A Journey through the World of Immortals and their Blessings or A Dream of Pure Love Before the starry threshold of Jove’s Court My mansion is, where those immortal shapes Of bright aerial spirits live insphered In region mild of calm and serene air, Above the smoke and stir of this dim spot Which men call Earth, and with low-thoughted care, Confined and pestered in this pinfold here, Strive to keep up this frail and feverish being, Unmindful of the crown that Virtue gives, After this mortal change, to her true servants Amongst the enthroned gods on sainted seats. Yet some there be that by due steps aspire To lay their just hands on that golden key That opens the palace of Eternity. To such my errand is; and, but for such, I would not soil these pure ambrosial weeds With the rank vapours of this sin-worn mould.⁴¹⁵ They sat in silence, their eyes on each other. The empty leaf on which fruits had been placed fluttered in the wind and fell into Sarasvatichandra’s lap, where Kumud had lain sometime before. Kumud was quick to snatch away the leaf and got up to throw it. This unintended touch had a forceful effect. As she got up she suddenly felt weak. Her body moved in one direction but her head was turned towards him. Sarasvatichandra’s eyes were riveted on her. He, too, felt himself being pulled along with her, but did not get up. Kumud returned and took her place. She looked up at the sky and the moon, and said, ‘It is past midnight. Would you like to sleep?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Which place would be appropriate for you?’ ‘That which is appropriate for you would be suitable for me.’ Kumud considered this for a while and said, ‘Does this have a meaning other than the apparent one? How should I view it?’ Then resolving the doubt herself, she said, ‘Beloved Chandra, so long as what is good for me is not also good for you, you should stay in your appointed cave, and I will stay here. You should go back to Saumanasya Gufa.’ ‘That is best.’ Sarasvatichandra got up slowly, his eyes on Kumud. He turned towards the bridge and took slow, deliberate steps. Kumud took her bedding and followed him. He saw her but said nothing. Sarasvatichandra’s companions had spread a sheet for him to sleep on. Kumud spread her bedding and covered it with this sheet and turned back. Sarasvatichandra: ‘If you sleep on this hard rock floor and insist that I sleep in this soft bed, sleep will certainly elude me.’ Kumud: ‘There is one bedding and two persons. The more revered of the two has to use the bedding; that is most appropriate.’ Sarasvatichandra: ‘Such distinctions are forbidden amongst ascetics.’ Kumud: ‘I am not yet an ascetic; at heart I am still a householder.’ Sarasvatichandra: ‘You are virtuous and hence an ascetic.’ Kumud: ‘You are my guest.’ Sarasvatichandra: ‘I am quite used to sleeping on rocks.