BANGALORE-ECXM3AY 121
God has made Mm what he is, and he does not desire -any-
thing else.'"
4k^so, no/" he put in, "you must grow stout, no good to
remain as yon are/7 Saying thus he removed the tiny bottle
hanging on his neck and poured out of it a small quantity
of ashes on his right palm and cried in a voice of command:
""Well, upen your mouth."
Ramdas had to yield. The ash instantly found a place
inside his mouth.
*k Swallow it," was the next fiai. Ramdas swallowed.
''This ash has the charm and power of converting- you
into a robust figure/' he assured and replaced the bottle.
Now for the second act of the drama.
ACT II
The cold being severe Eanidas was made to wear the
v*'0ollen cap and had his body covered with a blanket. The
sadhii demanded the cap. Ramdas removing it from his
head handed it over to him. ^Then he tried to put it on he
discovered that it was too small for his head and would not
ft in, the size of his head being much larger than Ramdas*-
He returned the cap exclaiming: "This won't do/"1
}NOW he called for the kambal that covered Ramdas.
Promptly it was put in his hands. On examining he found
that it was not only coarse and thick "but also unwieldy in
size. He threw it back. Then the sadau's eyes rested on the
tiger-sMn, his fingers feeling its smoothness. Now a glance
at Ramcharandas showed an anxious look on his face.
"This is a very nice skin,'1 the sadJm remarked and,
tugging at it, said, "let me examine it properly."
Ramdas got up and allowed him to draw it towards
him. A smile of approval flitted across his face.
"Here/7 he called his chela, "take it; you may fling-it
across your shoulders; it is so light and soft-"1'
Ramcharaadas1 face was now quite a study. It was
deadly pale. Then the sadhu's eyes turned round to