This incident took place before the rite of commencement of the third chaturmas of Acharya Maharaj at Nainagiri. The rains had not set in and it was very hot. One day, as I was performing the samayik outside the Water Temple in the last hour of the night, I was stung by a poisonous insect. The pain was excruciating. I could not perform the samayik properly. Acharya Maharaj was quietly observing the proceedings from close quarters. The last hour of the night seemed interminable. By day break, the pain abated. Bowing at the feet of Acharya Maharaj, 1 submitted that because of unbearable pain, I could not retain my equanimity and it affected the performance of the samayik.
Acharya Maharaj said to me with utmost gravity, “A sadhu is expected to endure privations and ordeals placidly: Only then is it possible to erode the accumulation of past karmas. It also is not proper to compromise the prescribed observances. You must retain your equanimity. Go now and give up all rasas. This shall be your penance.” Everyone was surprised that a compassionate Acharya like him had given me a penance to perform, even though I was suffering.
In fact, the true kindness of an Acharya manifests itself in teaching his disciple how to vanquish ordeals of all kinds, avoid laxity of conduct and inculcate self-discipline.
Nainagiri (1982)