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CH. XXVII. UAMAXUJAS WANDKHINGS. 173
he replied. " There, is onv Eamaauja doing well ? Is all going
on well with our blessed Lord Ranga ?" asked they. " Good folk,
where is God ? 'What do we care for His blessed state ? Know
that our Master Raman uja had to desert Sriraugam on account
of Chola's persecutions, and we know not whither he has
strayed away in this wilderness ", replied they in grief. On
hearing thi.«!, the men ceased their work in the fields, and for
six days searched for Ram3.nuja without food and water. On the
sixth night, in the gloom, they heard men's voices. They were
sure the voices were like the voices of Brahmanas. They
listened. Rfl,mfi,nuja's party also had sighted a fire which the
seai'ching party had lit on a field to warm themselves. For it
was a dark night, rainy and chilly. Ramanuja had reached
the foot of a hill and his other disciples had joined him. They
were all wet and hungry and shivering with cold. And Ramslnuja,
after descrying the light, was asking his disciples tot
carry him thither. The search-party guessed already they
must bo the objects of their search ; but of course were riot
sure :— ; and so, as soon as they heard their conversation, cried
out " Hither, sirs, come hither, we shall show you the way."
They joined one another. The guests were led to the blazing,
fire and warmed ; dry clothes were provided and every service
was gladly rendered to make them comfortable. And then they
inquired "
: Whence are you all coming, sirs ?" " From Srirangam,"
they said. " What is our Ramajiuja doing there ?"
they queried. Ra,mauuja kept silent, but his disciples asked ;
" How do ye, good men, know Eamsinuja ?" " Sirs," they said,
'•
our guru is Nallftn Chakravarti. ' The last advice he left
with us was that R&mS,nuja should be cherished in our hearts
as the Grand Guru ; and that His holy feet alone were our Way
to salvation. Thus we know Ramfinuja." " Then here he is."
So saying, they pointed out Ramanuja amongst them. On this
^ This- was the personage who performed oreination to. a Chandila's.
dead body which came floating down the Vaigai river near K4nchi, inasmuch
as the body bore the marks of Discus and Conch, the Bymbofs
of Tishnu. The townsfolk resented this, but Lord Varada said.
'
ibinl®s^uQuiT60&iirm, isu>iQis&ieiiirair,^ i.e., "He ia bad to you^
tut good to me."'