“In his dealings with us younger monks,” writes Swami Aseshananda, “the swami’s love and forgiveness were limitless. One day when I was with him at Puri, he told me he couldn’t find the beads that he usually kept in a drawer. ‘They belonged to the Holy Mother and I kept them after her mahasamadhi,’ he said. ‘They were strung on a golden thread. Probably somebody came and took them on account of the golden thread while we were away seeing Lord Jagannath at His temple.’ I was concerned. I thought perhaps I had accidentally thrown the rosary into the sea along with the flowers after evening worship. I returned to the beach and searched for a long time but found nothing. The swami consoled me: ‘One by one everything is going away. This is the will of the Mother. What can be done? Don’t worry.’”
As Saradananda grew older, he could no longer personally look after the health of the sick monks and devotees, but still he showed his concern and gave his love and sympathy to all. One hot summer day after lunch Saradananda left Udbodhan alone, which was unusual, so his attendant (Aseshananda) followed him. Saradananda tried to discourage him from following: He was going to visit Khokani, a Parsee devotee who was dying from advanced tuberculosis, and he was concerned about his attendant’s health. Observing the attendant’s earnestness, Saradananda allowed him to come along. They reached Ezra Street in Central Calcutta, where the devotee was living on the second floor of a house. Khokani was overjoyed seeing the swami, but he continually coughed. He was not careful about sanitary rules; he used his hands instead of a handkerchief when he coughed. Nevertheless, Saradananda sat on his bed and comforted him by putting his hand on his head and caressing it.
Khokani asked his brother to buy some fruits and sweets for Saradananda. When the fruits arrived, without washing his hands, Khokani peeled the fruits, sliced them, and then offered them to the swami on a plate. His attendant protested: “Khokani, the swami has just finished his meal. I don’t think he will be able to take anything now.” But when Khokani insisted, Saradananda took a few slices of fruits and sweets to fulfill the desire of a dying devotee. He then meditated a little and took leave. On the way back, the attendant said: “Swami, you should not have taken those fruits. I have heard that tuberculosis is very contagious. Your life is precious to all of us.” Saradananda gently replied, quoting Sri Ramakrishna, “No harm will come if one accepts the food given with a loving heart.” Within a few days Khokani died.