Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/311

268 They, therefore, went in a band to the Raja, and asked him, whether be wanted to introduce widow marriage into the Hindu society, as otherwise why should he go to reward Vidyasagar. The Raja replied, that he was not in favour of widow remarriage and that he was a man of the world and knew nothing of the Sastras, but that he had given Vidyasagar a prize for his unrivalled powers of reasoning. He also said that if they so desired, he would fix another day for the discussion of the matter.

On the second appointed day, a large number of vastly erudite and famous pundits assembled at the meeting. Among others, there was present Pandit Braja Nath Vidyaratna of Navadvip, the greatest scholar in Smriti (Hindu Law) of the time. As on the previous day, there was a very hot discussion, but no final decision. This day, the Raja gave a pair of Shawl as prize to Pandit Braja Nath Vidyaratna. Vidyasagar now plainly saw, that he had no hopes from that quarter, where had so much expected. But he was neither daunted, nor dejected. He was a man of resolute firmness and self-reliance. He never for a moment lost sight of his game. It was a conspicuous trait of his character, that the more he met with discouragements and obstacles in his way, the more they served to nerve him to action, to put forth all his energies and abilities to carry his point. He now applied himself more earnestly and assiduously to the