74 IN THE VISION OF GOD
beneath white sheets. There was none other visible out-
side the verandah. The time was about ten o'clock in the
morning. As was his wont he was humming to himself the
Ram-mantram. The sound of the divine Name seemed to
have roused one of the sleepers from his slumber. Rubbing
his eyes lie sat up, awakening the other also. The latter went
inside while the former looked at Ramdas and asked him
what he wanted.
"Ram has directed His servant here for bhiksha,"
Ramdas replied.
These words seemed to have produced an electric effect
on the questioner. He invited Ramdas to a seat on the mat.
Now Ramdas went on talking in a spontaneous flow about
the glories of God and the power of His Name. Soon after,
they \vere joined by the other friend. The first one was the
kulkarni, the master of the house, Madhavrao by name,
and the second was his family priest Govind Joshi, a
resident of Upalai, a village about three miles from
Anjangamn. At the first siglt, both of them fell in love
with Ramdas. Madhavrao was overflowing with kindness.
He drew Eamdas' legs towards him and fell to rubbing the
soles.
" The feet are not only worn out and swollen, but also
a number of thorns lave stuck in," he remarked.
Joshi and Madhavrao worked briskly on Ramdas' Soles
with frwo needles, and pulled out all the thorns. The friends
observed the deep cuts and also the skin at places had
worn out so much as to reveal the flesh.
Madhavrao procured some ghee and filling the dents
with it, also smeared it all over the soles. Then he took
Ramdas for a bath. He applied oil all over his body.
Ramdas had no bath for several days, and exposure to the
heat of the sun during the day and to the cold in the night,
and starvation into the bargain, had turned the skin dry,
dirty and coarse. With all tenderness Madhavrao washed
the body with hot water and soap. While the bath was in