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DECEMBER, 1898.]
THE TELUGU LITERATURE.
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be in such a predicament. "My good friend," said he, "I was born a hump-back like yourself, and having long suffered the scorn of ill-mannered individuals, I applied to a sage who had great knowledge of the occult sciences, and begged of him to relieve me from my misfortune. He informed me that if I should consent to be buried up to my neck in this identical spot, I should be entirely cured of my deformity. In pursuance of his directions, I got some of my friends to bury me here, and as I really believe that I am cured already, I shall be very thankful to you if you will verify my statement." The washerman did as the poet requested, and to his utter amazement found him a well-made man; and as he was a credulous fellow, he believed in all that the poet had said. "As one good deed deserves another," said the washerman to the poet, "I now ask you to bury me in this place that I may be cured of my bodily deformity as you have been." Ramaksishṇa with a grave countenance buried the poor washerman up to the neck, and after the lapse of an hour went to the king to inform him that by the personal interposition of a god, he had been restored to life. The executioners in the interim had executed the washerman, and were making their report to the king that they had killed the poet according to the royal commands. The whole court were consequently astonished to see Ramakrishna, and as the king really believed that the poet had been killed and restored to life by some god, he promised to forgive him the first hundred crimes that he should commit in future!
Now, Ana-Vêma Reddi had in his possession two beautiful horses of the Kandahar breed, entirely black, except the ears which were grey. Krishnaraya was eager to obtain one of them, and sent an embassy to Ana-Vêma Reddi to ask him for one of them, but the latter monarch replied, that if the former would send a poet, who could excel any that he had at his court, he would give him both the horses. All the poets at the court of Krishnarîya refused to depart save Ramakrishna, who forth with proceeded to the court of Ana-Vêma Reddi. When there, he completed every task set to him, and in his turn wrote a part of a stanza, which he desired his fellow-poets at the new court to complete. He then took his departure, and in the course of six months returned, but the poets had not been able to finish the stanzas. He therefore wrote the conclusion which so pleased Ana-Vêma Reddi, that he embraced him and gave him one of the black horses, and sent him away with innumerable presents. When Râmaksishņa retarned to the court of Krishṇaraya, he was received with great marks of attention, and enjoyed the king's favour in a very high degree, but he once more forfeited the good opinion of his royal master by playing on him the following practical joke. He informed the king that he had procured for him a beautiful damsel, and asked him when he would wish to visit her. The king being of a lascivious turn, appointed an early day. The poet then decorated a bed fit enough to receive his royal visitor, but instead of the maiden, placed on it a stone image, which he covered over with a rich brocade quilt. The king came at the appointed hour, and to his surprise and consequent indignation, found a stone instead of a charming virgin, and immediately ordered the poet to be executed. Ramakțishna, however, concealed himself, and when the king's wrath was abated, was taken once more into his good graces.
Sometime after this, the king's daughter had composed a poem entitled Marichiparinaya, or the marriage of Marichi, and proposed to read the same before the king's court. But as she was aware of the satirical character of Râmaksishna, she stipulated with her father, that he should not be allowed to be present. The king thereupon forbade the poet to come to the court on the day that his daughter read her poem. The poet, however, disguised himself as a maid. servant, and stood close to the princess, who began to read her poem publicly. The poem was really well-written, and abounded in good moral reflections and beautiful descriptions of the scenery and dresses of the females and other subjects, among which was the description of a pregnant woman. Just at this moment Ramakrishṇa made a gesture which set the whole court in a roar of laughter, and so abashed and crossed was the princess that she could read no more and abruptly left the court. The king was very much vexed at the poet, and sentenced him on pain of death to leave his dominions. But he was again afterwards admitted into the king's
