An interesting incident happened one day when Durga Charan went to his village home to visit his father. A cow that was tied near a corner of the house was straining to reach a pumpkin plant growing nearby, but the rope she was tied with was too short. Durga Charan happened to see the cow and out of compassion released her so she could eat the plant. Seeing this, Dindayal flew into a rage and said: “You yourself do not earn money. Instead of helping the household, why are you causing harm to it? You have given up your medical practice. Now how will you maintain yourself?”
“Please don’t worry about that. God will take care of me,” replied Durga Charan.
“Yes, I know. Now you will go naked and live on frogs!”
Durga Charan immediately stripped himself, picked up a dead frog from the courtyard, and started eating it. He then said to his father: “Now I have fulfilled both of your commands. Please don’t worry about my food and clothing any longer. Chant the name of the Lord, I beg you, and don’t think about household affairs in your old age.” Dindayal now thought that his son had indeed become mad and, in order to avert further bizarre behaviour, told his daughter-in-law, “Hereafter, let none go against his wishes.”
Durga Charan could not tolerate worldly talk. If anyone started such a conversation, he would skillfully change the subject to spiritual matters. If he happened to become angry with someone, he would mercilessly beat his own body with whatever object he had near at hand as self-punishment. He would not contradict anyone, nor would he indulge in criticizing others. Once he inadvertently made a critical remark about a person and, as soon as he was aware of it, he picked up a stone and hit his own head with it until it bled profusely. It took about a month for the wound to heal. He justified this strange action by saying, “The wicked deserve right punishment.”
His austerity defies description. The Bhagavata says, “He who has controlled the tongue has controlled everything.” It is hard to concentrate the mind on God if it is always drawn to good food, and, because of this, Durga Charan was very particular about controlling his palate. In order to curb his desire for delicacies, he would not use any salt or sugar on his food. Once he lived for two or three days on rice bran alone. He often abstained from food and water for days. He gave up using shirts and shoes and wore only a plain cloth and chadar (cotton shawl). Observing his austerity and self-effacement, his close friend Girish Chandra Ghosh remarked, “Nag Mahashay has knocked on the head of his rascal ego so severely that it cannot raise its hood anymore.” (Source: They Lived with God)