369 



This mantra is explained in the Hindoo Pantheon to be an 

 imprecatory incantation, generally composed of a passage from 

 the Veda, in which the name of some tremendous deity occurs. 

 The Hindoos, and indeed the Mahomedans also, have great faith 

 in the efficacy of propitiatory incantations, and great dread of those 

 of a malevolent tendency. The following passage from the Rama- 

 yana will exemplify this ; and, with those who have faith in such 

 works, affords a sufficient reason to fear the effects of such curses. 

 — " Even he who cannot be slain by the ponderous arms of 

 Indra, nor by those of Kali, nor by the terrible Chackra of Vish- 

 noo, shall be destroyed if a brahmin curse him, as if he were con- 

 sumed by fire." In another part, brahminical potency, almost, it 

 may be said omnipotency, is strongly enforced. 



" Let not a king, although in the greatest distress for money, 

 provoke brahmins to anger by taking their property ; for they, 

 once enraged, could immediately by sacrifices and imprecations, 

 destroy him with his troops, elephants, horses, and cars. 



" Who, Avithout perishing, could provoke these holy men, that 

 is, by whose ancestors, under Brahma, the all-devouring fire was 

 created ; the sea, with waters not drinkable ; and the moon, with 

 its wane and increase ? 



" What prince could gain wealth by oppressing those, who, if 

 angry, could frame other worlds, and regents of worlds; could give 

 being to new gods and mortals ? 



" What man desirous of life would injure those, by the aid of 

 whom, that is, by whose ablutions, worlds and gods perpetually 

 subsist ; those who are rich in the learning of the Veda? 



" A brahmin, whether learned or ignorant, is a powerful divi- 



VOL. III. 3 B 



