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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(SEPT. 6, 1872.
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 Dhundha. He ruined the city of Ajmer which was like a Deva's city." " O mother, listen the austerity-practising maid has promised, -the Parmari 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 the Kumár to remain quiet: thus Gauri-ma persuades but her son refuses to listen. She said "A man may fight with a man but not with a Dânav. Much time has passed away, the roads are broken up, he destroys the elephants and the deer of the jangal. In this house of your maternal uncle (mâtul) you are living, he will come and destroy it." Before his mother Anâ exclaimed, " I will either live or die there, I will perform his service or take an opposite course." "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 Anå 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 acquired." His mother urged that enemies were not to be served, but Anå determinedly went to the forest of Ajmer. Long had that Danava remained in the Ajmer forest; there he had de- stroyed all: there was neither Siddha nor Sadhak; neither beast nor bird. He had many pretas with him. When Anâ went thither, the Rákshasa was surprised at seeing a man. "Here is a good meal for me to-day: destiny provides for us mortals food without our toil." Ana saw the Rakshasa, having five hundred hands ench 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 Råkshasn began to enquire of him “Who is your mother? who your father? what is your name? what lord do you follow?" what lord ayon follow An Tre
Ana (reflecting in his mind, if this Dhundha should swallow me, as Indra did to Vritra, so will I do, ripping open his belly from within with my
* From Hindi acar to search. + A few lines bere omitted.
Rather a fine description of the utter desolation of Ajmer is here omitted.
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 afflicteil 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 your mother died ?" "None of all these have happened. It is to serve you that I come hither. Until I met you I had disease and poverty, Il until then I was of no repute."
The Rakshasa took him in his embrace, and placed his hand on his head." The world and desire to live abandoning, now have you come hither." " For this reason, I care not to live that I have no land or home. Therefore I am come to serve you. 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 bygone 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 reign." Thus saying he rose into the sky taking his sword with him. “On Sunday pay me worship." The royalty he gave to Anâ the Chahuvân: he went by the way of the air to Ganga, being afflicted by thirst. A Rishi named Nim was sented there, the Rakshasa paid him obeisance. He asked him who he was, and why he . had come. Bisal told his whole tale :-" I burn with fever O Natha! how shall my release be effected ?" "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 sinless." Hearing this, the Rakshasa rose into the air, he arrived at Dilli, where is the place of Devas,-Nigambodh, where is Yamuna riverpure and clear are its waters. Thither the demon (nishachar) went. He was very thirsty and wearied. 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 & cave. Hearing the noise he came out to see. Beholding him he asked his story. The Rakshasa detailed the whole matter.
I
The preceding three sentences are much condensed. || This sentence is very much compressed.
He became the Kul Deva.
