the words of Sri Ramakrishna that religion was not meant for 'empty stomachs.'
To his hypochondriac disciple Haripada he gave the following sound advice: 'What is
the use of thinking always of disease? Keep cheerful, lead a religious life, cherish
elevating thoughts, be merry, but never indulge in pleasures which tax the body or for
which you will feel remorse afterwards; then all will be well. And as regards death,
what does it matter if people like you and me die? That will not make the earth deviate
from its axis! We should not consider ourselves so important as to think that the world
cannot move on without us.'
When he mentioned to Haripada his desire to proceed to America, the disciple was
delighted and wanted to raise money for the purpose, but the Swami said to him that he
would not think about it until after making his pilgrimage to Rameswaram and
worshipping the Deity there.
From Belgaum the Swami went to Bangalore in the State of Mysore, which was ruled
by a Hindu Maharaja. The Maharaja's Prime Minister described the young monk as 'a
majestic personality and a divine force destined to leave his mark on the history of his
country.' The Maharaja, too, was impressed by his 'brilliance of thought, charm of
character, wide learning, and penetrating religious insight.' He kept the Swami as his
guest in the palace.
One day, in front of his high officials, the Maharaja asked the Swami, 'Swamiji, what
do you think of my courtiers?'
'Well,' came the bold reply, 'I think Your Highness has a very good heart, but you are
unfortunately surrounded by courtiers who are generally flatterers. Courtiers are the
same everywhere.'
'But,' the Maharaja protested, 'my Prime Minster is not such. He is intelligent and
trustworthy.'
'But, Your Highness, Prime Minister is "one who robs the Maharaja and pays the
Political Agent."'
The Prince changed the subject and afterwards warned the Swami to be more discreet
in expressing his opinion of the officials in a Native State; otherwise those
unscrupulous people might even poison him. But the Swami burst out: 'What! Do you
think an honest sannyasin is afraid of speaking the truth, even though it may cost him
his very life? Suppose your own son asks me about my opinion of yourself; do you
think I shall attribute to you all sorts of virtues which I am quite sure you do not
possess? I can never tell a lie.'
The Swami addressed a meeting of Sanskrit scholars and gained their applause for his
knowledge of Vedanta. He surprised an Austrian musician at the Prince's court with his
knowledge of Western music. He discussed with the Maharaja his plan of going to
America, but when the latter came forward with an offer to pay his expenses for the
trip, he declined to make a final decision before visiting Rameswaram. Perhaps he was