Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita, Volume III

Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita, Volume III

This book is a word-by-word translation of the original Bengali Edition of the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. It contains the dialogues of the Bengali saint Ramakrishna wrtten in almost stenographic accuracy. This edition is different translation of the Swami Nikhilananda Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna which was published in the forties and showed the restraint of that era. Note from the translator regarding Volume III: There are three enhancements in the book. First, we have used the expression 'lust and greed,' or 'lust and gold' instead of 'woman and gold,' as a translation of kamini kanchana. Second, we have made the Bengali spellings for places and personalities consistent with the Ramakrishna literature, for words such as purashcharana, jivanmukta, Jadu Mallick etc., so as to enable the readers of Sri Ramakrishna literature to quickly identify with the place or person. Last but not least, we have taken the help of two experienced American spiritual enthusiasts to review the book minutely from the Western perspective. Two more volumes will come out in due course to complete the set. If you have read the Nikhilananda version, this translation will seem like a new Gospel The author, known as "M," was a disciple of The Hindu saint Sri Ramakrishna. He is famous for his role in taking down the teachings of Ramakrishna through the last years of his life. Sri Ramakrishna s meeting with Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar in Calcutta Chapter I Vidyasagar s residence It is Saturday, 5 August 1882, the sixth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Shravana. It is about four o clock in the afternoon. Sri Ramakrishna is going to Badurbagan by carriage on the main road in Calcutta to visit Vidyasagar at his house. Bhavanath, Hazra and M. accompany him. Sri Ramakrishna was born in Kamarpukur, a village in the Hooghly district situated near Beersingh, Vidyasagar s the native village. Since childhood, Sri Ramakrishna has heard of Vidyasagar s acts of charity. In the Kali Temple at Dakshineswar, he learned of his scholarship and compassionate nature. M. is a teacher in Vidyasagar s school. Learning this, Thakur asked him, "Will you take me to see Vidyasagar? I would like very much to meet him." M. spoke to Vidyasagar, who was delighted and asked M. to come on Saturday at four o clock. Vidyasagar had asked him, "What kind of a paramahamsa is he? Does he wear gerua[1]?" M. had replied, "No sir, he is a unique person. He wears a red-bordered dhoti and a short coat, a shirt and varnished slippers. He lives in a room in Rasmani s Kali Temple. He sleeps on a wooden cot with only a bedspread and a mosquito net. Outwardly there is no sign of holiness, but inwardly he knows nothing but the Lord. Day and night he meditates on Him." The carriage starts from the Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Having crossed the bridge, it soon reaches Amherst Street through Shyambazar. When the devotees tell Thakur that the carriage is nearing Badurbagan, Thakur begins to talk like a child full of joy. However, there is a sudden change in his mood as the carriage reaches Amherst Street. It seems to be a prelude to his going into divine ecstasy. As the carriage approaches Rammohan Roy s garden house, M. hasn t noticed the change in Thakur s mood. Hurriedly he exclaims, "This is Rammohan Roy s house." Thakur is annoyed and says, "Such things don t appeal to me now. I don t care about them." He is passing into divine ecstasy. The carriage stops at the gate to Vidyasagar s house. It is a two-story building of British taste. The building sits in the middle of the plot and has a wall on all four sides. The gate and the front door are on the western side of the house, the gate to the south of the door. Between the western wall and the two-storied building are flowering trees and plants. One climbs upstairs after passing through the western ground floor room. Vidyasagar is on the upper floor. At the top of the staircase is a room on the north, to its east a hall. Vidyasagar s bedroom is to the southeast of the hall. There is another room on the south. All the rooms are full of precious books. Most of the books are beautifully bound and artistically arranged in bookshelves that line the wall. On the eastern side of the hall are a few chairs and a table. Vidyasagar sits there facing west when he works. When he has visitors, they also sit around the table. There is stationery visible paper, pen, inkpot! , blotting paper, several letters, a bound cashbook, files, and a few books Vidyasagar is reading. Exactly to the south of the wooden divan is a bedstead where he sleeps. What is written on the letters lying on the table under the paperweight? Perhaps a widow has written, "My minor child is without a father. There is nobody to take care of him. You will have to look after him." Someone else might have written, "You went to Kharmata, so we didn t get our monthly allowance. This caused us great distress." Another poor person may have written, "I have been admitted to yo