Chapter 4 Summary and Analysis

Mukunda has engaged a friend, Amar Mittar, to leave school and go to the Himalayas with him. Mukunda's brother, Ananta, is determined to prevent him from escaping. Meeting up with Amar and Mukunda's cousin, Jotinda, the three don English clothing as a disguise and boarded a train. Mukunda is excited and thinks they will experience such cosmic consciousness that tigers could approach them, but this idea frightens Jatinda. Jatinda disappears at the train station, and Mukunda and Amar decide this is a test of their devotion, so they continue on. Mukunda, vowing not to lie to officials, tells an officer he is running away not in anger but in "divine melancholy."

Ananta has sent telegrams to officials along their route, and finally in Hardwar they are detained by officers, their money confiscated. One of the officers tells them a story of...