Once when Shri Babaji Maharaj was in Chamba State, there was a very poor young man who came to Shri Babaji Maharaj and served him diligently the whole day long. He would provide coals for the hukka Shri Babaji Maharaj smoked at times, and light it for him.
One day the young man said to Shri Babaji Maharaj: “Maharaj! People get whatever they desire from you! What reward will you give me for the little service that I do for you?”
Shri Babaji Maharaj said to him: “Son, for the services you do here, you shall become the son-in-law, the daamaad of some Maharaja! Kissee Maharaja kaa daamaad banaa denge!”
The young man said: “ O Babaji! You are making fun of me! My mother sells vegetables in the streets! How can I ever hope to become the daamaad of a Maharaja!”
However, Shri Babaji Maharaj’s words were to come true. A certain royal family of the Rajput caste was in search for a young groom for the princess. They had searched far and wide without success. They were very particular about the exact caste, and were even willing to accept a poor Rajput of that caste rather than marry outside of the caste. They found the young man who served as Shri Babaji Maharaj’s attendant in Simla. He was of the exact caste which they wanted.
Telegrams began pouring into the poor boy’s home. His mother was surprised beyond measure. The P. A. of the royal family called on the young man’s mother. Gifts and sweets and fruits arrived at his door. He was to be made a ghar-damaad of the royal family–a son-in-law who would become part of the royal family and be made heir to the throne.
During those days there was a poor schoolmaster who used to come to Shri Babaji Maharaj. He urgently needed a small sum of money for his daughter’s marriage. He came before Shri Babaji Maharaj and said to him: “Maharaj you have blessed that young boy with riches. He is to become the daamaad of a Maharaja. Please ask him to lend me three thousand rupees for my daughter’s marriage!”
Shri Babaji Maharaj sent word to the young boy through a messenger. The messenger returned with a downcast face and was loathe to convey the boy’s reply to Shri Babaji Maharaj.
“What did he say? Did you tell him it was my wish?” Shri Babaji Maharaj asked the messenger.
The messenger said: “Maharaj, he said: ‘Dekhi jaayegi–we shall see!’ ”
Shri Babaji Maharaj saw the change that had come over the boy, and he said solemnly:
To phir dekhi jaayegi! All right, then, so we shall see!
The next day a telegram arrived at the house of the young man. It contained a message from the royal family. The proposed marriage had been cancelled! Later, the P.A. of the Maharaja met the young man and said: “The daughters of Maharajas do not marry the boys of poor vegetable sellers on the street!”
The royal family had suddenly found a groom in another Rajput household who matched their caste requirements exactly, and was of royal blood.
The young man came running to Shri Babaji Maharaj and fell at his feet, weeping. Nature’s retribution had been just and swift. Perhaps another soul had been saved from being lost. But one principle had been established:
Tamannaa aabroo ki hai to kar khidmat fakeeron ki
Ye vo gauhar hai jo miltaa naheen shaahon ke khazeenon men.
If thou would gain stature, then serve the men of God,
This is a gem not found even in the treasures of kings.