Page:The Gospel of Râmakrishna.djvu/195

 the shell; but the floor was as dirty as before with impurities of all kinds and there was no image of God on the altar! He then called out, saying: "O Podo, thou hast no Madhava (Sri Krishna, God-Incarnate) in the temple; how is it, then, that thou hast raised all this clamor by blowing the conch-shell? And be- hold! thou hast not even taken the trouble to cleanse the temple by removing the impurities and dirt of years and washing the floor with the holy water of the Ganges!" First realize God in the temple of your heart. With that, in view, you must cleanse it of all First cleanse the heart.

impurities, all sin and iniquity, all attachment to the world caused by the power of the senses. It is then that the time comes for blowing the shell, if need be. Talk of social reforms! You may well do so after realizing God. Remember, the Rishis of old gave up the world in order to attain to God. This is the one thing needful. All other things shall be granted unto you.

iv

The steamer had come back to Koylaghat (Calcutta). All on board held themselves in readiness to land. As they came out of the