Nag Mahashay’s Devotion and Renunciation
At the request of the family of Mr Paul, the great devotee, Durga Charan Nag, once went to Bhojeswar. When he was about to return to Calcutta, the family gave him Rs.8 as his steamer fare and a good blanket to protect himself from cold. Mr Paul knew very well that Durga Charan Nag accepted nothing from anyone, lived an extremely frugal life, would never accept a penny more, and was the greatest all-renouncing saint in modern times. He pressed 8 rupees and the blanket somehow into Durga Charan’s hands. The steamer station was about six miles from Bhojeswar. When Durga Charan reached there and was going to buy his ticket, a woman in torn clothes and five or six children hanging to her came to him and, in a most piteous tone, brought to his notice her sufferings and privations. She asked for help. Hearing her story, Nagmahashaya burst into tears and gave away the 8 rupees as well as the blanket with the words, “Mother, take these and save yourself and your children.” The beggar woman blessed him and went away. Being fatigued due to long walk and tiresome journey, Nagmahashaya took rest for a while at the station. When the steamer had left the station, he resumed his journey towards Calcutta on foot, as he had no money left to pay for the fare. On the way, if he found any temple, he begged for some Prasad, and at other times lived on parched rice. He crossed the rivers and streamlets on a ferry boat on payment of the fare when they were wide, but when narrow, he crossed them swimming. He had only seven annas and six pies with him. Depending on that small amount he set out for Calcutta and walking continuously on foot for twenty-nine days, he reached home.