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Sugandha: Sweet Fragrance
589
belief in God and a relation of Love with his Person do not exist, these words, especially on the lips of a young girl, appear mysterious. We can conclude that Dākhi wished to refer in these therms to that deep spiritual reality that she had sensed in her contact with the sādhvis.
Here, now, are her chief replies in her dialogue with the magistrate: Thakura: "Do you really, my child, desire to embrace the ascetic life?"
Dākhi: "Yes, sir."
Thākura: "Why?"
Dakhi: "It is an inner call."
Thakura: "Why do you not wish to marry?"
Dākhi: "I have no desire for it."
Thakura: "Do you know what the ascetic life means?"
Dākhi: "Without a knowledge of the ascetic life it is not
possible to experience its attraction. I do know what is meant by both life in the world and by asceticism."
Thākura: "Is not obcdicnce to one's parents also part of the
dharma?"
Dākhi: "Yes, indeed, but if it is clear that one's parents' demands are
an obstacle to the full realisation of human life and of the ātman, respectfully to oppose these demands is not contrary to the dharma."
Thākura: "Do you sce, my child, what is in front of you?"
Dākhi: "Yes, it is a rislc."
Thākura: (10 test her) "Leave aside all these arguments of yours
and do as your grandfather tells you. If not, I'm going to use this rillc." - and with that he grasped the rifle.
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