Indian Antiquary Vol 18

SR No.: 032510
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 454
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 382

954
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1889.
TRANSLATION.
Chorus. A very bad thing is poverty! The poor man felt much wrath! When he had to pay his debt to the money-lender, great distress came upon Sangya !
First Verse. In the city of Hongal there is a money-lender; Daravajanti is his name. In silver and gold, small change and silver currency, and cotton, are his dealings and trade. The silver. smiths receive his money, for making various kinds of chaukass of pure Chinese silver; and every week, on Saturday, the running accounts of the charkas are made op. Of manifold kinds are his functions; and eight or ten are his servants. Innumerable women clear his cotton from the seed, in both the winter and the rainy season.
(With a change of metre), -How shall I describe his business? He carried on all the duties of a money-changer. His two brothers, elder and younger, (assisted him with) great intelligence; in what they did, there was no lack of gain; no one in the village felt any dislike (for them); with great honesty they carried on the business of a money-lender.
(Lowering the voice), - I will describe to you his apparel; listen now! He used to stroll along the streets, wearing a very fine chaukas fastened round his neck; and on his head a turban with a border worked with gold threads; look at him! His apper-cloth was from Nagpur; on his body there was a separate jacket of camlet;? how beautiful were his chandrahára and gôpa, with the gold glittering so lastrously upon his breast; on his finger he wore a pure and holy ring.
(Raising the voice), - In speech he was very firm; not the least particle of falsehood (was in him)!
Second Verse. Listen first to the origin of the matter. See!; the field in (Sangya's) occupancy was good black soil. He (mortgaged it for a loan, and executed a deed in due form, with a period of five years; last year they went to law; (the lender) shewed no harshness beyond what the law allows ; according to the value of the produce, he laid his plaint; and the quarrel came ap (for trial) in the Saundatti Court. (Sangya) presented the stamped paper (containing his plea), admitting that Basalinganna's words were true, and did obeisance. The Munsifflo (pronounced against him, and) said, -"Go to Dhậrwad, and make your petition of appeal."
(With a change of metre), - From there he came to Hongal, and made, Sir, preparation for the journey. Taking with him a hundred rupees, he set out thence for Dharwad. He presented to the Governmentil the petition of appeal, and straightway retained a Vakil.12
1 This must be his surname. The word has also been explained to me as moaning that his name was known "far and wide." But I cannot find any authority for this.
• A chauka is a box in which a linga, the phallic emblem, is carried; it is usually worn suspended from the neck. 3 chye stands for chyála, =chala; see ante, Vol. XV. p. 350, note 6. • The Rachapps and Phakiranna who are mentioned further on.
Sikhamani seems to be used here to qualify chauka, and to denote's chauka, the best of its kind; a very excellent chauka,
6 This is the Nagpur of the Central Province, which has long had a great reputation for the manufacture of thótars. or the cloths worn by men. Two such cloths are worn; one fastened round the waist, and hanging down and the other round the upper part of the body. Here the verbal adjective hott-iru, i.e. hott-irwa, specifies the upper cloth The lower cloth is called utta-konda dhatra,
+ The word in the text, kemalata, is an adaptation of the English word. I am told that camlet stuff was formerly much used in this part of the country.
These are gold neckleta of different patterns,
• The third Anger of the right hand is onlled pavitrada beralu, 'the pore finger, being considered purer than the others; and pavitrada ungana is the technical name of a ring, made of gold, for this finger.
1. The Native judge of the local court. The official title now is 'Subordinate Judge.' 11 se. to the Court of the District Judge.
13 A Native lawyer, a 'Pleader.'