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SEPTEMBER, 1888.)
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA.
263
see you in order to alleviate your miseries.manya, and she in reply said that she did not. I have now done so, having pointed out the He then explained who he was, and when she way to you to live comfortably. Daily must came to know that it was a disciple of her you continue thus. Do as you have been doing father that was standing before her she wept for the past one month, and never reserve most bitterly. The thought that, after having anything, for if you reserve a portion all this been born of such a holy sage, she had adopted happiness may fail, and you will have to so wretched a life, the most shameful in the revert to your former wretched life. I have world, made her miserable at the heart. She done my duty towards you. If you become fell down at his feet and asked to be forgiven. ambitious of hoarding up money this fortune She then explained to him her extreme misery, may desert you."
and the hard necessity which had compelled her Kapali agreed to follow the advice of to take to her present way of living. He then the sage to the uttermost detail and requested consoled her and spoke thus : “My dear him to remain in his house. Again said daughter! My heart burns to see that necessity Subrahmanya, “My son! I have better drove you to this wretched life. But I can work before me than living in your house. redeem you if you will only follow my advice. So please excuse me. But before leaving you From this night you had better shut your door, I request you to inform me'as to where your and never open it to any other person except sister is. She was a child of two years of age to him who brings to you a large measure full when I saw her twenty years ago. She must of pearls of the first water. You follow this be abont twenty-two or twenty-three now. advice for a day and I shall then advise you Where is she ?"
further." Being the daughter of a great sage, Tears trickled down the eyes of Kapali and having been compelled by necessity to when his sister was mentioned. Said he, “Do take to a wretched life, she readily consented not, my patron, think of her. She is lost to to follow the advice of her father's disciple the world. I am ashamed to think of her. when he promised to redeem her. She bolted Why should we think of such a wretch at this the door, and as her customers used to visit her happy time"
at night, several came that night and knocked. At once the inscription made by Brahma's To all she stated from within that her nail rashed into Subrahmanya's mind and he condition was a large measure full of understood what was meant. Said he, "Never pearls. Her visitors, considering she had gone mind; be open and tell me where she is." mad, went away. The night was almost
Then her brother, Kapâli, with his eyes still drawing to a close and all her customers had wet with tears, said that his sister, the daugh- gone away disappointed. Who was there in ter of the sage Jñananidhi, was leading the the village to give to her one measure full of worst of lives as a courtezan in an adjoining pearls for one night with her P Bat as the village, and that her name was Kalyâņi. nail of Brahmâ had fixed for her such a life
Subrahmanya took leave of Kapáli and his as stated, some one was bound to comply with wife, after blessing his little children and again her terms. And as there was no human being warning his friend. He had conferred what who could do so, the God Brahma himself happiness he could upon his master's son, and assumed the shape of a young man, and, with now the thought of reforming his master's a measure full of pearls, visited her in daughter reigned supreme in his heart. Ee the last watch of the night and remained with went at once to the village indicated and her. reached it at about nightfall. After an easy When morning dawned he disappeared, and search he found her house and knocked at when Kalyâņi explained to the disciple of her the door. The door was at once opened, for father the next morning that after all one Kalyani's profession was such that never did person had visited her with measure full wait for a second knock. But on that day she of pearls on the previous night he was glad was astonished to see a face such as she could to hear of it. He know that his suggestion was never expect to approach her house.
working well. Said he, "My dear daughter, "Do you know me, Kalyaņi?" said Subrah- you are pure hereafter from this day. There
