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MARCE, 1903.)
THE LEGEND OF KUNJARAKARNA.
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him. When Dvarakala saw Kunjarakarna, he accosted him, saying "Hey, brother! who are you, who are come here to the crossways! What is your business in coming here?” So spske Dvarakala.
Thereupon Kunjarakarna answered, saying "I am a Yaksha, Kunjarakarna by name, who practise self-mortification at the north-east side of MahAmoru. The cause of my coming here is a command of the Lord Vairohana; he commanded me to go to Yama's kingdom, and Bow I ask you the way there."
Then answered Dvarakals : Ah so! Oh, dear brother Kunjarakarna, old men, I count myself right fortunate, my dear fellow, that you have come here. Well I You ask the way to Yama's kingdom. Now, follow that road there to the south. Hasten a little, dear brother, for you run a risk of being overtaken by the darkness; now the danger consists in dark068. Therefore those who celebrate a funeral on earth take lamps with them to serve as a light for the souls when they come into the darkness. If you wish to form an idea of the opacity of this darkness when it is come, well, it lasta seven days before it vanishes."
"What a long time it lasta, elder brother Dvarakala ! So be it. I ask loave to go hence." "Good, brother ! hasten quickly upon your way, dear brother !"
Thereupon, Kunjarakarns went his way. Presto ! Begone! Without lingering on the road he came to Bhomipattans. There was a Srijyots, which always gave light over a sendriya space; by sendriya is meant as far as the sight extends." There Kunjarakarna found a gate whose folds were copper, its lock silver, and the key gold; the posts were iron; the entrance was a path a fathom and a koh wide. The courtyard was besmeared with dung, manure of a heifer; it was planted with red Andongs, Kayu Mas, gorgeous in full bloom and impregnated with the vapours of incense, tha odour of which is here diffused like & sweet-smelling perfume. It was strewn with scattered flowers, and adorned with garlands of honour. This was the reason why the wicked raced to get there, thinking it was the way to heaven.
Kunjarakarna went further. Quickly1 Gone! He came to the field of Protabhavana, which extends one yojana. He stood still at the boundary of the field Agnikorove (Agnitoraņa ?). The boundary was marked off by fire in the middle of Bhtimipattana. There were the sword-trees, trees with swords for leaves; the buds thereof were lancets, and the thorns all kinds of weapons. The thickness thereof was that of pinang-tree, and the height ten fathorns. The shadow stretches over 10 lakshas above sword-like grass; the undergrowth was formed of landets and knives. That is the place where the wicked undergo the fire states of mortal suffering, while they are hanted and tormented by the servants of Yama. What, then, were the punishments which Kunjarakarps say there? Some of them had their skulls hewn off with an axe ; others were chained (or martyred); some were cut open ; after that they were beated with iron clubs and their skulls were split open so that their brains fell out ; afterwards, their feet were crashed, by hundreds, all together, all utterly shattered; then they were stabbed with iron pikes as thick as & pinang-tree and ten fathoms long, by hundreds all together. To what can one compare them ? They were like grasshoppers which have been pierced. They wept and sobbed. Some with lamentations called apon their father and mother, others upon wife and children, for help. There were, moreover, certain Yaksha-birds, called Sisantana (Asipattra 7), malevolent, with knives for wings and swords for claws, claws as sharp as Indra's weapon. These came flying from the sword-troos and fell upon the evil ones, by hundreds all together, while they were bitten by Yaksha-bound's with gigantie heads, by thousands all together. Some had their necks bitten through; the stomachs of others were torn open at their fall from the sword-trees, so that their bowels hung out. But those who still lived were pursued and driven out by dogs with Yoksha-faces; these were servants of Yamadhipett. There were also Agnimkha-(fire-mouth )-Yaksha, with fiery hands and feet. These pargued the evil ones in compast troops of thousands, all together. The bedies were smitten by' & way of the wings,