T' he Guru accompanied by Mardana, departed from there. They came across a vast desolated stretch of land. No man could be seen. Here, Mardana became hungry and said: O Guru, your love of the Lord is all right, but I was happy as a singer. At least, one could eat well. We have got lost in this forest. Some lion or wolf will come and kill us. Only the Lord can take us out.
The Guru said: O Mardana, nothing will come near you, but you muster courage.
Mardana: How can I muster courage in this jungle?
Guru: O Mardana, where Name is there, it is not a jungle. It is a town. You get up and sing a divine song. Without your singing, it seems desolate. You get up and play the rebeck.
Mardana: My throat is parched with hunger. I cannot play the rebeck.
Guru: Let us go back to the town.
Mardana: I cannot even walk back. My throat is choked with hunger. I am going to die.
Guru: I won't let you die until it is Lord's will. You get up.
Mardana: I cannot get up. I am going to die. Don't trouble me.
Guru: Mardana, go and eat the fruit of this tree. Eat to your fill but don't carry it in your bag.
Mardana: That's fine.
Then, Mardana ate the fruit of the tree. He enjoyed the deliciousness. He said to his mind: I wish to eat all this fruit. Let me carry some. I shall eat later. He carried some in his bag.
While going, again he became hungry and ate the fruit. He fell down.
The Guru said: O Mardana, What has happened?
Mardana: Your Holiness, you had said, 'Don't carry them in your bag'. I thought I must carry some, I may not find them again. So, I carried them in my bag and ate. I have fallen down.
Guru: O Mardana, you made a mistake in eating them. They were poisonous fruits. By the power of the word, they had become sweet.
Then, the Guru put his sacred feet on Mardana's forehead. Then, Mardana became all right and he got up.
Then, Mardana said: You are in love with the Lord and you remain immersed in His love. I am a humble singer and you are a great prophet. You can live without food and you can live outside the towns. How can I continue to stay with you? You give me leave to go home.
Guru: I am so much pleased with you. Why do you want to leave me?
Mardana: Your pleasure is all right but you give me leave. I want to go home.
Guru: Can you not stay with me?
Mardana: I can stay if you appease my hunger. Whatever support you have for your hunger that should be my support also. If you bless me like that, then, I can stay with you. Also, you do not mind my shortcomings, then, I can stay with you. If you do not agree, then, you may give me leave.
Guru: O Mardana, you are blessed in this world and for the next world too.
Then, Mardana fell at the Guru's sacred feet
The Guru blessed him with the incessant remembrance of the Lord. His mind got elevation and he got ecstasy.
Then, Mardana stayed on with the Guru.
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