Reminiscences

When once the talk had turned to saints, ShriMaharaj said, "All these three classes are no doubt pre - eminent, but if one were to look minutely, small differences are to be observed. Although Vishwamitra was himself proficient in archery, he did not oppose the demons obstructing the performing of yajnyas;, either by arms or by his superhu­man powers; on the other hand, he brought over Rama and Lakshmana, and brought about the extermination of the demons at their hands by making them proficient in archery. Rama and Lakshmana being incarnations of God, and having been born in the warrior caste, had it as their duty to destroy the wicked. Having performed it with a detached mind, it did not become a cause of bondage for them. Now what does one see when one looks at a saint ? Not even the thought that someone should suffer extermi­nation touches a saint's mind. What did ShriJnyaneshwarmaharaj ask of God ? Did he not ask that the perverseness of the wicked, or perversity of the evil-minded be eradicated ? There is no instance of saints' having wished extermination even of those who have op­pressed them. So it is seen that saints view all living beings with pure love.'