After learning he had failed to recognize Baba, how did Dev rationalize his mistake?

Upon receiving Jog's letter explaining the truth, Dev felt immense shame but also understood why he had been deluded. In Chapter 40, Dev reflects that his failure to recognize Baba was due to a prior encounter. The man who appeared as a Sanyasi had previously visited Dev to collect funds for cow protection, before Dev had even invited Baba to the Udyapan. Because of this earlier, unrelated context, Dev's mind could not infer that this same person was Baba attending the meal. He lamented, "Therefore, such a delusion fell, and such a thing happened," also admitting he forgot Baba's specific words about bringing two others.