The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/LVIII Sarada
LVIII
(Translated from Bengali)
228 W.39, NEW YORK,
17th Jan., 1895.
DEAR SARADA,
Your two letters are to hand, as also the two of Ramdayal Babu. I have got
the bill of lading; but it will be long before the goods arrive. Unless one
arranges for the prompt despatch of goods they take about six months to
come. It is four months since Haramohan wrote that the Rudrâksha beads and
Kusha mats had been despatched, but there is no news of their whereabouts
yet. The thing is, when the goods reach England, the agent of the company
here gives me notice; and about a month later, the goods arrive. I received
your bill of lading about three weeks ago, but no sign of the notice! Only
the goods sent by Raja of Khetri arrive quickly. Most probably he spends a
lot of money for them. However it is a matter of congratulation that goods
do arrive without fail in this region of Pâtâla, at the other end of the
globe. I shall let you know as soon as the goods come. Now keep quiet for at
least three months.
Now is the time for you to apply yourself to start the magazine. Tell
Ramdayal Babu that though the gentleman of whom he speaks be a competent
person, I am not in a position to have anybody in America at present. . . .
What about your article on Tibet? When it is published in the Mirror, send
me a copy. . . . Come, here is a task for you, conduct that magazine. Thrust
it on people and make them subscribe to it, and don't be afraid. What work
do you expect from men of little hearts? — Nothing in the world! You must
have an iron will if you would cross the ocean. You must be strong enough to
pierce mountains. I am coming next winter. We shall set the world on fire
— let those who will, join us and be blessed, and those that won't come,
will lag behind for ever and ever; let them do so. You gird up your loins
and keep yourself ready . . . . Never mind anything! In your lips and hands
the Goddess of Learning will make Her seat; the Lord of infinite power will
be seated on your chest; you will do works that will strike the world with
wonder. By the bye, can't you shorten your name a bit, my boy? What a long,
long name — a single name enough to fill a volume! Well, you hear people say
that the Lord's name keeps away death! It is not the simple name Hari, mind
you. It is those deep and sonorous names, such as [058_sarada_01.jpg]
(Destroyer of Agha, Bhaga, and Naraka) [058_sarada_02.jpg] (Subduer of the
pride of Tripura, demon of the "three cities"), and [058_sarada_03.jpg]
(Giver of infinite and endless blessings), and so forth — that put to rout
King Death and his whole party. Won't it look nice if you simplify yours a
little? But it is too late, I am afraid as it has already been abroad. But,
believe me, it is a world-entrancing, death-defying name that you have got!
(The full name which Swami Trigunatita, to whom this letter was addressed,
bore at first was "Swami Trigunatitananda"— hence Swamiji's pleasantry about
it.)
Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Throw the whole of Bengal and, for the matter of that, the whole of India into convulsion! Start centres at different places.
The Bhâgavata has reached me — a very nice edition indeed; but people of
this country have not the least inclination for studying Sanskrit; hence
there is very little hope for its sale. There may be a little in England,
for there many are interested in the study of Sanskrit. Give my special
thanks to the editor. I hope his noble attempt will meet with complete
success. I shall try my best to push his book here. I have sent his
prospectus to different places. Tell Ramdayal Babu that a flourishing trade
can be set on foot with England and America in Mung Dâl, Arhar Dâl, etc. Dâl
soup will have a go if properly introduced. There will be a good demand for
these things if they be sent from house to house, in small packets, with
directions for cooking on them and a depot started for storing a quantity of
them. Similarly Badis (Pellets made of Dal, pounded and beaten.) too will
have a good market. We want an enterprising spirit. Nothing is done by
leading idle lives. If anyone forms a company and exports Indian goods here
and into England, it will be a good trade. But they are a lazy set,
enamoured of child marriage and nothing else.