Page:Anandamath, The Abbey of Bliss - Chatterjee.djvu/80



It was night Confined within the cell, Satyananda said to Mohendra : " what a happy day is this ! for, we have been imprisoned. Say " Han Murari." " Hari Murari " said Mahendra in a fainting voice. " Why do you seem to be so crest-fallen, friend," asked Satyananda to Mahendra. " On taking the vow you would have no option but to renounce your wife and child ; no relation with them would have subsisted ; why grieve then now ?" "To renounce is one thing," said Mahendra, "to be parted by death is quite another. The power which would have strengthened my nerves in taking the vow has now left me with my wife and child." " Strength you will have" said Satyananda, " I will give it to you. Be initiated in the great doctrine and take up'our noble mission." Mahendra was disgusted. " My wife and daughter," he said, "are the food of dogs and jackals and you are speaking to rne now of vows and missions." "Be easy ion that score" said Satyananda, " the Children must have duly cremated your wife and taken your daughter to a safe asylum." Mahendra was surprised to hear this ; he did not quite believe it. " How could you know ? " he asked, "you have all along been with me." "We are initiated," said Satyananda, "in=a noble vow; the gods do favour