Page 37 - Kailaspati: Paramhans Hansdevji Avadhoot

ashrama, we saw him reading a book, probably it was ‘Panchadashi’. he welcomed us to have our seat. as we were busy listening to him, we suddenly saw the sky overcast with clouds. it began to pour in torrents, the whole of the hilly region became invisible and darkness descended both on heaven and earth. We were afraid and were impatient to return home. as it stopped raining, we left for home but not unprotected. Baba had but one umbrella and a lantern which he gave us to help us go home. We didn’t want to have the lantern as it would leave him in complete darkness. But when he repetitively told us that he was used to living in darkness, we hesitated to have the lantern with us. Within a short distance, we saw our men coming to accompany us home, we returned both the umbrella and the lantern to him.
Baba told us that he was used to living in darkness. and it reminded me of what shri shri Gouranga had said:
हृदाकाशे सचदेिन्धो मुदा भातत नििन्िम्। उदयास्ं ि पश्ासम कथं सन्धा बह्ुपास्यते॥
hṛdākāśe cidenando mudā bhāti nirantaram, udayāstaṃ na paśyāmi kathaṃ sandhyā bahyupāsyate.
Those whose hearts are always ablaze, they need no light.
Once again we went to the Kailash. That day Baba narrated to us a story about a King, who was both pious and without any ego or vanity. Once he desired to arrange a yagna and on that occasion he invited a good many people. When all the guests turned up and had their respective seats, the King heard that a sage who had been living near his capital had not been invited to attend that yagna. Before long, he sent his minister to accompany the sage to join that holy occasion. But the sage did not oblige the minister. On being pestered, the sage said, “if the King consents to offer the outcome of the yagna, then i can accept the invitation.” On return, the minister told the King all about it. The King said, “Why didn’t you agree to the proposal? i’m not desirous of the outcome of the yagna.” saying these words, the king himself hastened to invite the sage. On reaching the sage, as the King offered his obeisance
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