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RELIGIOUS SECTS
theneeforth performed the menial service of the deity, washing his garments, bringing him water, and Jiseharging other similar duties in the dwelling of RÁÑÁVYÁs with entire and fervent devotion, on which account she obtained the esteem of Sri Achráj, and the favour of the deity.
Rám Dás was married in his youth, but adopting ascetie principles, he refused to take his wife home: at last his father-in-law left his daughter in her husband's dwelling, but Rám Dás would have nothing to say to her, and set off on a pilgrimage to Duáraká: his wife followed him, but he threw stones at her, and she was compelled to remain at a distance from him. At noon he halted and bathed the god, and prepared his food, and presented it, and then took the Prasád and put it in a vessel, and fed upon what remained, but it was to no purpose, and he was still hungry. Thus passed two or three days, when RAŇACHNOŃ appeared to him in a drean, and asked him why he thus illtreated his wife. He said, he was l'irakta (a ecnobite), and what did he want with a wife. Then RAŇACHHOŃ asked him, why he had married, and assured him that such an unsocial spirit was not agreeable to Sri Acharya, and desired him to take his wife unto him; for RAŇACHIHOŘ could not bear the distress of the poor woman, as he has a gentle heart, and his nature has been imparted to the Acharya and his disciples. When morning came, Rám Dás called to his wife, and suffered her to aecompany him, by which she was made happy. When the time for preparing their food arrived, Rán Dás prepared it himself, and after presenting the portion to the image, gave a part of it to his wife. After a few days RAŇACIHOK again appeared, and asked him, why he did not allow his wife to cook, to which Rám Dás replied, that she had not received the initiating name from Sri Acharya, and was, therefore, unfit to prepare his food. RAŃACHHOŘ, therefore, directed him to communicate the Nam (the name) to his wife, and after returning to the Acharya, get him to repeat it. Accordingly Rám Dás iniated his wife, and this being confirmed by the Acharya, she also became his disciple, and, with her husband, assiduously worshipped Sri Thákur ji.
