Baba urged the kanyas, "All of you continue to love Godavri."
Just then the clock struck the hour and one kanya responded, "The clock has confirmed Baba's wish!" Those present laughed, delighting in Baba's holy company.
Baba asked them, "Who among you can sing well?"
One girl came forward, and a harmonium and tabla were sent for.
Meanwhile, Baba advised Godavri, "Take proper care of your health. Don't travel during the summer heat. Even your staying here in summer is not good for your health. You should go to some hill station in May. Mussoorie is beautiful in May. It is a very pleasant place."
After the girl sang, Baba remarked, "After six months, I have to go to America for a fortnight and to England for two days. In the West, a film star [Linda Christian] read God Speaks, and she has developed great regard and love for me. From 15 February, I will be going into retirement for a year, and my visit to America and England will be during the retirement period. When I return, I will continue my seclusion until 15 February 1957."1
Baba added, "I seem happy to you all today. I played marbles, played ball and cut jokes with you, but in reality none of you understands me and the work I have to do. I am the very same Krishna, Ram and a number of others whom you have read and heard about."
Baba asked Kumar to repeat the story of Krishna and his blessings. Kumar narrated the incident: "It is said that when Uttara's son Parikshit was born, he was stillborn. Krishna said, 'I have performed no miracles, but if I have never spoken a lie, if I have never broken promises given, if I have never done anything harmful to others — only then let the child breathe with life!' "
Baba commented, "The child did become alive to the surprise of all, but the prayer offered by Krishna was a source of great amusement. Krishna had knowingly emphasized all his apparent drawbacks, playing upon the minds of his kith and kin and his devotees in order to open their eyes to the fact that all that he appeared to say was in fact only appearances. And whatever he actually said, he fulfilled every word of it.
Footnotes
- 1.Linda Christian was an acquaintance (and later the wife of) Edmund Purdom, Charles Purdom's son, also an actor.