Page 79 - SBV (English)

Early Life 19

sudden rise of the youthful Siddhänta Sarasvaté, Paëòita Païcänana became
openly critical of him and his students. Tension simmered until eventually the
college principal, Dr. Satéça-candra Vidyäbhüñaëa, convened and presided over
a debate to resolve the issue. Thereat Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté easily met the
various challenges posed by Paëòita Païcänana and moreover nonplussed him by
posing further queries—which Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté himself then answered.
But when Çré Siddhänta Sarasvaté tangled directly with the college
principal, he became obliged to quit college. It was 1895, and although in that
*
era such an act was practically unheard of and deemed disgraceful, Çré Siddhänta
Sarasvaté had another outlook:
Considering that if I were to remain studying diligently
at college, I would be browbeaten to enter family life; but
if I were perceived as a foolish good-for-nothing, then no
one would put such an inducement upon me for becoming
engaged in worldly advancement, I left the Sanskrit College.
And to maintain my life for service to Hari, I sought an honest
occupation with a modest income. 12

EEE

* Re the tangle with the college principal, see vol. 1, pp. 192–93.