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23-1
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
his eyes fixed on the point of his nose, with a string of beads in his hand, telling them and reflecting on the Nirakâr Deva. Next day, though it was not the rainy season, rain fell plentifully; the sun went down and it was night: then a band of Apsarasas dressed in ornaments came to the temple of Lakshmi and began to dance. One of them seating herself near Karna began to play the vind; another danced before him and to incite him to amorousness sported in dalliance and spoke to excite him. When with all these means they could not distract Karya from his abstraction, the Apsarasas, seated in a chariot, returned to the skies. Next a very terrible man, with his hair tied in a jatha, approached Karna and said: "I am a Daitya, an enemy of the Devatas; I am come to slay you though you speak not: behold this weapon which I hold drawn over you." Though. he attempted to terrify him by many other means also, yet Karna abandoned not his meditation nor opened his eyes. When Lakshmî saw such steadfastness in Karna she was astonished and began to shake her head. The chobdáraní entreated the Devi to protect Karna who showed such steadfastness. Then the Devi said to Karna: "O Rája! with you I am pleased; therefore will I assuage all your calamities, and your order shall be obeyed even in Searga." Then Karna in many ways entreated Lakshmi, and said: "O Devi! Indra too is your servant, and whoever pleases you continues to want nothing. If therefore, O Devi! you are pleased with me, grant me a son." Then the Devi replied: "O Raja! such a son shall be yours as shall cause your fame to increase." Thus saying the Devi vanished. Then was Karna very glad, and with his Rânî began to worship Lakshmi continually. The great chiefs, hearing of this vardán, came with joy to visit Karna, bringing presents with them. When Karna left the temple of Lakshmi to go to the court, the city was adorned and a great festival was held.
The Eleventh Sarga.*
The Raja and Rani with great joy going into the garden feasted from one plate... The Râni conceived, and the homa offering was performed for her protection. The Gorans instructed the Râni to speak gently, to be careful not
[AUGUST, 1875.
to fasten her clothes too tightly... to abstain from liquor of all kinds, not to walk too much... The Rani gave birth to a son very beautiful and of great splendour. The Joshis were sent for, and the janmakshar caused to be constructed. The Joshis declared that this child was an avatar of some Deva, and would be of numerous exploits, slaying Daityas, and performing other deeds of a Deva, causing to cease the obstructions that the Daityas offered to religious worship. To these astrologers Karna Raja presented cows and lands. On account of the Kuivara's birth, he caused the city to be adorned and a great festival to be held. Many musicians played and sang songs; to scholars and others Karna made gifts, and ordered that fishermen and the like should that day abstain from destroying life: he released prisoners, even those who had committed great offences. Afterwards the elder ladies of the family bestowed on the Kunvara the name of Jayasiñha.
That day Karna did not dine until he had fed little children. Afterwards when the Kuivara grew up he began to play on the banks of the Sarasvati, and to practise in different games. He learnt the art of pugilism thoroughly, also to use the thirty-six kinds of weapons. When Jayasinha became a young man he began to worship Śiva. Then said Karna to Jayasinha: "Do you now take this burthen of royalty, and I, according to the custom of our ancestors, will perform penance for the good of my soul." Jayasinha replied: "In your lifetime I will not rule, for my fame in the world would be thus spoilt. I have no desire for royalty now, but will serve you." Karna said: "I am now old, and therefore must of necessity prepare to go to Svarga. Do you, therefore, accept this burthen of rule." Karna added that obedience to parents and Gurus was the best service, and that for this reason Jayasinha should obey his order. Thus importuning him, Karna took Jayasiñha by the hand and placed him on the golden throne: then, calling for the Gor with a golden cup and a sankh filled with water, he caused Jayasiñha to be anointed and homa to be performed. A voice was then heard from the sky saying, "This Jayasinha shall conquer all Rakshasas
* The earlier part of this has been abridged as unfit for publication.
