Page:The Message and Ministrations of Dewan Bahadur R. Venkata Ratnam, volume 2.djvu/403

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368

when he learned that the new-comer was himself the king. Pratapa Rudra thenceforth became a devout follower of Chaitanya.

The saint's next journey was to Bengal. When at the village of Ram Kali, near Gour, the capital of Bengal, Chaitanya was asked to preach. He consented to do so. Among the audience were two Mahammedans of influential position, upon whom the discourse produced such talismanic effect that instantly they renounced their religion and embraced Vaishnavism. They resigned the high posts they held, distributed their wealth among the poor and followed Chaitanya. As Vaishnavas, they figure under the names of Roopa and Sanathana. If there was one thing more daring than violating the dictates of caste, it was this conversion. By an express order of the paramount Government, it had been ruled that whosoever allured a Mahammedan to change his faith was liable to summary death. But what panoply is securer than an uncorrupt conscience; "what