In the darbar of Dada Khachar in Gadhada, Shriji Maharaj sat at the centre surrounded by many devotees. Everyone was intently listening to the bhajans sung by Nishkulanand Swami. People from all walks of life had gathered in the assembly, eager to listen to the divine words of Shriji Maharaj. He then spoke, “A mother loves her child dearly and hence she will even feed the child bitter medicine when it is sick. Similarly whatever the sadhus say or do is for the benefit of humanity.”

Just as Shriji Maharaj finished his discourse, a commotion erupted in the gathering. Everyone started screaming, some were yelling, some got up and started running; utter chaos ensued. Voices rang out from the hubbub, “Snake! Help….there is a snake in the assembly... Help!!”

Soon, the assembly area was almost empty as many people stood pinned against the side trembling with fear. In the middle of the darbar there lay a long, dark snake. It was ferocious, with its raised hood and black eyes, looking threateningly at everyone. It had long, sharp fangs and the sound of its hissing filled the air.

Dada Khachar picked up a long stick and was about to kill the snake when Shriji Maharaj intervened, “Stop! Don’t kill the poor creature. Just pick it up carefully and leave it on the outskirts of the city.” To Maharaj, all creatures deserved mercy.

Suddenly, a young boy leapt out on hearing Shriji Maharaj’s command. Fearlessly he bound towards the snake. The crowd was shocked. Before anyone could react and stop the boy, he had moved much closer to the snake. The snake raised its hood and hissed menacingly. Everyone had their hearts in their mouth. Some people shouted, “Hey you…stop there!” but the boy didn’t listen to anyone. Then Maharaj spoke out, “Stop there son….don’t go closer!” But the boy wouldn’t stop.

Once, twice, thrice…Shriji Maharaj called out to the boy, but he would not stop. So, Shriji Maharaj sprang up and quickly grabbed the boy. But the boy wriggled his way out of Maharaj’s grip and went straight for the snake. He was gleeful. This was like a game for him.

Shriji Maharaj again grabbed the boy and gave him a hard flick on the head. The boy stopped in his tracks. Shriji Maharaj pulled the boy to the side and left him in the care of his father. But, as he had been hit, the boy started to cry and he ran out of the darbar. Meanwhile, the devotees had skillfully removed the snake from the darbar and left it unharmed on the outskirts of the village.

Shriji Maharaj spoke, “My hands are aching from having hit the boy. How badly must he have been hurt! I feel sorry for him. Please find him and bring him here.” 

The devotees searched around the place and found the boy. He was crying and gloomy. The devotees approached him and said, “Shriji Maharaj is calling you. So come along. He feels bad for having hit you. He will give you any boon that you ask for.”  The boy’s face lit up with a smile.  The sadhus instructed him, “When Maharaj grants you the boon you should ask him to accept thal from the devotees  whenever they invite him to their homes. Then ask him to come to your house for lunch tomorrow. After this you should ask for his pious footprints.” 

As soon as Shriji Maharaj saw the little boy entering the assembly, he got up from his seat and quickly approached the boy. He then patted the child’s head and asked him, “Son, did it hurt when I hit you?”  The boy looked at Maharaj and replied, “Yes Maharaj. But that pain is nothing when I think that it is only because of that that I can stand here with you now. Plus I was wrong to have disobeyed you and misbehaved.”

Just before this incident someone had performed Shriji Maharaj’s puja and had offered him a pagh and a plate full of offerings. Maharaj promptly took the plate and gave it to the small boy. Maharaj then said, “Son you may ask for anything from me.” The sadhus had taught the boy what to ask for so he repeated, “Maharaj, you never have food from other peoples’ house, but from now on I request you to eat at your devotees’ homes. You should bless me by coming to my house tommorow.” Maharaj understood that these were the words of the sadhus that the boy was speaking.

He again asked the boy to name his demand. And this time the boy said that he wanted Maharaj’s footprints. Maharaj looked towards the sadhus, smiled and then gave his footprints. After this he blessed the child and said, “Not only you but your father also is blessed for having such a pure-hearted son.”