Prasang 9
A Cow Out of a Donkey
Jhaverchand Meghāni, a renowned and highly acclaimed scholar of Gujarati literature and a national poet, described Joban Pagi’s former life: ‘Killing a human with a knife, cutting him into pieces and throwing him into the fire was like roasting eggplants to Joban!’ Such was Joban’s fierce personality. At that time, Joban Pagi’s fear was widespread in Gujarat. It was said that Joban’s arrow could travel unhindered from Gujarat to Kolkata and Pune; that is, no thief or robber dared to harass anyone carrying it. Joban had twice robbed the treasury of the Gāekwād government, which had placed a 50,000 rupees bounty on his capture. Yet, no one would betray his whereabouts. Even powerful princely states trembled before him. Joban would steal over vast distances, even in broad daylight, and remain uncaught.
Once, Bhagwān Swaminarayan held a grand yagna in Dabhān, attracting thousands of devotees from across the land. The finest horses of the great darbārs were present, including Bhagwān Swaminarayan’s famed Rozo Ghodo. Joban, tempted by the horse’s reputation, thought, “If I had such a horse, I could travel long distances in a short time, and this would help me loot more in a short time!” That night, Joban carefully entered the stable under a dense banyan tree. As he attempted to untether the horse, he saw a globe of light. Looking up, he saw Bhagwān Swaminarayan adorned in golden clothes. His hand fell back, and Joban, hiding from Bhagwān’s sight, quietly slipped into the darkness.
A few days later, Joban walked into an assembly to meet Bhagwān Swaminarayan. He touched Shriji Maharaj’s feet, and with tears in his eyes, he slowly stood up and apologized to Shriji Maharaj in a trembling voice, ‘Maharaj! I came to steal your horse the past few nights, but I saw your divine form everywhere in the stable. Maharaj! I am a sinner; I did not recognize you. O Bhagwān! Please have mercy upon me and pardon my great sins.’ Hearing Joban’s heartfelt plea, Shriji Maharaj patted his back, consoled him, forgave him, gave him niyams, and told him to give up his evil deeds. Joban, who had terrorized Gujarat, became a devotee. He began a spiritual life, serving and worshipping Shri Hari. When Shriji Maharaj came to Gujarat, Joban and his brothers served as Shriji Maharaj’s bodyguards. Joban even donated his land for the construction of the Vartāl Mandir.
Once, Joban had to go to the village of Vaso for some work. Kashiyābhāi was sitting on a second-story balcony overlooking the street of his house. On seeing Joban, he thought to himself, “Once upon a time, on hearing Joban’s ‘roar’ (loud voice), all the doors and windows of Vaso would be immediately close. Even babies would stop crying out of fear. Today, that same Joban silently walks through the streets of Vaso, wearing a tilak and a chāndlo on his forehead, a kanthi around his neck and a mālā in his hand!”
Kashiyābhāi, who opposed Bhagwān Swaminarayan, was astonished by Joban’s transformation. Out of curiosity, he called Joban: “O Joban! What magic has Swaminarayan worked on you that you walk so firmly with this bold tilak on your forehead? Does Swaminarayan miraculously turn a donkey into a cow?” Joban replied firmly, “Kashiyābhāi! Do you still want to see a miracle? Isn’t it a miracle that you can talk to me like this? I was the chief of thieves. Swaminarayan made me a devotee. He gave me a kanthi around my neck and a mālā in my hand. Did he not transform me, a donkey, into a cow?” Hearing this answer, Kashiyābhāi immediately understood the glory of Bhagwān Swaminarayan.
Joban had developed a profound attachment for Shri Hari. When Shriji Maharaj left for Akshardham, Joban could not bear this sorrow and couldn’t find peace anywhere. “How and why am I still alive without Maharaj?” he kept lamenting. The sadgurus tried to console him. They asked him to take the ashes of Shriji Maharaj’s last rites daily. So, while eating, Joban started mixing these ashes into his meals daily. He would think of Shriji Maharaj and find solace, and only then would he eat food.
One day, Joban sat down to eat. Rotlā (millet bread) and buttermilk were served in a bowl. When Joban asked for the ashes, his wife hesitantly said, “The ashes are finished.” These words hit his ears, and Joban was shocked. “Huh?” His breath grew shallow, his eyes widened, and his body became lifeless! Joban went to Akshardham at that very moment! Such was Bhagwān Swaminarayan, who transformed a ferocious and ruthless robber like Joban into a great devotee!
