Indian Antiquary Vol 42

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 298

284 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(NOTEWBER, 1913. I propose to translate the passage as follows :
"If, again, in the matter of anything that I myself order by word of mouth-either (an order) to be issued to be given, * or to be p'oclaimed ( 4*)-or, again, in the matter of anything urgent that is charged to the Mahamâtras, a division or rejection is taking place ( at) in the council, without any interval I must be informed at all places and at all hours. This has been ordered by me."
Mykhato : This signifies that the orders ware not always given by word of month. In this connexion I would refer to a role of the niti ns sarviving in the Suleraníti, viz., that orders by the king should not be given otherwise than in writing, and if an order was otherwise given it was not to be obeyed by the public servant, for it is the royal sig net which is the king and not the king himself 15.'.
FOLK-LORE FROM THE NIZAM'S DOMINIONS.
BY M. N. CHITTANAH.
No. 1. The King and His devoted Minister. T#sre lived once upon a time king and his faithful minister. They loved and trusted each other much. Their love was so great that when anything ever happened to the king the minister felt as if it had happened to him, Likewise the king also felt in the same way if anything ever happened to the minister.
On one occasion, & dealer is swords and other arms and weapons came to the king and showed him his wares. The king, while examining one of the swords unfortunately cut off his little finger because it was so sharp. He immediately informed bis beloved minister of this accident and wanted him to see to come at once. But the Minister, to the utter amazement of the king, instead of running to his sid and comforting and sympathizing with his royal master, sent back his reply in these words.
" Whatever God does is done wel
Though the reason why to tell." When the messengers brought to the king this unexpected reply, his anger knew no bounds, and he at once caused his minister to be dismissed and appointed another man in his place.
Some days after, the king went out hunting. While chasing a door, he lost himself in thick forest, which was the den of one hundred and one notorious robbers. It happened to be the festival of their presiding and protecting deity, to whom they offered human sacrifice sunually. Every preparation was ready and the only want was the required sacrifice. So they took it as good luck that they chanced to meet the unfortunate king. Thinking him to be the gift of the goddess, who had been pleased to help them in tim difficulties and utter want and disappointment, they hastened to perform the sacrifice. While they were engaged in bringing the king to the altar, the chief robber's glance happened to fall on the king's missing finger. He at once bawled out to his comrades and showed the defect in the sacrifiee to be offered.' In sorrow and anguish they let the victim go freo.
On returning to the palace, be remembered the minister's wise words at the time of the loss of his little finger, which had saved him now from the hands of the murderous band of robbers and reinstated his wise and learned minister to his former place, passing the remainder of their days in blessed harmony of peace and pleasare.
14 ddpakam might moana fiscal order. Cr. 17 1916 1. Arthaélatre, p. 57. 15 wer: ruotara el TTTTTTT fare TTTH II. 290 qer a TK TT 79: HII. 292. (J1vänanda's ed.)
1 Among the lower olasses of peoplo very great care is taken when a goat, a sheep or fowl is being chosen for snorifice to goddesses to see that the animal is free from defeotive limbs. Even now when an animal saorific is offered to the lower goddesses, or prosiding deities over oholors, small pox and other epidemios, votaries and worabippers are very careful to obtain sound animal or fowl