Having shown such great power, the servants were filled with joy on witnessing it; everyone's spirit soared, beholding Sahajanand, the giver of happiness. In their exaltation they proclaimed loudly: "Swami alone is true, all else is false. Meeting Swami brings liberation by the millions — anything else will prove empty. When you serve Swami's feet, birth and death will end for you. Why remain bound to anything else — abandon false doctrines and come among the sadhus. Give up meat, liquor, and theft, and come join the satsang, casting off delusion. Give up ganja, bhang, tobacco and other intoxicants, give up onions and garlic too. Drink only water strained through cloth — live in the satsang in this manner."
Thus all the sadhus spoke, and hearing them many became satsangis. They also showed clearly the difference between a true and a false guru, and the marks by which a true and a false sadhu could be recognized, drawing on the testimony of all the scriptures, exposing the false ones for what they were, saying, "No purpose is served by a false sadhu — they sit merely to accumulate wealth. So all of you take up the true satsang — why wander through the eighty-four lakh species of birth?"
Hearing these words, all the false ascetics rose up burning with resentment. Envy first entered the ranks of the rival sects, and the age of Kali took up residence in their hearts; rising up in fury from wherever they were, they began gathering to attack the sadhus, saying: "See the power of these so-called liberated ones! They have called us thieves outright. They have taken our own disciples, delighted them and made them their own through their teaching. So from today, resolve this: wherever you find one of them, strike him. Seize their cloth bags and gourds and smash them; also destroy their free feeding-houses."
Thus this demonic host prepared itself, striking sadhus without any fault of theirs. Vultures, jackals, dogs, crows, and kites — though different in kind by nature, when it comes to attacking prey they act as one single tribe; so too these people, united by wealth and women, gathered together in great numbers.
They came together to the place and set about beating the sadhus, hurling clubs, sticks, and staffs, and a great hail of stones. The sadhus bore all this upon their bodies, holding fast to their vow of extreme humility and non-retaliation. Having behaved with the wickedness proper to the wicked, all these attackers eventually departed.
Then Swami said, "Listen, sadhus — the rival sects have carried this beyond limit. We have endured a very great deal, and no one has done us any good in return. What use now is the free feeding-house? Give it up, and ask for no more names. Since this is what pleases the Lord, we must do accordingly."
At that time the free feeding-houses were discontinued, and the compassionate one formed the sadhus into an organized company: "Sadhus, wander through the different regions; keep your dress as it is. Conduct yourselves according to the five great vows as prescribed in the Vedas and Puranas. Renounce women in the eight ways and renounce wealth; keep deep dispassion in your hearts. Keep a beautiful sacred image with you always, and worship it with growing love. Play instruments of many kinds, and hold joyful festivals from time to time.
Give discourse and sing kirtans as you wander through the different regions. Whatever food and clothing people give you will not go unrewarded even at death's door. Moreover, those who hear you speak will have their sufferings of birth and death removed; and those who devotedly behold you will have their minds purified. So this is a great service you must also render to them."
Then all the sadhus were glad, and, seeking his permission, went out to wander. They wandered through Sorath and Halar, and then came to Panchal; they went through Bhal and Gujarat, and entered Siddhapur. A great festival took place at Siddhapur — it could not be described; all the sadhus were with Hari, and Maharaj enacted many wondrous plays there. The good sadhus held a fine festival at Siddhapur, as told.
He then came to Sorath himself, and gathered Brahmins together at Meghpur, keeping them fed for six months until they grew weary of eating. He then arranged the marriage of Vrunda, and came again wandering through Kathiawad. In the fine village of Kariyani lived a devotee named Mancho; Maharaj came to his home to accomplish the welfare of many souls.
Mancho received him with the greatest welcome and fed the support of all life fittingly. Then, sitting near him with folded hands, he spoke to Maharaj, the all-knowing one: "Lord, in our own community there is one named Ebhal, a man of discernment; his family is pure and pious, and they long deeply for you. Either grant them darshan by going there, or let us bring them here." Maharaj said, "He too is a great devotee. I shall certainly go there — be assured of this. I shall remain there a good while, and do whatever pleases him. When they have had my darshan, their minds will not be drawn elsewhere. This is how I see the matter; knowing him my own devotee, I tell you this."
Hearing all this, Mancho was overjoyed. After some days had passed, all of them came together for darshan. They came and gazed with full eyes upon the Lord, and, seeing the giver of life, felt fully protected. As they beheld him with their eyes, so they fixed his image in their hearts. Seeing them gazing with such love, Maharaj too was delighted; then all of them, folding their hands, said, "We are yours, O Lord. Show us mercy, and having shown such grace, come now to our home." Hearing the people's words, the Lord himself was delighted.
Besides them, many others came, and all had the Lord's darshan; groups came from country after country, sinless men and women. They performed worship, sang kirtans, and heard discourse, all the people together. People came from distant regions for his darshan; he gave the order to have tanks and reservoirs dug for them.
Thus he performed ever-new deeds daily, giving happiness to the people gathered together. He then gave instruction to the sadhus: "Now it would be well for you to go and wander." Giving the sadhus this instruction, he said, "Remain fearless," establishing them firmly. The sadhus, bowing their heads, set off, and he himself went into Gujarat.
The sadhus, having gathered together, went to Zalawad, where a demonic uproar was raised against them. All the sadhus were made to suffer; their clothes and belongings were plundered. Their malas were broken and many were beaten; their gourds were seized and their tilak marks scraped off. The image of Thakorji was forcibly taken and smashed, broken into pieces.
Having done all this, the false ascetics departed; still the sadhus remained sadhus in spirit. Then Muktanand spoke: "Sadhus, abandon grief and remain at peace. What has happened has pleased Govind — see, has our knowledge been lost by this?" So saying, he went to where the Lord was, then in Gujarat, the imperishable one.
Going, they beheld the Lord with their own eyes, and, seeing the giver of life, felt protected. Beholding them, the Lord was pleased, and asked, "Tell me, how did this happen?" Then the sadhus, folding their hands, said: "You know everything, being the knower of all hearts. The demonic ones caused us great suffering, and no one above did anything about it. The sadhus were tormented without any fault of theirs, and the greedy king did not administer justice. Then we all gathered and came here — now tell us, what should we do?"
Maharaj said, "This has turned out well — this was as I wished it. Set aside their malas and tilaks; let us play the game unrecognized." So saying, he came onward, keeping some sadhus with him. He then formed the sadhus into an organized company again, and himself set off for Kutch.
Thus, to deliver many souls, the sadhus and the Lord himself wandered, enduring the world's mockery, yet never once turning to anger.