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41171 TT 311TT-91-T .I.
Severance of family Tie
Meanwhile, the Bairagi, whom I had met at Kouthakangda,
had proved treacherous. He had despatched a letter to my
family, informing them of my intentions and pointing to my
whereabouts. In consequence of this, my father had come
down to Siddhpore with his Sepoys, traced me step by step in
the Melia, learning something of me wherever I had sat among
the learned pandits, and finally, one fine morning appeared
suddenly before me. His wrath was terrible to behold. He
reproached me violently, accusing me of bringing an eternal
disgrace upon his family. No sooner had I met his glance,
though knowing well that there would be no use in trying
to resist him, I suddenly made up my mind how to act. Fall-
ing at his feet with joined hands, I entreated him in suppli-
cating tones to appease his anger. J had left the home through
bad advice, I said; I felt miserable, and was just on the
point of returning home, when he had providentially arrived;
and now I was willing to follow him home again. Notwith-
standing such humility, in a fit of rage he tore my yellow
robe into shreds, snatched at my tumba,' and, wresting it
violently from my hand, flung it far away; pouring upon my
head at the same time a volley of bitter reproaches and go-
ing so far as to call me a matricide. Regardless of my pro-
mises to follow him, he gave me in the charge of his Sepoys,
commanding them to watch me night and day, and never
leave me out of their sight, for a moment.
Convertion to Vedant
But my determination was as firm as his own. I was
bent on my purpose and closely watched for my opportunity
of escaping. I found it on the same night. It was three in
the morning, and the Sepoy, whose turn it was to watch me,
believing me asleep fell asleep in his turn. All was still; and
so, softly rising and taking along with me a tumba full of
water, I crept out, and must have run over a mile before my
1. A dried gourd to hold water.