While Shri Nathji was staying at South Extension Part I, in 1968, the desire arose in him to bless the new President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain.
A meeting was arranged, and Shri Nathji went there and was warmly received at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President’s House.
Shri Nathji was deeply touched by the humble manner in which Dr. Zakir Hussain met him. It was obvious that the new President of the country, like its old President, Dr. Radhakrishnan, also had a large place in his heart for God. Shri Nathji would ever afterwards speak of Dr. Zakir Hussain’s humility and reverence in receiving him.
Zakir Hussain said to Shri Nathji:
Hazrat, main aapki duaaon kaa mauhtaaj hoon! Sir, I crave your blessings!
And Shri Nathji spoke to him for a few minutes. Pleased with his humility, Shri Nathji said in Persian:
Har kuja darde davaa aanjaa ravad
Har kuja pasteest aab aanjaa ravad
The medicine must go, where there is pain
The water must flow where there is a slope.
The Grace of God must come to receptive, humble hearts. A man could not reach God with his own efforts, but if God took him by His hand and brought him close, nothing could come in the way.
Shri Nathji said in Persian:
Gadaa Sultaan shavad gar zaan ke Sultaan
Nishaanad barsareere khud gadaara
A beggar can become King if the King so will
And bring him to the throne himself.
Shri Nathji told Dr. Zakir Hussain the parable of the drops of water that fell from the skies above. They streamed down from the mountain-tops to the plains, and would have continued their journey, had not hollow pits come in their way. The hollow pits thanked the particles of dust for quenching their thirst. And the drops of water thanked the hollow pits for the resting place they gave them. The Grace of God was like the rain, which sought a resting place in receptive, humble hearts.
“When you go before a well you do not go there as President, but rather as a thirsty man,” Shri Nathji said.
And Shri Nathji continued: Where do you put a letter? In a letter-box. And from where do you get the reply? From the destination. If you were to construct a letter-box of gold for yourself, it would never take your letters to their destination, because it is not connected with the postal delivery system. I am like a letter-box. The respect and reverence you have shown me, have gone to God, and surely the blessings will come from Him!”
And saying this, Shri Nathji took leave of the President. Shri Nathji had done his duty towards the nation by blessing the President in whom the nation had reposed its confidence.
In later years, Dr. Zakir Hussain was to become a very popular and well-loved figure in the country amongst the most popular Presidents of the land.