Vishnu had come to Harrawala station to receive Baba. Pendu saw Baba and Vishnu off in a tonga to Manjri Mafi, and Pendu then returned to Motichur. As instructed, Eruch, Baidul, Gustadji, Aloba and Satyapal returned to Manjri Mafi two days later. Thus the Kumbha Mela work came to an end.
When Baba returned to Manjri Mafi, he had a bad cough, 100° fever, heaviness in the eyes, pain in the stomach and a severe backache. Nilu described his condition as follows:
When Baba entered our cottage upon his arrival, I immediately perceived the nervous exhaustion and weakness of his constitution. He looked tired and overworked and, while walking, he appeared to drag his feet. He sat on my bed, and then inquired of Kaka's, Vishnu's and Kaikobad's health. While making inquiries, he was coughing frequently. Though he was not in good health, his face was lustrous and his eyes were brilliant. His face looked so beautiful and charming that our eyes refused to look anywhere else. The whole atmosphere was vibrating and pulsating with different emotions and feelings in our hearts.
Baba complained of bodyache and weakness. The treatment by Nilu, Don and Goher alleviated Baba's symptoms to some extent, but the bodyache persisted. On Sunday, 9 April 1950, Mehera suggested light massaging and a hot bath. These were provided, and Baba's pain diminished.
As Age explains: "Meher Baba's discomfort was not only attributable to his hard work and exertion, but also to the taking upon himself the load of sanskaras of others while engaged in this or any type of work. This load added to his burden and affected his physical body. Even giving darshan to his lovers and the public caused a strain upon his health and brought excruciating suffering. The Avatar's darshan was not merely meeting people — it was taking upon himself their load of impressions. To take the Avatar's darshan is to transfer our load of sanskaras unto him.
"In India there are many so-called saints and mahatmas who give darshan to thousands. But what is to be gained by their darshan? It is darshan in word only. The meaning of darshan is that the Divine Master takes upon himself the good and bad impressions of those who come to him and seek his help. Yet he himself has to suffer by cleaning these human Augean stables filled with the accumulated filth of ages of lifetimes in illusion."