TJPALAI—PANDHAHPUR—IN THE TRAIN 113
cognize tlie truth that He is seated in the shrine of your own
heart and In the hearts of all beings and creatures. Verily,
He is in all. He is all."
The devotee dropped the suggestion. The night passed.
The following day, the whole party of devotees—about fifty
in number—had an invitation for dinner from Dhondo
Pant, a brahman resident of Pandharpur. After dinner
six of the party including Ramdas started on foot for
Mohol. A devotee of Mohol led the party and took them to
his house.
A small incident relating to Rameharandas"* penchant for
japa mala may be cited here. Before starting from Pandh-
arpur he came to Ramdas and handing him a rosary of
white tulsi beads said:
"Swaraiji, I wonld have a mala in future because I "wish
to keep an account of the japa. Do turn it once on your
fingers and give it to me."
"Ram, japa-mala is unnecessary for you. Yon are ex-
pected to repeat the divine mantram at all times and in all
places/' Ramdas replied.
fc'Xo, Swamiji, I feel the need of a mala," he per-
sisted.
"All right, as Ram wills'7 said Ramdas and while revolv-
ing the mala between his fingers, it snapped with a sharp
sound* The other friends sitting close by exclaimed, turning
to Ramcharandas:
"Right, Swamiji told you not to have a mala, so it
snapped."
"Why not? " put in Ramcharandas doggedly. "I shall bay
a new one and of a stronger make," and he disappeared for
some time and turned up with a new mala of black shin-
ing beads.
"Now, Swamiji, you may hold it in your hand for a few
minutes and then retiirn it to me," which Ramdas did and
lie got back the mala this time in sound condition.
Thereafter* he would ostentatiously handle the mala and
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