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X.

Anxious for a home and an asylum, he took the hand of Rănnā, (1,) a Princefs of his own likeness, according to the law, even as Seev the hand of Seěva, (2)-even as Hărěě (3) the hand of Läkshmëë.

XI.

From this pair proceeded into life, bursting forth like Gooha, (4,) with a countenance of a golden hue, the fortunate Kēdārā Měěsră, whofe actions rendered him the favourite of heaven. The lofty diadem, which he had attained, shone with faultless splendour, kiffing the vast circumference of the earth. His extenfive power was hard to be limited; and he was renowned for boundless knowledge raised from his own internal fource.

XII.

The ocean of the four fciences, which had been at a fingle draught drunk up, he brought forth again, and laughed at the power of Agastyă, (5.)

XIII.

Trufting to his wifdom, the king of Gowr (6) for a long time enjoyed the country of the eradicated race of Ootkal, (7,) of the Hoons, (8,) of humbled pride, of the

(1) A Princess of this name is alfo mentioned in Colonel WATSON'S Plate.

(2) Seeva is the feminine of Seev.

(3) Haree, a name of Veefbnoo.

(4) Gooba, a name of Karteek.

(5) Who is faid to have drunk up the Ocean.

(6) The Kingdom of Gowr anciently included in all the Countries which now form the kingdom of Bengal on this fide the Brahmapootra, except Mongueer.

(7) Orixia.

(8) Huns.

kings of Drăvěër (1) and Göějăr, (2) whose glory was reduced, and the univerfal fea-girt throne.

XIV.

He confidered his own acquired wealth the property of the needy, and his mind made no diftinction between the friend and the foe. He was both afraid and afhamed of thofe offences which condemn the foul to fink again into the ocean of mortal birth; and he despised the pleasures of this life, because he delighted in a fupreme abode.

XV.

To him, emblem of Vrečhăpătěě, (3) and to his religious rites, the prince Sree Soora Pal, (who was a fecond Eendră, and whose soldiers were fond of wounds) went repeatedly; and that long and happy companion of the world, which is girt with feveral oceans as with a belt, was wont, with a foul purified at the fountain of faith, and his head humbly bowed down, to bear pure water before him.

XVI.

Vanwa, of celeftial birth, was his confort, with whom neither the fickle Lakshmëē, nor Sätee, (4) conftant to her lord, were to be compared.

(1) A Country to the South of the Carnatick.

(2) Goozerat.

(3) The Preceptor of the good Spirits, and the Planet Jupiter. (4) The Confort of Seev.

VOL. I.

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XVII.

XVII.

She, like another Devakee, (1) bore unto him a fon of high renown, who refembled the adopted Yasodha, (2) and husband of Låkshmëë. (3)

XVIII.

This youth, by name Sree Goorăvă Měčsră, was acquainted with all the conftellations. He refembled Ram, the fon of Jămădagněě, (4). He was another Rām

XIX.

His abilities were fo great, that he was folicitous to discover the effence of things, wherefore he was greatly. respected by the Prince Sree Narayan Pal. What other honour was necessary.

XX.

His policy (who was of no mean capacity, and of reputation not to be conceived) following the fense of the Véds, was of boundless fplendor; and, as it were, a defcent of Dhărmă, the Genius of Juftice. It was regulated by the example of those who truft in the power of fpeech over things future, who ftand upon the connexion of family, who are in the exercife of paying

(1) The real mother of Kreefona.

(2) The Fofter-Mother of Kreefbna.

(3) Rookmeenee, the Confort of Kreefona. She is here called Luk fmee, in compliance with the idea of her being a defcent of that Goddefs.

(4) This is neither the Conqueror of Cylon, nor the Brother of Krebna.

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due praise to the virtues of great men, and who believe in the purity of Astrology.

XXI.

In him was united a lovely pair, Lăkshmëë and Sărăs-. watee, the Difpofer of Fortune and the Goddess of Science, who seemed to have forfaken their natural enmity, and to ftand together pointing at friendship.

XXII.

He laughed to fcorn him who, in the affemblies of the learned, was intoxicated with the love of argument, and confounded him with profound and elegant difcourfes framed according to the doctrine of the Sastras; and he spared not the man who, because of his boundless power and riches, was overwhelmed with the pride of victory over his enemy in the field.

XXII

He had a womb, but it obftinately bore him no fruit. One like him can have no great relifh for the enjoyments of life! He never was bleffed with that giver of delight, by obtaining which a man goeth unto another almoner, (1).

(1) He had no Iffue to perform the Sradh for the release of his Soul from the Bonds of Sin. By another Almoner is meant the Deity.

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XXIV.

He, who was, as it were, another Vālmēēkěě, (1), born in this dark age of impiety, amongst a dreadful and a cruel race of mortals, was a devout man, who displayed the learning of the Veds in books of moral tales.

XXV.

His profound and pleafing language, like Gångā, flowing in a triple course (2) and conftant ftream, purifieth and delighteth.

XXVI.

He, to whom, and to thofe of whose gneeration, men were wont to refort as it were to Brahma, waited fo long in expectation of being a father, that, at length, he himself arrived at the ftate of a child.

XXVII.

By him was recorded here upon this lasting column, the fuperior beauty of whofe fhaft catcheth the eye of the beholder, whose aspiring height is as boundless as his own ideas, which is, as it were, a ftake planted in the breast of Kǎlēē, (3) and on whofe top fits Tarkshya, (4) the foe of ferpents, and favourite bird of Haree, the line of his own descent.

(1) The first Poet of the Hindoos, and fuppofed Author of the Ramayan.

(2) He is fuppofed to have written in three languages. (3) Time.

(4) Otherwife called Garoor.

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