18/04/2021
Marathi classic of Meher Baba literature, "Nave Manache Shloks" (नवे मनाचे श्लोक), now published in Hindi translation
On the occasion of the Hindu New Year, 13th April 2021, the Hindi translation of the 81 "Nave Manache Shloks" (Verses), originally written in Marathi by Dr. A.N. Deshpande in 1968, is released. This work was dedicated to Meher Baba and was highly praised and blessed by him. The Hindi translation is done by Niket Kale.
The PDF of the Hindi translation by Niket Kale can be downloaded free at
https://tinyurl.com/nave-manache-hindi
The PDF contains both the original Marathi Shlokas and the translation into Hindi verse, as well as some information about Dr. Deshpande.
The 81 verses by Dr. A.N. Deshpande are based on the poetic model of the “Manache Shloks” by Samarth Shri Ramdas Swami (1606-1682), a Marathi poet-saint who was the Guru of King Shivaji. The verses in the form of shlokas (śloka), a Sanskrit poetic form, are a “Dialogue with One’s Own Mind.” The seer-poet addresses the mind of a seeker and alerts him with spiritual advice to remain constant on the Path. “Mana” is translated here as “own mind,” which is Chanchal or unstable and needs advice and directions to attain oneness with God.
Dr. A.N. Deshpande, an eminent scholar and philosopher, wrote his 81 verses on Meher Baba's life and philosophy. These became known as "New Manache Shlok." Dr. Deshpande sent the verses in 1968 to Meher Baba, who highly appreciated them, instructing Nana Kher (a relative of Dr. Deshpande) and Bal Natu to recite them daily:
“Baba continued his [seclusion] work for five weeks — from 21 May to 27 June 1968 — working half an hour daily. For more than a month, during the latter days of Baba’s stay in Guruprasad, he would call Bal Natu and Nana Kher to his room for half an hour at about 7:00 P.M. every evening to listen to them recite the Marathi poems of Professor A.N. Deshpande, head of the Department of Marathi at Nagpur University. Nana Kher had told Deshpande a year or so earlier about Baba, and although Deshpande had not met Baba, he was extremely drawn to him after reading Baba’s books. Deshpande had corresponded with Baba and had sent him a copy of his poetry booklet Nave Manache (New Mind) Shlok (Shlokas for a Modern Age), which Baba was now having read to him. The work contained many references to Meher Baba.” (LORD MEHER: p. 5336)
There is a story about an incident that occurred when Dr. Deshpande wrote couplet 76:
मना, मौन भंगेल, होईल क्रांती
थरारेल सृष्टी, अणू स्तब्ध होती
नवे तेज जन्मेल कांती नवीन
नव्या मानवाला नवे प्राप्त ज्ञान ।। ७६
"When the Silence breaks, there will be Upheaval
There will be tremors [in the world], and atoms will stand still.
A new Radiance will appear, and new light be born
And the New Humanity will receive new Gyaan [Knowledge]."
While he was writing the couplet and the words about tremors, Dr. Deshpande actually began to feel as if the earth was shaking, so he stopped writing and came out to see and ask others, but everyone said they did not feel a thing.
Until now, this wonderful poetic treasure, "Nave Manache Shloks," was available only in the Marathi language and script since 1968, and was thus lesser known to Baba-lovers of other regions. Someone has said that they have been turned into a "Mantra" because of Baba’s attentively listening to their recitation for many days.
The original Marathi text that was read out to Baba is recited in the following YouTube video:
Nave Manache Shlok by Dr. AN Deshpande, recited by Dr. Meera Kale (1 to 20, part one):
https://youtu.be/VBWYWvB6wGg
About the Translator, Niket Kale:
The Hindi translation author, Niket Kale, is the grandson of Meher Baba's early Mandali member Kalemama and the son of Baba’s Mandali and New Life companion Dr. Murli Kale. As the only child of one of Baba's Mandali, he had the privilege and fortune of close contact, correspondence, and darshan of Meher Baba since his childhood. As a writer, poet and translator, he has fluently worked in English, Hindi and Marathi. He is married to the daughter of Meher Baba's close disciple Pankhraj, Dr. Meera Kale, a noted musician and (Rt) Associate Professor of Indian Classical Music.
