পাতা:আনন্দমঠ (দ্বিতীয় সংস্করণ, ১৮৮৩).djvu/৪

 The leading idea of the plot is this—Should the national mind feel justified in harbouring violent thoughts against the British Government? or to present the question in another form, is the establishment of English supremacy providential in any sense? or to put it in a still more final and conclusive form, with what purpose and. with immediate end in view did providence end the British to this country? The immediate object is thus briefly described in the preface—To put an end to Moslem tyranny and anarchy in Bengal; and the mission is thus strikingly pictured in the last chapter:—“The Physician said, ‘Satyanand, be not crest-fallen. Whatever is, is for the best. It is so written that the English should first rule over the country before there could be a revival of the Aryan faith. Harken unto the counsels of Providence. The faith of the Aryas consisteth not in the worship of three hundred and thirty millions of gods and goddesses; as a matter of fact that is a popular degradation of religion—that which has brought about the death of the true Arya faith, the so-called Hinduism of the Mlechhas. True Hinduism is grounded in knowledge, and not in works. Knowledge is of two kinds—external and internal. The internal knowledge constitutes the chief part of Hinduism. But internal knowledge cannot grow unless there is a development of the external knowledge. The spiritual cannot be known unless you know the material. External knowledge has for a long time disappeared from the country, and with it has vanished the Arya faith. To bring about a revival we