Krishna Kanta's Will (Chatterjee, Knight)/Sequel
SEQUEL.
Gobind Lâl's possessions fell to his sister's son, Sachi Kânta, who was now of full age.
Sachi Kânta came daily to walk in that ruined garden, formerly Gobind Lâl's pleasure garden, now a dense jungle. He had heard the whole of that sorrowful story. Day by day he sat there thinking it over, and after a time he began to restore the garden. He had a handsome iron railing again prepared, and a splendid flight of steps built of black marble descending to the water. He made flower beds, and planted therein rows of beautiful shrubs, yet among them none bearing coloured flowers. The bakul and jasmine of indigenous, and the cypress and willow of foreign trees were included. He erected a temple in place of the summer-house, but had no gods or goddesses placed in it.
A costly statue of Bhramar in gold was placed in the midst of the temple, and at the foot of the statue this inscription was engraved—
"To her who shall equal Bhramar in joy and in grief,
In faults and in virtues,
I will give this golden statue."
Twelve years after the death of Bhramar a Sannyâsi came to the door of this temple. Sachi Kânta was there. The Sannyâsi asked, "May I see what is in this temple?"
Sachi Kânta, opening the door, displayed the golden figure. The Sannyâsi said, "This Bhramar was mine. I am Gobind Lâl Râi."
Overwhelmed with amazement, Sachi Kânta was, at first, unable to speak. Recovering a little he bent before the ascetic, taking dust from his feet, and then sought to take him into the house. But Gobind Lâl did not consent; he said, "This day completes my twelfth year of secret wandering life. Completing it I have come hither to give you my blessing. This now done I shall return." With clasped hands Sachi Kânta said, "The property is yours, I entreat you to stay and enjoy it."
"A gift of more value than all possessions, beyond the reach of Kuvera himself, is mine. I have obtained that which is sweeter, more holy than even Bhramar. I have found peace. Wealth is nothing to me. Do you remain in possession."
Sachi Kânta asked humbly, "Is peace to be found in asceticism?"
"Not always. Only for the sake of dwelling in secrecy have I adopted this disguise. Only by placing one's thoughts at the feet of the Divine Being can one obtain peace. He alone is now my wealth. He is my Bhramar, and more than Bhramar."
With these words Gobind Lâl went his way, and was never again seen in Haridrâ village.