Ram, the Friend of the Poor

DURING his visits to the village, the villagers tried to dissuade Ramdas from staying in that jungle at nights as they warned him of tigers and other wild animals, because the place occupied by him formed part of a dense and extensive forest. But when the all-powerful Ram was there to save him, where was fear for him and from whom? Ram is pervading everywhere – in all things, in all beings, in all creatures. He continued there for eight days, when he received the command from Ram to move on.

A small incident which took place here has to be chronicled at this stage. One day, when he was passing the small bazaar of this place with his Lota in hand, he felt thirsty. He now approached, as he walked on, a number of small low huts on one side of the road. Going up to one of them, at its entrance he found an old mother sitting. He begged of her to give him some water in his Lota. The old mother shook her head and said: “Maharaj, you cannot take water at my hands.”

“May Ramdas know the reason for this objection?” inquired Ramdas.

“The simple reason is”, put in the mother, “I belong to a very low caste – to be brief – I am a barber woman.”

“What of that?” said Ramdas, not the least surprised. “You are Ramdas’ mother all the same – kindly satisfy the thirst of your son.”

She was highly pleased at this reply, and going in brought out a seat for him and her water vessel out of which she poured some water into his Lota. He quenched his thirst occupying the seat so kindly offered by her. Now the old mother said that she was utterly miserable. Left alone in the world, she spent all her days and nights in pain, fear and anxiety. Ramdas then assured her:

“O mother, there is no cause for fear and anxiety or for a feeling of loneliness when there is Ram to protect us all – Ram is always near us.”

“But a poor, weak-minded woman like myself does not possess any faith in Ram, because I am a sinner.” So saying the mother burst into tears.

“You shall have faith, kind mother, by the grace of Ram. Don’t despair, Ram is always the friend of the poor and the humble,” said Ramdas.

“Then show me the way,” asked the old mother.

“Repeat the one name ‘Ram’ at all times of the day and at nights when you are awake. You may be sure that you will not feel lonely or miserable as long as you are uttering that glorious name. Where this name is sounded, or meditated upon, there resides no sorrow, no anxiety – nay, not even death.”

Saying thus, Ramdas started to go, when she begged him to visit her again the next day. As desired by her, he went to her hut again the following day at about the same time.

“Well mother, how do you do?” was his question.

There was a cheerful smile on the face of the mother. She said that she had acted upon his advice and was finding herself much relieved from fear and cares. Then she offered him some Ladoos which she said she had got from the sweet-meat shop.

“Mother, this is not what Ramdas wants, he wants something prepared by your own hands,” said he.

At this she went in and got for him, a piece of Roti or bread made by her which he ate with no small amount of pleasure. Later, he saw her once again, when she was busy uttering “Ram, Ram!”