Shri Sai Satcharitra · Chapter 48

TL;DRChapter 48 begins with Hemadpant's most formal statement of the criteria distinguishing a Guru from a Sadguru.

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Editor’s note

Chapter 48 begins with Hemadpant's most formal statement of the criteria distinguishing a Guru from a Sadguru. The Sadguru is not the teacher of Vedanta who controls breath, brands Vishnu-Mudras, gives mantras with a chant-count but no guarantee of result. The Sadguru creates a distaste for worldly enjoyments and gives a taste of self-realization, having attained it himself; he is the abode of peace, neither restless nor ruffled, treating poor and rich, small and great alike; he serves the disciple rather than expecting service. The chapter then turns to two interlocking stories. Mr. Shevade, a fellow law-student of Mr. Sapatnekar at Akkalkot, is laughed at by peers for being unprepared — but says calmly "my Sai Baba is there; He has assured me I will pass." Mr. Sapatnekar jeers. Ten years later, in 1913, Sapatnekar loses his only son to a throat disease; pilgrimages to Pandharpur and Ganagapur fail to console; Vedanta does not help. Remembering Shevade's confidence he comes to Shirdi with his brother Panditrao — and is twice driven out by Baba: "Get away." A year later his wife dreams of a fakir at the Lakadsha-well neem-tree offering to fill her pitcher with pure water; at Shirdi she recognises Baba as the fakir of the dream. Baba narrates "his own" pains (Mrs. Sapatnekar's hidden suffering); her pains leave. Sapatnekar finally falls at Baba's feet alone in penance; Baba narrates "a bania's story" including the death of an only son — confirming his omniscience — and says to the shepherdess massaging his waist: "I will again bring that very child back in his wife's womb." At parting Baba accepts two rupees Dakshina (as Sapatnekar had silently planned), gives a coconut for the wife's oti, and the son Murlidhar is born within the year (followed by Bhaskar and Dinkar). For modern readers Chapter 48 is the canonical Satcharitra source for the formal definition of the Sadguru, for the principle that Baba's word holds across years and across initial rebuffs, and for one of the most-cited examples of childlessness reversed.

Chapter XLVIII — Signs of a Sadguru; Shevade's Confidence; the Sapatnekars and the Son

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/sai48.html

Sections

Preliminary — Signs of the Sadguru

Hemadpant's most explicit statement on what distinguishes the Sadguru:

Not a Sadguru: He who teaches Veda and Vedanta or the six Shastras; who controls breath, or brands his body with Mudras (metallic Vishnu-weapon marks), or gives pleasing discourses on Brahma; who gives mantras with a chant-count but does not assure result; who explains the Ultimate Principle beautifully but lacks self-realization himself.

A true Sadguru:

Creates a distaste for the enjoyments of this world and the next
Gives the disciple a taste of self-realization
Is well-versed in both theoretical and practical knowledge
Does not expect service or profit from disciples — wishes to serve them
Does not think himself great and the disciple small
Loves the disciple as a son, regards him as equal or as Brahma
Is the abode of peace; never restless, never ruffled
Has no pride of learning
Treats poor and rich, small and great as the same

Baba's Qualifications

Hemadpant gives Baba the qualifications: Baba hoarded nothing except perhaps chillim; he had no family, no friend, no home, no support; from age 18 his control of mind was perfect; he lived fearless in seclusion abiding in his Self. Seeing the pure attachment of his devotees he acted in their interests and was in this sense dependent on them. The experiences he gave in flesh are still given after Mahasamadhi to those who attach themselves to him.

The disciple's task: trim the heart-lamp of faith and devotion, burn wicks of love. Knowledge without love is dry; nobody wants such knowledge.

Mr. Shevade — the Confident Student

Mr. Sapatnekar of Akkalkot (Sholapur District) was studying for the law examination. A co-student Mr. Shevade appeared least prepared of all when peers compared notes. The students derided him. Shevade replied:

"Though I am not prepared, I am sure to pass — my Sai Baba is there to get me through. There lives in a Masjid in Shirdi (Ahmednagar District) a fakir. He is a great Sat-purusha. Unless there is a great store of merits on one's account, one can't see Him. I fully believe in Him; what He says will never be untrue. He has assured me I will pass next year, and I am confident I will get through the final examination also with His grace."

Sapatnekar laughed and jeered.

Sapatnekar — Ten Years Later (1913)

Sapatnekar passed his examination, settled at Akkalkot as a pleader. Ten years later — in 1913 — he lost his only son to a throat disease. He was broken.

He made pilgrimages to Pandharpur, Ganagapur, and other holy places — no peace. He read Vedanta — no help. He remembered Shevade's confidence and decided to go to Shirdi.

First Visit — Twice Driven Out

He went with his younger brother Panditrao. Seeing Baba from a distance pleased him. He approached, prostrated, placed a coconut. Baba immediately cried:

"Get away!"

Sapatnekar moved back, sat aside. He consulted Bala Shimpi for help. They bought Baba's photos and came again. Bala asked Baba whose photo it was. Baba (pointing to Sapatnekar): "This photo is the Yara (Lover) of him." Baba laughed; the company laughed.

Bala beckoned Sapatnekar to take darshan. As Sapatnekar began to prostrate, Baba again cried:

"Get out!"

They prayed with folded hands. Baba ordered Sapatnekar to clear out immediately. The brothers left Shirdi sad.

Mrs. Sapatnekar's Dream

A year passed. Sapatnekar's mind was still unsettled. He went to Ganagapur (more restless), to Madhegaon (rest), then decided on Kashi. Two days before starting, his wife had a vision:

"She was going with a pitcher to Lakadsha's well. A fakir with a piece of cloth round his head, sitting at the foot of the neem tree, came close to her and said: 'My dear lassie, why get exhausted for nothing? I get your pitcher filled with pure water.' She was afraid of the fakir and hastened back with the empty pitcher. The fakir followed her. She awoke."

She told her husband. They took it as an auspicious sign and went to Shirdi together.

Recognition and the Pain-Story

At the masjid Baba was at Lendi. They waited. When Baba returned, Mrs. Sapatnekar recognised the fakir of her dream as Baba himself. She prostrated humbly and sat looking at him.

Baba began to tell a story in his characteristic way to a third party:

"My arms, abdomen and waist are paining for a long time. I took many medicines, the pains did not abate. I got sick of the medicines as they gave me no relief. But I am surprised to see now that all the pains have disappeared at once."

No name was mentioned — but the pains Baba described were Mrs. Sapatnekar's own. They left her at once.

Sapatnekar's Penance — and the Bania's Story

Sapatnekar approached. Baba: "Get out!" once more. Sapatnekar — more penitent — resolved to confess his past mocking deeds. He saw Baba alone, placed his head on Baba's feet. Baba placed his hand on his head; Sapatnekar sat stroking Baba's leg.

A shepherdess came and sat massaging Baba's waist. Baba began to tell her a bania's story — vicissitudes through life, including the death of an only son. Sapatnekar realised: this was his own story. Baba knew every detail.

At that thought, Baba — addressing the shepherdess and pointing to Sapatnekar — said:

"This fellow blames Me and charges Me with killing his son. Do I kill people's children? Why does this fellow come to the Masjid and cry? Now I will do this — I will again bring that very child back in his wife's womb."

He placed his blessing hand on Sapatnekar's head:

"These feet are old and holy; you are care-free now. Place entire faith in Me and you will soon get your object."

Sapatnekar bathed Baba's feet with tears.

Daily Worship and "One Namaskar with Love"

Sapatnekar made preparations of worship and naivedya, came with his wife daily to the masjid, offered, accepted prasad. The masjid was crowded; Sapatnekar saluted Baba again and again. Baba:

"Oh, why do you prostrate yourself now and then? The one Namaskar offered with love and humility is enough."

That night Sapatnekar witnessed the Chavadi procession. Baba looked "like a veritable Pandurang (Vithal)."

The Two-Rupee Dakshina and the Coconut

At parting, Sapatnekar planned: if Baba asked Dakshina, he would pay one rupee first and one more if asked again — reserving travel expenses. At the masjid he offered one rupee. Baba asked for another (matching the silent plan). It was paid. Baba:

"Take the coconut, put it in your wife's oti (upper fold of her sari), and go away at ease without the least anxiety."

Murlidhar — and the Promise Kept

Within a year a son was born. The pair brought the 8-month-old infant to Baba's feet:

"Oh Sainath, we do not know how to redeem Your obligations… let Your holy feet be our sole refuge."

The son was named Murlidhar. Two others — Bhaskar and Dinkar — were born afterwards. The Sapatnekars realized: Baba's words were never untrue.

Verbatim Sai Baba quotes documented in this chapter

(At Sapatnekar's first prostration) "Get away!"
(Holding up the photo) "This photo is the Yara (Lover) of him."
(Second attempt) "Get out!"
(To the third party — Mrs. Sapatnekar's pains as his own) "My arms, abdomen and waist are paining for a long time. I took many medicines… But I am surprised to see now that all the pains have disappeared at once."
(To the shepherdess, pointing to Sapatnekar) "This fellow blames Me and charges Me with killing his son. Do I kill people's children? Why does this fellow come to the Masjid and cry? Now I will do this — I will again bring that very child back in his wife's womb."
(Blessing Sapatnekar) "These feet are old and holy; you are care-free now. Place entire faith in Me and you will soon get your object."
(On repeated prostrations) "Oh, why do you prostrate yourself now and then? The one Namaskar offered with love and humility is enough."
(Parting gift of the coconut) "Take the coconut, put it in your wife's oti, and go away at ease without the least anxiety."

Frequently asked about this chapter

What are the signs of a Sadguru according to the Satcharitra?

Chapter 48 gives the most formal list. Not a Sadguru: one who teaches Veda/Vedanta or the six Shastras, controls breath, brands Vishnu-Mudras, gives mantras with a count but no guarantee, explains Brahma without self-realization. A true Sadguru: creates distaste for worldly enjoyment; gives a taste of self-realization; has both theoretical and practical knowledge; does not expect service from disciples; loves the disciple as a son; is the abode of peace; treats poor and rich alike.

Who was Mr. Shevade and why is his confidence cited?

Mr. Shevade was a co-student of Mr. Sapatnekar at the Akkalkot law examinations. Though least prepared, he calmly told the deriding peers: "My Sai Baba is there to get me through; what He says will never be untrue." Sapatnekar jeered at the time. Ten years later, broken by the death of his only son, Sapatnekar remembered Shevade's confidence and came to Shirdi — making Shevade's confidence the seed of the Sapatnekar conversion.

Why did Baba twice drive Sapatnekar away with "Get out"?

Sapatnekar had mocked Baba ten years earlier when Shevade praised him; he had jeered at his friend's faith. Baba's "Get away" was not refusal but the precondition of penance. When Sapatnekar finally came alone, penitent, and placed his head on Baba's feet, the door opened and the bania's-story-and-promise followed.

What is Mrs. Sapatnekar's dream-vision?

Two days before her husband planned a pilgrimage to Kashi, she dreamed of going with a pitcher to Lakadsha's well; a fakir at the foot of the neem tree offered to fill her pitcher with pure water; she fled with the empty pitcher; the fakir followed her. At Shirdi she recognised Baba as the fakir. Baba then narrated "his own" pains — which were her own — and they left her at once.

How was the Sapatnekars' lost son returned?

Baba narrated a bania's-life story to the shepherdess including the death of an only son — pointing to Sapatnekar. Then: "This fellow blames Me… Do I kill people's children? Now I will do this — I will again bring that very child back in his wife's womb." Within a year a son was born; named **Murlidhar**. Two more sons followed: Bhaskar and Dinkar.

What is Baba's teaching on repeated prostrations?

When Sapatnekar, in gratitude, kept prostrating again and again at the crowded masjid, Baba said: "Oh, why do you prostrate yourself now and then? The one Namaskar offered with love and humility is enough." The Satcharitra's compact statement against ritualised excess in devotion.

What is the "two-rupee Dakshina" episode?

At parting, Sapatnekar silently planned to pay one rupee Dakshina and, if Baba asked again, one more — reserving travel money. At the masjid he offered one; Baba asked for another (matching the silent plan exactly). Baba then gave a coconut: "Put it in your wife's oti, and go away at ease without the least anxiety." The coconut, oti, and the son Murlidhar — the canonical Satcharitra link from inner intention to outer blessing.

Source: Shri Sai Satcharitra by Govind Raghunath Dabholkar (Hemadpant), 1929. English adaptation by N. V. Gunaji. Original chapter text: saibaba.org/satcharitra/sai48.html. This page is a factual summary with verbatim quotations from the source. We add no commentary attributed to Baba.

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Ch. 47 — Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa (Snake and Frog)

Ch. 49 — Hari Kanoba's Sandals; Somadeva Swami; Nana and Beauty