Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 26
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

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Page 311
________________ NOVEMBER, 1897.] MISCELLANEA.. 305 a river near an agráhra, performed his daily now go on a visit to Banaras to rid myself of ablutions in it, and came out to perform the the curse. Chandrasarma then took a different japa alone. route, as he had forgotten the way by which A Brahmarakshasa, dwelling in an adjacent he came to the pipal-tree, and while going pipal-tree, assumed the form of a Brahman, through the palace street of Ujâyiņi, saw the descended from the tree and stood before Chan- house of a public woman and mistook it for a drasarma, and enquired who he was; whereupon Brahman's quarters, and as he was very tired, Chandrasarma, thinking him to be a Brahman having had neither sleep nor food for six months of the adjacent agrdhdra, told him his errand past, went in, spread his upper garment on the and his story. The Brahmarakshasa then verandah and quietly went to sleep. Not long said :-"Well then, you are intent upon learn after the house-owner's daughter came out, ing." Chandrasarma, right glad of the turn perceived the sleeping person, and thinking that events had taken, consented to receive instruc. he would be a fit husband for herself went in tion from the supposed Brahman, who thereupon and informed her mother of the fact with appeared to him in his true colours and asked him great glee. not to be afraid of him. But for all that Sarma? | The mother, intent upon appropriating the shook with fear, and shut his eyes, and so the new.comer's money, came out to see if he were Brahmarakshaba immediately resumed the form a wealthy man, and perceiving him to be a poor of a Brahman, consoled Chandrasarma, took Brahman, became enraged at her daughter. But him up to the top of the pipal-tree, taught the daughter gave a deaf ear to her mother's him without a moment's stop, without sleep words, and insisted on possessing the Brahman. or food for six months, and then informed him The mother consented, as she was unable to win her that he was rid of his curse. He himself would | daughter over to her arguments. The Brahman now go on a visit to Banaras, but Sarma was at did not rise the next morning, nor did he move perfect liberty to go home, being completely a muscle. This made the mother inform the trained in all the sciences, and ere long king of what bad transpired, who immediately would rise to a very prominent position, and sent the palace doctors to the spot. They felt he further blessed him with four very intelligent the pulse of the sleeping person, and went sons. Chandrasarma thereupon enquired of his and informed the king that ae, for some reason or preceptor the circumstances under which he other, he had bad neither food nor sleep for six became a Brahmarakshasa, and why he had to go months past, his body should be smeared all over on a visit to Banfras. To which the latter re- with boiled rice for some time, and if this were plied :-"I was living sometime ago at Sarasvati. repeated for a time, he would enjoy the honey. pura, on the banks of the Krishna, and learnt the heavy dew of slumber and would rise. After six various sciences. While there, a Brahman papil months' tending, according to the doctors' visited the place and requested me to instruct him advioe, Chandrasarma rose one fine morning in some of the sciences, which I refused to do, just as an ordinary person would, who had feeling very proud of my learning, and so my enjoyed a very refreshing sleep. Then he began would be pupil became very much infuriated and to think :-"Whose house is this? Who is this said :— Reserve your learning to yourself, you girl P What brought me here! But what care need not teach me at all. I shall learn from I for all this?" He was preparing to go his some other person,' and cursed me to become a own way, when the girl taking hold of the Brahmarakshasa Quaking with fear, I re- hem of his garment asked him "Are you quested him to inform me how best I could going to quit me? I have been eagerly waiting be relieved of the curse. And he replied: for you and tending you for these six months. • After some time, Chandrasarma, a Brahman, You are my husband: I am your wife. On intent upon learning, will visit foreign parts. hearing this, the Brahman replied:-"I am a You will accidentally meet him on the bank of Brahman and you a Sidra, this sort of talk a river. He will learn the various sciences is, therefore, unfair of you. What have I to do from you, and if you will then visit Banaras and with you P" So saying, he rose, but the girl bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges, you accompanied him closely wheresoever he went. will be relieved of your curse and become a The matter was reported by the townsfolk to the Brahman once more.' I therefore became a king, who summoned the Brahman and the Sadra Brahmarakshasa and took up my abode in yonder girl before him, and as he was not able to effect a pipal-tree, eagerly awaiting your arrival. As compromise between them, he invited a certain I have instructed you in all the sciences, I shall number of the best pandits and requested them II. e., Chandrasarma,

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