Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/453

 V.] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 417 banks of the Ganges. The little thief would come stealthily along, and carry away their images. Sometimes when a Brahmin’s chadar was left on ‘the banks while he bathed, Nimai would take it away and conceal it under a bush for the sake of fun. The little girls that came to bathe in the Ganges were teased and subjected to his wild pranks. He would collect the thorny seeds of Okra-plants and throw them on their flowing hair. Once a little girl complained to Gachi Devi that Nimai had threatened to marry her. The little fellow was six years old at the time. At times Nimai would step in among unclean and refuse things which a Brahmin would not touch. His parents would find him there, and gently ad- monish him for his conduct. His reply surprised them with the wisdom it disclosed. ‘You do not allow me to study,” said he, “how I am to know what is clean or unclean. Nothing is either clean or unclean in my eyes, all things are alike to me.” [115 ৮০:05 “ সর্বত্র আমার এক অদ্বিতীয় স্থান?) 21০ 72151) with the deepest truths of Vedantic philosophy. They strike the key-note of their speaker’s subse- quent work in demolishing orthodox traditions about the sacredness of particular objects. No- thing indeed could be holy or unholy in the eyes of Chaitanya, who had in subsequent years reached the 5685০ ০1 সাম্য দর্শন), ৮৮1)০0 0106 19015 upon all objects without prejudice for or against. But this mischief-making imp could not be tolerated any longer, inspite of his sage-like sayings, and the gentle folk of the neighbourhood went in a body to Jagannath Micra to complain to 53 Sent to Ganga Das’s school.