C h a p t e r 1 7 T h e S ä d h u
from the
F o u rt h D i m e n s i o n
few rare souls in this mortal world [tam aham iha golokam iti yaà, vidantas te santaù kñiti-virala-cäräù katipaye; (Çré Brahmasaàhitä, verse 5.56)]. Hence the sädhu is from the fourth dimension, but he takes on a body in this three-dimensional world so that he may attempt to free the deluded conditioned souls (us) from the fortress of mäyä (illusion).
Approach a Sādhu Not to See but to Hear Him There is the example of the meeting between King Rahügaëa and the great sage Jaòa Bharata. Out of ignorance, the King thought that he was the master of Jaòa Bharata, who was actually a self-realised soul. Thus, out of ignorance, the King verbally chastised him. After King Rahügaëa realised his mistake, he begged forgiveness from Jada Bharata: King Rahügaëa said: O brähmaëa, you appear to be moving in this world very much covered and unknown to others. Who are you? Are you a learned brähmaëa and saintly person? I see that you are wearing a sacred thread. Are you one of those exalted, liberated saints such as Dattätreya and other highly advanced, learned scholars? May I ask whose disciple you are? Where do you live? Why have you come to this place? Is your mission in coming here to do good for us? Please let me know who you are. “My dear sir, I am not at all afraid of the thunderbolt of King Indra, nor am I afraid of the serpentine, piercing trident of Lord Çiva. I do not care about the punishment of Yamaräja, the superintendent of death, nor am I afraid of fire, scorching sun, moon, wind, nor the weapons of Kuvera. Yet I am afraid of offending a brähmaëa. I am very much afraid of this.”10
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