CHAPTER V.
AT THE HOUSE OF A DISCIPLE.
The steamer has come back to Koylâ Ghât (Calcutta). All on board get ready to land. Coming out of the cabin they see that the full moon bathes the bosom of the Holy Ganges and the banks adjoining with her mellow light.
The Master with two or three disciples including M. gets into a cab which is waiting for Him on the shore. Nandalal, Keshab's nephew, also gets in. He wishes to go with the Master some distance.
When all have seated themselves in the cab Sri Râmakrishna says, 'Where is he?' meaning Keshab. In a few moments Keshab comes up smiling, and saying, 'Who are the persons that are going with Him?' Being satisfied with the answer, he bows down to the ground before the Master, who affectionately bids him adieu.
The cab has set out. It is that part of the town where the Europeans live; beautiful well-watered streets lined on both sides with beautiful mansions! It is the full moon. The splendid palatial buildings seem to repose under the soft, serene light. Near the gates are gas lights; within are brightly illuminated rooms; the sweet sound of music reaches the ear; evidently European ladies were singing to the accompaniment of the piano.
1 Ahamkâr.
2 Vedântists or Jnânis
3 Bhaktas.
The Master is filled with the joy of the Lord as the carriage drives along. Suddenly He says, 'I am thirsty; what is to be done?' Nandalal stops the carriage before the gates of the India Club and goes upstairs to fetch water. Water is brought in a glass tumbler. The Master smiling asks, 'Is the glass well washed?' Nandalal says 'Yes.' The Master drinks from the glass.
He is child-like in his simplicity. He puts forward his face to look at the various objects on both sides. His joy knows no bounds as he looks on men, animals, carriages, houses, the moon-light, the lighted streets!
Nandalal alights at Colutola. The cab comes to a stop before the door of Suresh Mitra's house. Suresh is very much attached to the Master, but he is not at home. He has gone to visit a newly-purchased garden at Kankurgachi.
His people open a room on the ground-floor and invite the party to be seated there.
The cab fare is to be paid. Who is to pay it? Had Suresh been at home, he would have paid it. The Master says to a disciple, 'Ask the ladies of the house for the fare. I suppose they know well enough that their husbands and lords are in the habit of coming to our place.' (Laughter.)
Vivekananda with the Master.
Narendra (Vivekananda) lives in the same neighbourhood, so the Master sends for him. Meanwhile the inmates of the house have led Him upstairs into the drawing-room. The matting of the floor is covered with a carpet and a white sheet. Three or four bolsters are lying about. On the walls there hangs a beautiful oil-painting which Suresh means to be a picture of the Harmony of All Religions. In that painting Sri Râmakrishna is represented as pointing out to Keshab that all religions lead to one Goal, God—be it Hinduism, Mahomedanism, Buddhism, Christianity or any of their various sects.
He talks with smiles on his lips when Narendra comes up. His joy is redoubled. He says smiling to Narendra as he talks, 'We enjoyed such a pleasant trip on board the steamer with Keshab Sen. Bejoy also was there and many of these present here.' Pointing to M. He says, You may ask M. how I told Keshab and Bejoy about the Mother and Daughter both observing the 'fast on Tuesday'—each for her own welfare and how God's sports in this world would suffer for want of nourishment in the absence of obstructives like Jatilla and Kutilla!
(To M.) 'Was this not so, M?'
M. replied, 'Quite so, Revered Sir.'
It is getting late. But Suresh has not come back as yet. The Master will go back to the Temple-garden at Dakhshineswar. It is about half-past ten and he must leave for the garden.
The streets are flooded with moonlight. The cab is at the door. The Master gets in. Narendra and M., each bows down low to the Master and goes back to his own house.