60 IN THE VISION OF GOD
"Ah! there go the guru and his chela—a funny pair,"
pointing to Ramdas and Ramcharandas.
Ramdaslost no time in assuring Mm that they were not
guru and chela but they were Ram and His servant—Ramdas
being the servant and the other Ram.
Soon after meals the sadhus left Narsobawadi and
travelled via Sangli and Miraj towards Pandharpur. Their
feet were getting from bad to worse. Still they tramped on
breaking journey only for the nights. Thorny trees and
bushes are the characteristic features of this part of
Maharashtra. The avenue trees on the road-side were full
of thorns, bunches of which dropped on the way. In addi-
tion to the laceration and swelling of the feet sharp thorns
now found their lodging in them. Ramcharandas cried out
with pain whenever a thorn pricked him. Every time
Ramdas would prescribe only one remedy,—and that was
ceaseless remembrance of God by repetition of His divine
Name which, meant forgetful ness of the "body and its pains.
As they walked on Rani das dilated upon the subject of
complete dependence on God,
"Ram, you are carrying a bag containing cooking
utensils and provisions. Now for cooking meals you have
to go a-begging for fuel, grains etc. Ours is a life of free-
dom which should not be hampered by these encumbrances.
God feeds birds of the air and beasts of the field. Would
He not feed us also who have put ourselves entirely in His
hands ? Ours is to fill our mind with His remembrance,
and have no care for anything else. So Ramdas suggests
that the bag be given up and begging for food be also
stopped. Then you "will know how wonderfully G-od looks
after us."
" What shall -we do with the scrip and the things in it?"
asked Ramcharandas.
"Wait, (rod will show the way," replied Raindas.
Shortly after this talk they reached at noon a small
grass hut on theroad-^de, occupied by a sadhu. Here they