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Born in Sanjanghat (Maharashtra), Samartha Ramdas was the preceptor(Guru) of King Shivaji who re-established the Hindu reign in India. A number of disciples of Samartha Ramdas had given up their passion for worldly desires and taken to ascetic life.

One of his disciples, Sri Ranganath Goswami was very affluent. So he always traveled in a palanquin with all the pomp due to a King. The other disciples of Samartha Ramdas were displeased with Ranganath Goswami's ostentatious way of living and complained about that to their Guru. Samartha Ramdas intended to prove the dispassion of Sri Ranganath Goswami to his other disciples. So he called Ranganatha Goswami and asked him to send off the palanquin and other paraphernalia. It was midday. He asked Ranganath Goswami to wear just a loin cloth and sit at that very place under the blazing sun while the other disciples stood watching. Having ordered thus, Samartha Ramdas left the place along with his disciples.

Sri Ranganatha Goswami too did as ordained by his Guru. While he was sitting thus under the midday sun wearing nothing but a loin-cloth, King Shivaji happened to pass that way along with his troupe. He could not bear to see the favourite disciple of His Guru sitting under the scorching sun. He immediately ordered his servants to build a tent there. He appointed two men to fan him and two others as guards. He kept a palanquin and bearers ready for him to travel if he wished to.

In the evening, Samartha Ramdas came there and addressing his other disciples said, "Even if he gives up the pomp and pleasures of the world, see how it comes to him of its own accord! Though he lives amidst the pleasures, he is no less dispassionate than the rest of you. It is only due to the 'punya' (virtues) he has gained from his previous births, that he is enjoying all the pleasures in this birth. Only if he enjoys all the pleasures and gets rid of his 'punyas', will he attain liberation in this birth."

Children, the fruits of our actions in our previous births (good or evil) will certainly be experienced by us, irrespective of our desire to enjoy it or not.

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