________________
MARCH, 1895.)
NARSINH MEHETANUN MAMERUN.
75
Narsinh has always been a most popular poet. His verses, which are compositions set to different tunes in music, are univerisally sung throughout Gujarat. In fact they are the love-songs of the people, men and women giving vent to their own emotions in the words of this poet. His style, it may be observed, is simple yet effective, with here and there good word-pictures but hardly any metaphor. He inculcates a sound morality and faith in the deity. But his chief charm lies in the simplicity of his composition. His name is a household word in Gujarat to this day, and the following poem of Prêmânand on the subject of his daughter's mámérún, or maternity gifts, has never lost its interest for the people.
Translation. Canto I.
Prelude. May I always invoke with ease the aid of Sri Guru Gaộpati and Sarda, For it is the desire of my heart to sing of the mámérů js of Narsinh Mêhêtâ. I hope to compose a poem on the maternity gifts provided by the Mêbêtå. Narsinh Mêhêtî was a pious Brahman and lived in Junagadh. 5 His brother's wife spoke a (harsh) word to him which angered him.
(So) he renounced all home-ties and went to the woods to worship as an ascetic. In that wilderness he saw a temple and the adorable symbol of Siva. Narsinh worshipped it with earnestness in his heart.
The Mêhêtâ made seven fasts and then Sri Mabadêvab was propitiated. 10 The symbol shone like Kamala and instantly the god became visible,
With his wife Umiya, white as camphor, held on his left side, Jánbvi 7 adorning his matted locks and his brow glistening like the moon, The necklace of heads (thrown round his neck), serpents10 adorning him and tiger skins11
lendirg beauty to the wholo). Amidst a peal of horns and conch-shells and dánkia and dámrals (and such other musical
instruments), the great god barst upon the sight of Narsinh Mêbêtâ, 15 Narsinh approached and fell at his feet; When placing his hand on his head, said the husband of Umiya: "Ask, ask a boon, I am
pleased with thee." The Mêhêtâ said :-"But one prayer I ask of you, Mahadevji, "Now that I have cast my eyes on you, let me behold Vishņu."
“Well done, well done, Sadhu,"14 said Siva, “thy faith is sincere." 20 (So) he took him with him to the eternal Vraj, 15 where Hari16 is engaged in his dance.
Refrain How will ye poets describe the beauty of the dancing circle ? By the grace of 'Sri Hari, Narsinh has gained the object of his life.
1 The God of Wisdom and remover of obstacles; hence he is invoked and propitiated at the commencement of every literary undertaking.
The Goddess of Knowledge, also called Sarasvatt.
The word mdmsrin, or môáalar, implies all such gifts as come from the mother's side; hence all that father gives to his daughter, or a brother to his sister, or a maternal grandfather to his grandchildren, is called mamdrin. The young wife, when about to become a mother, expects her parents to give gifts of money or clothes to all her husband's relatives, and throughout this poem the word mdmran implies those gifts. See the Introduction,
A name of Siva. • The Goddess of Wealth - Lakshmi.
Another name for the river Gang (Ghanges). 5, 10, 11 Siva is represented wearing serpents round his head, and a necklace of skulls round his neck; his matted hair is gathered up into a coil over his head, on which is symbol of the river Janhvt, which he caught Mit fell from heaven. His garment is the skin of a tiger, or deer, or elephant.
13. 15 Certain musical instruments carried by Biva. 1 A pious man, a devotee. The paradise of Vishna. Another name for Vishnu, signifying god.'
