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130 GOVINDA'S CHARACTER. CII. XIX.
" Govinda ! embrace me that I may become as enliglitened as
thou t,i-t.
By this embrace, convey to me some of thy grace."
One day, Govinda was found standing at the door of a
strumpet's, stupefied as it wei'e. T)iis looked strange to people
who passed that way. News of it reached Ramiinuja. He
sent for him and asked :
" what made thee, brother, linger at
the doors of infamy ? " " Sire," he said, " the inmates, there
whoever they were (I do not know), were singing your praises.
This fascinated me so niuch that I was rooted to the spot, and
so long as the music of your praise rang in my ears and lifted
me into bliss, I could not stir from the spot." RS,manuja
made inquires whether they were really hymning his praises
there {tdldttu), and found it was true. " An angel on earth,
thou art, Govinda ! can sucli love as thine be found on this
dust ? " exclaimed R&manuja.
It is written that Govinda was an extraordinary soul
who had realized in his life what it was to lead a spiritual
life. This was further displayed in a crowning event in his
chapter^ of life. In Kamelnuja he realized God, ever-present-
This presence made him ever feel
that there was neither solitude
nor darkness. God in R&manuja's form ever filled his
outer eye as well as his mental vision. Hence he felt no solitude.
Constant spiritual illumination and light of God filling
all space made anything like night or darkness impossible for
him. He never left Ramanuja, and was ever engaged in listening
to his expositions of the Divine Science. One day, while
they were so engaged, Govinda's mother found occasion to
enter the hall and within Ra,mauuja's hearing informed her son
that his wife had come of age. Govinda told her : " If so,
mother, let her come when there is solitude and darkness."
But the mother waited for days and failing to find her son in
' solitude ' and in ' darkness,' complained to Ra,ma,nuja about
his waywardness and probable unwillingness to keep house
with his wife, in the manner of the world. Ramanuja thereon
called on Govinda to abide by his mother's pleasure, and for
one night at least, to remain with his wife. He bowed assent.
And they made feast for the nuptial ceremony, and put Govinda