After supper the devotees rested on the mat spread on the floor of the Master's room. They
began to talk with him. It was indeed a mart of joy. The Master asked Narendra to sing the
song beginning with the line: "In Wisdom's firmament the moon of Love is rising full."
Narendra sang, and other devotees played the drums and cymbals:
In Wisdom's firmament the moon of Love is rising full,
And Love's flood-tide, in surging waves, is flowing everywhere.
O Lord, how full of bliss Thou art! Victory unto Thee!
On every side shine devotees, like stars around the moon;
Their Friend, the Lord All-merciful, joyously plays with them.
Behold! the gates of paradise today are open wide.
The soft spring wind of the New Day raises fresh waves of joy;
Gently it carries to the earth the fragrance of God's Love,
Till all the yogis, drunk with bliss, are lost in ecstasy.
Upon the sea of the world unfolds the lotus of the New Day,
And there the Mother sits enshrined in blissful majesty.
See how the bees are mad with joy, sipping the nectar there!
Behold the Mother's radiant face, which so enchants the heart
And captivates the universe! About Her Lotus Feet
Bands of ecstatic holy men are dancing in delight.
What matchless loveliness is Hers! What infinite content
Pervades the heart when She appears! O brothers, says Premdas,
I humbly beg you, one and all, to sing the Mother's praise!
Sri Ramakrishna sang and danced, and the devotees danced around him.
A devotee's dream
When the song was over, the Master walked up and down the northeast verandah, where
Hazra was seated with M. The Master sat down there. He asked a devotee, "Do you ever
have dreams?"
DEVOTEE: "Yes, sir. The other day I dreamt a strange dream. I saw the whole world
enveloped in water. There was water on all sides. A few boats were visible, but suddenly
huge waves appeared and sank them. I was about to board a ship with a few others, when
we saw a brahmin walking over that expanse of water. I asked him, 'How can you walk
over the deep?' The brahmin said with a smile: 'Oh, there is no difficulty about that. There
is a bridge under the water.' I said to him, 'Where are you going?' 'To Bhawanipur, the city
of the Divine Mother', he replied. 'Wait a little', I cried. 'I shall accompany you.' "
MASTER: "Oh. I am thrilled to hear the story!"
DEVOTEE: "The brahmin said: 'I am in a hurry. It will take you some time to get out of the
boat. Good-bye. Remember this path and come after me.
MASTER: "Oh, my hair is standing on end! Please be initiated by a guru as soon as
possible."
Shortly before midnight Narendra and the other devotees lay down on a bed made on the
floor of the Master's room.