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14
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
Thus I have faith that thou wilt help me and send me a shower.
If thou dost not give me a little cold water, 'Sâmalâ, how shall I trust to receiving the maméran from you ?"
295 On hearing this prayer of Narsinh, the great god was moved.
In a moment the sky became overcast and darkness spread in all four directions. There was thunder and lightning in the skies.
Dast arose on all sides and rain began to pour down in torrents.
The water found its way into the vévá's house and the people began to clamour. 300 All the Nágars fell at his feet saying: - " Pardon our unjust conduct :
We were fools not to have recognized you, you are verily the chief of pious men." Srirang Mêhêta joined in praising (Narsinh): only the véváns kept away from pride. At length the rain ceased and the Mêhêtâ then bathed himself;
But when all was over the crafty Nagar-people said: "Oh, it was only an unseasonable shower, such as we have very frequently."
305 You are blind to what is proved before your very eyes; it is but a sign of this sinful age.
Refrain.
Then the Mêhêtaji sat down to his meal, and took the tal in his hand, And the crowd of vérágis began to chant the hymn of offering.
कडबु ९ मुं. राग सोरठ महार.
मेहेताजी बेठा बाजडे, स्मरया श्रीगोपाळ; मलार गायी प्रीतशुं हाये वगाडी ताळ, मेहेताजी० उपहास थाय तारा दाशनी, सामळा करो साहाय उष्णोदक अति उकळ्युं. फाटी श्रीफळ जाय. मेहे
ताजी०
290 जेम कढा उकाळी तेलनी, कोथ्यो हंसध्वज रायः तारी कृपाए टाई थयुं, उगारयो सुधन्वाय. मेहेताजी०
(JANUARY, 1896.
हंडी स्वीकारी तें शामळा, रुपईया दशेशात;
से विश्वाशे वळगी रह्यो, मोकळी वरसाद मेहेताजी • समोषण नही आपो शामळा, करशो मामेरुं कथम. 295 वीनंती नरसहयानी सांभळी, प्रेरयो परब्रह्म. मे
हेताजी०
पळमांही आगे घटा थई, चोदस चढयो अंधकार;
गगनविशे घन गडगडे, थाय वीज चमकार, • मेहेताजी०
उडे फोरण बहु कांकरा, वरशे मुशळ धार; वेवfईना घरमां जळ धशुं करे लोक पोकार, मेहेताजी०
300 सरवे नागरीओ पाए पडे, क्षमा करो अपराधः
अमो अज्ञाने न ओळख्या. तमे शिरोमणी साध मे० श्रीरंग मेहता स्तुती करे, वेवाणो माग मान; वरसाद वीसरजन थयो, कीधुं मेहेताए स्नान. मेहेताजी०
ठग नागर कहे थयुं मावई एम थाय घणीवार ; 305 प्रसीत न प्रत्यक्ष पारखे, कळिजुगनो प्रकार.
चलो.
मेहेताजी भोजने बेठा, करमां लीधी ताळ; टोकुं वेरागी तनुं तेणे गावा मांडी थाळ रे.
Canto X.
After this prayer was offered, Vanmålî partook of the food, 90 And accepted the offering out of his love.
310 (Now I relate) what happened when the night was over.
The night was spent in praise and prayer and day broke.
Kuivarbai went up to her father and said:"Now let us distribute the mosálin." The Mêhetaji said: "Go, daughter, and invite all your relatives and connectious,
And with faith in your heart, bring an empty basket
$15 And sit under the mandap, or holding it forth.
You are to invite all your relatives and caste-people with their families.
bill addressed to a fictitious banker, asked him to pay Rs. 700 to the pilgrims on his account, and sent the men on. Narsinh knew that the Lord Krishna would come to his aid in his difficulty, and he did oome. He appeared to the pilgrims at Dwarka in the guise of a Vapia banker, endorsed the bill and paid them seven hundred rupees on the spot.
The god is believed to eat part of the food offered.
A mandap, i. e., a canopy of cloth decorated with plants and flowers, is generally prepared for each festival.