CHAPTER IV

VISIT TO THE PANDIT VIDYASAGARA [**]

SRi RaMAKRISHNA desired to meet Pandit Iswara Chandra Vidyasagara. One afternoon he was seen coming in a carriage with some of his disciples all the way from Dakshineswara, a distance of about six miles, to pay a visit to the Pandit at Badurbagan in Calcutta. As the carriage passed before Raja Rammohun Roy's [*+]

house, the Bhagavan suddenly grew silent. His mind wais absorbed in meditation on the Divine Mother. One of his disciples, not perceiving the sudden change that had come over him, said: "This is Rammohun Roy's house." The Bhagavan replied: "Ah! Now my mind is not on such things"; and immediately he entered into the ecstatic state (Bhava).

[Ramakrishna's childlike nature.] The carriage, a short while after, drew up in front of the Pandit's house. Sri Ramakrishna alighted, supported by one of His disciples. Before reaching the staircase which led to the Pandit's study, which was also the drawing-room, the Bhagavan, putting his hand on His shirt, asked a disciple with some concern: "My shirt is unbuttoned; is it necessary to button it?" The disciple answered: "Do not trouble Thyself, Lord; none will find fault with Thee on that

account." The Bhagavan, like a child, seemed to be satisfied and did not think about it again. The party was then led upstairs into a room where the Pandit was seated in a chair facing the south. A table after the European fashion, with books and papers lying about on it, was before him, and he was talking with some of his friends. As the Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna entered the room, the Pandit rose to receive Him. The Lord stood with His face to the west and with one hand resting upon the table. He looked upon the Pandit intently as if he was an old acquaintance, and with a smile on His sweet, childlike radiant face, lost all sense-consciousness, and went into the ecstatic Samadhi.

After a while, taking his seat on a bench, the Bhagavan in his semiconscious state uttered, "I wish some water to drink." Thereupon Vidyasagara inquired of a disciple whether the Bhagavan would also like some delicious sweetmeats which he had just received from Burdwan. [**] Finding no objection, the Pandit went into his inner apartments and returned with water and the sweetmeats. He placed them

before the Lord. The disciples partook of the sweetmeats, but when they were offered to one young man, Vidyasagara said: "Oh, he is a child of the house; do not trouble about him."

The Bhagavan then said, referring to a young man who was sitting before him: "Yes, this young man is good. He is like the river Falgu, [**] covered with dry sand, but if you dig a little you will find a strong invisible current underneath. He has a spiritual current inside, although he does not show it on the outside."