During his wanderings <br />In the vicinity of Himalayas, <br />A Tibetan family kept <br />Swamiji as their guest. <br /> <br />He was surprised to see, <br />They practiced polyandry. <br />One wife for six brothers <br />As a strange practice. <br /> <br />“I should enjoy any good thing, <br />With my brothers, by sharing; <br />It’s our customary practice. <br />I’ll be selfish otherwise.” <br /> <br />When Swamiji questioned, <br />Like this, the eldest replied, <br />But Swamiji remained silent <br />Without making any comment. <br /> <br />In the name of tradition, <br />Either good or evil one, <br />People followed the same <br />Blindly as their custom. <br /> <br />In his opinion, he judged <br />A thing by its own standard <br />Of a social group only, <br />And condemned it not openly <br /> <br />Once, he travelled by train. <br />With him two Englishmen, <br />Sat in his compartment <br />Making a silly comment. <br /> <br />An illiterate beggar he was. <br />They joked at him like this. <br />Swamiji simply kept quiet. <br />Without making any retort. <br /> <br />When the train stopped, <br />In perfect English he talked <br />With the Station Master, <br />O’er some general matter. <br /> <br />They asked him, “Why didn’t <br />You make any protest <br />Against our rudeness <br />And comments baseless? ” <br /> <br />He replied, “Friends, <br />I’ve seen such fools <br />Not for the first time.” <br />This provoked them. <br /> <br />They wanted to fight, <br />But, in fear, kept quiet, <br />After seeing his body <br />That was so sturdy.<br /><br />Rajaram Ramachandran<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/31-vivekananda-some-strange-events/
