Chapter Six

In the midst of that forest, upon a great stretch of ground girt round with broken slabs of stone, there stood a large monastery. One learned in the lore of the Puranas, beholding it, could have said that it had been in former ages a vihara of the Buddhists, and had after that become a Hindu math. The buildings were of two storeys; within were many shrines of various gods, and before them a hall of music. The whole was enclosed within a wall, and so overshadowed by the wild trees that grew about it that, even by day, no man passing at any little distance could guess a dwelling stood there.

In many places the buildings had fallen into ruin; yet by daylight one could see that the whole had lately been repaired. It was at once apparent that, in this deep and impassable wilderness, men did indeed dwell. In one of the cells of this monastery a great log was burning; and when Kalyani's senses first returned to her she saw again before her that same white-bodied, white-robed great one. With wondering eyes Kalyani gazed and gazed, but memory was not yet come back to her.

Then the great one spake: "Daughter, this is a holy place of the gods; have no fear. A little milk there is — drink it; afterwards I shall have speech with thee."

At first Kalyani comprehended nothing; then, by little and little, when her mind grew somewhat steadier, she drew her veil across her throat and made obeisance to the holy man. He pronounced a blessing of good fortune upon her, brought forth from an inner chamber a fragrant earthen vessel, and warmed the milk over the burning fire. When the milk was hot he gave it to her, saying, "Daughter, feed thy little one with some, and partake thyself a little; afterwards we shall speak." Kalyani, with a glad heart, began to feed the child upon the milk.

Thereupon the holy one said, "Until I return, fear nothing," and went forth from the temple.

Returning a while later he saw that Kalyani had indeed finished feeding her daughter, but had taken nothing herself; the milk lay almost as it had been, and but a very little had been spent. Then the holy man said, "Daughter, thou hast not drunk the milk. I go forth again; until thou drinkest, I shall not return."

The sage-like man was thus making to go forth, when Kalyani once again did him obeisance and joined her hands together in entreaty.

The forest-dweller said, "What wouldst thou say?"

Then Kalyani said, "Bid me not drink the milk — there is a hindrance. I shall not drink."

Then the forest-dweller, in a tone of much tenderness, said, "What hindrance is there? Tell me — I am a forest-dwelling brahmachari, and thou art my daughter. What matter canst thou have that thou wilt not utter unto me? When I bore thee from the wood in thy senseless state, it seemed to me thou wast sorely beset with hunger and thirst. If thou wilt not eat, by what means shalt thou live?"

Then Kalyani, with eyes brimming with tears, said, "Thou art a god — to thee I shall tell it. My husband hath not yet broken his fast; until I have sight of him, or have news of his eating, by what means can I myself eat?"

The brahmachari asked, "Where is thy husband?"

Kalyani said, "That I know not. When he had gone forth in search of milk, the dacoits stole me away and brought me hither." Thereupon the brahmachari, putting his questions one after another, came to know the whole history of Kalyani and of her husband.

Kalyani spoke not the name of her husband — she might not — but from the other particulars the brahmachari understood. He asked, "Art thou indeed the wife of Mahendra?" Kalyani made no answer, but with downcast face fed fuel to the fire over which the milk had been warmed.

Then the brahmachari said, "Do thou abide by my word — drink the milk; I will bring thee tidings of thy husband. If thou wilt not drink, I shall not go." Kalyani said, "Is there water here?" The brahmachari showed her the water-jar.

Kalyani held out her cupped palms; the brahmachari filled them with water poured from the jar. Carrying that handful of water to the feet of the brahmachari, Kalyani said, "Give thereunto the dust of thy feet." The brahmachari touched the water with his thumb, and Kalyani drank the handful, saying, "I have drunk the nectar of the gods — bid me eat no more. Until I have tidings of my husband I shall take nothing further." Then the brahmachari said, "Abide thou without fear within this shrine; I go forth in search of thy husband."