How did the veil of 'Maya' cause Dev to misinterpret the events of the Udyapan ceremony?

The veil of Maya, or delusion, was the primary cause of Dev's misinterpretation. As stated in Chapter 40, when Baba arrived as a Sanyasi, his "previous purpose spread a veil of Maya." This spiritual illusion caused Dev's mind to fixate on a simple, worldly explanation: "He is some guest who has come to get a meal." This state of delusion was strengthened by Dev's own logic; he reasoned that since the Sanyasi had previously come for fundraising, it couldn't possibly be Baba. This mental block, a product of Maya, made him completely overlook Baba's hint that two others would accompany him, thus blinding him to the divine leela unfolding in his own home.