"And Govinda saw that this mask-like smile, this smile of unity over the flowing forms, this smile of simultaneousness over the thousands of births and deaths--this smile of Siddhartha--was exactly the same as the calm, delicate, impenetrable, perhaps gracious, perhaps mocking, wise, thousand-fol smile of Gotama, the Buddha, as he perceived it with awe a hundred times. It was in such a manner, Govinda knew that the Perfect One smiled" (151)
Although his father was shielding him from his journey, there is no actual atonement with his father. Instead, Govinda recognizes that Siddhartha has actually been enlightened. Meaning, yes, he does reach Nirvana. He calls Siddhartha "the Perfect one" because, when you reach Nirvana, you have perfected your understanding of everything. Govinda recognizes his smile as something as holy, and wholesome as Nirvana. Because of this recognition, as such a him being higher being, this is considered the atonement with the father. Again, the "father" being Govinda. This atonement with the father is the reason there is an Apotheosis, and is why it is so strong.
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