The Secret Behind the Miracle: Why Baba Called a Pious Man a 'Thief'
The Leela
In the village of Narayangao, Junnar, lived Bhimaji Patil, a prosperous and pious man described as 'Bhimaji gharcha sukhsampana'. He was known for his generous nature, always offering food to guests with a cheerful disposition. However, fate dealt him a cruel hand in the form of Tuberculosis. He began vomiting blood, and despite his wealth and access to doctors, his condition worsened until he was on the verge of death.
As a last resort, upon the advice of Nanasaheb Chandorkar, Bhimaji was brought to Shirdi. He was so frail that four men had to lift him out of the bullock cart like a corpse and place him before the sacred Dhuni. Yet, upon seeing this dying man, Sai Baba did not offer immediate comfort. Instead, He turned to Shama and uttered a shocking remark:
"How many such thieves will you bring to my feet?"
Despite this harsh greeting, Baba’s heart eventually melted. He ordered Bhimaji to stay in the cowshed, declaring that the environment itself would be his medicine. There, Bhimaji experienced two vivid dreams. In the first, he was a student being beaten severely by a teacher for failing to recite a poem. In the second, he felt the excruciating pain of a stone roller being crushed against his chest. Through these two painful dreams, the vomiting of blood ceased, and life energy returned to him, curing a disease that was considered incurable in those times.
? The Conflict / Doubt
Why did Sai Baba address a suffering, pious devotee as a 'thief'?
Bhimaji Patil was respected for his charity and good nature. It seems contradictory and harsh for a Sadguru to label a dying man—who has come for refuge—as a criminal. Furthermore, why was it necessary for the cure to be administered through such violent and painful dreams rather than a simple blessing?
The Revelation
A true Sadguru does not merely remove the physical ailment; He removes the karma and ignorance that caused it.
- ** The Diagnosis of Karma**: Baba's label of "thief" was not an insult, but a diagnosis. The transcript reveals that the term referred to a "Skin Thief"—someone who has harbored lust or committed adultery (attraction to another's spouse) in this life or a past one.
- The Significance of the Dream Poem: In the dream, Bhimaji was beaten for failing to recite a specific poem about a Sati (a chaste woman).
- The poem (Verse 166) describes a woman who is devoted entirely to her husband and speaks as sparingly as a miser parts with money.
- Bhimaji's inability to recite this poem signified his flaw: a lack of chastity or fidelity in his spiritual record.
- Maya and Disease: Baba explains that Maya (often manifesting as Kamini or lust) is difficult to cross. This specific vice was the root cause of Bhimaji's severe tuberculosis.
- The Role of the Sadguru: If a Master cures a disease without making the disciple realize the sin or cause behind it, it is merely magic, not grace. By inflicting the pain in the dream (the beating and the roller), Baba was:
- Making Bhimaji pay his karmic debt.
- Making him realize his error regarding lust.
- Granting him a permanent cure and spiritual cleansing.
"If only miracle is everything... we will call such people magicians and not Sadguru. But Baba is a Sadguru."
Scriptural References
📖 Sai Satcharitra Chapter 13 (Verses 4, 31, 166)
Watch the Discourse
In the village of Narayangao, Junnar, lived Bhimaji Patil, a prosperous and pious man described as 'Bhimaji gharcha sukhsampana'. He was known for his generous nature, always offering food to guests w...
Leela Narration
In the village of Narayangao, Junnar, lived Bhimaji Patil, a prosperous and pious man described as 'Bhimaji gharcha sukhsampana'. He was known for his generous nature, always offering food to guests w...