HIMALAYAS—VASISHTASHRAM 263
bones? Your body too is made of the same stuff and a similar
fate awaits it. The body is a transient, perishable thing.
You have no reason whatever to be proud of it. The only
purpose for which it is granted to you is to utilise it for My
service, until it falls off and is reduced to the same
condition as this worthless skeleton."
Ramdas took the lesson. Ram is the greatest teacher of
the world. As occasions reqxiire He would assume any purt
he chooses. He is a consummate actor and a master of
all arts.
(ii) You are in the Hands of God
Now Ramdas further retraced his steps and neared the
precipitous rock where he had separated from the two
friends. As he was making for it, a voice called him from
the river-side. He halted and saw two mountaineers
(certainly, it was Ram in those forms) filling their pitchers
with water at the river. One of them came towards him
and enquired whither he was going. Ramdas told him that
he wanted to visit Yasishtashram, but since Ram had
not shown him the way he was returning. Ram's ways
are wonderful!
The man said: "Vasishtashram is still far away. There
is no path by the bank of the river. You have to climb
the tall mountain in front. Thereon you see a foot-path in
the midst of the jungle. You must take it. On reaching the
top, yon should descend to the other side where you will
observe from a distance the dome of a mandir. Taking it as
your mark, you should proceed towards it, and you will
reach Shivapuri, a small village in which the temple stands/1
He pointed again to the-foot-track; a thin streak of it
could be seen on the high mountain. Ramdas at once ran
on to it. Up and up he climbed. It was a steep ascent, but
Ramdas did not stop even to take breath. The divine power
in him had gifted him with marvellous agility and unusual
endurance. An bourr6 walk brought him to the summit