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OF THE HINDUS.
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the breast, and throve, and grew up a pious votary of RÁMA.
For some time the profits of his trade maintained Rai Dás, and left him something to divide amongst the devout; but a season of scarcity supervening reduced him to great distress, when Bhagavín, in the semblance of a Vaishnava, brought him a piece of the Philosopher's stone, and shewing him its virtue made him a present of it. Rai Dás paid little regard to the donation, replying to the effect of the following Pada, as since versified by Súr Dás.
Pada. "A great treasure is the name of Hari to his people: it multiplieth day by day, nor doth expenditure diminish it: it abideth securely in the mansion, and neither by night nor by day can any thief steal it. The Lord is the wealth of Súr Das, what need hath he of a stone?"
The miraculous stone was thrown aside, and when, thirteen months afterwards, Vishnu again visited his votary, he found no use had been made of it: as this expedient had failed, the deity scattered gold coin in places where Rai Dás could not avoid finding it: the discovery of this treasure filled the poor Currier with alarm, to pacify which Krishna appeared to him in a dream, and desired him to apply the money either to his own use or that of the deity, and thus authorised, Rai Dás erected a temple, of which he constituted himself the high priest, and acquired great celebrity in his new character.
The reputation of Rai Das was further extended by its attracting a persecution, purposely excited by
