This ashram has strict rules, and one of them is that if any mistake is made in any task, the person will be exiled to a distant region away from the ashram. Violation of rules results in expulsion. However, the first three mistakes are forgiven. In all her years in the ashram, this was the first time the divine maiden made an error in her duties. She felt ashamed of her actions. Her thoughts went to her former fellow student, Tara. Tara was not only a student of this ashram but also the daughter of the great Guru himself.
One evening, long after the evening rituals had ended, Tara was resting in her own cottage. She had secretly planned to leave the ashram and go elsewhere. When her guru-father found out, he tried to reason with her, urging her not to take such action. But Tara didn't listen. She then did something extremely daring—she left the ashram in the dead of night. Lost in the forest, she had intended to meet Ramananda, but she failed to reach her destination in the pitch-black night and had to take shelter in the hut of a forest dweller. When she returned the next day, the guru expelled her from the ashram for breaking the rules.
Even Ramananda, for whom she had broken the rules, couldn't accept her for fear of social disgrace. Alas, in this society, if an unmarried young woman spends the night in a man's house without being related to him, she is shunned, regardless of whether she actually committed any immoral act or not! With a heavy sigh, the divine maiden looked steadily at the idol of Lord Rudra.
She prayed silently to the Lord of the Gods for forgiveness. Tears streamed down her face. What answer could she give for her actions? She returned to her meditation. She needed answers to many questions. Her guru-father had told her that only through meditation could one find the right answers. She sat in deep meditation for a long time. Her companions also joined her in meditating.
In their meditative state, her two companions, Priyabhashini and Anupriya, experienced a strange vision. They saw a warrior on horseback, adorned in battle attire, approaching Madhuban with a massive army, cutting trees as they advanced. Even the sacred Durva grass was being trampled underfoot. Seeing this vision with closed eyes, they shivered in fear. And when they opened their eyes, the vision seemed to come true—a young man was approaching their place of worship alongside the guru-father. It was the same young man they had seen during their meditation, though they did not yet know his identity.
The divine maiden broke out of her meditation at the sight of the powerful Devadatta. Her heart trembled. She rose slowly from her seat of worship. The guru-father sat on a mat of sacred grass in front of the altar and began the worship of the Lord of the Gods. Everyone was surprised to see the plate full of sacred Bilva leaves, but the divine maiden and Anupriya understood where they came from. Soon everyone realized that the guru-mother herself had placed the leaves to protect her from punishment.
Anupriya and Priyabhashini still did not know the identity of the young man. They looked toward the divine maiden and saw her staring unblinkingly at the stranger. Her meditation was again broken by the chanting of the guru's mantra:
"Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat."
The divine maiden silently prayed, "O Rudra, why does my heart flutter when I see this stranger? Why do I feel such a mysterious pull toward him?" She closed her eyes again and prayed for forgiveness for her lapse in duties. After the worship, the guru-father gave everyone flowers and sprinkled sacred water from the river Jahnavi on their heads. The divine maiden again prayed, "O Lord, forgive me. Overcome by attachment, I erred in your daily worship. It is only because of the guru-mother that I was spared punishment."
The great guru then said, "Daughters, go and sit beneath the holy tree. Today, I will discuss the Bhagavata." But did the divine maiden really commit a crime? That is a pointless question. Let us now return to the holy tree and hear the ongoing discourse.
After the worship, everyone gathered under the holy tree. The stranger, too, sat a little apart beneath the tree. The guru-father began, "This is Devadatta. He comes from a distant land. The world is again entering a time of great hardship. But there is no need for special concern. Whenever crisis arises, the divine beings descend in the guise of sages and yogis to save the earth."
Hearing this, Devadatta asked, "Gurudev, do the gods really incarnate just to save the world? Or do they also have personal desires? Why is everything in creation dependent on others' power? Why can't we use our own strength?"
The great guru replied, "Why would the one from whom all of creation comes desire anything from it? But those involved in divine work sometimes develop pride in their power. And to destroy that pride, cataclysms come. Until we are fully aware of our own strength, we must rely on others. That's why the Lord must repeatedly incarnate, living as a mere human and performing all worldly duties."
After this, the guru fell silent. Devadatta spoke again, "Please tell us of previous creations. I love hearing those stories from your lips."
Though the divine maiden was disappointed her own questions weren't answered, she remained silent. As a disciple of the great guru, she could not think of breaking discipline. She sat quietly with downcast eyes, awaiting the moment.
Seeing her restraint, the guru said kindly, "Daughter, do not be saddened. Today's discussion will bring answers to your questions."
The divine maiden asked, "Gurudev, you once said that woman is nature and change is the law of nature. Then is it not man's duty to protect the honor of woman? Please resolve this doubt today. Why was Tara exiled? Just for taking refuge at night in Shyama's cottage out of fear? Why, father? If she had fallen prey to a wild beast or a wicked man, would it not have been right to take shelter with a good man? Does man alone possess that right?"
The great guru smiled slightly and said, "Daughter, I've told you before, the soul has no gender. It is eternal and incorporeal, moving from one body to another. But this is a deep truth that must be realized. And realization comes through discipline. The time for self-formation is this youth. Just as clay vessels become fixed in shape after being fired, so too does character become unchangeable once formed. That is why strict discipline is essential.
Tara did not merely stay the night in a stranger's home. She also broke ashram rules. If she wasn't punished, others would repeat the same mistake and seek forgiveness. And she had broken the rules before. Repeated mistakes are not just errors—they become offenses. If the intention is pure, then the whole creation supports and protects one in fulfilling it—just as it did for Shakuntala."
Priyabhashini asked, "Father, who is this Shakuntala?"