Recording intelligenceAI-generated brief · check the source for context

Two Penniless Boys in Vrindaban

20:25 recording · EN · 5 speakers

Listen to the original

Brief overview

Sent penniless to Vrindavan on his brother's dare, Mukunda is fed and guided by God.

  1. God first, money is his slaveMukunda refuses Ananta's premise that wealth must be secured before the spiritual life.
  2. A dare becomes a proof of provisionEvery rule of the Vrindavan test is kept, yet food, shelter, a tour and a return fare all appear unasked.
  3. Two unsought disciples in one dayPratap receives Kriya Yoga in Vrindavan and Ananta demands initiation the same midnight.
Executive Summary AI
  • Mukunda and Jitendra arrive dusty at the Agra home of elder brother Ananta, a supervising accountant for the Bengal Nagpur Railway, who scolds Mukunda for throwing his life away while Mukunda answers that he seeks his inheritance from the Heavenly Father.
  • Ananta proposes a test: the two boys must go to nearby Vrindavan with no money, may not beg for food or money, may not reveal their predicament, must not miss a meal or be stranded, and must return to his bungalow before twelve o'clock that night.
  • Two strangers met on the train take the boys to a hermitage where the hostess Garima, whose royal patrons had cancelled, serves them a repast of some thirty courses fanned by a punkah.
  • Under a kadamba tree a young man named Pratap Chatterjee appears, tours Vrindavan and its Krishna shrines with them, brings sweetmeats, and receives initiation into Kriya Yoga, which Mukunda says shortens the million years Hindu scriptures give the incarnating ego to reach liberation from maya.
  • Back in Agra before midnight Jitendra repents his doubt and Ananta insists on Diksha into Kriya Yoga, after which Mukunda views the Taj Mahal and travels to Serampore, reaching his guru exactly 28 days after the Benares meeting, to the hermitage where he would spend the best part of the next ten years.
Key Quote
“You well know, Ananta, I seek my inheritance from the Heavenly Father.”
— Mukunda
Key Quote
“I am conscious of my dependence on God.”
— Mukunda
Key Quote
“I accept the challenge.”
— Mukunda

Transcript

0:00 chapter eleven of autobiography of a yogi this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox dot org saw Yogananda. Two penniless boys in Brindaban. It would serve you right if father disinherited you,
0:28 Mukunda. How foolishly you are throwing away your life. An elder brother's sermon was assaulting my
0:35 ears. Chitendra and I, fresh from the train, a figure of speech merely we were covered with dust,
0:42 had just arrived at the home of Ananta, recently transferred from
0:47 Calcutta to the ancient city of Agra. Brother was a supervising accountant for the Bengal Nagpur
0:53 Railway. You well know, Ananta, I seek my inheritance from the Heavenly Father. Money money first god can come later who knows life may be too long god first money is his slave who can tell life may be too short the leaves of time unfolded to early finality for Ananta. A few years later he entered the land
1:27 where banknotes avail neither first nor last. Wisdom from the hermitage, I suppose. But I see
1:35 you have left Benares. Ananta's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, yet he hoped to secure my pinions in the family nest. My sojourn in Benares was not in vain.
1:48 I found there everything my heart had been longing for. You may be sure it was not your pundit or
1:54 his son. Ananta joined me in reminiscent laughter. He had had to admit that the Benares clairvoyant
2:03 he selected was a short-sighted one. What are your plans,
2:07 my wandering brother? Jitendra persuaded me to Agra. We shall view the beauties of the Taj Mahal
2:14 here, I explained. Then we are going to my newly found guru, who has a hermitage in Serampore.
2:22 Nanta hospitably arranged for our comfort. Several times during the evening I
2:27 noticed his eyes fixed on me reflectively. I know that look, I thought, of plot is brewing.
2:35 The denouement took place during our early breakfast. So you feel quite independent of
2:42 father's wealth. Ananta's gaze was innocent as he resumed the
2:46 barbs of yesterday's conversation. I am conscious of my dependence on God. Words are cheap. Life
2:55 has shielded you thus far. What a plight if you were forced to look to the invisible hand for
3:02 your food and shelter. You would soon be begging on the streets never i would not put faith in passers-by rather than god he can devise for his devotee a thousand resources besides the begging bowl that your vaunted philosophy be put to a test in this tangible world. I would agree. Do you confine
3:27 God to a speculative world? We shall see. Today you shall have opportunity either to enlarge or
3:36 to confirm my own views. Nanta paused for a dramatic moment, then spoke slowly and seriously i propose that i send you and your fellow disciple jitendra
3:48 this morning to the nearby city of rindaban you must not take a single rupee you must not beg
3:57 either for food or money you must not reveal your predicament to anyone. You must not go without your meals, and you must not
4:07 be stranded in Vrindavan. If you return to my bungalow here before twelve o'clock tonight,
4:14 without having broken any rule of the test, I shall be the most astonished man in Agra.
4:20 I accept the challenge. No hesitation was in my words or in my heart. Grateful memories flashed of the instant beneficence my healing of deadly cholera through appeal to Lahiri Mahasaya's picture, the playful gift of the two kites on the Lahore roof with Uma, the importune amulet amidst my discouragement the decisive message through the unknown ben my living master from the midst of life-long dreams never could i admit my philosophy unequal to any tussle on the world's harsh proving ground Your willingness does you credit. I'll escort you to the train at once, Ananta turned to the open-mouthed Jitendra.
5:29 You must go along as a witness and very likely a fellow victim.
5:35 A half an hour later, Jitendra and I were in possession of one-way tickets for our impromptu trip.
5:41 We submitted in a secluded corner of the station to a search of our persons ananta was quickly satisfied that we were carrying no hidden hoard our simple dhothis concealed nothing more than was necessary my friend spoke protestingly. Ananta, give me one or two rupees as a safeguard.
6:08 Then I can telegraph you in case of misfortune. Jitendra, my ejaculation was sharply reproachful.
6:16 I will not proceed with the test if you take any money as final security. There is something
6:23 reassuring about the clink of coins. Jitendra said no more
6:28 as I regarded him sternly. Mukunda, I am not heartless. A hint of humility had crept into
6:35 Ananta's voice. It may be that his conscience was smiting him, perhaps for sending two insolvent boys into a strange city, perhaps for his own religious skepticism.
6:49 If by any chance or grace you pass successfully through the Vrindavan ordeal,
6:54 I shall ask you to initiate me as your disciple.
6:58 This promise had a certain irregularity in keeping with the unconventional occasion.
7:04 The eldest brother in an Indian family seldom bows before his juniors.
7:09 He receives respect and obedience second only to a father,

Showing the first 40 of 111 lines.