Baba asked Rs. 5 Dakshina but said: "I have already received Rs. 3-14-0 from you; pay the balance only." Back at Nanded, Das Ganu discovered the yadi (memo) of Ruttonji's recent reception of the Muslim saint Moulisaheb came to **exactly Rs. 3-14-0**. Ruttonji was later blessed with twelve issues, four of whom survived.

Did Baba always ask money?

No. From Prof. G. G. Narke Baba asked Rs. 15 but, knowing he had nothing, said: "I know you have no money; but you are reading Yoga-Vashistha. Give Me Dakshina from that." From Mrs. R. A. Tarkhad he asked Rs. 6 — interpreted as the six inner enemies (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, envy) surrendered. Baba agreed with this interpretation.

What did Baba do with the Dakshina money?

B. V. Deo's article in Sai Leela (cited in this chapter) confirms Baba distributed every day's collection the same day, spending almost nothing on himself except chilim and fuel for the Dhuni. At his Mahasamadhi only a koupin, one stray cloth, one kafni, and a tumrel were his entire possessions.

What was Baba's view on wealth and women?

A continuous teaching recorded in this chapter: "Woman and wealth are the two main obstacles in the way of our Pramartha (spiritual life)." In Shirdi Baba's two institutional "tests for attachment" were Dakshina (the money test) and the house of Radha-Krishna Mai ("the school").

Source: Shri Sai Satcharitra by Govind Raghunath Dabholkar (Hemadpant), 1929. English adaptation by N. V. Gunaji. Original chapter text: saibaba.org/satcharitra/sai14.html. This page is a factual summary with verbatim quotations from the source. We add no commentary attributed to Baba.

← Previous

Ch. 13 — Cures of Diseases

Ch. 15 — Cholkar's Sugarless Tea; Two Lizards