Anandamath

Chapter III

The next day in a secret chamber of Anandamath the three leaders of the San tans with broken hopes were sitting talking. Jivananda asked Satyananda — “Maharaj, why are Gods so displeased with us. For what fault of ours have we been defeated by the Mussulmans?”

Satyananda replied. “The Gods are not displeased with us. In war there is both victory and defeat. The other day we were victorious. Today we have been defeated. He who wins last is the true victor. I am quite certain that He who has so long been kind to us, the wielder of the club, and the chakra, the holder of the conch shell and the lotus, the mighty Banamali will once more be kind to us. The great vow which we have taken touching his feet, certainly we must perform that vow. If we fail we shall suffer eternal punishment in hell. I have no doubt about our ultimate good fortune. But just as without the grace of the Gods no success can be attained, in the same way human effort is also required. The reason of our defeat is that we are without proper arms. To face shot and shell, to face the gun and cannon, lathis and spears are useless. Thus for want of proper effort on our part we were defeated. Our duty now is that we should not be in want of these weapons.

Jivananda: That is a most difficult task.

Satyananda: A difficult task, Jivananda? Being a Santan how can you say such a thing? For Santans there is no work which is too difficult to be performed.

Jivananda: How shall we gather these arms? Command us.

Satyananda: For gathering them I shall go on pilgrimage to night. Till I return, do not undertake any great enterprise. But keep up the unity of the Santans, provide food and clothes for them and collect ample funds for the Mother’s victory, keep our treasury filled. This is the duty which I lay upon you two.

Bhavananda said: How will you collect arms by going on a pilgrimage? It is difficult to buy cartridges, shells, guns and cannons and send them from one place to another. Besides where will you find them in such quantities, who will sell them, and who will bring them?

Satyananda: We cannot accomplish our purpose by buying them. I shall send artisans who must prepare them here.

Jivananda: How is that? Here in Ananda Math?

Satyananda: That is not possible. For a long time I have been thinking out some means of accomplishing this. God has today given me the means. You were telling me, God is not favourable to us. But I see that God is in our favour.

Bhavananda: Where will the factory be established.

Satyananda: At Padachinha

Jivananda: How is that? How can it be established there?

Satyananda: Otherwise why have I been so keen about making Mohendra take the vow?

Bhavananda: Has Mohendra taken the vow?

Satyananda: He has not taken the vow, but he will do so. To-night I shall initiate him.

Jivananda: We have not seen you trying hard to make Mohendra take the vow. What is the condition of his wife and girl child and where have they been kept? To-day I found a little girl child by the river side and went and kept her with my sister. Near her a beautiful woman lay dead. Were they Mohendra’s wife and girl child? It appeared to me as if they were?

Satyananda: They were his wife and daughter.

Bhavananda startled in surprise. He understood now that the woman whom he had revived through his medicine was Mohendra’s wife Kalyani, but at this time he did not think it necessary to reveal anything about the matter.

Jivananda asked: “How did Mohendra’s wife die?

Satyananda: By taking poison.

Jivananda: Why did she take poison?

Satyananda: God ordered her in dream to kill herself.

Bhavananda: Was that command given in order to accomplish the work of the Santans?

Satyananda: I heard so from Mohendra. Now it is evening, I shall go for my evening prayers. After that I shall initiate the new Santans.

Bhavananda: Santans? Why, besides Mohendra does anyone else have the audacity to be your own disciple.

Satyananda: Yes, one more new person. I have never seen him before. Today for the first time he has come to me. He is a mere youth. I have been extremely pleased with his words and his ways. He appeared to be pure gold. I entrust the duty of training him to Jivananda, because Jivananda is an adept in winning people’s hearts. I am going. There is one advice that remains to be given to you. Listen to it with great attention.

Then both with folded hands said. “Command us.”

Satyananda said: “If either of you have erred or if you err before I return, do not do penance for it before my return. After my return penance will be essential.”

Thus saying Satyananda went to his own quarter. Jivananda and Bhavananda looked at each other. Bhavananda said, “Was the advice meant for you?”

Jivananda: “Probably, I went to my sister’s house to keep Mohendra’s daughter there.”

Bhavananda: “That is not a fault. That is not forbidden. Did you see your wife?”

Jivananda said: “Perhaps, Gurudev thinks so.”