Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/542

 506 BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. [ Chap. an irreparable mischief. In the morning Crinivasa asked for an interview and was immediately admit- ted into the Court. The Court Pandit was explain- ing the Bhagavata,—the great work of the Vaisnavas, to the Raja and his suite, when Crinivasa entered the hall. He was attired in the yellow robes of an ascetic, the sacred garland of Tulasi hung round his neck, and his handsome face, radiant with intelli- gence and spirituality, at once made an impression on the Raja and his people. They bowed down knowing him to be a Brahminand saint and asked him what made him seek an interview with the Raja. Crinivasa replied—‘‘As the Bhagavata is being read I shall not interrupt you. Only let the reading of the holy book be finished, and then I shall proceed ) to tell what I have to say.” He kept standing in the hall patiently in the attitude of prayer and would not sit down while Bhagavata was being read ; nor did he betray the emotion that troubled his soul while listening to the recitation of glokas with true devotion. His piety was to be seen on his face. When the reading was over, the Court Pandit Vyasacharyya said to him “ Revered sir, you seem to be a devout Vaisnava. If it is not disagreeable to you, will you kindly read and explain some passages from this text for our enlightenment.” He quietly responded to the call, and sitting in the midst of the assembly made a short speech on the spirit of the Bhagavata. His mind was already full of sadness and with his sonorous voice ringing with feeling, he delivered his disquisition on the great work, showing a masterly grasp of the subject, and a power of oratory which seemed to them really wonderful. The whole Court was moved at the