Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-13
The field and the knower of the field
My speech will be incoherent, my ears will not hear distinctly and the condition of my body will be like that of an old baboon. Just as a scarecrow made of grass swings in the wind, so all my body will quiver in old age (566-570), the legs will totter and old age, destroying the beauty of youth, will make me dance like a marionette. The vents of excreta will be like leaky pots and my neighbours will pray to God for my early death. Seeing my plight, people will spit at me with disgust, my kinsmen will be tired of me and death will not come early. Women will call me a ghoul, children will faint at my sight and people will loathe me. Hearing my dry cough at night my neighbours will say ‘We do not know how long this old man is going to trouble us’ (571-575).” Being forewarned of the old age in youth itself, he will feel disgust for it and say to himself, If I spend my youth in physical pleasures, I will be left with nothing, with which to secure good in old age’. Therefore, he hears whatever is worth hearing, before he becomes deaf. He goes on pilgrimage so long as his body is under his full control. He sees whatever he wants to see, until his sight is intact. He commits to memory memorable sayings before his speech leaves him. He performs acts of charity before his hands are paralysed (576-580).
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