Behramji was sent ahead to Baroda to make the necessary arrangements. On the train Baba's health had suffered alarmingly, so they decided to rest in Baroda for a couple of days until he regained his strength.
They reached Ratlam on the morning of 22 August. For some hours Baba walked about the city contacting and bowing to sadhus. Reaching Baroda at 8:00 P.M. in the evening, they rendezvoused with Padri, Sadashiv and Behramji. Baba then ordered Adi back to Ahmednagar.
Behramji had arranged for their stay in the Gujarat Hindu Lodge, where Baba stated, "After journeying to Mount Abu, our tour will end and we will return to Meherabad and settle there."
The men were glad to hear this since they were exhausted after traveling continually for three weeks. One factor in Baba's decision (although unmentioned) was that their money was almost all spent.
There was an unexpected change the next day. Although it was quite hot, Baba and the men casually went about sightseeing in Baroda; they visited the Maharaj's palace, the Baroda Museum and Art Gallery and other tourist sights of the town.
Afterward Baba discussed a new plan with Sadashiv: "We will settle in the Sinhagad Fort area, near Poona. Sinhagad is an ideal place for the resident mandali to live. There we can lead a quiet, secluded life since it has a salubrious climate, with plenty of water. And, besides, it is in Babajan's territory."
Instead of resting in Baroda as planned, Baba left two days later at 10:00 P.M. and arrived at Ujjain on 25 August at 1:00 P.M. After lunch, he set out in search of more sadhus and found many on the banks of the Sipra River; there were several lepers as well. Baba bowed to the sadhus, placing his forehead on their feet, and gave them money as his dakshina.
A temple was located on the banks of the Sipra River, and Baba told Sadashiv to bathe first in the river, and then go to the temple and offer worship according to Hindu rites. Two strange sadhus were found in a hut next to the temple. One of them was a leper whose eyes were badly affected and whose fingers were almost completely wasted away.
Baba approached them gently. He placed some coins on the ground before the sadhus, but when he bent over to place his head at their feet, the leprous sadhu withdrew his legs with a loud "HUMPH!" Instead of touching his feet, Baba folded his hands and reverently bowed his head to the man, then quietly left.