Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/173

the soft rumble of the rivulet running on its bed of sands. There was also the green wood, the green earth, the limpid stream running by, the white sandbed spread out and blooming flowers smiling. At intervals rose the song " Hail, mother," so pleasing to everybody. Satyananda then appeared and stood before the assembly of the Children. The heads of ten thousand Children were forthwith lowered to the ground, illumined by the moonbeams straggling through interstices of the leaves. With his hands raised to the sky and with tears glistening in his eyes, Satyananda spoke at the top of his voice : " The Lord of Baikuntha, who wears the gar- land of wild flowers and holds the Conch, the Disc, the Club and the Lotus, who killed the demon Kesi and slew Madhu, Mur and Naraka, May He bless you, give you strength in your arms, devotion in your heart and inspire you to piety. You just sing His glory first." Then the ten thousands voices sang : — " When deluge sank the worlds, On the water endless, Vedas thou didst uphold Like a frigate fearless.— O Lord of worlds that wore The form of Fish of Yore." Satyananda blessed them again and said : "Children, to-day I have something particular to tell you. An unbeliever and miscreant named Thomas has killed many of our flock. Tonight we shall destroy him with his entire force. This is the Lord's command— what say you to this ? "