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May, 1887.)
THE LEGEND OF TULASI.
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heroic spirit never slackened; so that the gods gem-perfect parity-was lost; could she bear began to fear that they would soon be defeated to live an hour more ? Nothing could tempt and lose their reputation and high position for her to depart from the right path. She deterever!
mined to follow her husband through life unto Meanwhile Vrinde anxiously waited at home, death and purify herself in the fire, and come to hear news of her beloved husband, fasting out of it pure as gold, attired in a glorious and praying for his welfare. Days and weeks immortal body. She ordered a funeral pyre to passed by, bat no news was received of him, be made and lighted immediately; and invok. which made her extremely anxious and no ing God's blessing on her departed husband, longer able to bear being kept in doubt. and calling on the guardians of the eight Many fearful forebodings haunted her mind; regions of the universe to be witnesses of her her tender heart had begun to fail her and her faithfulness and undying love to her husband, soul to faint, when on one bright morning with a firm footstep and calm countenance she JAlandhara came home. His body was crimson mounted her last place of repose in the fearful with blood flowing from the wounds received flames, as cheerfully as if she were going to in the battle, but his face as bright and joyons rest on her bridal bed. Thus the heroic Vrinda as that of a victor. Vrinda was overjoyed to gained victory over evil, and joined her equally see her husband come home safe and victorious, heroic husband in heaven, never again to be for his very appearance told her this, and she separated from him! needed not words to be assured of it. She Vishnu was now greatly ashamed of his base ran to meet him, while he was yet outside the conduct, grieving remorsefully, and mourning palace, as he joyfully extended his arms to for Vrinda, with whom he had passionately embrace her. She, on her part, kissed and fallen in love. He threw himself down by the lovingly caressed him. Before, however, she pyre, kissed the ground hallowed by her foot had spoken a word to express her joy at having steps, took the ashes, from the still burning wood, him back, to her infinite horror, Vishnu, who and sought to find comfort by smearing his had treacherously defiled her personal purity by body with them. All the gods were grieved, assuming the form of Jalandhara, stood before to see Vishnu so disconsolate and mournfal. her and revealed his own trae self! Alas, for They tried to comfort him, but all in vain. poor Vrinda! She knew, by this foul despoil. He sat there for days shedding bitter tears of ing of her perfect parity, that her lord was remorse and grief over Vrinda's death. His overcome and slanghtered by the merciless tears fell like a shower over the ashes of the gods and she was mad with rage and grief. lovely Vpinda ; and in a few days a pretty little
Meanwhile Vishnu, greatly charmed with plant sprang out of them! It seemed to have her beauty and her devotion to her lord, all the beauty, grace and purity of Vrinde had fallen in love with her, and entreated her At least, he thought so; and took the plant to pardon him and take him for her husband and pressed it tenderly to his heart, naming instead of Jalandhara. He assured her that it Tulasi, and saying to it:"thou art like she would be his dearest love, and have an her." absolute sovereignty over himself and his The spot where Vțind died, he named domains. But VrindA scornfully rejected the Vrindavana, i.e. the garden of Vrinda;' and offer, and, in her just indignation, solemnly ever since then any vessel or place where lifting up her right hand, pronounced an awful tulasi plant grows is called & vrindavana. curse on him; saying that, as he had treacher- Vishnu took the plant for his own, and loved ously robbed her of her love, he should be it for Vrinda's sake; and now no flower or robbed of his in his next existence on earth. plant, be it ever so fragrant or beautiful, is so Vishņu still tried his best to pacify ber anger, pleasing to him as the simple little tulant ! and renewed his entreaties; but all in vain. Even a small piece of one of its leaves, offered The devoted wife would not hear his prayers. to him by a worshipper, is in his eyes greater Her love was dead, and her most precious than all the riches and most costly gifts of
Thula, Hike or equal,' and 281, 'thon art."
