________________
204
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1893.
The princes looked about them at the mountains, trees, ereepers, rivers and large lakes, and in their boyish way ran after the birds and deer to try to catch them. Then remembering in awe the saint, they would turn back to him in fear, and, plucking fruit, flowers and tender twigs, would weave thein into garlands. Love filled Viswamitra's heart as he watched their playful sport. The clouds cast shade, the gods dropped flowers on them. When Rama lind plain Tidaki, the mighty saint knew that he wae all-fitted for his task, and imparted to him the mystic charm of knowledge. Satisfying the hearts and eyes of the people on the way, driving away the fears of the holy men, they arrived at Kaasika's hermitage. There the boy prince attacked and defeated the demon army, and gave the hermits security for their sacrifices, while the whole world sang his glory. Then the great saint, intent upon the needs of Brahmaņas, saints, and gods, induced Rama to accompany him (to Mithila) on the pretext of the sacrifice of the bow. On the way the prince wrought salvation for Ahałyâ, Gautama's wife, sending her to her husband's abode, and then, the great saint conducted Rama to Alithila, the city of Janaka.
Chhawl. The son of Gadhi (Viswamitra) conducted Râma, and gazed upon the city with his heart full-filled with joy. Hearing of his arrival, the king (Janaka) with ministers of state and honorable Brah manas came forth to meet the lord of saints. The king himself clasped his feet and earned his blessing, showing him hospitable reverence : and then, as his eyes fell upon Râna, he felt as if the Almighty had multiplied his happiness thousand times.
(6). Sri Ramajna, or Sri Ramagyd, or Ram-Sagungball. The Commands of the Holy Rama, or The Collections of Rama-omens. Metre Dóhá. In seven adhyâyas or lectures, of seren saptakas or septads, each containing seven pairs of dóhás. Each adhyâya forms a sort of running commentary or summary of the corresponding kunda of the Ramayana. Each verse or pair of dóhas is used as a means of foretelling the success or otherwise of anything undertaken. It is a kind of Sortes Virgiliane. The ingoirer takes three handfuls of lotus seed. He counts the first handful out by sevens, and whatever number remains over, is called the number of the adhyáya. Again he counts out the second handful in the same way, and whatever is over is the number of the saptaka; and similarly, whatever number is over from the third handful is the number of the dôhá. Thus if there are 53 seeds in the first heap, the number of the adhyaya is 4 (i.e. 49 7 X 7) + 4. If there are 108 in the second heap the number of the saptaka is 3 (15 X 7 + 3 = 108), and if there are 15 in the third heap, the number of the dóhá is one. In this case the verse which is to be accepted as an omen is the first verse of the third septad of the fourth lecture. If the number of any handfal is exactly divisible by seven, then the remainder is considered to be seven. There are other ways of finding out the verse based on the same principle, which need not be detailed here. The following is a specimen of this work. It is the third septad of the third lecture:
Máyá mrigu pahicháni Prabhu chalb Siya-ruchi jani
Banchaka chôra prapancha-krita saguna kahaba hitaháni | 1 | Siya harana-abasara saguna bhaya sansaya santapa
Núri-kája hita nipaļa gata pragafa parábhava pápa 11 21 Gidha-raja Ravana samara gháyala biru birája
Súra sujasu smigráma mahi maranu susáhiba kaja II 3 11 Rima Lakhanu bana bana bikala phirata Siya-suthi léta!
Sachata saguna bikhádu bada asubha arishtà acheta II 4 11 Raghubara wilula bihangu lakhi 88 bilóki dou bira
Siya-sudhi kahi Siya Ráma kahí tají déha mati-dhira 11 51) Dasaratha te dasa-guna bhagati sahita tásukari kaju!
Sóchata bandhu saméta Prabhu keripá-sindhu Raghu-ráju 11 6 # Tulasi sahita sanéha mita sumirahu Sitá Ráma
Saguna sumangala subha sadů ádi madhya parináma 11 711
