This is a heart-wrenching incident related by Pujyapad Puri Shankaracharyaji. It shows us what true devotion really is, and the path taken by great bhaktas is not an easy one at all.
Dharma Samrat Karpatriji Maharaj, His Guru, was in Tihar jail for being in the gauraksha andolan. In jail, His eyes were pierced with iron rods by murderer inmates. There was a plan to kill Him, but He was protected by other sants.
The pain of His eye was excruciating. Prior to this incident, Pujya Karpatriji Maharaj used to explain to Puri Shankaracharyaji, that in Dandak van, Bhagavan Rama used two walk barefoot and thorns pricked His lotus feet. As per 9th canto of Srimad Bhagavat, Sukjhedvji says that we must meditate, not only the lotus feet of Bhagavan Rama in our hearts, but also the pain and suffering of thorns that pricked Bhagavan Ramaji’s feet. This would help us feel the pain and suffering of our sanatana symbols alive in our heart.
Pujya Karpatriji Maharaj said, that His Ishta, Raja Adhiraja Prabhu Ramaji had thorns in His feet, and we, being His bhaktas, must not complain even if our eyes are pierced.
This situation actually manifested when Pujya Karpatriji Maharaj’s eyes were pierced with rods. He did not complain, He did not cry.