United States or Vatican City ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Life may be too long." "God first; money is His slave! Who can tell? Life may be too short." My retort was summoned by the exigencies of the moment, and held no presentiment. "Wisdom from the hermitage, I suppose! But I see you have left Benares." Ananta's eyes gleamed with satisfaction; he yet hoped to secure my pinions in the family nest. "My sojourn in Benares was not in vain!
"There is something reassuring about the clink of coins." Jitendra said no more as I regarded him sternly. "Mukunda, I am not heartless." A hint of humility had crept into Ananta's voice. It may be that his conscience was smiting him; perhaps for sending two insolvent boys to a strange city; perhaps for his own religious skepticism.
Soon after Ananta's passing, my younger sister Nalini was brought back from death's door by a divine healing. Before relating the story, I will refer to a few phases of her earlier life. The childhood relationship between Nalini and myself had not been of the happiest nature. I was very thin; she was thinner still.
Ananta hospitably arranged for our comfort. Several times during the evening I noticed his eyes fixed on me reflectively. "I know that look!" I thought. "A plot is brewing!" The denouement took place during our early breakfast. "So you feel quite independent of Father's wealth." Ananta's gaze was innocent as he resumed the barbs of yesterday's conversation.
"'I heard from a brother coachman that your son and two others, dressed in European suits, boarded the train at Howrah Station, the man stated. 'They made a present of their leather shoes to the cab driver. "Thus I had three clues-the timetable, the trio of boys, and the English clothing." I was listening to Ananta's disclosures with mingled mirth and vexation.
He wrote further: "It is no nebulous ecstasy, but a state of transcendent wonder, associated with absolute clearness of mind." My mother's greatest desire was the marriage of my elder brother. "Ah, when I behold the face of Ananta's wife, I shall find heaven on this earth!" I frequently heard Mother express in these words her strong Indian sentiment for family continuity.
Midnight was approaching. The two "Cinderellas," sent forth penniless, entered Ananta's bedroom. His face, as he had promised, was a study in astonishment. Silently I showered the table with rupees. "Jitendra, the truth!" Ananta's tone was jocular. "Has not this youngster been staging a holdup?" But as the tale was unfolded, my brother turned sober, then solemn.
My friend and I made for the shelter of a lordly cadamba tree at the ashram gate. Sharp words followed; once again Jitendra was beset with misgivings. "A fine mess you have got me into! Our luncheon was only accidental good fortune! How can we see the sights of this city, without a single pice between us? And how on earth are you going to take me back to Ananta's?"
Ananta's tone held a note of resignation. "My fear was to inflame your desire to leave home. But in any case you are bristling with divine ardor. When I captured you recently on your way to the Himalayas, I came to a definite resolve. I must not further postpone the fulfillment of my solemn promise." My brother handed me a small box, and delivered Mother's message.
"Sauti continued, 'The snake, Sesha, the lord Ananta, of great prowess, lives underneath the Earth, alone supporting the world at the command of Brahman. And the illustrious Grandsire, the best of the immortals, then gave unto Ananta the bird of fair feathers, viz., the son of Vinata, for Ananta's help." So ends the thirty-sixth section in the Astika Parva of the Adi Parva.
Word Of The Day