From Epistles-Second Series of Volume 6 of The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
CXXV
(Translated from Sanskrit)
ALMORA,
1st June, 1897.
DEAR SHUDDHANANDA,
Glad to know from your letter that all are doing well there, and to go through the news in detail. I too am in better health; the rest you will know from Dr. Shashi Bhushan. Let the teaching go on for the present in the method revised by Brahmananda, and if any changes ar needed in future, have them done. But it should never be lost sight of that this must be done with the consent of all.
I am now living in a garden belonging to a merchant situated a little to the north of Almora. Before me are the snow-peaks of the Himalayas looking, in the reflection of the sun, like a mass of silver, a delight to the heart. By taking free air, regular diet, and plenty of exercise, I have grown strong and healthy in body. But I hear the Yogananda is very ill. I am inviting him to come here But then, he fears the mountain air and water. I wrote to him today, saying, “Stay in this garden for some day’ and if you find your illness shows no improvement, you may go to Calcutta.” He will do as he pleases.
At Almora, every evening Achyutananda gathers the people together and reads to them the Gita and other Shâstras. Many residents of the town, as also soldiers from the cantonment, come there daily. I learn also that he is appreciated by all.
The Bengali interpretation that you have given of the Shloka interpretation in question is this: “When (the land) is flooded with water, what is the use of drinking water?” If the law of nature be such that when a land is flooded with water, drinking it is useless, that through certain air passages or through any other recondite way people’s thirst may be allayed, then only can this novel interpretation be relevant, otherwise not. It is Shankara whom you should follow. Or you may explain it in this way: As, even when whole tracts are flooded with water, small pools are also of great use to the thirsty (that is to say, just a little water suffices him, and he says, as it were, “Let the vast sheet of water be, even a little of water will satisfy my object.”), of identical use are the whole Vedas to a learned Brahmin. As even when the land is overflooded, one’s concern lies in drinking the water and no more, so in all the Vedas illumination alone is the concern.
Here is another interpretation which hits better the meaning the author wishes to convey: Even when the land is overflooded, it is only that water which is drinkable and salutary, that people seek for, and no other kind. There are various kinds of water, which differ in quality and properties — even though the land be flooded over — according to the differences in property of their substratum, the soil. Likewise a skilful Brahmin, too, will, for the quenching of the worldly thirst, choose from that sea of words known as the Vedas, which is flooded over with diverse courses of knowledge, that which alone will be of potence to lead to liberation. And it is the knowledge of the Brahman which will do this.
With blessing and good wishes.
Yours,
VIVEKANANDA.