The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 8/Epistles - Fourth Series/LXV Sharat
LXV
To Swami Saradananda
228 WEST 39TH STREET,
NEW YORK,
23rd December, 1895.
DEAR SHARAT,
Your letter only made me sad. I see you have lost all enthusiasm. I know all
of you, your powers and your limitations. I would not have called you to any
task which you are incompetent to do. The only task I would have given you
was to teach elementary Sanskrit, and with the help of dictionaries and
other things assist S. in his translations and teachings. I would have
moulded you to it. Anyone could have done as well — only a little smattering
of Sanskrit was absolutely necessary. Well, everything is for the best. If
it is the Lord's work the right man for the right place will be forthcoming
in the right time. None of you need feel disturbed. As for Sanyal, I don't
care who takes money or not, but I have a strong hatred for child-marriage.
I have suffered terribly from it, and it is the great sin for which our
nation has to suffer. As such, I would hate myself if I help such a
diabolical custom directly or indirectly. I wrote to you pretty plain about
it, and Sanyal had no right to play a hoax upon me about his "law-suit" and
his attempts to become free. I am sorry for his playing tricks on me who
have never done him any harm. This is the world. What good you do goes for
nothing, but if you stop doing it, then, Lord help you, you are counted as a
rogue. Isn't it? Emotional natures like mine are always preyed upon by
relatives and friends. This world is merciless. This world is our friend
when we are its slaves and no more. This world is broad enough for me. There
will always be a corner found for me somewhere. If the people of India do
not like me, there will be others who do. I must set my foot to the best of
my ability upon this devilish custom of child-marriage. No blame will entail
on you. You keep at a safe distance if you are afraid. I am sorry, very
sorry, I cannot have any partnership with such doings as getting husbands
for babies. Lord help me, I never had and never will have. Think of the case
of M__ Babu! Did you ever meet a more cowardly or brutal one than that? I
can kill the man who gets a husband for a baby. The upshot of the whole
thing is — I want bold, daring, adventurous spirits to help me. Else I will
work alone. I have a mission to fulfil. I will work it out alone. I do not
care who comes or who goes. Sanyal is already done for by Samsâra. Beware,
boy! That was all the advice I thought it my duty to give you. Of course,
you are great folks now — my words will have no value with you. But I hope
the time will come when you will see clearer, know better, and think other
thoughts than you are now doing.
Good-bye! I would not bother you any more, and all blessings go with you all. I am very glad I have been of some service to you sometimes if you think so. At least I am pleased with myself for having tried my best to discharge the duties laid on me by my Guru, and well done or ill, I am glad that I tried. So good-bye. Tell Sanyal that I am not at all angry with him, but I am sorry, very sorry. It is not the money — that counts nothing — but the violation of a principle that pained me, and the trick he played on me. Good-bye to him also, and to you all. One chapter of my life is closed. Let others come in their due order. They will find me ready. You need not disturb yourselves at all about me. I want no help from any human being in any country. So good-bye! May the Lord bless you all for ever and ever!
VIVEKANANDA.