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SEPTEMBER, 1891.]
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA; No. 37.
315
8 paddhati-6Alina thakura-sri-Kulachamdakéna grihîta-Gay-Adhikarêņa punyavatâ sakala
puny-Abhivsiddhayê mâtřipitrôr20=âtmanaś=cha srimad-bhattaraka21-sri-Dakshiņādityasya patitâ kirttir=uddhřitâ II Likhitam=idam Gaya-śâsanikêna kayastha-tha22-érî.
Karņņas[]na-sûnung srimatâ 9 Srisênên=eti || Sutradhârô Søya Haridasa-nama | Subham -astu sarvva-jagatah para
hita-niratá bhavantu bhůta-ganaḥ 1 dôshah prayântu nâśam sarvvatra sukbi bhavatu lokah | Arthih24 pâda-raj-pama girinadi-veg-ôpamam yauvanam manushyam jala
lôla-vindu-chapalan phon-opama ji10 vitaṁ dharmmañ yê na karoti niśchala-matih svargg-ârggal-dghÀ[ta*]nam
paśchâttâpa-ható jara-pariņataḥ śok-agnini dahyatê 11 Siddhir=aptu(stu) karye satam=iti 11
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA. BY PANDIT NATESA SASTRI, M. F. L. S.
No. 37. - The Story of Atirupa. In the country of the Setupatis there lived a famous astrologer named Satyavák. All through the country he was known as the greatest astrologer living, and it was said that whatever he foretold never proved untrue. Many came from the remotest parts of the earth to consult him, and to every one he imparted his advice gratis, never taking even a kaudi from any one who came to him. Nor was Satyavâk rich. He was almost a pauper, although he was, at that time, the greatest authority on astrology. His only means of livelihood was begging for alms. He would take a bowl in his hand exactly at the tenth ghafika of the day, and go about from house to house collecting rice. As soon as there was enough in his bowl to feed two people for the day, he would return home and hand over the rice to his wife. His only relative in this world was his wife. All the others he had lost. She was an extremely polite, contented and educated woman, and whatever her husband gave her she received with a cheerful countenance.
The pair led a happy life, notwithstanding their poverty, till, one day, the wife thought to herself :-“My lord is the greatest authority in a department of knowledge, which is most eagerly sought after by high and low. From the Setupati to the meanest subject dwelling in this country all consult him. Daily from early morning to the tenth ghalikd of the day he spends his time in giving advice. From the tenth to the fifteenth ghaxiká he goes ont begging, and returns home only with enough to feed him and myself for the day. Again in the evening he spends his time in giving advice. What is his object in thus freely giving away his hard-earned knowledge for nothing? Here we are, husband and wife, and do we not want some money to make ourselves comfortable ? When there is every opportunity for his earning a good income and even amassing great wealth, why should he be thus careless of utilizing it and thereby make himself rich P There must be some reason for it. I have been thus patiently bearing op till now. To-night I shall ask him." Thus thought she, and, reserving her curiosity till night should fall, she calmly waited for its approach,
Now, as soon as the heavy work of the day was over, Satyavák used to retire for the night with his wife, but this night he missed the usual cheerfulness from her face. She seemed a little sad, and he knew very well that he had done nothing during the day, or indeed at any time, to displease her, for they were a most affectionate couple. So, being unable to guess the cause of her sadness, he thus spoke to her:
“My dear wife! What is the matter with you to-night! We are leading such a holy and innocent life that even the higher powers should dread us! Suoh being the case, can any
# The proper form would be matapitror. n The akshara ka wwe originally omitted, and is engraved above the line. * i.e. thakura» Metre, &ryl.
» Metre, Bardalavikridita.
