Kashinath accepted the garland as a gift of Narayan's grace and then quietly slipped away from the crowd.
Age wondered, "Had the Singer been found?" Kashinath, however, had not seen his face. Kashinath had felt the Singer's touch, but the echo of the Song became louder. The overpowering melody was destroying him, while his tears were dispelled in the fire of love.
Kashinath and his wife journeyed to Dhulia and stayed with his brother Bal Krishna Rao. Kashinath's respiratory ailment worsened and it became so difficult to breathe that Kashinath resolved to commit suicide if further treatment failed.
With suicidal thoughts plaguing his mind, he left Dhulia alone during April 1911. Unbeknownst to him, Kashinath's affliction could only be eliminated when it assumed infinite proportions. The disease itself would become the cure! But what could poor Kashinath do until then? He could neither breathe nor stop breathing. Alas, what sort of life was this? The ocean of fire is to be crossed, but at the same time, one has to drown at every stroke!
"Kashinath was drowning in this fire," Age observed, "and no one can imagine his suffering."
Alone, Kashinath wandered through the city of Ahmednagar on his way to Paithan. In Ahmednagar he heard of a great yogi named Kulkarni Maharaj who lived in Rahuri, about 30 miles away. Kulkarni Maharaj was also considered to be a great healer, so Kashinath, desperate about his health, went to Rahuri instead of Paithan.
When Kashinath arrived, the yogi received him with great reverence, massaged Kashinath's body with oil, bathed him and then served him food. While they were eating, the yogi told Kashinath to go to Shirdi in order to meet Sai Baba. Understanding Sai Baba to be a Muslim Master, Kashinath did not like the idea of going to a Muslim for help and so rejected the yogi's advice.
Later Kulkarni Maharaj explained to Kashinath, "This breathing trouble of yours is not a physical disease. It is a result of advanced yogic practices. Without even trying, you have far excelled yogis who have been attempting certain practices for years and years." And he repeated, "It is in your best interest to visit Sai Baba, for he can further advance you on the Path. I cannot help you in this way. Only Sai Baba can help you now." Kashinath, however, still having deeply held Brahmin prejudices, rejected the yogi's advice.
Kashinath left the yogi and later, while in the town of Rahuri, met an elderly physician.