Bankim Chandra Chatterji Anandamath (pdf)

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the grace of God. Even so we must use our own utmost
efforts too. The chief cause of our defeat is that we are
without proper arms and ammunition. How can lathis
and spears withstand the onslaught of cannon and
rifles? Now our duty is to see that we are fully and
plentifully equipped with modern weapons.'
'That is a most difficult task, Master,' Jiban said.
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'Most difficult, Jiban! You a Child, utter such
words? There is no such word as "difficult" for a Child.'
'How can we obtain modern arms and ammunition?
Master, please command.'
'Tonight I am going on a pilgrimage to gather arms
and ammunition for our victory. Undertake no serious
work until I return, but by all means preserve the unity
of the Children. Provide for their sustenance and fill
our treasuries with money for Mother's victory. I
entrust you two with this work.'
'Master,' Bhavan said, 'how can you gather arms by
going on a pilgrimage? You cannot purchase cannon
and rifles and munitions and ship them here. Where
can you find all that we need to fight the British? Who
is going to sell them? And who is going to carry them
here?'
'We cannot, of course, purchase enough to meet our
needs. I shall send experts to manufacture them here.'
'Do you mean here, at this ashram?9 Jiban inquired.
'No, that is impossible! For a long time I have been
thinking of these problems. God has opened a way for
us today. You say God is against us, but I find God is
very kind to us.'
'Where can we establish a factory?' Bhavan asked.
'At Padachina,' Mahatma Satya said gravely.
'What do you mean? How can we do that there?' Jiban
asked.
'Why do you think I have been entreating Mahendra
Singh to take the vow?' said the Mahatma.
'Has Mahendra taken the vow?'
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'Not yet, but he will. I am going to initiate him tonight.'
'We do not know,' Jiban said, what efforts have been
made for the initiation of Mahendra nor do we know
what happened to his wife and child; neither do we
know where they are. Today I found a litde girl by the
river and have left her with my sister. A beautiful
woman lay dead by the child. I wonder if they were
Mahendra's wife and child?' 'Yes, they were
Mahendra's wife and child.'
Bhavan was startled to hear this and at once realised
that the woman he had revived was Mahendra's wife.
But he did not think it necessary to say anything just
yet.
'How did Mahendra's wife die?' Jiban asked.
'She took poison,' Mahatma Satya said.
'Why did she take poison?'
'In a dream she was commanded to die.'
'Was that meant for the fulfilment of our mission?'
'Mahendra thinks so. It is about dusk. I must now
attend to my evening prayer and meditation. Then I
shall initiate the new Children,' the Mahatma said.
'Why do you say Children? Does anyone else beside
Mahendra aspire to be your personal disciple?' Bhavan
asked in a tone of surprise.
'Yes, there is a new Child. I never saw him before. He
came to me today for the first time. He is very young
but I am highly pleased with his looks, manners and
intelligence. He appears to be real gold. I shall entrust
Jiban with the task of training him as a Child. Jiban is
clever in attracting human hearts! I must go now. But I
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have special advice for you. Please listen to me most
carefully.'
Both Bhavan and Jiban joined palms in salutation,
bowed their heads in reverence, and said: 'Please
command us.'
'If either of you has already done anything wrong or
does anything wrong in my absence, make no
atonement until I return from my pilgrimage. You shall
have to make atonement upon my return.'
With these words Mahatma Satya retired to his own
quarters. Bhavan and Jiban continued to look at each
other strangely. At last Bhavan said to Jiban: 'Is that
meant for you?'
'Perhaps,' Jiban replied. 'I went home to leave
Mahendra's child with my sister.'
'There is no harm in that. That is not forbidden. But
did you meet your wife?'
'Perhaps that is what the Master suspects.'
4
rayer and meditation over, Mahatma Satya
P
called Mahendra and told him: 'Mahendra,
your daughter is alive.'
'Where is she, Master?' Mahendra asked anxiously.
'Before you know that tell me the truth. Are you
willing to join the Order of the Children?'
'Most decidedly.'
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Then, please do not ask the whereabouts of your
daughter.'
'Why, Master?'
'He who joins this order can keep no connection
whatsoever with his wife, son, daughter or any other
relative. There is properly prescribed atonement if
even he looks at the faces of his wife and children.
Until the Children win victory, you may not see the
face of your daughter. If you have really decided to
join the Children, then why do you want to know her
whereabouts? You may not see her.'
'Why such cruel laws, Mahatma?'
'The duty of the Children is hard. He alone is worthy
of this duty who has renounced everything for the sake
of Mother India. The man whose heart is tied with the
strings of human attachment is like a kite that is tied to
the reel; it cannot fly high or far from the earth below.'
'Master, perhaps I do not fully understand you. Do [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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