Renunciation of home and first encounter with Supreme God on the journey
Prannath Leelaamrit - Chapter 4
Devchandra was sixteen when he decided to leave home in search of God.
The day of his journey had arrived.
Devchandra rested for a while after lunch. When he woke up, it was half past four—the time for the wedding procession to depart. Unfortunately, he was delayed getting ready, so the procession left without him. Hastily, he set off on foot to follow the horsemen.
Devchandra was walking along when night fell. All he could see around in the desert was sand. He couldn't find the path, and was also afraid of robbers. He grew anxious, wondering whom he could ask for directions or help in the desert. His stomach began to ache, yet he kept walking.
Devchandra was walking anxiously when a person appeared to him. Seeing him intensified his fear, "This robber will kill me."
He couldn't think of a way to escape. Just then, the man approached him.
The man was disguised as a soldier. He had a beard, and he carried a spear in one hand and a sword at his waist. Shri Raj, the Supreme God, came in this disguise to help Devchandra.
Shri Raj took the dagger and bundle from Devchandra. Then, He spread His shawl on the ground and asked Devchandra to lie down on it. Upon hearing this, Devchandra's heart trembled with fear. He thought the man was going to kill him.
Shri Raj then placed one foot on Devchandra's thigh and applied a little pressure. He asked Devchandra, "Has the stomach pain lessened?"
Devchandra replied, "The pain has lessened there, but it's still present elsewhere." Shri Raj then pressed His foot on the base of Devchandra's other thigh. This completely relieved Devchandra's stomach pain.
Shri Raj tied His shawl around Devchandra's waist and placed Devchandra's bundle on His back. Devchandra was now convinced that the soldier wouldn't kill him. However, a new fear arose in his mind: the soldier might take him captive and force him into servitude.
They both started walking quickly from there. Shri Raj asked Devchandra questions about worldly matters, such as his name, address, and the names of his parents. He also asked about the behavior of the king and his ministers. The night was coming to an end. While conversing, they approached the wedding procession.
Shri Raj untied His shawl from Devchandra's waist, took it back, and returned his bundle and dagger. Then, pointing toward the wedding party, He said to Devchandra, "Look, there are your companions."
As Devchandra looked in that direction, Shri Raj disappeared.
Devchandra began to wonder who the soldier was and where he had gone. Devchandra was convinced that He was the beloved of his soul whom he had set out to find.
Remembering him, Devchandra started mourning. Then he realized that this incident proves that he is always protected by God and that God will never leave him wherever he goes.
Finally, he was certain that he would find God somehow.
When Devchandra met the wedding guests, they took him to the minister.
The minister was surprised to see him and asked, "How did you come so far on foot at night without a ride?"
Devchandra replied, "I followed you like the wind."
Nobody could believe what he said.
At that time, some of the wedding guests were setting up tents for sleeping, while others were lighting fires to cook food.
Then the minister said to Devchandra, "Either you take the ingredients to cook food or you eat with us."
Devchandra refused and replied, "I eat food cooked with my own hands."
The minister urged him again to accept the provisions, but Devchandra refused because he had brought flour and other supplies from home. Seeing that the minister was disappointed, Devchandra accepted the ration.
Devchandra prepared food for himself and offered it to the divine form that had appeared to him in the desert. After receiving the food, he slept. When he woke up, he joined the wedding procession and rode on a camel to Kutch.