CHAPTER V

DAY ON THE RIVER WITH KESHAB CHUNDER SEN [**]

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IT was the day of the festival of Lakshmi. [*+] Sri Ramakrishna was seated in His room talking with Bijoy and Haralal, when a gentleman entered and announced that Keshab Sen had

[Ramakrishna goes on board the steamer.] come on board a steamer which had just landed and was lying at anchor before the Ghat. A short while after Keshab's disciples came in and bowed down before the Bhagavan, saying: "Keshab Babu has sent us to Thee with the request that Thou wilt kindly join him, if it so please Thy Holiness." Sri Ramakrishna consented and, accompanied by several of His devotees, was taken by Keshab's disciples to the steamer.

[Ramakrishna's ecstasy.] As the small boat which carried the Bhagavan came alongside, everybody was eager to have a glimpse of the Blessed One and crowded to the gangway. Keshab was anxious to see that He got on board in safety. Mahendra, [**] who had been there for some time, looked at Him and noticed that He was in Samadhi and as motionless as a statue. It was with great difficulty that He was brought back to sense-consciousness once more in order to be taken into the cabin on the upper deck. The state of Divine ecstasy had not entirely left Him even then. He leaned on a disciple as He was led to the cabin. His body moved

mechanically, but His mind was fixed on God. When He had entered the cabin, Keshab and others bowed at His feet. But what little sense-consciousness remained now began to leave Him. Inside the cabin were a bench, a table and a few chairs. The Bhagavan was seated on one of the chairs; Keshab also took a chair and Bijoy, another. Other devotees, most of them Brahmos, sat on the bare floor. The cabin being a small one, many remained standing at the door or at the windows looking in eagerly. The Bhagavan was absolutely devoid of outer consciousness. Everybody was watching His face. Keshab noticed that so large a number of people had come together in the cabin that the Bhagavan was in need of air. The devotees all gazed with fixed eyes. After a time the Bhagavan came down from His Samadhi, but the consciousness of the Divine Presence was as intense as before. He talked to the Mother of the universe in words that were scarcely articulate, saying: "O Mother, why hast Thou brought me here? They are hedged around and are not free! Is it indeed possible for me to save them out of their prison house?"

A Brahmo said to the Bhagavan: Sir, these

[Powhari Baba of Gazipur.] gentlemen have been fortunate enough to see Powhari Baba [**] at Gazipur. The baba is another holy man like Thy revered self.

Sri Ramakrishna had not yet recovered the power of speech. His heart was full and He could not speak, but only smiled on the good man who talked of the Baba. The Brahmo continued: Sir, Powhari Baba has Thy photograph, which he has put up in his room.