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268
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1893.
I bring you some sour condiment?' There is some in my wallet.' May I bring you some camphor?' There is some in my wallet.' Then, without asking permission, she attempted to wash his feet; but he would not let her. After this she passed the whole night thinking to herself, How can I manage to stay with him, and to spend my time at once serving the Lord and my husband ?' At one time she would wish to do so, and at another time she would remember that her husband had left her and become an ascetic, and that her company would only embarrass him. Finally she made up her mind that, as he carried about with him, in his bag, delicacies like pepper, sour condiments, and camphor, she as his wife, would be no impediment to him. Accordingly, at early dawn she invited Tul'si to stay there, and worship. He refused, in spite of all her entreaties. He would not even stay to eat. Then she said * Reverend sir, do you not know me ?' He replied 'No.' Reverend sir, do you not know whose house this is ?' 'No.' 'Do you not know what town this is ?' 'No.' Then she told him who she was, and asked that she might be allowed to stay with him; to which he would in no way agree. She continued, 22
Kkaryú23 khari kapara lên uchita na piya tiya tyága!
Kai lekariya mohi méli kai achala karau anuraga Il If there be in your wallet everything from chalk to camphor, you should not, my love, have abandoned your wife. Either take me also in your wallet, or else (abandon it) and devote yourself entirely to love for the Omnipotent (giving up all care for earthly things).'24 Thereupon Tůl'si Das departed, and gave away all the things in his wallet to Brahmans, and his wife's knowledge of things divine (jñána) became faller than before.
On cne of his journeys, Tol'st Dås, after visiting Bhrigurasram,25 Hâusanagar and Parasiya, being attracted by the devotion of Gambhîra Dêva, Raja of Gay Ghit, stayed there a short time, and thence went to Brahmapur26 to visit the shrine of Brahmêsvaranatha Mahadeva. From Brahmapur he went to the village of Kant. 27 There not only did he find no place, where he could get any food, but was distressed to see the people devoted to the manners and customs of female demons (Rakshasi). He went on his way, and met a cowherd (ahir, abhira) of Kant, named Mangar or Mangara, the son of Sanwarů Ahir.28 He had a cattle yard in the open plain, where he used to offer hospitality to holy men. With great humility, he invited Tul'si Das thither and gave him some milk, which the poet boiled down into khôá, and ate. He then asked Mangar to ask a boon, and the latter begged first that he might be endowed with perfect faith in the Lord, and secondly that his family, which was short lived, might be a long lived one. Tul'sî Das replied, 'If you and your family commit no thefts, 29 and avoid causing affliction to any person, your desire will be fulfilled. It is now claimed that the blessing has been fulfilled. The story is still well known both in Baliya and Shâhibid districts. In 1889 A.D. the representative of his family was an old man named Bihârî Ahîr. Mangar's descendants have always been well known, ever since, for the ready hospitality they offer to holy men, and are said never to commit theft, though other Ahîrs of the same village have by no means so good a reputation.
9 This verse is DShabali 255, with slight differences of reading.
38 Khariyd is the technical name for a Vaishnava mendicant's wallet. It is made of kharud cloth, and carried on the shoulder.
24 The meaning is that he keeps himself too well supplied with delicacies, to be a pure mendicant. He should be either a pure mendicant, or not at all.
26 Bhrigurdérama (sic) is the chief town of the District of Baliy, opposite ShAhRibad, and east of Banfras, in the N. W. P. Parasiya is in the same district. It is said to be the site of Parbara's hermitage. So also Hansanagar and Gay Ghat are in Baliya. The latter is no longer the seat of a RAJA. The family of the Raja of Gay Ghat is now settled at Halat in the same district. They are Kshattriyas of the Hayaho clan.
36 Brahmapur is in the District of ShlhAbad (Arrah). A mela is held there at the fertival of the Sivaratri. 37 Aleo in ShAhabad, about two miles east of Brahmapur. It is in fact commonly known as Kant. Brahmapur, * Two mon of the same names are prominent figures in the well known folk song of Lôrik. 79 Ahtrs are notorious thieves.
