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en. XVia. PENITENT MERCHANT. 119
The sams,(ro- smitten sinner finds relief only by worshipping
thy holy feet. Pi^iise be to my Guru, by whose magic the
evil spirit left the princess and itself was redeemed. Hadst
thou not appeared amongst us, how conld a sinner like me
have been saved? Learned men thete are by the hundred, but
their ways arc pdshandii, leading them downward. How
gracious! thy holy slops were directed to the abode of a poor
creature like myself. The very sight of tliee has absolved me
of all my sins. I am content. I rest in peace ; and so do my
ancestors." Eamanuja blessed him and giving liim the Snp'lda-tirtha,
let him partake of food {prasdda). He was
struck with joy at the unity of heart and purpose, this excellent
pair posse.ssed, and dwelt with them for some time.
The pair now thought of returning the kindness of the
mei-chant. They both went with Ramannja's t'lrtlia and prascida,
and delivering them to him, a.sked him to partake of the
same, and then do what he liked with the wife. He left. The
merchant's heart leapt with joy, but when he drank the holy
water and ate the holy food, he felt within him a strange revolution.
His carnal intent for the damsel gave way to wisdom and
worship. He walked round her and threw :— himself before her,
and with hands upi-aised in devotion said " Madam, thou art
my mother, and thy husband is my father. The darkness of unwisdom
had ovei"spread my mind, making me a fool and lusting
after thee. I fall at thy feet, mother. Pardon me. Protect me.
Take me to your great Guru and throw me, a slave, at his holy
feet. Subject me to any penance by which my sin may be expiated.
Let me walk in the path of righteousness anyhow."
The good dame told her husband of all this remor.seful
confession and begged him to quiet the convulsed soul of
the merchant. All this was marvellous. Anon Varadarya
bent his steps to the penitent man and leading him to EdmS,-
nnja, cast him at his feet. REimanuja, who inquired how all
this came about, was told all. His surprize was equal to his
joy. He had made a good disciple, to whom therefore he duly
administered all the five Vaishnava sacraments.^
It is chroni-
^ i.e. The Pancha-8amslcdra,a\.TeaAy described. Cp: "He shall
tivptize you with *^hc_Holy Ghost ai4 ?in [5. lyalse, III. 16.]"