Indian Antiquary Vol 01

SR No.: 032493
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

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studied the S'âstras and was honoured by the elder Bhoja. His son-in-law was Bâna. The latter also was clever. The two were jealous of each other, for it is said,
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
'Donkeys, bulls, steeds, gamblers, Pandits, and rogues cannot bear each other and cannot live without each other.'*
One day they were quarrelling. The king said to them, Ho Paudits, go to Kashmir. He is the best whom Bharati who dwells there, considers to be the better Pandit.t
"
C
They took food for their journey and set out. They came on their road to the country of the Madhumatas (Kashmir). Seeing five hundred oxen which carried loads on their backs, they said to the drivers, What have you got there?' The latter answered, Commentaries on the syllable Ox. Again they saw, instead of five hundred oxen, a herd of two thousand. Finding that all these were laden with different new explanations of the syllable Om, they lost their pride. They slept in some place together. Mayûra was awakened by the goddess Sarasvati, who gave him this thema' for a verse, The sky filled with a hundred moons.' He half raised himself, bowed and gave the following solution,
Chapuramalla, stunned by the blow of Dâmodara's hand, saw the sky filled by a hundred moons.'
The same question was addressed to Bana. He growled and worked the thema in the following manner :
In that night, on account of the lotus-faces that moved to and fro on the high terraces, the sky shone as if filled by a hundred moons."
"
The goddess said, You are both poets who know the S'ástras. But Bâna is inferior, because he growled. I have shown you that quantity of commentaries on the syllable Oм. Who has ever attained a complete knowledge of the dictionary of the goddess Speech. It has been also said, "Let nobody assume pride saying, 'I am the only Pandit in this age. Others are ignorant. Greatness of intellect is only comparative.'
Thus Sarasvati made friendship between the two. When they arrived at the outer wall (of
* Na sabanti ikkamikkam na viņa chiṭhanti ikkamikkeņa rásahavasahaturaga júyárá panḍiyáḍambhâ.
† A journey to Kashmir and a presentation of books to Sarasvati is frequently mentioned as a test for poets by the Jaina authors.
[APRIL 5, 1872.
Ujjayini) they went each to his house. One after the other they paid their respects to the King as before. It has been also said," Deer herd with deer, kine with kine, steeds with steeds, fools with fools, wise men with wise ones. Friendship (has its root) in the similarity of virtues and of faults."
Jágarito mayúro ványá s'atachandram nabhastalam samasyapadain vadantys | ardhotthitena natena
Damodarakarághátavivhalikṛitachetasa. |
'Drishtani chánúramallena s'atachandram nabhastalam ||
Once Bâna had a lover's quarrel with his wife. The lady, who was proud, did not put off her pride. The greater part of the night passed thus. Mayûra, who was taking his constitutional, came to that place. Hearing the noise, made by the husband and his wife through the window, he stopped. Bâņa fell at the feet of his wife, and said, "O faithful one, pardon this one fault, I will not again anger thee." She kicked him with her foot which was encircled by an anklet. Mayura, who stood under the window, became sorry on hearing the sound of the anklet, and on account of the disrespect shown to the husband. But Bâna recited a
new stanza
"O thin-waisted one, the night that is nearly past, escapes swiftly like a hare; this lamp nods as if it were sleepy; O fair-browed one thy heart. also has become hard on account of its vicinity to thy breasts, so that, alas, ! thou dost not put off thy pride and thy anger at the end of my prostrations."§
Hearing this Mayûra said-" Don't call her fair-browed but passionate, (chandi) since she is angry." Hearing this harsh speech that faithful wife cursed her father, who revealed the character of his daughter saying, "Mayest thou become a leper by the touch of the betel-juice. which I now have in my mouth." At that moment lepra-spots appeared on his body. In the morning Bâna went as formerly to the Court dressed as a Varaka and made with reference to Mayûra, who also came, the following speech containing a pun, "The Varakoḍhi has come." ||
The King understanding this, and seeing the lepra-spots, sent (Mayûra) away, saying, "You must go." Mayûra fixed himself in the temple of the Sun, sat down, keeping his mind concentrated on the deity, and praised the Sun with
Iti samasya púritá Banopi tathaiva prishtah | humkarain kritva tenapi kathita
Tasyám uttungasaudhágravilolavadanambujaiḥ | Viraraja vibhavaryâm s'atachandram nabhastalam. Gataprayárâtrih kris'atanu s'as'iyata iva Pradipoyam nidrávas'a upagato gharnata iva | Pranamante mánam tyajasi na yathátvam krudham aha Kuchapratyásattya hridayam api te subhru kathinam ||
I am unable to translate the term Varaka. The words of the text are-Varakavastram, paridhaya sametam mayûram prati (avau varakodha) iti s'lishtam vacha uvácha.