The Ten Rupee Vow: Closing the Gap Between Intention and Action

In the city of Bhiwandi, Thane district, a profound Leela unfolded at the home of Mr. Appa Sahib Kulkarni. Sai Baba appeared at his doorstep in the form of a beggar. Appa’s wife, seeking blessings, offered the Fakir a single rupee. When Appa returned and discovered that Baba had visited in person but received only a token amount, he boldly declared, “If I were there, I wouldn't have given less than ten rupees!”

Eager to fulfill this sentiment, Appa went out to search for the Fakir but returned disappointed. As per the scriptures, he first took his meal—for without nourishment, one cannot grasp spirituality—and then went for a walk. Suddenly, the beggar appeared. Appa rushed to him, exclaiming, “Ah, we've found him!” Yet, in that moment of contact, the memory of his grand vow faded. He offered only one rupee. Baba, displaying immense patience, refused to accept it, prompting Appa to give another, and another, until he had given nine rupees. Even then, Appa hesitated, saying, “Now, I only have a ten rupee note.” Baba, seeing through the reluctance, simply said, “Alright, fine,” took the ten-rupee note, and returned the nine coins, thereby forcefully completing Appa’s original vow of ten rupees.