My companion, a veterinary surgeon, was a confirmed agnostic. His young son Santosh had implored4 me to take an interest in his father. So far my invaluable5 aid had been a bit on the invisible side.
Dr. Roy accompanied me the following day to the Serampore hermitage. After Master had granted him a brief interview, marked for the most part by stoic6 silence on both sides, the visitor brusquely departed.
"Why bring a dead man to the ashram?" Sri Yukteswar looked at me inquiringly as soon as the door had closed on the Calcutta skeptic7.
"Sir! The doctor is very much alive!"
"But in a short time he will be dead."
I was shocked. "Sir, this will be a terrible blow to his son. Santosh yet hopes for time to change his father's materialistic8 views. I beseech9 you, Master, to help the man."
"Very well; for your sake." My guru's face was impassive. "The proud horse doctor is far gone in diabetes10, although he does not know it. In fifteen days he will take to his bed. The physicians will give him up for lost; his natural time to leave this earth is six weeks from today. Due to your intercession, however, on that date he will recover. But there is one condition. You must get him to wear an astrological bangle; he will doubtless object as violently as one of his horses before an operation!" Master chuckled11.
After a silence, during which I wondered how Santosh and I could best employ the arts of cajolery on the recalcitrant12 doctor, Sri Yukteswar made further disclosures.
"As soon as the man gets well, advise him not to eat meat. He will not heed13 this counsel, however, and in six months, just as he is feeling at his best, he will drop dead. Even that six-month extension of life is granted him only because of your plea."
The following day I suggested to Santosh that he order an armlet at the jeweler's. It was ready in a week, but Dr. Roy refused to put it on.
"I am in the best of health. You will never impress me with these astrological superstitions14." The doctor glanced at me belligerently15.
I recalled with amusement that Master had justifiably16 compared the man to a balky horse. Another seven days passed; the doctor, suddenly ill, meekly17 consented to wear the bangle. Two weeks later the physician in attendance told me that his patient's case was hopeless. He supplied harrowing details of the ravages18 inflicted19 by diabetes.
I shook my head. "My guru has said that, after a sickness lasting20 one month, Dr. Roy will be well."
The physician stared at me incredulously. But he sought me out a fortnight later, with an apologetic air.
"Dr. Roy has made a complete recovery!" he exclaimed. "It is the most amazing case in my experience. Never before have I seen a dying man show such an inexplicable21 comeback. Your guru must indeed be a healing prophet!"
After one interview with Dr. Roy, during which I repeated Sri Yukteswar's advice about a meatless diet, I did not see the man again for six months. He stopped for a chat one evening as I sat on the piazza22 of my family home on Gurpar Road.
"Tell your teacher that by eating meat frequently, I have wholly regained23 my strength. His unscientific ideas on diet have not influenced me." It was true that Dr. Roy looked a picture of health.
But the next day Santosh came running to me from his home on the next block. "This morning Father dropped dead!"
This case was one of my strangest experiences with Master. He healed the rebellious24 veterinary surgeon in spite of his disbelief, and extended the man's natural term on earth by six months, just because of my earnest supplication25. Sri Yukteswar was boundless26 in his kindness when confronted by the urgent prayer of a devotee.
It was my proudest privilege to bring college friends to meet my guru. Many of them would lay aside-at least in the ashram!-their fashionable academic cloak of religious skepticism.
One of my friends, Sasi, spent a number of happy week ends in Serampore. Master became immensely fond of the boy, and lamented27 that his private life was wild and disorderly.
"Sasi, unless you reform, one year hence you will be dangerously ill." Sri Yukteswar gazed at my friend with affectionate exasperation28. "Mukunda is the witness: don't say later that I didn't warn you."
Sasi laughed. "Master, I will leave it to you to interest a sweet charity of cosmos29 in my own sad case! My spirit is willing but my will is weak. You are my only savior on earth; I believe in nothing else."
"In a year you will bring three sapphires32," Sri Yukteswar replied cryptically33. "They will be of no use then."
Variations on this conversation took place regularly. "I can't reform!" Sasi would say in comical despair. "And my trust in you, Master, is more precious to me than any stone!"
A year later I was visiting my guru at the Calcutta home of his disciple34, Naren Babu. About ten o'clock in the morning, as Sri Yukteswar and I were sitting quietly in the second-floor parlor35, I heard the front door open. Master straightened stiffly.
"It is that Sasi," he remarked gravely. "The year is now up; both his lungs are gone. He has ignored my counsel; tell him I don't want to see him."
"Yes, but he doesn't wish to be disturbed."
Sasi burst into tears and brushed past me. He threw himself at Sri Yukteswar's feet, placing there three beautiful sapphires.
"Omniscient39 guru, the doctors say I have galloping40 tuberculosis41! They give me no longer than three more months! I humbly42 implore3 your aid; I know you can heal me!"
"Isn't it a bit late now to be worrying over your life? Depart with your jewels; their time of usefulness is past." Master then sat sphinxlike in an unrelenting silence, punctuated43 by the boy's sobs44 for mercy.
An intuitive conviction came to me that Sri Yukteswar was merely testing the depth of Sasi's faith in the divine healing power. I was not surprised a tense hour later when Master turned a sympathetic gaze on my prostrate45 friend.
"Get up, Sasi; what a commotion46 you make in other people's houses! Return your sapphires to the jeweler's; they are an unnecessary expense now. But get an astrological bangle and wear it. Fear not; in a few weeks you shall be well."
Sasi's smile illumined his tear-marred face like sudden sun over a sodden47 landscape. "Beloved guru, shall I take the medicines prescribed by the doctors?"
Sri Yukteswar's glance was longanimous. "Just as you wish-drink them or discard them; it does not matter. It is more possible for the sun and moon to interchange their positions than for you to die of tuberculosis." He added abruptly48, "Go now, before I change my mind!"
With an agitated49 bow, my friend hastily departed. I visited him several times during the next few weeks, and was aghast to find his condition increasingly worse.
"Sasi cannot last through the night." These words from his physician, and the spectacle of my friend, now reduced almost to a skeleton, sent me posthaste to Serampore. My guru listened coldly to my tearful report.
"Why do you come here to bother me? You have already heard me assure Sasi of his recovery."
I bowed before him in great awe50, and retreated to the door. Sri Yukteswar said no parting word, but sank into silence, his unwinking eyes half-open, their vision fled to another world.
I returned at once to Sasi's home in Calcutta. With astonishment51 I found my friend sitting up, drinking milk.
"O Mukunda! What a miracle! Four hours ago I felt Master's presence in the room; my terrible symptoms immediately disappeared. I feel that through his grace I am entirely52 well."
In a few weeks Sasi was stouter53 and in better health than ever before. 17-1 But his singular reaction to his healing had an ungrateful tinge54: he seldom visited Sri Yukteswar again! My friend told me one day that he so deeply regretted his previous mode of life that he was ashamed to face Master.
I could only conclude that Sasi's illness had had the contrasting effect of stiffening55 his will and impairing56 his manners.
The first two years of my course at Scottish Church College were drawing to a close. My classroom attendance had been very spasmodic; what little studying I did was only to keep peace with my family. My two private tutors came regularly to my house; I was regularly absent: I can discern at least this one regularity57 in my scholastic58 career!
In India two successful years of college bring an Intermediate Arts diploma; the student may then look forward to another two years and his A.B. degree.
The Intermediate Arts final examinations loomed59 ominously60 ahead. I fled to Puri, where my guru was spending a few weeks. Vaguely61 hoping that he would sanction my nonappearance at the finals, I related my embarrassing unpreparedness.
But Master smiled consolingly. "You have wholeheartedly pursued your spiritual duties, and could not help neglecting your college work. Apply yourself diligently62 to your books for the next week: you shall get through your ordeal63 without failure."
I returned to Calcutta, firmly suppressing all reasonable doubts that occasionally arose with unnerving ridicule64. Surveying the mountain of books on my table, I felt like a traveler lost in a wilderness65. A long period of meditation66 brought me a labor-saving inspiration. Opening each book at random67, I studied only those pages which lay thus exposed. Pursuing this course during eighteen hours a day for a week, I considered myself entitled to advise all succeeding generations on the art of cramming68.
The following days in the examination halls were a justification69 of my seemingly haphazard70 procedure. I passed all the tests, though by a hairbreadth. The congratulations of my friends and family were ludicrously mixed with ejaculations betraying their astonishment.
On his return from Puri, Sri Yukteswar gave me a pleasant surprise. "Your Calcutta studies are now over. I will see that you pursue your last two years of university work right here in Serampore."
I was puzzled. "Sir, there is no Bachelor of Arts course in this town." Serampore College, the sole institution of higher learning, offered only a two-year course in Intermediate Arts.
Master smiled mischievously71. "I am too old to go about collecting donations to establish an A.B. college for you. I guess I shall have to arrange the matter through someone else."
Two months later Professor Howells, president of Serampore College, publicly announced that he had succeeded in raising sufficient funds to offer a four-year course. Serampore College became a branch affiliation72 of the University of Calcutta. I was one of the first students to enroll73 in Serampore as an A.B. candidate.
"Guruji, how kind you are to me! I have been longing74 to leave Calcutta and be near you every day in Serampore. Professor Howells does not dream how much he owes to your silent help!"
Sri Yukteswar gazed at me with mock severity. "Now you won't have to spend so many hours on trains; what a lot of free time for your studies! Perhaps you will become less of a last-minute crammer and more of a scholar." But somehow his tone lacked conviction.
17-1: In 1936 I heard from a friend that Sasi was still in excellent health.
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1
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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stoic
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| n.坚忍克己之人，禁欲主义者 | |
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skeptic
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| n.怀疑者，怀疑论者，无神论者 | |
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materialistic
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| a.唯物主义的，物质享乐主义的 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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diabetes
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| n.糖尿病 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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recalcitrant
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| adj.倔强的 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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superstitions
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| 迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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belligerently
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justifiably
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| adv.无可非议地 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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18
ravages
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| 劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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cosmos
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| n.宇宙；秩序，和谐 | |
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sapphire
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| n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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sapphires
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| n.蓝宝石，钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 )；蔚蓝色 | |
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cryptically
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disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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hunch
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| n.预感，直觉 | |
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omniscient
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| adj.无所不知的；博识的 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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tuberculosis
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| n.结核病，肺结核 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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43
punctuated
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| v.（在文字中）加标点符号，加标点( punctuate的过去式和过去分词 )；不时打断某事物 | |
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44
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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45
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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48
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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49
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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50
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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51
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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52
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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53
stouter
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| 粗壮的( stout的比较级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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54
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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55
stiffening
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| n. (使衣服等)变硬的材料, 硬化 动词stiffen的现在分词形式 | |
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56
impairing
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| v.损害，削弱( impair的现在分词 ) | |
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57
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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58
scholastic
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| adj.学校的，学院的，学术上的 | |
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59
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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60
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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62
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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63
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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66
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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68
cramming
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| n.塞满，填鸭式的用功v.塞入( cram的现在分词 )；填塞；塞满；（为考试而）死记硬背功课 | |
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69
justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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70
haphazard
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| adj.无计划的，随意的，杂乱无章的 | |
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71
mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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72
affiliation
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| n.联系，联合 | |
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73
enroll
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| v.招收；登记；入学；参军；成为会员（英)enrol | |
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74
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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