Chapter (অধ্যায়): FIRST VISIT TO DAKSHINESWARPage: 22 of 89
nothing compared to the joy of meeting the Master.
So she altogether ignored any hardship that
came on the way. But on the third day, before the
party could reach Calcutta, Saradamani had a
high fever. It was impossible for her to walk in
spite of her desire to continue the journey. So a
shelter had to be found in a cottage built for travellers.
At night the fever rose very high, and
Saradamani lost all outward consciousness. The
Holy Mother used to narrate afterwards that
while she was in that condition she saw in a vision
that a girl dark in complexion but exquisitely
beautiful in appearance sat by her side caressing
and nursing her. When asked who she was, the
girl said that she came from Dakshineswar, that
she was the Holy Mothers sister and had come
all the way to receive her. After that Saradamani
fell asleep. Strange to say, the next morning the
fever was gone, and she was able to start. On the
way she had fever again, but Ram Chandra somehow
managed to reach Dakshineswar by nightfall.
What was the anxiety of Sri Ramakrishna to
see Saradamani come in that condition! Immediately
he busied himself in making all arrangements
for the patient and set up a bed for her in
his own room. Often he repeated in great sorrow,
but with childlike simplicity: You have come
when dear Mathur is no more. Had he been alive,