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> 第五十九章 Two Penniless Boys In Brindaban
第五十九章 Two Penniless Boys In Brindaban
Jitendra and I，fresh from the train，had just arrived at the home of Ananta，recently transferred from Calcutta to the ancient city of Agra。Brother was a supervising accountant for the Bengal-Nagpur Railway。
“What are your plans，my wandering brother？”
“Jitendra persuaded me to Agra。We shall view the beauties of the Taj Mahal 1here，”I explained。“Then we are going to my newly-found guru，who has a hermitage in Serampore。”
Ananta hospitably arranged for our comfort。Several times during the evening I noticed his eyes fxed on me refectively。
“I know that look！”I thought。“A plot is brewing！”
The denouement took place during our early breakfast。
“I propose that I send you and your fellow disciple Jitendra this morning to the near-by city of Brindaban。You must not take a single rupee；you must not beg，either for food or money；you must not reveal your predicament to anyone；you must not go without your meals；and you must not be stranded in Brindaban。If you return to my bungalow here before twelve oclock tonight，without having broken any rule of the test，I shall be the most astonished man in Agra！”
“Ill escort you to the train at once。”Ananta turned to the openmouthed Jitendra。“You must go along as a witness and，very likely，a fellow victim！”
A half hour later Jitendra and I were in possession of one-way tickets for our impromptu trip。
“There is something reassuring about the clink of coins。”Jitendra said no more as I regarded him sternly。
“Mukunda，If by any chance or grace you pass successfully through the Brindaban ordeal，I shall ask you to initiate me as your disciple。”
The door of our compartment opened；two men seated themselves。The next train stop would be the last。
“Young lads，do you have friends in Brindaban？”The stranger opposite me wastaking a surprising interest。
“None of your business！”Rudely I averted my gaze。
“You are probably flying away from your families under the enchantment of the Stealer of Hearts。I will make it my positive duty to see that you receive food，and shelter from this overpowering heat。”
“No，sir，let us alone。You are very kind；but you are mistaken in judging us to be truants from home。”
The train came to a halt。As Jitendra and I descended to the platform，our chance companions linked arms with us and summoned a horse cab。
We alit before a stately hermitage，set amidst the evergreen trees of well-kept grounds。We were soon joined by an elderly woman of dignifed bearing。
“Gauri Ma，the princes could not come。”One of the men addressed the ashram hostess。“At the last moment their plans went awry；they send deep regrets。But we have brought two other guests。As soon as we met on the train，I felt drawn to them as devotees of Lord Krishna。”
“Good-by，young friends。”Our two acquaintances walked to the door。
“You are welcome here。”Gauri Ma smiled in motherly fashion on her two unexpected charges。
“You could not have come on a better day。I was expecting two royal patrons of this hermitage。What a shame if my cooking had found none to appreciate it！”
Lunch was announced；Gauri Ma led the way to a dining patio，spicy with savory odors。She vanished into an adjoining kitchen。
The hostess reentered with a punkha。She steadily fanned us in the Oriental fashion as we squatted on ornate blanket seats。Ashram disciples passed to and fro with some thirty courses。Rather than“meal，”the description can only be“sumptuous repast。”Since arriving on this planet，Jitendra and I had never before tasted such delicacies。
Silenced as we were by Anantas requirement，we could not explain to the gracious lady that our thanks held a double signifcance。Our sincerity at least was patent。We departed with her blessing and an attractive invitation to revisit the hermitage。
The heat outdoors was merciless。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。
“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 Anantas？”“Be quiet，Jitendra！The same Lord who fed us will show us Brindaban，and return us to Agra。”
A slight young man of pleasing countenance approached at rapid pace。Halting under our tree，he bowed before me。
“Dear friend，you and your companion must be strangers here。Permit me to be your host and guide。”
I politely declined the offer。
“You are surely not banishing me？”The strangers alarm would have been comic in any other circumstances。
“Why not？”
“You are my guru。”His eyes sought mine trustfully。“During my midday devotions，the blessed Lord Krishna appeared in a vision。He showed me two forsaken fgures under this very tree。One face was yours，my master！Often have I seen it in meditation！What joy if you accept my humble services！”
“I too am glad you have found me。Neither God nor man has forsaken us！”Though I was motionless，smiling at the eager face before me，an inward obeisance cast me at the Divine Feet。
“At least give me memories of touring Brindaban with you。”
I gladly consented。The young man，who said his name was Pratap Chatterji，hailed a horse carriage。We visited Madanamohana Temple and other Krishna shrines。Night descended while we were at our temple devotions。
“Excuse me while I get sandesh。”Pratap entered a shop near the railroad station。Our friend was absent for some time，but fnally returned with gifts of many sweetmeats。“Please allow me to gain this religious merit。”Pratap smiled pleadingly as he held out a bundle of rupee notes and two tickets，just purchased，to Agra。
We sought out a secluded spot near the station。
“Pratap，I will instruct you in the Kriya of Lahiri Mahasaya，the greatest yogi of modern times。His technique will be your guru。”
The initiation was concluded in a half hour。“Kriya is your chintamani，”I told the new student。“The technique，which as you see is simple，embodies the art of quickening mans spiritual evolution。Be faithful in your practice；you will approach the Guru of all gurus。”
“I am transported to fnd this yogic key，long sought！”Pratap spoke thoughtfully。“Its unshackling effect on my sensory bonds will free me for higher spheres。”
We sat awhile in silent understanding，then walked slowly to the station。Joy was within me as I boarded the train，but this was Jitendras day for tears。
“How shallow my trust！My heart has been stone！Never in future shall I doubt Gods protection！”
Midnight was approaching。The two“Cinderellas”sent forth penniless，entered Anantas bedroom。His face，as he had promised，was a study in astonishment。Silently I showered the table with rupees。
“Jitendra，the truth！”Anantas tone was jocular。
But as the tale was unfolded，my brother turned sober，then solemn。
Late as it was，my brother insisted that he receive diksha 5 into Kriya Yoga。The“guru”Mukunda had to shoulder the responsibility of two unsought disciples in one day。
Breakfast the following morning was eaten in a harmony absent the day before。I smiled at Jitendra。
“You shall not be cheated of the Taj。Let us view it before starting for Serampore。”
Enough of sight-seeing！I was longing for my guru。
“Mukunda，I have not seen my family in months。I have changed my mind；perhaps later I shall visit your master in Serampore。”
My friend，who may mildly be described as vacillating in temperament，left me in Calcutta。By local train I soon reached Serampore，twelve miles to the north。
A throb of wonderment stole over me as I realized that twenty-eight days had elapsed since the Benares meeting with my guru。“You will come to me in four weeks！”Here I was，heart pounding，standing within his courtyard on quiet Rai Ghat Lane。I entered for the frst time the hermitage where I was to spend the best part of the next ten years with Indias Jyanavatar，“incarnation of wisdom”。
“What are your plans，my wandering brother？”
“Jitendra persuaded me to Agra。We shall view the beauties of the Taj Mahal 1here，”I explained。“Then we are going to my newly-found guru，who has a hermitage in Serampore。”
Ananta hospitably arranged for our comfort。Several times during the evening I noticed his eyes fxed on me refectively。
“I know that look！”I thought。“A plot is brewing！”
The denouement took place during our early breakfast。
“I propose that I send you and your fellow disciple Jitendra this morning to the near-by city of Brindaban。You must not take a single rupee；you must not beg，either for food or money；you must not reveal your predicament to anyone；you must not go without your meals；and you must not be stranded in Brindaban。If you return to my bungalow here before twelve oclock tonight，without having broken any rule of the test，I shall be the most astonished man in Agra！”
“Ill escort you to the train at once。”Ananta turned to the openmouthed Jitendra。“You must go along as a witness and，very likely，a fellow victim！”
A half hour later Jitendra and I were in possession of one-way tickets for our impromptu trip。
“There is something reassuring about the clink of coins。”Jitendra said no more as I regarded him sternly。
“Mukunda，If by any chance or grace you pass successfully through the Brindaban ordeal，I shall ask you to initiate me as your disciple。”
The door of our compartment opened；two men seated themselves。The next train stop would be the last。
“Young lads，do you have friends in Brindaban？”The stranger opposite me wastaking a surprising interest。
“None of your business！”Rudely I averted my gaze。
“You are probably flying away from your families under the enchantment of the Stealer of Hearts。I will make it my positive duty to see that you receive food，and shelter from this overpowering heat。”
“No，sir，let us alone。You are very kind；but you are mistaken in judging us to be truants from home。”
The train came to a halt。As Jitendra and I descended to the platform，our chance companions linked arms with us and summoned a horse cab。
We alit before a stately hermitage，set amidst the evergreen trees of well-kept grounds。We were soon joined by an elderly woman of dignifed bearing。
“Gauri Ma，the princes could not come。”One of the men addressed the ashram hostess。“At the last moment their plans went awry；they send deep regrets。But we have brought two other guests。As soon as we met on the train，I felt drawn to them as devotees of Lord Krishna。”
“Good-by，young friends。”Our two acquaintances walked to the door。
“You are welcome here。”Gauri Ma smiled in motherly fashion on her two unexpected charges。
“You could not have come on a better day。I was expecting two royal patrons of this hermitage。What a shame if my cooking had found none to appreciate it！”
Lunch was announced；Gauri Ma led the way to a dining patio，spicy with savory odors。She vanished into an adjoining kitchen。
The hostess reentered with a punkha。She steadily fanned us in the Oriental fashion as we squatted on ornate blanket seats。Ashram disciples passed to and fro with some thirty courses。Rather than“meal，”the description can only be“sumptuous repast。”Since arriving on this planet，Jitendra and I had never before tasted such delicacies。
Silenced as we were by Anantas requirement，we could not explain to the gracious lady that our thanks held a double signifcance。Our sincerity at least was patent。We departed with her blessing and an attractive invitation to revisit the hermitage。
The heat outdoors was merciless。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。
“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 Anantas？”“Be quiet，Jitendra！The same Lord who fed us will show us Brindaban，and return us to Agra。”
A slight young man of pleasing countenance approached at rapid pace。Halting under our tree，he bowed before me。
“Dear friend，you and your companion must be strangers here。Permit me to be your host and guide。”
I politely declined the offer。
“You are surely not banishing me？”The strangers alarm would have been comic in any other circumstances。
“Why not？”
“You are my guru。”His eyes sought mine trustfully。“During my midday devotions，the blessed Lord Krishna appeared in a vision。He showed me two forsaken fgures under this very tree。One face was yours，my master！Often have I seen it in meditation！What joy if you accept my humble services！”
“I too am glad you have found me。Neither God nor man has forsaken us！”Though I was motionless，smiling at the eager face before me，an inward obeisance cast me at the Divine Feet。
“At least give me memories of touring Brindaban with you。”
I gladly consented。The young man，who said his name was Pratap Chatterji，hailed a horse carriage。We visited Madanamohana Temple and other Krishna shrines。Night descended while we were at our temple devotions。
“Excuse me while I get sandesh。”Pratap entered a shop near the railroad station。Our friend was absent for some time，but fnally returned with gifts of many sweetmeats。“Please allow me to gain this religious merit。”Pratap smiled pleadingly as he held out a bundle of rupee notes and two tickets，just purchased，to Agra。
We sought out a secluded spot near the station。
“Pratap，I will instruct you in the Kriya of Lahiri Mahasaya，the greatest yogi of modern times。His technique will be your guru。”
The initiation was concluded in a half hour。“Kriya is your chintamani，”I told the new student。“The technique，which as you see is simple，embodies the art of quickening mans spiritual evolution。Be faithful in your practice；you will approach the Guru of all gurus。”
“I am transported to fnd this yogic key，long sought！”Pratap spoke thoughtfully。“Its unshackling effect on my sensory bonds will free me for higher spheres。”
We sat awhile in silent understanding，then walked slowly to the station。Joy was within me as I boarded the train，but this was Jitendras day for tears。
“How shallow my trust！My heart has been stone！Never in future shall I doubt Gods protection！”
Midnight was approaching。The two“Cinderellas”sent forth penniless，entered Anantas bedroom。His face，as he had promised，was a study in astonishment。Silently I showered the table with rupees。
“Jitendra，the truth！”Anantas tone was jocular。
But as the tale was unfolded，my brother turned sober，then solemn。
Late as it was，my brother insisted that he receive diksha 5 into Kriya Yoga。The“guru”Mukunda had to shoulder the responsibility of two unsought disciples in one day。
Breakfast the following morning was eaten in a harmony absent the day before。I smiled at Jitendra。
“You shall not be cheated of the Taj。Let us view it before starting for Serampore。”
Enough of sight-seeing！I was longing for my guru。
“Mukunda，I have not seen my family in months。I have changed my mind；perhaps later I shall visit your master in Serampore。”
My friend，who may mildly be described as vacillating in temperament，left me in Calcutta。By local train I soon reached Serampore，twelve miles to the north。
A throb of wonderment stole over me as I realized that twenty-eight days had elapsed since the Benares meeting with my guru。“You will come to me in four weeks！”Here I was，heart pounding，standing within his courtyard on quiet Rai Ghat Lane。I entered for the frst time the hermitage where I was to spend the best part of the next ten years with Indias Jyanavatar，“incarnation of wisdom”。
