________________
AUGUST, 1893.]
NOTES ON TUL'SI DAS.
205
Though he saw through (Maricha's disguise as) the false deer, the Lord, knowing Sita's longing, went forth. This must be called a disastrous omen of a deceiving thief, produced by illusion.
The omen of the opportunity for the rape of Sita is one of fear, and doubt, and anguish. Especially in reference to a woman's actions, doth it portend defeat and sin.
The Vulture-king fought with Ravaņa, and, wounded, shone forth as a hero. In the contest (this is the omen of) the glory of the valiant—that is death in cause of the Good Master.
Rama and Lakshmana wander distraught through the forest, seeking for news of Sita. They point to an omen of great sorrow, of unlucky, senseless misfortune.
When Rama saw the bird (JatAyu, the vulture-king) distraught, and he saw the two heroes, he gave him news of Sita, and, crying Sitâ Rama,' with steadfast soul gave up the ghost. (This is an omen of salvation after death.)
The Lord Rama, the Ocean of pity, performs the funeral ceremonies of that (vulture), whose faith was ten times that of Dasaratha, and with his brother, grieves for the loss of bis friend. (This is a good omen for those who believe.)
Tulisi, ever meditate with love on Sitâ and Rama,-an omen ever fortunate and lucky, at the beginning, at the middle, at the end.
The following interesting legend about the composition of the Romágya has been communicated to me by Babu Ram Din Singh. At that time the Râjâ of Kasi Raj Ghât in Banaras was a Gahawâr Kshattriya (to whose family the Râjâs of Mâorâ and Kantit now belong). His son went out on a hunting expedition with the army, and one of his people was killed by a tiger. This gave rise to a rumour, which reached the king, that it was the prince who had suffered, and full of anxiety he sent to Pah'lad Ghat to summon a well-known astrologer named Gangå Ram Jyotishi. On the astrologer's arrival he asked him to prophesy the exact time at which the prince should return from his hunting expedition. If his prophesy turned out true he would be rewarded with a lákh of rupees, but, if false, his head would be cut off. Dismayed at this peremptory order, Ganga Râm asked for time till tomorrow morning to calculate out his answer, and under this pretext obtained permission to return to his house at Pah'lad Ghât, where he spent some very bad quarters of an hour.
His dearest friend was Tul'si Das, who was living close by in the suburb of Asi, and the two holy men were in the habit of meeting constantly and at the time of evening prayer taking the air in a boat on the river Ganges; accordingly, on this evening, Tul'si Das came in his boat to Pah'lad Ghât, and called out for Ganga Râm' who, however, was too much occupied with his own unhappy thoughts to notice the cry, though it was repeated again and again. At length Tul'si sent a boatman to see what was the matter, who returned with a message that the Jyotishi was just then unwell and would not go out that evening. On hearing this, the poet landed and went to his friend's house, and seeing him in tribulation asked him what was the matter. On being told the cause, Talsi Das smiled and said, Come along. What cause for tribulation is this? I will show you a means of extricating yourself, and of giving a correct reply.' Consoled by these words, and trusting fully to Tul'si Das's almost divine knowledge, Ganga Râm went out with him and, as usual, offered his evening prayer. On their returning together to Pah'lad Ghật, after nightfall, Tul'si Das asked for writing materials, but no pen or inkstand, only some paper could be found. So the poet took some catechu out of his betel box for ink, and began to write with a piece of ordinary reed (not a reed pen). He wrote on for six hours without stopping, and named what he had written, Rámágyá. He gave the manuscript to Gang Râm, and showing him how to use it for purposes of divination (as previously, explained) went home to Asi. Ganga Râm then consulted the oracle, and found that the prince would return all well next evening. Early in the morning he went to Tul'si Das, and told him what he had divined from the manuscript. The poet directed him to go and tell the
