|| Shri Swami Samarth ||
Once, Maharaj was asleep on a mattress and on seeing this, Puranik, who was a relative of Sabnis, remarked, "Why does a Sannyasi need a mattress?" Maharaj did not reply to Puranik's taunt at that time.
A month later Maharaj went to Kadab village accompanied by Puranik. In the evening, Maharaj began climbing the hill that was near Kadab. As it was getting darker, Puranik requested Maharaj to return back to the village to which Maharaj replied, "Yes, Yes", and continued to climb up.
It was pitch dark and shivering cold when they reached the top. They had neither food nor blankets with them. Puranik was shivering, both with fear and because of the cold. Maharaj comfortably laid down on a large rock.
Puranik was fully clothed but it wasn't enough to keep the cold out. He repeatedly pleaded with Samarth, "Maharaj! It is very cold. What should we do?"
Finally, Maharaj replied, "How do you like the soft mattress!?"
Puranik remembered his taunt from a month ago and felt remorse for what he had said. With complete devotion and surrender, he prayed to Samarth for forgiveness. He had realized that Maharaj did not differentiate between a stone and a soft mattress.
They spent the night on the hill and when they came down the next morning, Puranik narrated how he had been taught a lesson. He was now a devotee of Shri Swami Samarth.
Over a period of time, the opulence that accompanied Maharaj grew with horses, palanquins, cows, and an ever-growing number of devotees always around Him. It did not matter if He was in a field, in a fruit orchard, or a crematorium.
|| Shri Swami Samarth ||
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