CHAPTER XVII
CBITEAKUT (Contd.)
{:* The Naked Mouni
"When bathing in the riTer a tall and dark sadlm inform-
ed iiamdas of a place called Anasnyaji, seven miles from
ChhrakuT. He had thought of visiting the shrine that day
and would te glad to have Ramdas as his companion.
Ramdas fell in whh his proposal. God always arranges
things for him. He took Ramdas to the sadhu-ashram of
Phatakshila where he had dinner in the company of about
two dozen saclhrs.
An incident here is worthy of note. For want of room
inside the small ashram, Ramdas had to six for his meal in
the outer verandah. The forests of Chitrakut were teeming
vith monkeys. TLe moment a plate containing roties, rice
and dal was placed before Ramdas. a stout and powerful
inenkey coining from behind, with one sndden grab,
carried of one roti and some rice. At this the sadlm, serving
food, looking at Ramdas, angrily said:
"Why did you allow the monkey to snatch away the
rctir—dullard!"
"Never mind, maharaj, he has taken Hanumarfs share.
Is he not Hamiman '?" said Ramdas with a smile.
In response the sadlm intently looked at Ramdas and
remained silent.
The meal over, along with the dark sadlm and also with
two others who made up the party, Ramdas set out for
Anasnyaji. They had to pass through an extensive forest of
giant trees. When they entered the depths of the forest
they could discern footmarks of wild beasts on their track.
Presently, they neared a small thatched hut of a sadlm
who was hewing wood for his night fire- For a few minutes,
the party rested beside the ashram and drank the cool
water provided by the sadlru. He was an old man with a