WJIDHWAN-SURAT-JHANSI 139
the blessed opportunity of once embracing Mahatma
Gandhi.
Ramdas' stay in Dhrangadhra was short. By an evening
train he left for Surat -with Hamcharandas. It was here at
the station of Dhrangadhra that Ramdas parted with, the
tweed gown presented by Raja Ram. He forced it on
Mulshanker, in fact he threw the robe on his shoulders
when the train had just begun to move from the station.
Maganlal, parting company with Ramdas, returned to his
native place.
(ii) Ramcharandas turns Dandy
Ramdas reached Rander, a small place in the suburbs of
Surat, where the old friend Kasfrlrambhai resided. He and
his -wife—a noble pair—hailed Ramdas ^rith unfeigned
delight. They lived a retired life, utilizing most of their
time in devotion, puja and t&e reading of scriptures.
Sorrow, the great awakener, had completely turned their
minds from the unrealities of life towards God, the only
Truth. Grown up sons and daughters had passed a-way
before their very eyes, leaving the parents in their old age
to the exclusive devotion of God. They overwhelmed
Ramdas with their kind ministrations.
One afternoon, Kashirambhai had a special reading of a
religious book treating of the seven steps or planes in the
spiritual growth of man. The reading over, he faced
Ramdas and said:
"Shall I tell you to what plane you have reached?"
Ramdas did not reply.
44Applying the tests here given," he continued tapping
on the book by his side: "I can declare that you have
passed the fifth plane and are approaching the end of the
sixth."
Kashirambhai had a humorous disposition. He told a
story of two sadhus vhich threw his hearers into fits of
laughter:—
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