TRANSLATION, &C. 51 



is thirty-five years fince I made Tupifya upon this 

 fer-feja. I have been in feveral countries. How much 

 mail I caufe to be written? I have been at every place 

 of religious refort, and have no longer any inclination 

 to roam 3 but being delirous of fettling in Benares, I 

 have come hither. Three Tugs have paffed, and we 

 are now in the fourth ; and in all thefe four ages there 

 have been religious devotees, and their difciples ; and 

 they are nrft to make application to the Rajah, or to 

 whoever is the ruler of the place ; for even Rajahs 

 maintain and ferve us ; and it is befitting that I obtain 

 a fmall place, where I may apply to my religious du- 

 ties, and that fomething may be allowed for my ne~ 

 cefTary expences, that I may blefs you. 



QUESTION. 



In all the eighteen Tupijyas, or modes of penetential 

 devotion, that are made mention of in the Shafter, the 

 one you have chofen is not fpecified ; wherefore it is 

 inferable, that you mult have committed fome great 

 offence, in expiation of which you have betaken your- 

 felf to the prefent very rude mode of difcipline. De- 

 clare, therefore, what crime you have perpetrated. 



ANSWER. 



In the Suthya Tug, or fir ft age, there was a Rikb, 

 or holy-man, called Agniburna, who performed this 

 fer-Jeja difcipline; as in the Treta, or fecond age, did 

 Ravono, for ten thoufand years ; and in the Dwapar, 

 or third age, Bhikma Pitamaha, did the fame ; and 

 in the Call Tug y or prefent age, I have followed their 

 example, during a period of thirty-five years ; but not 

 to expiate any crime or offence by me committed, in 

 which refpeel if I be guilty, may Vesiiweishura 

 ftrike me a leper here in Benares. 



D 2 QUESTION, 



