There was a merchant who was exhorted by his teacher to repeat the Name of the Lord; he pleaded he had no time to sit and repeat it: the shop took up all his time and energy. He had to go out a little away from the village every morning for answering the calls of nature. He spent about half an hour for this. So, the Guru asked him to use this time for the daily smarana. Hanumaan was passing through the sky, when he saw the merchant defecafing and heard him repeat Raam Raam Raam while so engaged. Hanumaan was incensed at his impertinence; he was desecrating the Name by pronouncing it while unclean. So, he gave him a hard blow on the cheek and continued his journey to Ayodhya.
When he reached the Divine Presence and looked at the splendour-filled face of Raama, he noticed the swollen red print of a hand upon His cheek. Hanumaan was shocked and His grief was too deep for words. Raama told him, Hanumaan! Do not ask Me the name of the person who dealt this blow. I always anticipate the moment of calamity for my bhakthas (devotees) and I intercede in time to save them. That poor merchant, sitting outside the village, who was repeating My Name when you were coming here, could he withstand the terrible onslaught of your angry fist? The fellow would have collapsed on the spot. So, I intercepted the blow and received it on my own cheek, my dear Hanumaan. Bhaktharakshana (protection of devotees) is one of His main tasks. '"Yogakshemam Vahaamyaham" (welfare and safety) is no empty assurance; it is the Vow of the Lord, and He is Sathya-swaruupa--very embodiement of Truth.... - taken from Swami's Discourse on 7th September 1996... Sai Ram
