Hi

had the chance to wait upon Seers as the guests of her
master. The little boy, when still too young to under<
stand what these Seers said, used to sit and listen to
their talk and songs about God and the life of the spirit
during the four rainy months; he was also privileged to
eat their holy leavings and so to share something of
fcheir pure physical life. Even as a child of under five
he came to love this holy society, and the Seers them'
selves admired the silent reverence of the little boy and
let him listen to their hymns. So in time Narada's mind
was purified and he longed to live in the same holy way
as these great Seers and like them to realise his oneness
with the Lord. They encouraged him in this good
desire and taught him something of the inmost secrets
of 'the spiritual way.

His mother loved him dearly and took great care of
him, so that it was not possible for him to follow the
Seers to the forest when the rains came to an end. But
his time was very near. One night she went out to
milk her master's cows and trod upon a snake; she
died of its bite, and Narada was left free to follow the
inner vocation of his soul,(t to depart in search of God"»
as he himself said afterwards. In perfect calmness of
mind the little boy of five set out alone for the northern
forests, and there like a later Dhruva sat under a big

tree to meditate on God.

He had only partial success. At times great light
dawned upon him, but it was swiftly followed by a
darkness the more intense by contrast. The brief bliss
lyave place to wretchedness, and he was soon in despair*