ONE SHOULD NOT PIT MATERIAL WISDOM AGAINST A SAINT'S ADVICE.
Ganpatrao Damle was in Gondavale. It was necessary for him to go to Pune to attend the court on a particular date. On the day before he asked for ShriMaharaj's permission to go to Pune. It was about eight o'clock in the morning. 'Let us see' was all that ShriMaharaj said. Even at noon, Maharaj would not tell him to go. Ganpatrao thought that the task of attending the court was a mundane matter, there was nothing spiritual about it; so why should he be hindered by want of permission from ShriMaharaj? He might as well be on the way. Taking courage, he said to ShriMaharaj, "It is very urgent for me to go to Pune. I will therefore leave today." ShriMaharaj merely said, "All right". As was his practice, ShriMaharaj put him on a bullock cart in the evening. The cart - driver and Ganpatrao were the only two passengers in the cart. They reached Pusegaon at nine o'clock in the night. Both of them dined there, and had a nap. At about three o'clock in the morning, the cart - driver got the cart ready, and
put it on its way to Koregaon. In about ten or fifteen minutes, both he and Ganpatrao fell fast asleep. After a short distance, a hyena appeared in front of the bullocks. The bullocks were startled, shied, and turned round and began walking in exactly the opposite direction (that is, in the direction of Gondavale). The bullocks walked fast because of a natural longing for their home. At about half - past six in the morning Ganpatrao and the cart - driver both woke up. Expecting to have reached Koregaon, both of them rubbed their eyes and looked. What they saw was the boundary of Gondavale ! What the mix - up was they could not fathom. In about an hour the cart was standing in front of the Rama temple. As it was not possible to catch the train at Koregaon even if they were to start back immediately, Ganpatrao was in despair. In the afternoon, plates were set in the temple for serving Prasad. Ganpatrao had to walk past ShriMaharaj to take his usual place. ShriMaharaj said, in his hearing, "What can be done? Ganpatrao did not realize what even the bullocks did." Ganpatrao was greatly embarrassed. Later it became known that that night the carts which went from Pusegaon to Koregaon were looted by highwaymen, and the passengers had been beaten up. Besides, the Presiding officer of the court having taken ill, the date for Ganpatrao to attend the court had automatically been postponed.
