SEPT. 6, 1872.]

THE PRITHIRAJA RASAU.

her with joined hands. “For what cause have you called me hither to-day. What woman

273

roof, a company of lions were his attendants. The Rāja coming suddenly and touching his feet

taught you to call upon me.” All the rival wives

entreated him : “Om

said, “Hear our grief. The Raja does not use our bodies. O ! mother, except you, who can

him of the great wisdom.”

know the pain of a childless woman The ar row of having a rival wife pierces our hearts.”

“If you please I will deprive him of life, if you please I will make the woman averse to him, if you please I will destroy desire within him,

I praise Siva, I

praise

Fruits, flowers, and other articles, panchāmrita, incense, and lamps he placed before him. Bath ing (the idol) and offering gifts the Chahuvan prayed : “I praise the lord of Bhutas, dwell ing in terrible places, in whose locks Gańga is Visible, from whose three eyes brightness like

I will make the man's body like a woman's.

fire issues, on whose forehead is the

All the wives approved of this plan. “At once,

in whose throat is poison, on his neck the

O mother perform this work,” they said.

(rundmāla) necklace of skulls—the great

Sending for fire she performed hom, burning therein the flesh of dogs and asses, and pro nouncing charms.

At that moment his desire

(kān) became extinct. Making her presents,

moon,

Adi,

whose voice is as the roaring of a lion, who is attended by Siddhas and Devas, whose body is smeared with the ashes of the funeral

pile : I praise thee! I praise thee! I praise

the wives dismissed the mother. “Abandoning

thee! I praise thee! He who wears an elephant's

this city, go to another.” The Rāja became much

hide, who is surrounded by Virs and Bhairavas

grieved at the loss of his virility. He took the vow of chastity* for four months. In Kartik

by the four Vedas, and sixty-four Yoginis,

month he went to Pushkar to bathe. He heard mention of the greatness of Gokarna. He called

in a crowd, resting his feet on Nandi, attended round whom sound the drum and the kettle drum (damru)f at the sound of whose footsteps

Meru mountain shakes, the atmosphere thunders; for Jait Sing the Golwala and said to him, “ you are expert (uſiyar) in the knowledge of all coun

who holds the bow Pinaka in his left hand : I

tries; tell me all about the country of Gokarna,

praise thee! Him whom the liberated Siddhas

its mountains, rivers, tanks and jangals. “Mahārāja there is the temple of Mahadeo (Siva), the river Banas, shy as a virgin is there. There is a great mountain three kos in height;

who holds in his hand a trident, whose name is

they who see the water which flows from it are

delighted.” “How far is it from Ajmer ?” “In a journey of two days one may arrive there.” The Rāja mounted and went off to Gokarndes.

He took great elephants with him, nobats (drums), and banners.

The noise was heard in the ten

directions. Enemies in various places, abandon ing their own residences, fled into the jangal. In other khandas the noise sounded Bisal Raja reached Tachhitpura in the direction of Gokarna. There is a lofty mountain there, a swift

praise thee! I praise thee! I praise thee! I and the Sādhaks, who seek liberation, worship; repeated by men, Kinnaras, Gandharvas, serpents and Yakshas, by Suras and Asuras, by Apsarases and Rishis, whom Janaka and other Rishis from childhood worship. The earth, the winds, the air, the fire, the water, the sun and moon, the nine constellations, were created by thee. I praise thee! I praise thee / I praise thee! I praise thee! If thy name be called to mind, difficulties of the road, of the resting place, are removed, a karor of calamities is dissipated. Whose charms and spells bind all that travel in the sky, and in the earth, and disarm incurable

to Śiva; shaded retreats, creepers entwining the

diseases: worshipping thee whose sin would not be destroyed, the half of whose body is Gauri, who dwellest in Kailās I praise thee! I praise

trees with leaves and flowers of various colours,

thee, I praise thee! I praise thee!”

plantains, and fruits, Koils, Chakors, peacocks, Sarases, beautiful to behold. Boars, lions, com panies of deer:-the Rāja seeing them was as tonished. The place was very good : a place of

So much praise the king uttered, worshipping, touching the god's feet. The Siddha seeing it was astonished. “This Rāja is a vessel of wisdom.” The Siddha asked—“From what city do you come 7 of what family (gotra) are you? What is your name 2 Are you come here on pilgrimage, or have you business with any one?”

river, many birds, gardens, and places sacred

rest.

Worshipping

Śiva, all were happy.

In

the mountain was a cave where resided a Kinna

ra.

Drops of water fell on his head from the

• Under the circumstances one would think this vow

somewhat superfluous: the meaning probably is that he be came an ascetic for the period mentioned,—J. B.

f This description is in strict accord with the representa tions of Siva at _Elephanta and Elora, conf. my Elephanta, §§ 62, 64, 65, 68-72, and notes.-ED.