________________
SEPT. 6, 1872)
THE PRITHIRAJA RASAU.
273
her with joined hands. "For what cause have you called me hither to-day. What woman taught you to call upon me." All the rival wives said, "Hear our grief. The Raja does not use our bodies. O! mother, except you, who can know the pain of a childless woman ! The arrow 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 will make the man's body like a woman's. All the wives approved of this plan. "At once, O mother 1 perform this work," they said.
Sending for fire she performed hom, burning therein the flesh of dogs and asses, and pronouncing charms. At that moment his desire (Lám) became extinct. Making her presents, the wives dismissed the mother. "Abandoning this city, go to another." The Raja became much grieved at the loss of his virility. He took the vow of chastity* for four months. In Kartik month he went to Pushkar to bathe. He heard mention of the greatness of Gokarna. He called for Jait Sing the Golwala and said to him, " you are expert (nagar) in the knowledge of all countries; tell me all about the country of Gokarna, its mountains, rivers, tanks and jangals.
“Maharaja 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; 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 Raja 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, abandoning 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, & swift river, many birds, gardens, and places sacred to Śiva; shaded retreats, creepers entwining the trees with leaves and flowers of various colours, plantains, and fruits, Koils, Chakors, peacocks, Sarases, beautiful to behold. Boars, lions, companies of deer :-the Raja seeing them was astonished. The place was very good : a place of rest. Worshipping Siva, all were happy. In the mountain was a cave where resided a Kinnara. Drops of water fell on his head from the
roof, a company of lions were his attendants. The Raja coming suddenly and touching his feet entreated him : " Om ! I praise Siva, I praise him of the great wisdom."
Fruits, flowers, and other articles, panchâmrita, incense, and lamps he placed before him. Bathing (the idol) and offering gifts the Chahuvân prayed: “I praise the lord of Bhutas, dwelling in terrible places, in whose locks Gañga is visible, from whose three eyes brightness like fire issues, on whose forehead is the moon, in whose throat is poison, on his neck the (rundmåla) necklace of skulls,-the great 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 thee! I praise thee! He who wears an elephant's hide, who is surrounded by Vîrs and Bhairavas in a crowd, resting his feet on Nandi, attended by the four Vedas, and sixty-four Yoginis, round whom sound the drum and the kettledrum (damrut at the sound of whose footsteps Meru mountain shakes, the atmosphere thunders; who holds the bow Pinaka in his left hand : I praise thee! I praise thee! I praise thee! I praise thee! Him whom the liberated Siddhas and the Sadhaks, who seek liberation, worship; who holds in his hand a trident, whose name is 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 diseases: worshipping thee whose sin would not be destroyed, the half of whose body is Gauri, who dwellest in Kailâs? I praise thee! I praise thee, I praise thee! I praise thee!”
So much praise the king uttered, worshipping touching the god's feet. The Siddha seeing it was astonished. “This Rája is a vessel of wisdom." The Siddha asked—“From what city do you come ? of what family (gotra) are you? What is your name? Are you come here on pilgrimage, or bave you business with any one?"
+ This description is in strict accord with the representations of S'iva at Elephanta and Elora. conf. my Elephanta, $$ 62, 64, 65, 68-72, and notes.-ED.
. Under the circumstances one would think this vow somewhat superfluous: the meaning probably is that he became an Ascetio for the period mentioned.-J. B.
