In plain words
I will come in the first class. All you will get is a zero,’ he said. ‘Think what you like! Even if I get a zero, Bābā will make me a hero,’ said Śivadās with the utmost faith. Very well! With that they ended the argument and went away. They went to a hotel and had tiffin. The friend went off to Bagalkot. Śivadās went to Manmad. In the end the friend failed, and Śivadās passed with good marks. Then the friend thought it over. ‘Oh! I made a mistake. I spoke needlessly.’ And he entered for the examination again. He passed. Later came marriage, and a son was born. Ten years went by. Śivadās used to go to Shirdi every year. After passing, Śivadās went to Shirdi: ‘Swami! By Your grace I have passed; but I did not write that examination, You wrote it,’ he said to Bābā. ‘Yes, I Myself wrote it. You may be priding yourself, “I have passed”; but I passed you. There is a mistake in thinking “I passed”,’ He said. ‘Never be proud. Go!’ He said.
Man's chief wealth is the grace of God alone!
Śivadās practised in Bombay itself and prospered well. His friend married, and a son was born to him. He too came to Bombay and began to practise. Being old friends, they often met. Meanwhile the son born to the friend grew well for two or three years and then died. He was an only son. He grieved terribly. He turned into a madman. He gave up his practice. He went on suffering in every way. ‘My son is gone; my very life has become worthless. For whom am I to earn? To whom am I to give these earnings? Life is of no use to me,’ he kept saying, utterly weary of it all. Śivadās went to him: ‘You are making a great mistake. Come to Shirdi once!’ he said. ‘I have none of those beliefs,’ said his friend. ‘All right! Then come at least for my sake,’ and he pressed him hard.