________________
DECEMBER, 1929)
A LIFE OF NAND RISHI
223
Calf, guest and cat collected,
For three days they were enumerated. Sin will, therefore, overburden me,
Myself shall forget thinking (of God). May inflammation betide the desire !
If it returns I shall catch it in a noose. If it runs away I shall bolt the door firmly (against it).
We will not prick this body with a thorn. Nand Rishi then left Drayigam village. When he bad gone about 20 furlonge past Anabur, Sangi Ganai, together with several others, went after him and requested him to return; but Nand Rishi would not go back.
A man named Månak once came to Nand Rishi and began to reproach him for his being illiterate. Nand Rishi pleaded guilty, declaring that he had really wasted his life in ignorance and that he had, therefore, become a recluse, repenting for his sins. He remarked
Poshanul posh-wárai garan,
Mughul garan huni wis, . Shihut shinalaya garan,
Khar gåran guh lodui tah sảs. The oriole seeks a flower garden,
The owl seeks a desolate spot, The laughing thrush seeks a snowy abode,
The ass seeks a dungbill and ashes. “But one should not preach sermons to others," exclaimed Nand Rishi, "and himself practise otherwise." He further observed on priestoraft
Mulláh dyathum nárai bharan,
Dolah guhdrán paran kyut ; Aldi baldi panas niwdran,
Amrit chhakan biyan kyut. Malan asan hanga phut shdbali,
Pakan alit walit ket; Khewan gusht klaam ndli,
Katahi tali tsalek patila het. Rolsán nah tah khiwan balbali,
Anchán tah tsalán katsi tali het. Yusa ror chheh saran sangaran palan,
Sui kunih piyin malan yit! I saw a priest blowing out fire (and)
Beating a drum to others; All evils presenting to himself,
Nectar sprinkling to others. The priests have nice big turbans on their heads;
They walk about daintily dressed. Dressed in priestly robes they indulge in mutton,
They run away with the cooking pots under the arm-pit. They pretend that it does not agree with them (yet) they go on eating.
They watch and run away with the food) under their arm-pit.