The Barren Buffalo Made to Give Milk

Guru Charitra – Chapter 22 One afternoon, Sri Guru went for alms to the home of a poor Brahmin. Some nearby Brahmins mocked Him, saying, *“When rich, delicious food is available in our homes, why would this Yati go to that poor man’s house?”* They did not understand that Sri Guru makes no distinction between king and pauper. He goes only where devotion calls Him, not where wealth resides.

Sri Guru entered the Brahmin’s home. The wife welcomed Him with reverence. After a moment, Sri Guru said, “If your husband will take time to return, bring me some milk. I see a buffalo tied outside your house.” Folding her hands, she replied, “Swami, that buffalo is barren. She has never given milk. We use her only to carry clay and loads. Today no work came, so she stands idle. Please wait; my husband will soon bring alms.”

Sri Guru said gently, “Do not lie to Me. Go and milk the buffalo and bring the milk to Me.” The Guru’s command is infallible. A thought arose within her: *“Let me try, since the Guru Himself has said so.”* She took a pot and began milking the buffalo—and to her astonishment, two full vessels of milk flowed out. She warmed the milk, offered it to Sri Guru, and He blessed her, saying, “From today, your poverty has ended.” Thus He departed toward the Sangam.

Sri Guru was fully aware that the woman’s husband was not at home. He arrived exactly at that moment because if the husband were present, he would have served cooked food, and the intended grace—the transformation of the barren buffalo—would not have occurred. Sri Guru merely said, “Go and milk the buffalo.” By His Sankalpa, the barren buffalo became a milking one. A creature that had never produced milk did so instantly because Sri Guru exercised mastery over the Panchamahabhutas and the animal’s inner functions, restoring its natural capacity. Thus the family’s suffering was removed.

Once, Vyankatnath Maharaj told Narendra, “Go to Khamgaon, meet Principal Munshi, inform him of our work, and ask him to give a discourse in our presence.” Narendra replied that he had never met him, though he had heard of his excellent Gita discourses. Maharaj said, “The relation he has with Me is the same as the relation you have with Me.” Yet Narendra hesitated and never went.

Later, while driving Maharaj from Deogaon Rangari to Akola, they approached Khamgaon. Maharaj asked, “Did you visit Munshi?” Narendra sought permission to visit him now, and Maharaj agreed, though He said, “We do not know his address.” Narendra assured Him he would find it.

At the house, Narendra informed Munshi’s wife: “Vyankatnath Maharaj has come. May we bring Him inside?” Confused, she asked, “Which Maharaj?” At that moment, Maharaj Himself stepped out of the car. Narendra whispered that she did not recognize Him, yet Maharaj calmly said, “Come; we shall go inside.” This was astonishing—Maharaj never entered a home unless invited. They climbed about forty steps to reach the house.

Inside, the lady asked if Maharaj would sit on a chair or a wooden seat. Maharaj sat. After waiting long, Narendra found her casually chatting with a neighbor. When told that if Munshi was not home they would leave, she returned and asked, “Will Maharaj have tea or milk?” Narendra said, “Maharaj does not drink tea.” But Maharaj said, “Bring milk.” This was surprising, as He never accepted food or drink outside except at specific times.

The lady replied, “We have no milk at home.”

At that moment, an elderly woman appeared at the door with an old brass pot full of cow’s milk. “Madam, I have extra milk today. Will you take it?” Delighted, she emptied the pot into her vessel and returned the pot. She heated the milk. But when she looked again, the milk-woman had vanished. With the long staircase and open courtyard, such disappearance was impossible. No one had ever seen her before, and she asked for no payment.

She offered the milk to Maharaj. He drank it. Then she asked, *“Maharaj, may I take your blessings?”* Maharaj said, “Why, child? Whom are you speaking to? Have you forgotten your Guru?” In that instant she recognized Him and cried, “Forgive me, Maharaj! My Guru has come after so many years, and I failed to recognize you!” She performed *aukshan* and expressed deep gratitude. She said she regularly visited Maharaj’s seat in Nagpur and would send her husband for darshan when he returned the next day.

Thus, after many years, Maharaj came unannounced to her home only to remove her inner heaviness and restore her devotion.

The sudden appearance of the milk-woman—just like the barren buffalo giving milk—reveals a profound truth: Guru has sovereignty over all beings, visible and invisible. He can manifest a living being instantly and withdraw them instantly. Whether in scripture or in modern experience, the Guru’s authority over the five elements and all life-forms remains unchanged. For Munshi’s wife, this was pure grace: a dissolving of doubt and the reawakening of devotion.