Indian Antiquary Vol 25

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 23

JANUARY, 1896.)
NARSINĖ MEHTANUN MAMERUN.
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Lord Jadurây, 14 you drank off the fire in the forest, and saved the milkmaids and their kine
from burning. 405 You accepted the worship of Kubjâ,15 although you had to suffer the taunts of the
populace, Such a friend of the poor are you, -- so kind and merciful, - that I place myself as your
servant under your protection. You are the mighty Damodar, while I am but one of millions that serve and worship you. I have espoused your cause, great god, and I crave your assistance. Woes are growing round my head thick as trees (in a forest), which circumstance fills
your worshippers with humiliation. 410 The Nøgar community is rich and thriving, while my sect is moneyless. Just as if the thirty-three crores (of gods) suffered from any want, all the blame would
attach to the Kalpa-vșiksha ;16 So if the Vaishnavas lose their prestige, your glory will fade, my Lord. My relatives stand in the place of the messengers of Yamall to me, and yet how can you
sleep on? I have already) called together and seated all the relatives, and my daughter sits, holding
her pigánile in her hand, 415 The cup is void of the karkú n-paste, and (naturally) my daughter feels impatient.
It is two garis' past midday : pray come soon: time is flying, Kun varbåt is at thy mercy; I am too powerless to do anything. What! Art (still) sleeping in Vandråvan, with Radhájilo pressing thy feet ?
Or is it some incomparable woman like Lalita, or VisAkhâ, or Chandråvali, 420 (With whom) you spend the night in mirth, and thus forget your worshipper?
Wake up and see, Lord Jådava, and hear thy nervant's prayer. As you appeared unto Kabir on his calling you to mind, And as you accepted the milk offered by a worshipper, Dâm ôdar,
You saved Trilochan from his great grief, because he fetched you water like a servant.20 425 You invested the Koli21 with dauntlessness and you drank off the poison prepared for
Miranbai. 22 For the sake of Sên,43 Lord, you changed yourself into a barber and went to shave (the
king). I had not known yon, my Lord, when I used to fetch grass, And did not know a single letter, for my sister-in-law had turned me into a cowherd,
But Sadasiva made me your servant and shewed me the immortal dance. 430 I saw your amorous pastimes, and thenceforward made a study of your doctrine,
And for that the people ridicule me; yet I have faith in you. 14 Reference to Krishna's Yadava descent.
15 Kubjf was a servant of Kania, but she offered worship to Krishna when she saw him, and he by a touch of his hand transformed her into a goddess. [The ordinary legend is that Kubja was a crooked damsel whom Krishna made straight in return for a slight service. - ED.)
16 The immortal tree in heaven from which all the gods derive sustenance. 17 Yama, as the god of death, 18 The oup in which they keep kunkun pasto.
19 The wife of Krishna. 20 Krishna appeared to Trioban in the guise of an ascetic, and received service and gifts at his hand. The references to Kabir and Trilochan take us to the times of the medieval reformers.
21 The Ko (? Paundraka) was an impostor. He tried to pass himself off for Krishna, and when they called upon him to show his strength, Krishna endowed him with his own strength and fearlessness.
22 Miranbat was the first Gujarati poetess. She was the wife of KunbhA, RAņa of Mew&d, and had left he husband through some quarrel and gone to live in Dwarki. Here she worshipped Krishna and made poetry in his praise. Her husband sought to kill her by sending her & cup of poison with & mandate to drink it and prove her innocenco, if she were true to him. Krishna drank off this oup and Mir&nbat was saved.
36 Sêna was a barber, but loved the god Krishna, and shaved his worshippers and devotees without remuneration. Once while he was thus engaged the king of his country, who was a sworn enemy of Krishna, called for him. His non-appearance would have enraged the king and led him to condemn him to death, but Krishna took the form of the barber and went and shaved the king.