Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/308

Rh Sastras in support of my contention. Unless you hear it and approve of it, I cannot publish it.' The father answered,—'What will you do, if I do not approve of it?' Vidyasagar said,—'In that case, I won't publish it so long as you are in this world. After your demise, I will do with it, as seems to me best' The father replied,—'Very good, then, to-morrow I shall hear it through, and then let you know my opinion.' On the next day, Vidyasagar read out the whole composition to his father. Thakurdas, at last, said to his son,—'Do you believe that what you have written, is all in accordance with the Sastras?' The son replied,—'O yes, there is no doubt of that.' The father said,—'You may then try your best, I have no objection to it.' After this, Vidyasagar went to his mother, and said,—'Mother, surely you can have no knowledge of the Sastras. I have written this book on 'Widow Marriage', but I cannot get it into print, without your permission. According to the Sastras, widow-marriage is canonical.' The mother replied,—'I have no objection to it. The widows are, as it were, a pest of the country, passing all their days in misfortune and affliction. You are going to relieve them of their miseries, and make them happy. I acquiesce to it with all my heart. But mind, take care not to tell him' (meaning her husband, Vidyasagar's father), 'because he might raise objections.' The son said,—'Oh.' don't fear for that; father has already given his permission.'