282 IN" THE VISION OF GOD
before leaving the ashram. In many ways he was kind and
loving to him."
He replied: "This is strange. We have found him far
from kind and courteous. However, by the way, for the
night what shall we offer you?" After a pause of moodiness,
he said: "Here I have a number of cows," pointing to a
herd of cows resting in an open enclosure, facing his
dwelling, "but I count it a misfortune that at the moment
none of them is yielding milk, or I should be so happy to
feed you with milk."
Again after a moment's thought, he called his son—one
of the lads-and asked him to run to the neighbouring house
with a pot for some milk, and spread two thick blankets on
a coir cot, the only furniture in the house, and lighting up
a fire in front of it, asked Eamdas to enter and occupy it.
He made him lie down and began to massage his legs.
He addressed Eamdas, his heart welling up with love:
"You are veritably Ishwara who has come to my Irumble
abode. I am only a miserable saonsari, lost in the whirl-
pool of maya. I have been crying to God to grant me
peace and He has, in answer to my prayer, come to me in
your form. God is indeed the very ocean of compassion
and mercy."
Eamdas rejoined: "Hare Earn, this is all your lila.
Ishwara is the friend of the helpless and servant of his
devotees. Eamdas is only a child of God. Thou art He
indeed who is deluging him with Thy unbounded love."
Eamdas cannot find words to express with what motherly
kindness and care he tended Eamdas. His daughter aged
about twelve prepared the food, his wife being no longer
in the land of the mortals.
The interior of the hut was dimly lit by log fire. The
host left Eamdas and returned with a wide-mouthed cup
of hot milk and a soft roti which he minced and mixed with
the milk. Meanwhile, he picked up some white things from
a £ull basket close by and offered them to Eamdas.