The Thief Who Became a Sage: The Grace of Pavahari Baba
During his travels in Rishikesh, Swami Vivekananda met a wandering sadhu of great spiritual depth. Whenever they crossed paths, the two would engage in long, soul-stirring conversations about Dharma, self-realization, and the essence of divine life.
One day, the sadhu asked him,
“Do you know Pavahari Baba?”
Swamiji smiled, “Of course. I spent time with him in Ghazipur. A true tapasvi — one of the purest souls I’ve met.”
The sadhu continued,
“Then perhaps you know the story of the thief who once tried to steal from him?”
Swamiji nodded.
“Yes — a thief entered his ashram. When Pavahari Baba caught sight of him running away, he didn’t shout or curse — instead, he gathered the remaining items and ran after the thief, crying, ‘Wait! You forgot these!’
When the stunned thief stopped, Baba handed him the rest, saying, ‘Take it all, Narayana. I have no use for them.’ ”
The sadhu looked directly at Swamiji and said quietly,
“I was that thief.”
Swamiji sat in silence for a moment — awestruck. Then he smiled deeply, touched by the truth:
One moment in the presence of true divinity can spark a transformation more powerful than a lifetime of study.
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