120 ESSAY ON 



But let US return to the extract from the Vicrama- 

 charitra, b}' Major Mackenzie. Then cameBALA- 

 Risiir, Vicrama'rca, Bali and BnARTRmARi, four 

 brothers, from four mothers, of the four different 

 classes, and sons of a holy Brahmen of Benares. The 

 last, or Bhartrihari, was of the fourth class, and 

 succeeded to the throne. He was Uarned, pious, and 

 valiant; and it is believed that he is still alive, as a 

 Muni, in the wilds above Hari-dnar. He was suc- 

 ceeded by Vicrama'rca, who m; de a sacrifice in 

 honor of the goddess Ca'li', and offered his own 

 head. "The goddess appeartd to him, saying, what is 

 your boon r That I uiay rule the world for a long 

 time. The goddess, pleased with his faith and devo- 

 tion, told him, that at UJjai/ini, he should rule the 

 terresrrial world for 1000 years, without hindrance or 

 molestation, and at last that he snould be slain by a 

 child, born of a virgm one year and a half old. His 

 brother, being informed of this circumstance, said he 

 would lengthen hisi life to 2000 years, for, as he was 

 to rule at t5;«j/i;/i for 1000 years, he had only to re- 

 main in that city six months in the }ear, and the 

 other six out of it. He then ascended to heaven, in 

 his human body, where he was uell received by 

 Indra, saw, RaxMBHa' and Urvas i' dancing, and 

 there was presented with the famous Sinhdsana, or 

 seat adorned with lions. 



He chastised the Ve ta'la-de'va, or the king of 

 the devils, made him his slave, who then related to 

 him twenty-five curious stories, to be found in the 

 Veiala-pancha-t'insati. Towaid the latter end of his 

 reign, he sent secret emissaries, through all tnc world, 

 to inquire, whether a child were born of a virgin one 

 year and a half old. The messengers returned to 

 Ljjayin'i, with the news, that a male child was born 

 of a virgin, the daughter of a potmaker, begot by the 

 king of snakes (called Tacsiiaca, or the Carpenter, 

 in the original,) while she was in her ciiidle. They 



