Even in most remote villages Verabhai Darbar was a well-known thug. Just hearing his name caused people to lock their doors and windows. Even the police would shut down their offices. Verabhai and his men were so fearless that they would raid in broad daylight.  And no one would ever try to catch them.
But, ever since he had come into the company of Shriji Maharaj, Verabhai stopped all his criminal activities and became a satsangi. He not only changed the way he lived but his personality changed as well. If by mistake he even thought of hitting someone, he would fast in atonement. Now everyone called him Vera Bhagat.
One day, Vera Bhagat was passing by a farm.  On this farm, he saw a beautiful, lush baval tree and he thought, “A datan cut from this baval tree would make an excellent toothbrush.” Thinking this, Vera Bhagat cut a twig from the tree.
But then, something inside him began to say, “Fool!  You should not take anything without asking the owner’s permission first!”  Vera Bhagat realized that he had broken Maharaj’s agna by cutting the twig without permission.  These thoughts began to whirl around in his mind.  “What should I do?  Who should I tell?  How can I punish my mind? Should I be angry with myself?  Should I fast?  Should I just not say anything? Should I donate ten times the amount I have stolen?  How will I ever earn Maharaj’s blessings again?”
He went home and sat down on the stairs for a while. Then, he changed his clothes, washed his hands and face and  lit a divo and did arti of Thakorji.  After eating, he went for a walk.  He returned and chanted mala. Again, the question that had been running around in his mind arose, “I have already committed the sin, but how do I atone for it?”  As he finished his mala, he realized, “Everyone makes mistakes, but in the end we have to learn and improve ourselves. I should do something that will remind me to never make this mistake again.”
It was evening and darkness was beginning to set in. The farmer was seated on a cot on his front porch, smoking  his hookah. All of a sudden, a man appeared and began speaking rapidly.  “Please forgive me; I am a thief! Please forgive me!”  So saying, the man fell at the shocked farmer’s feet like a stick.  The farmer tried to make him stand up and was very surprised to see Verabhai.
“Oh Vera Bhagat, is it you?  What happened? Tell me what has happened so suddenly?”
“I have taken a twig from the beautiful baval tree that grows on your farm by the road without asking your permission.  Please forgive me!  The Shikshapatri commands us ‘Do not steal anything even for religious use’. So how could I take something for my own use?”
“But Vera Bhagat thieves cut down and steal sugarcane at night. They even take away grains!  You have only taken one datan.  What is the harm in that?”
In a deeply remorseful voice, Verabhai replied “No, I do not want to lose Shriji Maharaj’s blessings! He does not like even the smallest mistake. He has inspired thousands of devotees by talking about the importance of observing niyams and dharma.”
On seeing the honesty in a devotee of Maharaj the farmer was speechless.  How did such a menacing thug as Verabhai change so much?
The next day, after seeking forgiveness from the farmer, Vera Bhagat went to have darshan of Shriji Maharaj and told him the whole story. Shriji Maharaj could see the deep remorse and sincere repentance in Vera Bhagat’s eyes.
Shriji Maharaj told him, “When you do something wrong and you feel truly sorry and try to correct yourself, the sin can be forgiven. Bhagwan and his Sadhu are here to offer that forgiveness.” Shriji Maharaj then blessed Vera Bhagat.