Introduction: This chapter highlights the central message of the sacred text *Shri Guru Charitra*: Devotion to the Guru is the highest spiritual path. God can be realised only through the medium of a true Guru.
Every story in Guru Charitra offers a spiritual teaching. The message is simple:
* Hold the Guru in your heart * Pray sincerely to meet a true Guru * Serve the Guru with devotion
Lord Dattatreya says:
“The greatness of the Guru is beyond description. Even Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva have taken human forms to reveal this Guru principle.”
When Shri Nrusimha Saraswati lived in Ganagapur, countless miracles occurred:
* The poor became prosperous * Childless couples received children * The sick were healed * Blind regained sight * The deaf heard again
Such blessings flowed simply through the darshan and grace of the Guru.
In Mahur lived a wealthy Brahmin named Gopinath. After great devotion to Lord Dattatreya, he received a son whom he lovingly named Datt.
The boy married at age twelve and lived happily with his devoted wife. At sixteen he fell gravely ill. His wife loved him so deeply that she even consumed the medicines given to him, believing husband and wife were truly one soul.
Despite riches, rituals, medicines, and efforts, his illness worsened and turned into tuberculosis.
The parents cried out:
“O Dattatreya! This is our only son given by your grace. If he dies, we will not live either.”
The son told his wife:
“Your destiny allowed only a little time with me. Because of me, you now suffer too.”
Hearing this, she fainted. Regaining consciousness, she said:
“Wherever you go, I will come with you. We are not separate.”
She begged the family:
“Send us to Ganagapur. Shri Nrusimha Saraswati resides there. His darshan can cure any illness.”
The family agreed, gave blessings, and the couple began their journey.
By the time she reached Ganagapur, her husband died from travel exhaustion.
She asked people where the Guru was. They said he had gone to the holy confluence.
Realising her husband had died just before Guru’s darshan, she cried:
“O Lord! A cow reaches the gate and still gets beaten? We came to you for protection — why this cruelty? How will I face his parents? I have caused three deaths: his… his parents’… and my own.”
Her grief poured out in helpless tears.
A sadhu covered in sacred ash, holding a trident and wearing rudraksha beads, appeared beside her.
He said:
“Why do you cry? Whatever is written in destiny must occur. Birth and death follow karmic law. All bodies made of the five elements are temporary. Do not drown in sorrow. Think instead of your own spiritual upliftment.”
Thus ends the portion narrated in Chapter 30 — and the story continues in the next section of the scripture.