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418
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[DECEMBER, 1890.
servants surrounded her, saying " Through the favour of the three-eyed Hara (Siva), thou hast children, O mother!, and a younger brother; O mother !, what is it that has come upon thee?," thus they spake, with words of comfort, to Iravva; but she ceased not her weeping :
(Raising the voice), - "An army of twelve thousand men left me and dispersed; it was as if a swollen tank had burst!"
Fourth Verse. O thou ('Siva) who didst destroy the god of love !, how is it that such trouble came to such great people? Inquire and see what a time of sorrow iśvara ("Siva) brought upon them! The whole country of Kittûr was weeping in sympathy; saying that such destruction should not have come upon the lords who ruled the district. Two hundred bullocks carried away the wealth of a group of twelve villages, the management of which was with men of merit; of a truth, seventy-seven hundred Lingayat priests could have been fed to satisfaction (with it) in the month of Srâvaņa ; even without waiting to hear them say that they were hungry, they would have been served, my brother!, with gifts of fruits and milk and sugar and clothes.* But I will tell how religion faded, and (aimless) actions took its place, and enmity increased ; and how the secret leaked out, and three people died.30
(With a change of metre), - All the great men lamented, saying "If Rayanayaka had not brought confusion on the country, the affairs of state would have gone on smoothly." Having closely imprisoned the installed Desai, 31 they took away Channavva and placed ber at Hongal. They said that he was (nothing but) an adopted (or pretended) son. Then Mr. Thackeray came, and was slain and perished, saying "Captare the village, for heroes have been born in it." The people were weeping with loud outeries.
(Raising the voice), — Tf the moon in the sky should fail to shine so lastrously, what are would be the stars, no matter how many they are ?
Fifth Verse. From time to time, with constant reiteration, they wrote an answer (to Travvs),letter saying "Set out to-morrow !" Loosening all her clothes and ornaments, the poor woman throws them on the ground, and weeps, with her eyes brimful of tears. Having straightway laden it all, and saying " Let the carts and bullocks go forward," they loosed and drove on all the cattle. Calling the priest, and sending for a palanqnin, and bolding up the sunshade over it, they set out, waving the umbrellas and chauris. " Sir!, I am but a young girl; I will declare (all) to you again and again ; listen, O noble Sir! to my fault."
(With a change of metre), -They said "Set ort! Set out!" She became obstinate, and braced herself in resistance; and when they came to drag her forth, seeing (their intention), she seized their feet; saying "Why did I not enter the fierce tire and die, there where perished the brave men who governed the country ?," - she weeps, thinking of her husband. "In the whole world there is no one as unfortunate as myself; if only one son had been born to me, how could the State have come to an end ?"
(Raising the voice), - Her life had become unstable ; just as if it were a wild jasmine plant, withering at the root for want of water !
Sixth Verse. Saving "No matter what I do, they leave me not alone," — with resignation she sang the praises of (her dead) brave (husband). Thinking of her sister-in-law and father-in-law, she
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19 The month of Sráraña, avd especially each Monday of it, is the month mest sacred to Biva. The Lingågata celebrate it by, amongst other ways, feeding large numbers of their prieste.
e ile allusion bere is not appareut. »i. e, the boy who was put forward as the adopted son of the last real D.A.
