Page 115 - Kailaspati: Paramhans Hansdevji Avadhoot

busy collecting the ornaments, she attacked the first dacoit and took away his sword. The dacoit was then unprepared and before he could realise anything, he was beheaded. after having killed the first dacoit, the lady was quick enough to attack the second one. The second one, before he could retaliate, was also beheaded. she then looked at the driver and said, “Now it is your turn.”
Frightened, the driver said, “i have made no mistake.” The lady said, “You are the king-pin. You played a trick with me and called in these two dacoits. so i will not forgive you.” as the driver was about to flee, the lady intercepted his way. Even though he was without arms, she did not hesitate to kill him. as he fell dead, she collected all her ornaments. she then pulled the cart on to the road. she did not forget to take the blood-stained sword with her. she herself became the driver and made it go onward. On the way she came to know about the direction to the barrack from the pedestrians and finally reached there. Thereafter she wanted to meet the Colonel, the head of the barrack. she had not yet got down from the cart, nor even met her husband. soon after the Colonel came to her. she then alighted from the carriage, greeted the Colonel and told him all about what had happened and placed the blood-spattered sword at his feet. The Colonel was exceedingly glad on hearing this. On learning about her courage and cleverness, the Colonel said to her, “For whatever you have done to keep up your prestige, take both the swords and the carriage by way of reward. i promise to take special care of your dear husband.” That the Colonel had taken special care of her husband came to be known when her husband was promoted to a higher rank.
On telling the tale, Baba said, if one gets afraid in time of crisis, the ferocity of danger increases, rather than decreases. he then said, “Bhakti, Shraddha (Devotion, Reverence), boldness, stamina and joy are very much there in one’s heart. Where to get them from, if not from within the heart? Once you rouse and raise them, they will grow from more to more.”
Third Volum: Eighth Taranga 93