Page:Chandra Shekhar.djvu/341

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Chandra Shekhar

you raised this question at the time of my death? I felt that this love will not be blissful in my present life and so I am leaving this body. My mind has, perhaps, been stained and who can say what change may not come upon Shaibalini's life, if I do not disappear from this world, for ever? I felt that nothing but my death could secure pleasure and happiness for Shaibalini and Chandra Shekhar, and so I made up my mind to take leave of you all. You have come to know of my secrets—you are wise and intimately familiar with all the scriptures of divine authority—you now tell me what will be an adequate penance for my sins. Do I stand guilty before God? If so, will the sacrifice of my life redeem my faults?"

"This is more than what I can say," replied Ramananda Swami sorrowfully. "It is not within the scope of human knowledge to answer your question in a definite manner; even the scriptures cannot help the solution of such a problem. None but the Almighty Ruler of the realm, you are going to, can say what the futurity has in store for you. But, this much I can say that if there is any reward prescribed in the economy of Providence for those who become masters of their passions

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