The meaning of Baba's statement about his end is quite different from his physical death. At that time, the result of Baba's inner work manifested in the form of opposition from Parsis and Iranis in Poona, Bombay and Ahmednagar — and it lasted for some years. This opposition was a medium of his work; but it was so virulent it could have become a threat to his life. The Zoroastrian community's opposition gradually subsided, and some Parsis and Iranis made a guarded approach to him as a genuine Master, and several eventually became his disciples.
A religiously devout Parsi named Nadirsha Bharucha was a resident of Meherabad at this time. He would regularly fast and do japa (mental repetitions of a prayer or the name of God). On 25 April, Baba gathered the mandali and told each to sing a song. Everyone did so, and he then asked Nadirsha to sing. Nadirsha replied indignantly, "I never go to plays or movies, and I don't know how to sing. Kindly excuse me."
Hearing this, Baba became very angry and told him, "Have you such a low opinion of these men that you compare them to a troupe of performers! Have you ever thought of their renunciation? They have renounced their own pleasure to keep my pleasure, and do all work according to my wish. Is there any austerity or penance which is greater, or can compare with this? Don't have such foolish ideas about them!"
Embarrassed, Nadirsha sought Baba's pardon, and the singing continued until nine at night. Even those who did not have good voices had to sing, and it was amusing to listen to their off-key efforts!
That day Baba had fasted, drinking only watermelon juice and rose syrup mixed in milk.
On Saturday, 26 April 1924, after the ghamela yoga work was over, during the afternoon break the Master gave a brief discourse about diet:
There are many disadvantages to eating meat. The chief one is that eating meat increases passion [lust]. There is very little consciousness in stones — almost nil. It is in vegetation that the manifestation of consciousness begins. Consciousness increases as an animal form evolves into another animal form; in man it is complete. With the advance in consciousness, passion also increases. The more the consciousness, the more the passion; and the less the consciousness, the less the passion.