The Master was daily fed at different houses, at a cost of four _pan_ of _cowries_ [_i.e._, one anna] for the three of them,--the Master, Kashishwar, and Govinda (His body-servant.) Ramchandra Puri closely inquired into the Master's abode, manners, food, bed and travels. He could not reach the Master's merits, but roaming in search of His defects, could not find any. Then he began to slander the Master to all the people, saying, "He is a _sannyasi_ and yet eats sweetmeats. How can such luxury enable him to control the lusts of the flesh?" He daily came to visit the Master, but only to pry into His shortcomings,--for that was the only work of the Puri,--while the Master did him reverence as His _guru_. He knew of the slanders spoken by the Puri [against Him], but welcomed and honoured him greatly. One day the Puri came to the Master's house in the morning, and noticing some ants on the floor, delivered this covert attack, "Verily sweetmeats were brought here last night, for ants are running about. A wonder _sannyasis_ dead to the world have such gluttonous cravings!" And then he left in a hurry. The Master now saw with His own eyes what He had only heard before, [about the slander spread against Him]. He called Govinda and told him, "From to-day my meal will be one packet of rice and curry of the _pinda-bhog_ worth 20 cowries [i.e., one quarter-anna]. Don't accept any food above this for me. If you bring more, you will not see me here." Half of this the Master ate and the other half He left for Govinda, and both remained famished. Then He commanded Govinda and Kashishwar to beg their food elsewhere. Thus some days passed in great hardship. Hearing of it, Ramchandra Puri came to the Master and smiling told Him, "It is not a sannyasi's _dharma_ to gratify his appetite. He eats just enough to fill his stomach anyhow. I find you lean and hear that you eat only half your fill. This drying _bairagya_ is not a sannyasi's _dharma_. A sannyasi performs true _jnan-yog_ when he fills his stomach as far as is necessary but does not enjoy his food. (_Gitá_, vi. 16-17.)" The Master replied, "I am an ignorant child and your pupil. It is my good fortune that you are teaching me." Ramchandra Puri then left.