It was Vikram era 1886. Ten years had passed since the charity house started. Once an old sadhu came to the Ashram muttering 'Narayan, Narayan, Narayan!'. Bapa stood before him with folded hand and prayed to him to take his meals, but the sadhu said, "NO."

Bapa said, "Then tell me what you would take!"

The old sadhu said, "Then listen! THis body is worn out. The pangs of the old age are unbearable. I wish to have some body who would look afre me!"

Jalaram Bapa said, "Why, I'll look after you."

The old sadhu said, "Not you, but send your wife with me to look after me. And listen, she must come with me willingly, not by complusion!"

Virbai was preparing meals at that time. Bapa went to her, sat in front of her and said hesitatingly, "Bhandari, and old sadhu has arrived and has asked for you to look after him in his old age. What shall we say?"

Virbai Ma soon replied, "Oh, is it so? Tell himm I shall go with him soon."

Hearing this Bapa was greatly relieved.

Most of the burden og the Ashram was borne by Virbai Ma. She got up early in the morning, prayed to GOd, and then was busy preparing ,eals till midday. She worked upto midnight without rest.

Virbai got herself ready soon. She put on new clothes, put a bindi on her forehead amd came out ready to go.

As the news spread in the village, people gathered together. Some tried to dissuade Bapa from giving away his wife to the sadhu; while others called the sadhu a frandulent.

Virbai Ma stood before Bapa with folded hands and said, "Bhagat, I am going. Kindly forgive me for my faults if any!" While speaking her voice was chooked with emotion.

Bapa's voice also was choked with emotion, "Virbai, take care of the sadhu. He is our revered father."

The sadhu lifeted his bag and a thich staff and said, "Let's Go."

After sending off VIrbai, Bapa went to the temple and prayed to God. Who knows what passed there between God and His devotee! Then he came out and sat on the otta counting the beads of rosary.

On the other hand the sadhu departed with Virbai Ma. He came across a river at the disatnce of two-three miles. There the sadhu said, "Mother, look after my bag and the staff. I will just return after attending the natural call."

Saying this he disappeared behind the bushes. Virbai Ma waited for him till the sun-set. It was growing dark. Virbai Ma was anxious about the sadhu. Her eyes were filled with tears.

Some cowherd boys saw her weeping. They went to the village and informed the people about this. Now people realised that the sadhu was no one else but God Himself who had come to put the Bhagat to test.

Then the people gathered, went to the river in a procession singing and beating drums, and brought back Virbai Ma home.

Jalaram Bapa's joy knew no bounds that day. When Virbai Ma returned to the Ashram with the bag and the staff, he fell at her feet. Virbai Ma was a venerable woman now as she had been accepted as an offering by Shri Hari Himself. Then Jala Bapa placed the staff and the bag in the temple. The eyes of both Bapa and Virbai Ma were full of tears of sublime joy at that time.

"Oh, my God, what wonderful things you do! No one can fathom the depths of your mysterious deeds!"

Then Bapa said to Virbai Ma, "Why sid tou allow the sadhu to go away? Who knows when shall we meet him again?"

Virbai Ma said, "I did not know that he would betray me like that. After giving me the staff and bag he disappeared. Well, let his will prevail! What else could we do? We may mutter his name and serve the sadhus. The rest is left to him."

Since that day the bag and the staff are kepy in the temple and are worshipped twice daily.

Bapa was thirty when this incident took place.