pra'crit poetry. 429 



episode of the MaJiabhaj^ata* and are the subject of a 

 novel in prose and verse, by Trivlcrama hliatia^tvi- 

 titled Nalachampu\ o'c Damayanti cafha. Srihar- 

 sha's poom, though containing much beautiful poetry 

 according to the Luimn taste, is very barren of incident. 

 It brings the story no further than the marriage of 

 Nala and DamaynatI, and the description of their 

 mutual affection and happiness which continues not- 

 withstanding the machinations of Call. The romantick 

 and interebting adventures subsequent to the marriage, 

 as told in the Nalo'daya, are here wholly omitted; 

 while the poet, with a degree of hcentiousness, which 

 is but too well accommodated to the taste of hiscountry- 

 men, indulges in glowing descriptions of sensual love. 



The following example of Vansast'ha nlietre is from 

 the introduction of the Naishad' hiya' To render the 

 author's meaning intelligible, it may be necessary to 

 premise, that the mere celebrating of Nala "cnd Da- 

 MAYANTi is reckoned sufficient to remove the taint of 

 a sinful age ; and is so declared in a passage of the 

 Muhahharata. 



Vansast'ha metre. 



Pavilram atratanute jagad yuge, smrlta, .rasa-cshalan- 



ayeva yat, cat'ha; 

 Cat'ham na sa mad girum, avilam api, s^vasevinim eva, 



pavitrayishyati. 



[See Plate B. Fig. 5.] 



*' How should a story, which, being remembered, purifies 

 the world in the present age, as it were by an actual ablution. 



• From the 53d to the /"Pth chapters of the Vjjnaparva. 

 t A composition, iu which prose and verse are iutermixe4» is 

 called Cham^u, 



