278

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.

fell as falls a mountain; knowing him to be an Asura, all the men remained hidden in the city. Searching he ate the men, thence his name

Dhundhã.” He ruined the city of Ajmer which was like a Deva's city.” “O mother, listen the austerity-practising maid has promised,—the Parmári too has given a blessing. I will go to Ajmergarh and return having slain the enemy.” Gauri did not agree to this matter, she advised

[SEPT. 6, 1872.

sword”] said—“Gauri was the mother who bore me in her womb. My father (or ancestor) Bisal, strong in kám, I have longed to come hither to see with these eyes your form.” “What has poverty fallen to your lot, or has disease afflicted

your body, has an enemy taken your land, or has your wife deserted you, has some calamity been thrown upon you by destiny, have men driven you from them, or has your Guru cursed you, or

the Kumār to remain quiet: thus Gauri-mă per

your mother died ?”

suades but her son refuses to listen. She said “A

happened.

man may fight with a man but not with a Dănay. Much time has passed away, the roads are broken up, he destroys the elephants and the deer of the

until then I was of no repute.” The Rákshasa took him in his embrace, and

jangal. In this house of your maternal uncle (mátuſ) you are living, he will come and destroy it.” Before his mother Anâ exclaimed, “I will

“None of all these have

It is to serve you that I come hither.

Until I met you I had disease and poverty, placed his hand on his head.

either live or die there, I will perform his ser

that I have no land or home.

vice or take an opposite course.”

come to serve you.

“O son | you

have conceived a bad desire, from which my soul is destroyed. Dhundha seeks men to eat them, and do you think of going to serve him.” Then

replied Anâ thus : “To me this seems good, to give to him my head, or to return with a chhatra raised over me.

By service the Devas

may be pleased ; by service the Rakshasas may be subdued; by service a lion may be tamed ; by service snakes may be deprived of their poi sonous powers; by service is much property

“The world and

desire to live abandoning, now have you come hither.” “For this reason, I care not to live Therefore I am

It is alike to me to live or

to die. I will either give you my head or place above it an umbrella. This land from long by gone times belonged to my fathers, to ask it from you I am come.” The Daitya was pleased beholding his son, he himself longed to assume human form. “Your descendants from father to son shall

His mother urged that enemies were

reign.” Thus saying he rose into the sky taking his sword with him. “On Sunday pay me wor ship.”" The royalty he gave to Anâ the Cha huvân : he went by the way of the air to Gangă,

not to be served, but Anâ determinedly went to the forest of Ajmer.f Long had that Dānava remained in the Ajmer forest; there he had de

was seated there, the Rákshasa paid him obeis ance. He asked him who he was, and why he

acquired.”

being afflicted by thirst.

A Rishi named Nim

stroyed all: there was neither Siddha nor Sadhak;

had come.

neither beast nor bird.

with fever O Nātha how shall my release be effected 7” “You are a Kshatri, your release cannot here be effected, you should go to Kasi. Many are the sins you have committed, there they will be washed away, and you will become

with him.

He had many pretas

When Anâ went thither, the Rāk

shasa was surprised at seeing a man. “Here is a good meal for me to-day : destiny provides for us mortals

food without our toil.”

Anā

saw the Rakshasa, having five hundred hands each holding a sword, roaring with his mouth, yawning, up he rose. Anâ concealing his sword in his breast made obeisance.

Firm stood his

foot, but in mind much he trembled. § The Rakshasa began to enquire of him “Who is your mother who your father ? what is your name 2 what lord do you follow 2° Anā [re flecting in his mind,-" if this Dhunjha should

swallow me, as Indra did to Vritra, so will I do, ripping open his belly from within with my

sinless.”

Bisal told his whole tale :-" I burn

Hearing this, the Rákshasa rose into

the air, he arrived at Dilli, where is the place of Devas, Nigambodh, where is Yamunā river— pure and clear are its waters. Thither the

demon (nisháchar) went. and wearied.

He was very thirsty

In his doubled hands he drank

water. His body became cooled, he walked up and down. A Rishi named Harit was performing penance there in a cave. Hearing the noise he came out to see. Beholding him he asked his story. The Rakshasa detailed the whole matter.

• From Hindi &a=IT to search.

+ A few lines here omitted.

§ The preceding three sentences are much condensed.

f Rather a fine description of the utter desolation of

| This sentence is very much compressed.

• He became the Kul Deva.

Ajmer is here omitted.