It seemed so, but later I learned that this was the result of scientific methods of fruit cultivation. Mistaking me for someone especially hungry, they had given me a little more fruit. Among them were also some segments of orange. I had tasted oranges from Nepal before, but never were they so sweet and delicious. There was no trace of seeds, nor any fibers. The grapes were the size of Banarasi berries. I asked,

"Where are these grapes from?"

Sumedh replied, "There is an orchard four kos from here."

"Do grapes grow in Nepal as well?"

"Very much so. It's been hundreds of years now. Grapes from here are sent to all of Bihar, Orissa, half of Bengal, Kashi, and Kosala."

Now breakfast was over. Everyone washed their hands and faces and turned toward a room. There, many kurtas were lying about. Sumedh took me and seated me on a comfortable chair. Inwardly, I kept thinking that these people must surely consider me a savage from the twentieth century. And on top of that, they had seen me clad in leaves! Besides, none of them seemed fond of beards, while my hair was like that of a bear!

I had seen these people working in the orchard, so I had assumed they must be laborers. But now I was curious to ask, who owns these orchards? Yet I did not have the courage.

"We are all very eager to hear your story."

"I am even more eager to learn about you than you are about me. Sumedhji, my story is not very long. Before coming to that cave, I lived in Nalanda, in the province of Bihar. At that time, there was a school there, where I used to study and teach."

“Oh! You are Vishvabandhu, the teacher of Nalanda University? Truly, how fortunate we are to behold you! I, too, was nurtured in the lap of your very university from the age of three until twenty. In the ‘Vasubandhu Hall’ there, I have even seen your stone statue!”

“So, our beloved university still lives?”

“Not only does it live, but today there is perhaps no other institution in the world that can rival it. In philosophy, astronomy, linguistics, history, and politics, Nalanda is unparalleled.”

As I listened to the account of Nalanda University’s glory, my joy knew no bounds; a sea of delight surged within my heart. The audience, too, seemed deeply moved by this introduction. All of them gazed at me with such looks, filled with affection and respect. Now, they had learned all that was to be known about me. To learn about them, I quickly brought my own story to a close—

“After serving the university for nearly thirty years, I set out to wander in the northern regions. Upon reaching that cave, which lies twelve or thirteen kos from here, I fell into a swoon or sleep, and have lain there ever since. That, in brief, is my story. Now, tell me—where is your birthplace?