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hospitable, and would very willingly feed Sadhu and Sannyasis. But to get a vegetarian family was very difficult. After some time, one man went to them, as if sent by God, and asked whether the Saint would accept food from him as he was a complete vegetarian. Manibhai and the Saint went to his hutment. He was a very poor man and gave some dried up pieces of loaf. The Saint soaked them in water and consumed. But what about the other two ? Saint realised the situation and took Manibhai again to the house of the poor man who was rich in heart. A dried up loaf was given to Manibhai who also could consume the same after soaking it in water. Meeraben was on Ekadashi fast and so she could not take even dry loaf soaked in water. The hotel-owner came to know this. So he offered a cup of milk and a “Til-Chiki” (preparation of sesamum in Gur).
All of them were half-staved and exhausted on account of journey under extreme heat - everyone carrying his or her own belonging.
After covering some miles for the next destination they noticed a hut. Seeing them approaching that hut, a gentleman clad in khaddar came out to receive them. He said he was a Sarvodaya. worker and would be glad to receive them in his hut. He gave some ration and materials for cooking which was done by Meeraben and Manibhai. However, like a true Jain Muni, Santbal always preferred not to take Bhiksha only from one person unless circumstances forced him to do so. He, therefore, inquired from his host whether any other vegetarian family was available. The kind host took him to the village proper which was at a great distance. Though they were all completely exhausted, the Saint preferred to cover the distance to the village in burning heat and obtained for him a part of Bhiksha from a different family. During this journey the Saint took food only once a day for most of the days. Even when he got a vegetarian family, the food was many a times mixed with potatoes, onions or garlic -- which
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