People began to flock to Ramanashram in large numbers. Everyone who went there was not necessarily good. Once in 1924, a band of thieves came to the Ashram in the guise of disciples. All the valuable things in the Ashram were looted. One of them thrashed even the Maharshi. But Ramana’s disciples caught him. They asked for permission to punish the thief. Ramana did not give his consent. His reply was: 'The snakebites, the scorpion stings, the bull buffs. Are we right in crushing them because they do so? We should try to keep away from them.Even so, the thieves think that it is their nature to commit theft. But to pardon them is our Dharma (sacred duty). True humanity lies not in returning violence for violence, but in forgiveness. Let us set the man free."