An incident in the life of Swami Vivekananda-ma
Story-For illustrating the shloka ‘Ananyaas chinta’ – an incident in the life of Swami Vivekananda.
It was one of those scorching summer noon in the United Provinces (Uttar Pradesh), when Swami alighted from the train at Tari Ghat. A cloak dyed in the usual Sannyaasin and a third class ticket for a station some distance away which someone had given him were about his only belongings. He did nit possess even his Kamandalu (water vessel). He was not allowed by the porter to stay within the station shed. So he sat down on the ground, leaning against a post of the waiting shed for the third-class passengers. Of the motley crowd assembled there, a middle-aged man of North India, trading -caste, a Bania, who sat on a dari (cotton mat) a little way off under the shelter of the shed almost opposite to Swami. Recognizing the Swami’s starving condition he had made merry at his expense as they journeyed in the same compartment the previous night, and when they stopped at different stations, and the Swami, who was suffering intensely from thirst, was unable to obtain water from the water-bearers because he had no money to pay for it, the Bania bought water to satisfy his own thirst and, as he drank it, taunted the Swami, saying, “See here, my good man, what nice water this is! You being a sanyaasin and having renounced money, cannot buy it and so you have the pleasure of going without it. Why don’t you earn money as I do and have a good time of it?”. He did not approve of sanyaasa, nor did he believe in giving up the worldly pursuits. In his opinion, it was only right that the sannyaasin should starve, and so when they both alighted at Tari Ghat, he took considerable pains to make it clear to the Swami by means of arguments, illustrations and pleasantries that he got just what he deserved.
“Look here,” he began with derisive smile curling his lips, “what nice purees and laddoos I am eating! You do not care to earn money, so you have to rest content with parched throat and empty and bare ground to sit upon!”.
Swami looked on calmly, not a muscle on his face moved.
Presently there appeared one of the local inhabitants carrying a bundle and a glass in his right hand, a dari under his left arm and an earthen jug of water in his left hand. He hurriedly spread the dari in a clear spot, put on it the things he was carrying and called the Swami.
“Do come, Babaji, take the food which I have brought for you!” Swami was surprised beyond words. What did this mean? Who was this newcomer? The jeering Bania’s look was changed to one of blank amazement.
The new-comer kept on insisting, “Come on, Babaji, you must come and eat the food!”
“I am afraid you are making a mistake, my friend,” said Swami Vivekananda. “Perhaps you are taking me for somebody else. I do not even remember having ever met you”. But the other cried out,
“No, no, you are the very Babaji I have seen!”
“What do you mean?” asked the Swami, his curiosity fully aroused, while his jocose friend stood gaping at the scene.
“Where have you seen me?”
The man replied, “I am a sweetmeat vendor and was having my usual nap after my noon meal. I had a dream that Sri Raamaji was pointing you out to me and telling me that He was pained to see you without food from the day before and that I should get up instantly, prepare some purees and curry, and bring them to you at the railway station with some sweetmeats, nice cold water and a dari for you to sit upon. I woke up but thinking it was only a dream, I turned on my side and slept again. But Sri Raamaji in his graciousness came to me again and actually pushed me to make me get up and do as he said. I quickly prepared some purees and curry and, taking some sweets which I had prepared this morning, some cold water and a dari from my shop, I ran here direct and recognized you at once from a distance. Now, do come and have your meal while it is fresh. You must be very hungry.” One can imagine Swami’s feelings at this time. With all his heart, the Swami thanked his simple host, while tears of love flowed from his eyes. But the kind man protested saying, “No, No Babaji! Do not thank me. It is all the will of Sri Raamji!”. the jeering Bania was quite taken back at this incident and, begging the Swamiji’s pardon for all the ill words he had used against him, he took the dust of his feet.