It was in the days when the door was still opposite Bhagavan’s couch, and I was sitting to the right of the door opposite to him. Suddenly a shadow fell through the doorway and a fair, elderly sannyasi stepped over the threshold. Bhagavan, who was reading, dropped his book immediately and looked straight up at the man who took two strides forward and stood near Bhagavan’s feet, returning his gaze.
I should like to mention here a very striking event that happened on the day when Bhagavan left this world. A few days before this event the Station Superintendent of the All India Radio at Dharwar had requested me to broadcast a short talk on the great personages that had influenced my life.
I introduced myself to Sri Bhagavan in Sanskrit, not knowing that he spoke Telugu. When I said to him, “Umasahasram maya Andhri kritham” (I have rendered Uma Sahasram into Telugu), he replied, “Oh, you are translating Uma Sahasram into Telugu”, in pure Telugu, and even corrected my use of the word Andhri kritham which means “completed translating”. Bhagavan somehow knew that I had not actually finished the work, and when he enquired how far I had gone with my translation, I confessed that I had only so far translated a hundred slokas along with their commentary.
The Maharshi opened his eyes. I got up and prostrated before him and requested him to clear a doubt of mine. He showed his willingness by a broad smile. Taking courage I posed the following problem: “The Maharshi by his example directs his followers to keep quiet, but Mahatma Gandhi whose statue is here, by his own example, goads everyone to be continuously active. I am puzzled as to whom to follow.” The Maharshi’s face broadened with an unparalleled smile. He asked, “Who told you that I am sitting quiet?” I replied in all humility that I had seen it with my own eyes. He said, “Why do you think that what you are seeing with your physical eyes is the truth?” I had no answer for this question.
Sri Bhagavan was not always the same. Most of the time he was a very pleasing person with a fascinating welcome smile. However, on occasion, he could be stern and look forbidding. At such moments people were struck with awe and a deep searching of the heart.