Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 03
Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

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Page 168
________________ 150 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY [May, 1874. Bhumideva. He had two sons, Kusa and Bikasa, The child, lef: alone in the midst of the terrible married respectively to Pramatt and Sumati, I wood, did not know what to do. Night came on daughters of a great muni named Sarvasiddhi. and he ascended a tree. In the meantime, two It once happened that Kusa and Bikusa were Rakshasas, Sankat and Bikat, came, and, promising reduced to great difficulties, and in order to recover that no injury need be feared from them, requested themselves they determined to try their fortunes him to decide a case. They said, we are the song abroad, and left home accompanied by their wives. of a great Rakshasa named Karibak. Our father After a few days' journey, on a certain night, the once satisfied Mahadeva and obtained three things two brothers left their wives asleep in a jangal from him. The first is a pair of shoes by means and went away. Soon after, the helpless females of which a man can travel thousands of miles awoke and began to lament. Meanwhile Parrati in a moment; the second is a bag from which and Mahadeva passed by that way, and the all sorts of jewels may be extracted whenever the former requested Mahadeva to take pity on the hand is put into it; and the third, a rod which, if poor women, and was told that that very night turned round, will in a short space of time create Sumati would give birth to a son, who should a large and magnificent city. Now our father is be named Putra, and as often as he should awake dead, and it is to be decided who should obtain from sleep. a thousand gold mohars would fall these. Patra pointed out a large garden, and said, from his head. During the night this prophecy Go to that garden, leaving these things here, was fulfilled, and as the child awoke from his and whosoever returns first from that place is the first sleep a thousand gold mobars fell from his owner of these things." The Lrothers ran towards head. The females suspected the money was the garden. In the meantime a voice from heaven left there by some thief, and, lest they should be told Putra that he was destined to become a great caught and punished as guilty, they thought it ad. man, and that he should wear the pair of shoes visable to leave the place. But, to their great sur- and fly at once to Sinhaldsipa with the bag and prise, wherever they went the same miracle was the rod. The boy followed the advice, and in a repeated. The women at last discovered the moment he was on the banks of a beautiful secret, and came to Kasi and settled there. Putra tank in Sinhald vipa. There he was informed soon became very rich. His charity knew no that the king of that island, Patalesvara, had a bounds, and from every part of the world men daughter named Påtali, who, it was predicted, came to share in his gifts. Kusa and Bikusa should be married to a foreigner who would come were now living in Karnata, begging from door there, and whose name would be Putra. The to door. When they heard of the gifts of Putra, young man understood what was meant. During they came to Kasi to receive alms. As the two the night he secretly visited Påtali in her own brothers were standing at the gate of Putra's apartment and told her who he was. The girl palace, Sumati, who was walking on the upper then agreed to go with him wherever he liked. veranda of her mansion, saw them and recognized Patra now wore his shoes, took Påtali on his back, them. They were taken in and treated with great and with in very short time arrived at a spot on respect. Kusa and Bikusa thus began to live the south bank of the Ganga, north of Gaya, cast happily. When Putra was sixteen years old, his of Sonbhadra, and west of the Punpuna. Here father became jealous of him, and engaged some he was visited by Närada, who wished him to esChándalas to murder him. The Chardalas came to tablish a city by means of the rod. Putra then the innocent boy and told him they were the pandas laid the foundation of a large city, and called it, (votaries) of the goddess Vindyâsani, and were sent after his own name and that of his wife-Patali. to take him to that goddess to fulfil cortain vows Putra. Within a few years he conquered several that were made for his sake when he was in his provinces and became a great king. His mother mother's womb. The father, too, said such was had died of a broken heart. the case, and poor Putra was snatched away | Putra's son Kusuma succeeded him, and during from home, unaccompanied by a single attendant. his time this city was called Kusumapur. Kusuma When the Chandalas had arrived at the middle of had a son Patan, and a daughter Påtna. After the tremendous jangal, they told the whole truth to name of the former, this city was for some time the boy; but whenever they attempted to put him called Patan. Patnâ did not marry, and was to death the sword fell down. At last the villains made a devi by the gods, and is still the presiding promised to save the boy, on the payment of a goddess of the city, which is, after her, now large sum of money. This being done, the Chan. | called Patna. Putra in his old age, left Patna dalas returned to Kasi and informed Bikus that with his wife and went to Kailas, where he made what he had ordered was done, and obtained a over to Mahadeva the three things which he had rich prize. obtained from Sankat and Bikat. Thy lived ever

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