An old man came and sat in the hall. Maharshi was reading Sarma’s Sanskrit recension of “Arunachala Akshara Manamalai” (the first of The Five Hymns to Arunachala). The man asked softly, “It is said that realization is beyond expression; and expression always fails to describe the realization. How is it?”
M.: The point has been mentioned in “Arunachala Ashtakam”, Verse 3. “Where, it is admitted that, although the expression of realization is impossible, still its existence is indicated.”
Soon after there were visible signs of emotion in the man. His breath was deep and hard and he fell on the floor prostrating humbly and got up only after one or two minutes. Remaining calm a brief while, he left the place. Evidently the man had had some illumination. He sought confirmation from Maharshi, who responded fittingly. He found confirmation, and humbly and feelingly acknowledged the divine intercession on his behalf.