Practicing hypocrisy and superstition, people have grown weary of the effort, but
still, deep within their hearts, they yearn for Maya, Maya. By the Grace of the Holy Person, I have met with the Lord, the Primal Being, and
the darkness of ignorance is dispelled. ||3|| (Page 1178)
Many villagers started paying their respects to the young Sant Baba Basant Singh Ji Maharaj on observing him in deep penance. The villagers felt peace on seeing him in such a state. But there were also those who became jealous of his increasing popularity.
One individual planned to trap Sant Baba ji and he wanted to project the saint as a fraud. This man one day plucked watermelons from nearby fields and came to the abode of Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji was not present there and was away to the jungle. He placed the watermelons near the seat of Sant Baba ji.
As he was about to leave the place, Sant Baba ji reached there and on seeing this person asked politely, “What are you doing here?”
This man replied, “I had come for your DARSHAN.”
Sant Baba ji noticed the slight hesitation in his voice. His gestures also were observed to be artificial. Sant Baba ji surveyed the area with his eyes. He found a bunch of watermelons lying near his ASAN. He asked, “Who has brought these water melons?”
This man said, “I don’t know. I had come for your DARSHAN.”
Sant Baba ji said, “Your hands are full of mud and your whole body smells of melons and you say that you do not know.”
The man immediately looked at his hands and smelled them. This was a give away. He was caught for his deeds.
Sant Baba ji asked, “Are these water melons from your field?”
The man replied, “No! I have plucked them from some one’s field. I have placed them here so that you get the blame for the theft.”
Sant Baba ji said, “Now you are telling the truth. But what did you want to prove by doing this?”
This man replied, “Nothing in particular. I am only jealous of your gaining popularity.”
Sant Baba ji explained to him, “You are a very simple man. You do not understand the state of a Sadhu. A Sadhu is a person who has nothing to do with popularity and he has already renounced the world.”
The man said, “I am sorry. Please excuse me for my deed. I have realized my mistake. I had thought that I will not be caught in the act, but you turned up at the crucial time and everything was revealed. I will not repeat my act again.”
Sant Baba ji said, “You cannot be excused for this grave offence. You are involved in a theft and you also spoke a lie. You now pick up these watermelons and place them near the vines from where you plucked them. Secondly for your having spoken a lie, you will recite Japji Sahib five times in a day.”
The man said, “I will do as you say but you are requested not to reveal my deed to anyone else.”
He touched the feet of Sant Baba ji and followed his instructions. He had received a teaching from Sant Baba ji, which he kept in mind for life. He became an ardent devotee of Sant Baba ji. He also spread the message to others that they should visit this Sadhu who was without any evil thoughts.