BENGALI WRITINGS

12Bengali Writingsthought of bowing at his feet, but looking at the boy's smilingface no longer felt like making his obeisance. At last heburst out with the words, “Hullo, Keshta, 1 what makes youcome here?” The boy replied with a smile, “Well, didn'tyou call me? Just now you had the desire to whip me! Thatis why I am surrendering myself to you. Come along, whipme.” The man was now even more confounded than before,but not with any repentance for the desire to whipthe Divine: the idea of punishing instead of patting such asweet youngster did not appeal to him. The boy spoke again,“You see, Harimohon, those who, instead of fearing me,treat me as a friend, scold me out of affection and want toplay with me, I love very much. I have created this worldfor my play only; I am always on the lookout for a suitableplaymate. But, brother, I find no one. All are angry withme, make demands on me, want boons from me; they wanthonour, liberation, devotion — nobody wants me. I givewhatever they ask for. What am I to do? I have to pleasethem; otherwise they will tear me to pieces. You too, I find,want something from me. You are vexed and want to whipsome one. In order to satisfy that desire you have calledme. Here I am, ready to be whipped. ye yathÀ mÀÌ prapadyante2 , I accept whatever people offer me. But beforeyou beat me, if you wish to know my ways, I shall explainthem to you. Are you willing?” Harimohon replied, “Areyou capable of that? I see that you can talk a good deal,but how am I to believe that a mere child like you can teachme something?” The boy smiled again and said, “Come,see whether I can or not.”Then Sri Krishna placed his palm on Harimohon's head.Instantly electric currents started flowing all through hisbody; from the mÓlÀdhÀra the slumbering kuÍÄalinÈ power1One of Sri Krishna's names.2The Gita 4. 11.