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36
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1897.
Sata replied :-"O assembly of Rishis, who are desirous of hearing, listen to my story, by the mere hearing of which your devotion to Siva will be increased. O Brahmaņs, formerly in the Trêta-Yuga, in the time of the great sage Mana, there lived a certain hunter named Hunda, the leader of the tribe of Pulindas.90 He was cruel, a slayer of animals and fond of hunting: he was very expert in the use of the bow, and he was very brave. He had four brothers, who were like him and were always murderers.21 The wicked Palinda lying in wait22 used to kill travellers; the evil-hearted man was always anxious to take away the wealth of others. Doing this and being eager to amass great wealth be meditated where to build a fort that his enemies could not enter.
While he was debating with himself in this way, his beloved wife Pulikasi, the daughter of Babunda, a cruel woman, thought: Now I will ruin my father's enemy.' So thinking she came gently to her husband, and Pulikasi spoke thus: - There is no doubt that all your followers are against you, therefore you should always act circumspectly. The fortress belonging to my father is in a hat on a mountain. There is no doubt that it belongs to ns by inheritance. There is much water on the hill which cannot be found by strangers, and there are many lions, tigers, bears, etc., there, and in the hill there is also great treasure which has been amassed by my ancestors. A king named Malla, residing in the city of Baindav1,33 knowing that my parents had grown old, came there with a large army. Besieging the bill. fortress he killed my parents; and taking all the wealth and turning out our followers and relations, the brave king, Malla, took possession of the fortress. I, who had been turned out and gone to another country, came to you.24 Up to this time I have never told this to you. I shall do something when opportunity offers' - thinking thus, 0 husband, I did not tell you this before. He now resides in Baindavi, having his heart and mind attached to it. He has a few warriors, but they are not very brave. You are wise and powerful, and your brothers are powerful also. You have many mountaineers, i. e., Andhras, Kirktas, Kunas, Pulindas, Pulasikas, 26 Kaśas, Kolhas, Abbiras :27 all these are always attached to you. O my beloved, I should like to start this very day.'
Hearing this speech of Pulikasi, the chief of the Pulinda tribe praised his wife for her foresight, and said to the leader of his men :-'0 Kumbhanda, by my order call all the . dwellers in the forest quickly, with their weapons : call all the hunters of my caste, the Pulindas, the Birukas, all the Prahmikas :29 and all our other friends. This day I intend to scale the best of the hill fortresses.'
Hearing him say this, Kumbhanda, according to the orders given him by Hunda, sent messengers to the various hill forts and forests to summon all the leaders of the hunters residing there. On receiving the -summons all the hunting tribes set out, keeping one man behind for the protection of their respective homes. Some mounted on horses, some on elephants, some on donkeys, some on jackals, some on lions, some on tigers, some on bears, some on porcupines, carrying bows, painted bows,2 clubs, javeling, spears, maces, slings and swords in their hands : all the tribes living in the forests of Mauncba, Mufcha, Bhata, Bherinda, 50 etc., (came). Seeing them come, Hunda harangued the.n as follows: All the warriors have become proud and puffed up because they are living with Malla. They killed my wife's parents, captured the fort and drove all my relations away to foreign countries. This day, accompanied by you,
20 A name applied to any wild or barbarous tribe, particularly hunters, more especially to the tribes of Central India. 21 1. 8., takers of life.
2 Lit., blocking the way. 25 Or Vanavisi
I. e., married you,
25 L. e., Malla. 26 Possibly inhabitants of Pulasika, the modern Holsagi in the Belgaum District.
17 An aboriginal race inhabiting the Karnaţik&; they are mentioned in the Brihat-Samhita, Vishnu-Purana, Mahabharata and Rimdyana (aee ante, Vol. XIV. page 321)
78 Aboriginal hill-tribes; no traces are forthcoming of them. 19 Chitradhanus. Ornamented or indented bows, O Forest tract; their exact situation is unknown.
