Letters from Sri Ramanasramam 407
“Hearing these words of faith and devotion, the Muni was pleased and satisfied and placing his hand on the head of the king said, ‘My dear man, to know whether you are fit to be a Muk«a or not, I had to give you these preliminary tests. | have now secured a disciple who is fit for initiation. You are now Brahma Swarupa (of the nature of Brahman), a realised soul; one who has done successfully all that has to be done; one that has received all that has to be received.’ The king thereupon prostrated before the Muni wondering within himself how he had become Brahma Swarupa though
he was fully enveloped in ignorance, and asked:
Katham jnanam avapnothi Katham mukurbhavishyadu Varagyamcha katham praptham Etatbruhi mama prabho
Swami, please tell me how realization can be obtained, how liberation is secured and how non-attachment is gained.
“Ashtavakra Gitais in the form of questions and answers, Janaka got initiated into Self-knowledge. As a result of that initiation, the whole night passed as though it were but a few moments.
“Immediately after sunrise, as the door was opened the ministers and others came in and were overjoyed to find the king in great ecstasy. Then the great Muni enquired of the king if he still had any doubts about obtaining knowledge within the short space of placing the other foot on the stirrup as mentioned in the scriptures and that if he had any, he might as well send for his horse so that the statement could be proved. With a heart full of gratitude and devotion, the king said that there was no room in his mind for any sort of doubt and that what was said in the scriptures was absolutely
true. He again expressed his gratitude for the great favour