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MAY, 1880.]
MISCELLANEA.
MISCELLANEA.
PROPER NAMES.
Since my note on proper names given to children whose elder brothers have died, was published in the Indian Antiquary for November 1879 (Vol. VIII, p. 321), I have been in communication with Dr. Rajendra Lâla Mitra, who has kindly furnished me with some interesting information on the parallel custom in Bangal. In Bangal a woman, who has lost several children immediately after their birth, is called maddiché podlé, and two common names for the children subsequently born are Bhuto "The Ugly One," and Gobardhan, "Dung-made."
The corresponding generic word in Maithili (Terhuti) for a child whose elder brothers have died is machhai, which Dr. Mitra has identified with Skr. mrita vatsa, and with the Bangali marchhai: a synonym, however, of machhai in Maithili is marachhod, which I am inclined to recognize as Sk. Mrita Savaka. A Maithili proverb runs, मलैक माय पुत्र सोग सहै, “The mother of a machhai has to bear the pangs of losing her sons."
There is, moreover, a noteworthy custom in Bangal, which Dr. Mitra first brought to my notice; it is that of giving away the children subsequently born immediately after birth, and then buying them back again from the donee at a small cost. The price varies from one to nine cowrie shells, omitting the even numbers, and the children are named according to the price paid; thus: Ekkaudi, one shell; Tinkauḍt, three shells, Panchkauḍt, five shells; Satkauḍt, seven shells; and Nakauḍi, nine shells. Such names are very common in Bangal, and are invariably due to this custom.
In Mithila (Tirhut) the custom of sale, as above described, does not obtain, but the above mentioned names are all used. Moreover, in Mithila the number of shells is not confined to odd numbers, e. g. one of the commonest of these names is Chhakauḍt, six cowries. I am informed, however, that in south Bihar, south of the Ganges, the custom of sale does obtain.
The Bangali meaning of the word Gobardhan "Dung-made" is curious. In Mithila it is a name of good repute amongst Vaishnavas, who use it with reference to the famous hill near Vrindavana. Dr. Rajendralâl Mitra writes with reference to this word that, in Bangal, when used as a proper name it is generally but not invariably explained to mean a dung-hill, but that a good Vaishnava may use it with reference to the hill near Vrindavana. As a common word it means the hill.
Finally, may I ask any one who has any further information to give on this curious custom of
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nomenclature, to kindly publish it in the pages of the Indian Antiquary.
GEORGE A. GRIERSON, C.S., Madhubani, Darbhanga.
METRICAL TRANSLATIONS FROM THE MAHABHARATA.
BY JOHN MUIR, D.C.L., LL.D., C.I.E.
KINGS SHOULD NOT BE TOO JOCULAR AND GOOD NATURED.
The following is a free translation of Mahábhár. ata xii. 2033ff. The picture is, possibly, drawn from the life, from something that, the writer had observed at the court of an Indian prince; and the like of which may often have been witnessed since :
When kings are weak, and love to joke, They quickly men's contempt provoke. Their courtiers show them no respect, And all proprieties neglect,
With jibes to beard the prince presume, And even against him rage and fume. They make impertinent requests; Delay to do the king's behests; His secrets all contrive to steal, And then to all the world reveal. His master's orders none obeys; They make a jest of all he says. When he is wroth, they only laugh, And hold his favours cheap as chaff. They play with this poor silly king, As with a bird held by a string. Even when their master holds a court, They still pursue their wanton sport; "In this thou failed'st, king," they say, "In that thou wentest far astray." And these presumptuous courtiers boast That they're the men who rule the roast. They fain would all the world convince They've power to influence the prince; "In all affairs our help you'll need; "The docile prince obeys our lead." If charged with public trusts, like knaves, These men, of gold the greedy slaves, With selfish views their power abuse, No proffered bribes will e'er refuse, Will edicts forge to gain their ends, And benefit themselves and friends; Will endless webs of falsehood weave, And so the simple prince deceive; And thus with ruin overwhelm,
His hapless, poor, misgoverned realm. The following is a prose translation: "And thou shouldst not laugh too much with thy servants, O chief of kings. Hear what evil results from this. 2034. From [such familiar] contact, his dependents despise their master and do not keep their proper place, but transgress the limits of propriety (tattuatah). 2035. When sent as messengers, they
