The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 9/Excerpts from Sister Nivedita's Book/XII The Camp Under The Chennaars
CHAPTER XII
THE CAMP UNDER THE CHENNAARS
PERSONS: The Swami Vivekananda and a party of Europeans and disciples,
amongst whom were Dhira Mata, the "Steady Mother"; one whose name was Jaya;
and Nivedita.
PLACE: Kashmir — Srinagar.
TIME: August 14 to August 20, 1898.
AUGUST 14.
It was Sunday morning and next afternoon the Swami was prevailed on to come
up to tea with us in order to meet a European guest who seemed to be
interested in the subject of Vedanta. He had been little inclined to concern
himself with the matter, and I think his real motive in accepting was
probably to afford his too-eager disciples an opportunity of convincing
themselves of the utter futility of all such attempts as this. Certainly he
took infinite pains with the enquirer and, as certainly, his trouble was
wasted.
I remember his saying, amongst other things, "How I wish a law could be
broken. If we were really able to break a law we should be free. What you
call breaking the law is really only another way of keeping it". Then he
tried to explain a little of the superconscious life. But his words fell on
ears that could not hear.
AUGUST 16.
On Tuesday he came once more to our little camp to the midday meal. Towards
the end it began to rain heavily enough to prevent his return, and he took
up Tod's History of Rajasthan, which was lying near, and drifted into talk
of Mirâ Bâi. "Two-thirds of the national ideas now in Bengal", he said,
"have been gathered from this book".
But the episode of Mira Bai, the queen who would not be queen, but would
wander the world with the lovers of Krishna, was always his favourite, even
in Tod. He talked of how she preached submission, prayerfulness, and service
to all in contrast to Chaitanya, who preached love to the name of God, and
mercy to all.
Mira Bai was always one of his great patronesses. He would put into her
story many threads with which one is now familiar in other connections, such
as the conversation of two great robbers, and the end by an image of Krishna
opening and swallowing her up. I heard him on one occasion recite and
translate one of her songs to a woman. I wish I could remember the whole,
but it began in his rendering with the words "Cling to it, cling to it,
cling to it, Brother", and ended with "If Ankâ and Bankâ, the robber
brothers; Sujan, the fell butcher; and the courtesan who playfully taught
her parrot to repeat the name of the Lord Krishna were saved, there is hope
for all".
Again, I have heard him tell that marvellous tale of Mira Bai in which on
reaching Vrindaban, she sent for a certain famous Sâdhu.[6]* He refused to
go on the ground that women might not see men in Vrindaban. When this had
happened three times, Mira Bai went to him herself saying that she had not
known that there were such beings as men there; she had supposed that
Krishna alone existed. And when she saw the astonished Sadhu, she unveiled
herself completely, with the words "Fool, do you call yourself a man?" And
as he fell prostrate before her with a cry of awe, she blessed him as a
mother blesses her child.
Today the Swami passed on to the talk of Akbar and sang us a song of Tânsen,
the poet-laureate of the emperor:
Seated on the throne, a god amongst men,
Thou, the Emperor of Delhi.
Blessed was the hour, the minute, the second,
When thou ascendest the throne,
O God amongst men,
Thou, the Lord of Delhi.
Long live thy crown, thy sceptre, thy throne,
O God amongst men,
Thou, Emperor of Delhi.
Live long, and remain awakened always,
O son of Humayoon,
Joy of the sun, God amongst men,
Thou, the Emperor of Delhi!
Then the talk passed to "our national hero" Pratâp Singh, who never could be
brought to submission. Once indeed he was tempted to give in, at that moment
when having fled from Chitore and the queen herself having cooked the scanty
evening meal, a hungry cat swooped down on that cake of bread which was the
children's portion, and the King of Mewar heard his babies cry for food.
Then, indeed, the strong heart of the man failed him. The prospect of ease
and relief tempted him. And for a moment he thought of ceasing from the
unequal conflict and sending his alliance to Akbar, only for an instant. The
Eternal Will protects its own. Even as the picture passed before his mind,
there appeared a messenger with those despatches from a famous Rajput chief
that said, "There is but one left amongst us who has kept his blood free
from admixture with the alien. Let it never be said that his head has
touched the dust". And the soul of Pratap drew in the long breath of courage
and renewed faith; and he arose and swept the country of its foes and made
his own way back to Udaipur.
Then there was the wonderful tale of the virgin princess Krishna Kumâri,
whose hand was sought by various royal suitors at once. And when three
armies were at the gate, her father could think of nothing better than to
give her poison. The task was entrusted to her uncle, and he entered her
room, as she lay asleep, to do it. But at the sight of her beauty and youth,
remembering her too as a baby, the soldier's heart failed him, and he could
not perform his task. But she was awakened by some sound, and being told
what was proposed, stretched out her hand for the cup and drank the poison
with a smile. And so on, and so on. For the stories of Rajput heroes in this
kind are endless.
AUGUST 20.
On Saturday the Swami and he whose name was Soong went to the Dahl Lake to
be the guests of the American consul and his wife for a couple of days. They
returned on Monday, and on Tuesday the Swami came up to the new Math, as we
called it, and had his boat moved close by ours so that he could be with us
for a few days before leaving for Ganderbal.