When Swami Vivekananda first met Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Ramakrishna lovingly said, “Child, why did you come so late to meet me?” Vivekananda had searched everywhere to find someone who had truly seen God. Ramakrishna told him, “I see God more clearly than I see you,” and that single moment began Vivekananda’s spiritual journey.
A similar moment occurred in Narendra’s life. His inner search for the Sadguru was aggressive, doubtful, and restless, yet his heart wanted only one thing—to meet the Guru. When Vyankatanath Maharaj first said to him, “Why did you come so late?” Narendra could not understand the meaning. His confusion grew deeper. Just as Sage Narada transformed Valya the hunter into the enlightened Valmiki, Vyankatanath Maharaj slowly dissolved Narendra’s anger, doubts and restlessness and guided him toward devotion.
Around ten college friends decided to visit Vyankatanath Maharaj only because they had heard that receiving His fragrant sacred balls (gandha-golya) ensured passing exams. None of them had spiritual interest; their purpose was purely academic. Narendra had never met any saint before, never sat in the presence of a yogi, and had no concept of Guru or spiritual power. Uddhav, already familiar with Maharaj, was assigned the role of leading the group. The others told him, “Whatever you do, we will do. You ask for the sacred balls.”
The moment they entered the room, Maharaj smiled and said, “So… the exams are near? You have come for the sacred balls?” The boys looked at one another in shock. Their minds immediately doubted—“Did Uddhav tell him beforehand?”
Each boy bowed and touched Maharaj’s right foot. When Narendra bowed, Maharaj looked directly at him and asked, “Child, what is your name?” Narendra replied, “Chaudhari.” Maharaj said, “We know that. What is your first name?” “Narendra,” he said. Maharaj responded, “We know that too. Why did you come so late?”
For the first time in his life, Narendra felt as if someone had been waiting specially for him. But his logical mind rebelled. He leaned toward Uddhav and whispered, “What is this drama? You told him everything, right?” Uddhav denied it.
Narendra had never seen a saint whose presence was naturally commanding, calm, radiant and overwhelmingly powerful. Maharaj sat with the effortless grace of someone who held complete mastery over the situation, as though destiny itself was responding to him. Narendra became even more restless. “This old man is fooling us,” he whispered. “Let’s leave.” His friends forced him to remain seated.
Maharaj then said, “Come one by one. I will give each of you the sacred balls. Count them, bow to my feet, and at that moment I will whisper your exam result into your ear.”
When Narendra’s turn arrived, he counted 56 balls. Maharaj closed his eyes briefly and went still, almost like entering a deep meditative absorption. Narendra bowed. In that instant, he heard a clear inner voice speak directly inside his ear: “You will pass B.Com in Second Class.”
Startled, he quickly looked around. No one was close. No one had spoken aloud. Maharaj opened his eyes and calmly said, “We spoke that into your ear. That is your result.” Every friend received a similar prediction.
The experience shook Narendra completely. His mind kept questioning—“Is he using tricks? Is this hypnosis? Magic? A lie?” Doubt took hold even more strongly.
Sensing Narendra’s inner resistance, Maharaj said, “Child, come tomorrow at 8 a.m. I will wait for you.” Narendra left thinking, “I am not going tomorrow.” The next morning he again decided, “I will not go.” But exactly at 8 a.m., his anger dissolved and he felt an inexplicable pull. Without thinking, he walked straight to Maharaj.
Maharaj smiled the moment he saw him. “Come, child. I was waiting for you. You had decided not to come… so what changed your mind?”
Narendra froze. His unspoken thoughts had been revealed effortlessly. From that day onward, he began visiting regularly. Slowly his anger eased, his doubts softened, and his attraction toward Maharaj deepened. Though full faith had not yet developed, sincere respect had begun to grow. He now examined Maharaj’s words carefully—not rebelliously, but sincerely.
When the B.Com results were finally announced, they matched exactly what Maharaj had whispered—Second Class, exactly as predicted. These results were declared months after this meeting, long after papers were written, evaluated and finalised.
This experience planted an unshakeable impression in Narendra’s heart. His transformation had begun, though the old logic still held power. Faith had sprouted—but had yet to bloom.