A piece of sandalwood ground again and again gives such a good fragrance, which gives bliss. Sugarcane chewed repeatedly gives so much sweet juice. When gold is heated, it gives great brilliance.

Like that, no matter how many troubles, how many sorrows, how many pains, troubles or afflictions come as obstacles, to the one who has a broad heart, he remembers Paramatma (God viewed as the Universal) with Supreme Peace. No matter what happens, he will not give up Paramatma.

(Telugu poem)

If the bitter neem seed is sown, it will give only bitter fruits. When the seeds of sweet mango are sown, they will give only sweet fruits. The earth is one; seeds are different. In that same way, the womb of the mother is Bhudevi (earth-goddess). In this earth, in this womb, there are no changes at all. But, due to the thoughts of the mother and the father changing to good and bad, good and bad children are being born.

(Sanskrit Sloka)

Every single human being is fortunate. Still, in addition to being a human being who is fortunate, one should have broad feelings, wonderful sankalpas (intentions or resolves) and a heart of bliss. Then only he will really be fortunate.

Putalibai was observing a vow. She used to eat only after hearing the cuckoo sing. She used to always follow this vow of the cuckoo. One day the reason for the mother to eat so very late was that the cuckoo did not sing.

Due to the love in Gandhi, he thought, ‘Maybe Mother is hungry!’ He went behind the house and made a bird call just like the cuckoo sings. This was with the good intention that his mother must eat soon. However it may look, it was not done with a bad intention.

But Mother came to know. She caught hold of Gandhi’s ear. With tears flowing from her eyes, she asked, "Is the one who was born from my womb this untruthful son? I am an unfortunate lady! What sin have I done? One who speaks untruth was born in my womb!" Crying and telling that, she hit that boy a few times and told the son, "From now on, you don’t tell lies!"

That day he promised, "I will not speak untruth." From then on, only due to obeying Truth and the word of the mother, he got the right type of noble fame.

In this same way, Shankaracharaya’s mother, Aryamba, was daily worshipping Easwara. Doing Abhisheka (the practice of pouring water on the head of a statue) to the Lingam (the symbolic form of the Godhead) and giving that Tirtha (holy water) to the son, she also took it. In this way she spent her daily life. He was always repeating the name of Shiva. Only based on such a sacred heart of the mother, this Shankaracharya got his sacred repute.

In Gandhi’s house, there was a maidservant named Ramba. When Gandhi was a small boy, he came near her and said, "Mother! Why do I have fear? I have fear! I have fear!" Then that maidservant said, "Son! No need to feel fear. God is there. Repeat the name of Rama. Without fail, your fear will go away." Thus:

(Sanskrit Sloka)

Even this maidservant had that virtue which is proper for a mother. So, from that time onward, Gandhi contemplated on the name of Rama: ‘Ram, Ram, Ram, Ram.’ In this way, when the mother and her associates proceed on the sacred path, even the children will attain a sacred state.

When the Rangoon war was going on, one mother and son escaped from there. They came and arrived in Madras. They didn’t know anyone in Madras. They needed food to eat. They needed a place to stay. ‘Where to go? Where to stay?’ They thought a lot. ‘I am able to live. But will my son be able to remain?’ No one can describe the greatness of the love of the mother as 'like this or that'.

Hence, they started living near a bus stand. Always the mother went from house-to-house and got alms (begged for food). When a little food was procured, she used to eat some and give the rest to the child. In this way she fostered him. Sometimes when food couldn’t be procured anywhere, she gave what there was to the son and the mother used to fast.

Due to fasting in this way, due to missing many meals, the mother became very weak. The son recognized this situation. He said, "Mother! Up until now, you have protected me. From now on, looking after you is my duty! I will go for alms. You stay here at home."

This boy went from house-to-house and he used to shout, "Hunger, hunger, hunger!" Bringing and giving the food he was able to get to the mother, now he used to fast. He soon became weak.

One day he went to the house of an officer. As it was in the early morning, the officer was sitting in an easy chair, reading the newspaper. The boy was saying, "Hunger, hunger, hunger! Mother! Hunger."

Then this officer went inside telling, "Son, sit here. If you are hungry, I will give food. You eat and go." The boy said, "No, I will go and take it home." The officer got angry. He said, "Truly, if you have hunger, why should you take it home? You could eat here, isn’t it?"

He brought the rice on a leaf. The boy held out his cloth to take it away in the cloth. But the officer said, "Sit! Eat!" He insisted. However, that boy did not sit. This officer was hurrying him a lot.

Then that officer understood this. "How lucky was this child! He struggled so much because of love for his mother. What a meritorious one that mother must be! She gave birth to such a son." Saying this, he felt sad. Then he called the city authorities and had them take away the body.

Today all children are struggling only for their own selfishness and self-interests, but they are not struggling at all for the bliss of the mother and father, nor for the comforts and conveniences of the parents.

In this same way, in Calcutta there was a man named Easwara Chandra Daya Sagar (NOTE: His actual name was Easwara Chandra Vidya Sagar.) This Easwara Chandra Vidya Sagar was a greatly virtuous one.

When it was told like this, he went near to the bus stand, near some street lamp and he used to study. Studying and studying, due to the teachings of the mother, he progressed very well.

After studying for some time, he became educated and started a job. That day, after having started the job, in his village a tirunaala (festival or carnival) was going on. All the rich people were putting on nice clothes and nice jewels, and they were going to that festival. However, his mother wore an old sari. She also started off to the festivities. He knew the situation of the house. Therefore, Vidya Sagar saw his mother and he cried. All right, the mother went to the festivities.

Then gradually, after some time had passed, he reached a very high position. When Vidya Sagar started working in that high position, some more money (higher salary) came. He said, "Mother, whatever do you want? What jewels? What clothes? Tell me! Today I will give it to you!"

She made him sit closely and said, "Son, even though you are greatly educated, even though you are grown and have became a big man, you are still a son to the mother. So, I am telling you with Vatsalya (the love of a mother for the child). Listen to my words."

She said, "Our village is very small. In this village, it is not possible at all for the children to be educated. So, build a small school. Build that and then the children will study and they will be able to make some progress. I don’t need anything else. Son, you do this work."

According to the preference of the mother, he had a small school built. After some time, he went again to the mother and said, "Mother! I had a school built. Ask whatever else you want."

"Son, you had a school built. But in our village, even if cough, cold and fever come to small children, there is no one to even give them a little medicine. Have a small hospital built so the children will get well." Due to the command of the mother, he built a small hospital.

Afterwards she said, "Swami, in our village, if any small children get fever, it becomes necessary to go to Bukkapatnam. When those mothers go carrying the babies, my heart melts." So I built there a small hospital.

After all, now that small school only has become a university! (Applause) The combination of the two, the sat (good or true) sankalpas (resolves) of the mother and the Nithya (eternal) Sankalpa of Sai, has became the University. Due to that wish of her sat sankalpa, the small original hospital has now become the Super Speciality Hospital! (Applause)

Finally, before she left her life-breath, Easwaramma asked for one more desire to be fulfilled. She said, "All the ladies in our village are going to a lot of trouble for water, Swami. Unable to reach the water in deep wells, even their shoulder blades are hurting. Therefore, do something to make water conveniently available."

Thus, according to the situation then, borewells were put in here and there and she was made happy. At last, now water supply has come, supplied to the entire district. Now everyone has water, as water is coming house-to-house. (Applause)

You may know it or not, but now also the love of that mother can be actually seen. Although it is 30 years since her body was left, even now she is going about ever-alive in the (subtle) body. Now and then she comes to Me, tells Me some things, and then goes.

"Swami! You are taking all the kerchiefs (handkerchiefs) the people offer and are wiping Your mouth. When just anyone gives, don’t touch those kerchiefs." I said, "When they give with devotion, how will it be possible to accept without touching?"

"Needless to say, there are many devotees. There are so many crores of great ones like that. However, there are also a few who will offer kerchiefs having bad intentions, bad feelings, and bad qualities. Therefore, you don’t take everyone’s kerchief."

I said, "Why not?" She said, "They may be giving You that kerchief after smearing poison on it. If that even brushes against the lips, it’s enough. The life-breath will be taken away. Hence, things like this go on in the world. Therefore, you don’t take those kerchiefs." I said, "OK, I will act according to your wish."

Like that, she appears now and then. Even now she is coming to My room. The boys who sleep in My room also know. If she comes and is talking with Me, they will get up and sit.

One day I was asking the boys, "Sons, I have a silk Dhoti (the inner silken cloth part of Swami's gown). It is very difficult to wrap it tightly. Therefore I want a belt." All the boys, went to a lot of efforts thinking, ‘Swami wants the proper type of belt.’ However, there are buckles there on most belts. These buckles are a little bit shiny. If I wear this, if it is seen through the robe, people will think, ‘Sai Baba has put on a golden belt!’ (Laughter) Therefore I said to the boys, "I don’t need that kind of belt."

At last one day, in the early morning, Easwaramma came to My room. She came and was talking. Then Satyajit, Srinivas, and Sainath (personal attendants in Swami's quarters) all got up and sat. "Swami! It is not possible for anyone to come into the room at all!" They thought, ‘If one looks down there, one can see that we locked the lift (elevator)! Who has come? Who is He talking with?’ they thought. Then I said, "Gruha Ammayi (‘girl of the house’ - this is how Swami addressed His mother) came. See, she gave this to Me and left," and I showed the belt. There was nothing else except the belt (no buckle). Opening it, one clasp fits into the other.

Basing on this only, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went for the Darshan of Shiva. He went there and saw Lord Shiva. "Swami! You are the Lord of the world, I know. You are the Lord of the Universe, I know. You are the Sustainer of all living creatures. You have all powers. You are all knowing, I know.

"Yet I do not need anything. Gold, wealth, things and vehicles, I will not ask for anytime. I won't even desire devotion and Vairagya (non-attachment, detachment or sense-control) at all. I don’t even have any need of liberation or Vaikuntha. Just give me one thing: the Love to love You! There is no other better thing in the world other than Your Love. Just give me that one thing," he desired.

Due to desiring that Love, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went around the whole world propagating Love and returned. "Remember God! Contemplate on God. There is none other than God." Saying this, he spread many types of teachings.

His mother forced him a lot. She said, "Son, it is very difficult wandering around alone in this world at this age. Yet I have a sankalpa (resolve) for you to marry. The girl is a great devotee. She is very suitable for you. She comes from a very great family. Therefore, there is this girl named Lakshmi. Marry her."

He said, "I don’t want to. I have God. I offered myself to God." She insisted, "Son! What you have offered to God you may have mentally offered, but there is a physical aspect, isn't there? That may be in a spiritual sense, but this should be there for the physical aspect. You must do it." Then she brought Lakshmi and had them married.

Immediately after getting married, he started off on a pilgrimage. He went to spread the influence of Chaitanya (Divine Consciousness) throughout the world. He who left didn’t return even after many months. This Lakshmi was of a very sathwic (pure) nature. She had a pure heart with pure, unwavering selfless love. Remembering and contemplating on Chaitanya always, she left her life-breath.

After she died, Chaitanya returned. Then the mother took hold of his hands and said, "Son, due to my insistence, I had you married. However, I have lost the life of that girl. Such a virtuous one will not be found again." Saying that, she had him get married again. She got him married to a girl named Vishnupriya. He also got married to that girl and went to Bengal country for propagating Divine Consciousness.

A few jealous rowdies (troublemakers) took away those cymbals. Afterwards, then he tied a drum around his neck and went on singing bhajans. A few more rowdies came and broke apart that drum. He said, "Ah-ha! They feel that I am dependent upon these. The bondage to even these has broken. I have hands! I have hands! These are enough for me!" (Swami claps His hands in demonstration.) "Narayana! The hands that You have given me are safe. I don’t need the beating of this drum." Saying that, he went on doing his bhajans.

One day when there was the Old Mandir, a group all came in a big crowd. There was a small thatched hut where I stayed. Where there was this small thatched hut, these many people came. Easwaramma approached Me softly, "Swami! All of them, all very bad people, are coming! They may do some harm. I can't sleep!"

It was an old thatched hut. Nevertheless, I slept all alone inside. That night they set fire to the four sides of that hut. That whole hut turned only into big flames. Both Subbamma and Easwaramma saw it. They came running. By the time they arrived, there was no indication of rain at all anywhere. Only on that hut a heavy downpour of rain fell. (Applause) Due to the rain, there were no further flames at all. I came outside. "Swami! You are safe! That’s enough for us!"

As an ambassador, he went first and foremost to Dharmaraju. Even Dharmaja also said, "Swami! Where are You and where are those Kauravas? It is like the relationship between the Nakka (jackal) and the Naaga Loka (the serpent world, which is considered to be a higher world). You are going to compromise with them. I don’t want it."

Afterwards He went near to Arjuna and He said, "Arjuna! I am going to the Kauravas as an emissary. Do you like this?" However, Arjuna was one who had some Rajaguna (passion or desire), so he said, "Without fail, go! You get them to agree to this war and come."

He went near Bheema. Bheema also said, "It is not possible to avoid killing these evil people. Hence, they must be destroyed. Have them agree to war and come."

He went near Draupadi. The heart of women is always very tender and sacred. Then she said, "Krishna! If war is agreed to, if all my relatives die, how much suffering will I have! When their relatives also go, they will also suffer as much, isn’t it? How much those parents will suffer! Therefore, I don’t want this war at all. No one at all should experience the tragedy of the war."

He went near Nakula and Sahadeva. They closed their mouths and didn’t say anything at all. Then, He went to Hastinapura. There he conversed with that blind king. Then He came back, saying they did not accept.

At that time, both Nakula and Sahadeva were young. They both went and embraced Krishna tightly, "Krishna! You asked us to say what we desired. This only is what we wanted: Your coming back safely after going near those evil people! That is enough for us. Your welfare is our welfare. If you are well, that is everything for us. Therefore, now You don’t need to go near them again.

Then Arjuna said (in anticipation of the war),

(Telugu poem)

The son of Dronacharya came in the middle of the night and cut the throats of all the sons of Draupadi and left. Arjuna said, "I will get hold of him and come. In front of you I will cut his throat. Rub that blood on your head and take head-bath with it. Then this fault (of killing him) will go."

Bearing his sword, Arjuna brought Ashwaththama. Then he sent for Draupadi. Then what did Draupadi do? She went running and fell on the feet of Ashwaththama! Will anyone, seeing the wicked one who cut the throats of her own sons, simply let him go? However, she fell on the feet of Ashwaththama and she was praying:

(Telugu poem)

These children are the children of those disciples!

(Telugu poem)

She caught hold of his feet.

(Telugu poem)

She kept pleading to him. Will any woman do like that? When he cut the throats of six children, will any lady be able to bear it? No. She said, "Today my children have died. I am crying for my children. If my husband killed you, how much will your mother cry! Therefore, those tears of the (your) mother should not be seen. So Arjuna, you give up the idea of killing him."

What did Arjuna say? He said, "I have made a resolve. If I do not fulfil that vow, all of my fame will be reduced. Therefore he has to be killed." Then she said, "It is not good at all to kill a Brahman like this. Not only a Brahman, but also anybody. It is even a bigger sin to kill the son of the Guru. So, I won't accept it." Saying that, Draupadi stood as obstacle in the way in front of Ashwaththama.

Bheema came. He was saying,

(Telugu poem)

Then she said, "If your promise is to be upheld, you maintain the proper composure and forgive him. To forgive is very good. Forgive him! Forgive him!"

(Sanskrit Sloka)

(Kshama means forgiveness or the virtue of forbearance.) Pandavas though they had so much great courage, bravery and valor, but even when they were there (in this situation), the sweetness of Karuna (compassion, mercy, or kindness) that was in Draupadi could not be seen in them at all.

In our ancient culture, no matter how much time has passed, it has continuously gone on like that in the country of Bharath ('the Land of those who have attachment to the Lord'). However, due to the influence of Kali Age, now that Love has also been destroyed even in those women.

But there are still great women. There are mothers who are Pathi Vrathas (chaste, noble wives). There are mothers who maintain the Chathur Dharma (the four goals of life: Dharma, Artha, Kaama, and Moksha). So, there is no lack of such mothers. Due to their kshema (preserving that tradition which has already existed; steadfastness in virtue), Bharath has been able to stand at least this much.

Subhadra's son was going to the war. However, then Subhadra went to him and she was blessing saying, "Son, you are going to war even though I say I don’t want it. Still you should gain victory and return. That only is everything for me. I don’t need anything else. Your father went to the war. Your Uncle, Krishna, went there to help him. There is no one in the house except Dharmaja. So, you are going, but don't accept to fight at any rate. Just go and come."

(Telugu poem)

Subhadra blessed and sent him. All the women of those days were such great ones.

One time Parvathi and Easwara were going on a journey to protect the world. One individual was sitting on a tree. He went to the very top of that tree. In a few minutes, he would fall and die from there. Parvathi saw this. She said, "Lord! Protect him, protect him, protect him!" Shankara was just making jokes there. He said, "You are the one who is seeing him. You only know that he will reach the place of death. You only protect him. Why Me?"

It is said:

(Telugu poem)

The Divine Mother has a lot of heart. Then she said, "Easwara! When he falls, if he says ‘Amma! (Mother!)’, then I will go and protect him. If he calls ‘Appa! (Father!)’, You go and protect. I am Amma and You are Appa. Therefore, when he says ‘Amma’, I will go and protect. If he says ‘Appa’, You go and protect him."

OK, they agreed. Both waited to see whom he would call on. It was his karma (bad fate) that he did not worship mother or father on any day in his life. So ‘Amma’ didn’t come from his mouth nor did ‘Appa’ come. Saying ‘Ayyo!’ (Oh!), he fell down. (Laughter) Then who will protect him?

***************************

Now, within a few minutes, good devotees who have been devoted for so many years (forty) will perform. You know P. Sushila and her daughter-in-law. When Sushila didn’t have her own children, I gave her a son. I only did the marriage of that son. The daughter-in-law who came to that son is a singer also. Therefore, all of them came today. They will sing a few songs to give joy to everyone. Listen with bliss. Afterwards, in the Kalyan Mandapam (marriage hall), there will also be a children’s Bal Vikas drama.

Do you know why these activities are arranged? Man’s mind is only very unsteady. It is like a mad monkey. To control this monkey mind, these discussions, this singing, these types of sacred prayers are very necessary. So, only don’t follow this mind.

(Applause)

That is important. Therefore all of you be a little patient, spend the time joyfully, be happy, and remember it now and then.