Sweet Concerns for Sweeter Madhuri In a short time Kumud’s life story became known to all members of the Parivrajika Math and the Vihar Math. The ascetics found the combination of social norms and spiritual love miraculous, and both the maths engaged in lengthy discussions about it. In this context Madhuri’s association with Navinchandra also became well known. His conduct towards Madhuri was held as wrong, but they also found reasons to understand and appreciate Swami Vishnudas’ partiality towards him. There was a general consensus on this issue. The only matter of debate was about the desirability or otherwise of the two lovers uniting according to the tenets of the Alakh Marg. They were also uncertain about the rituals to be adopted for concluding this union. Kumud slept surrounded by other women ascetics. Her mind full of Sarasvatichandra, her eyelids kept opening and closing uneasily in her sleep. Mohini and Bansari, who slept on either side of her, remained awake and watched over her. That morning, Kumud had been shocked to see Sarasvatichandra dressed like an ascetic. During the course of the day she had heard the story told and re-told in the community. She was no longer in a state of shock. She in fact felt unburdened. She had regained her equilibrium; but every time she closed her eyes the image of him in an ascetic’s garb flashed before her. What is better for a man like him, she thought, to be an ascetic or a householder? If he were to live among the people, how much good he would do them. I am unfortunate, but it would be a grave wrong if a gem like him were to be engulfed in this fire and reduced to ashes. What can I possibly say to him? His glorious, handsome face and body appear pale as the early morning moon. He eats and sleeps in a place like this; his body will wither in these hardships. But his face looks as blissful as before. How hard they had to try to draw him into conversation! He barely spoke a few words, that too because the women ascetics cleverly forced him to. Most certainly his grief is deep—very deep. Kumud fell asleep with her beloved’s image in her heart, and she dreamt. In her dream she spoke aloud. Such days as you have passed, such as I have known, Whose fevered flames have raged in every vein, And anguish wrung conscious existence from me— Thy love alone preserved my fleeting life.²⁸⁰ Mohini and Bansari sat up and listened to her. Mohini whispered to Bansari, ‘The treatise on desire speaks of a deeply experienced union— this is it.’ Bansari: ‘Yes. It is. A woman in love has many chambers in her heart, each concealing a deeper secret.’ Mohini: ‘Yes. Madhava has described this state. Love rages tyrant in her bosom, But lavishes his bounties on her form.²⁸¹ Just then they heard some footsteps. Bhakti Maiya and Vamini entered the math. Mohini and Bansari