Page 205 - Kailaspati: Paramhans Hansdevji Avadhoot

Manomukh can hardly prove to be a stumbling block. Good deeds done in previous lives prove to be all the more strong. and this tale tells all about how noble deeds, done in past lives, stand in good stead of a fortunate one.
Baba said, God grants grace in equal proportion to the prayer made by his ardent devotee. Once upon a time, a prince and three of his friends decided to renounce life and lead the life of a sage. Each of them chalked out as to why he had decided to opt for the life of a sage after a mutual discussion with the other. The first young man said, “What prompts me to opt for this is that the ascetic life will give me a lot of happiness. i can have dainty dishes for me”. The second one desired to have rich clothes. The third one said that he would be visited by many a devotee of his. But the prince looked for nothing. he had everything at his disposal, except satisfaction. he said that he only wanted to attain eternal bliss—something that made many to renounce life. he added, “i want to realize nothing but divine bliss i.e. “God”.
Thus decided, four of them approached a Yogi. The Yogi said to them, “What do you all want to achieve?” The young men expressed their desires. The Yogi got the very first one entrusted with the duty of looking after the store-house and to taste every dish to be prepared to his satiety. To the second one, the Yogi said, “You will be at liberty to choose any new cloth from among the clothes to be offered to me.” he then said to the third one, “Whoever would be coming to pay a visit to me would have to be accompanied by you.” as for the Prince, the seeker of truth, the Yogi allowed him to stay with him and began teaching him the lessons of worship and meditation.
Time went on at its sweet will. The Yogi, having decided to be on an outing, told four of his disciples, “i will be out for a pretty long period of time. i am giving you a seed of a particular tree. Do sow it in the garden of the ashram and on germination of that seed, rear it with all care and love. in course of time it would bring forth four fruits. all of you must keep watch of the tree regularly and alternatively. and the one under whose supervision a fruit of that tree would fall down would be entitled to have it for himself.
Fhftd Volum: Third TiTanTd 175