120 N. N. Vasu— Nagaras and the Nagari-alphabet. [No. 2, 
necessary religious rites for the welfare of his future son. Six- 
teen Brahmanas were then employed to perform propitiatory and 
sacrificial observances. 
While these religious rites were being performed there went on, 
in the capital of Anartta, great and solemn festivities in order to cele- 
brate the birth of the prince. But in the midst of these entertainments 
dark calamities began to make their appearance. Consequent upon the 
evil influence of the star presiding over the prince’s fortune, the king’s 
horses, elephants, chariots and even his dominions began to grow 
thinner and thinner. At this the Brahmanas of Camatkara-pura be- 
came highly exasperated. They observed, ‘We sixteen Brahmanas are 
without the slightest departure from rules, performing the due sacrifices ; 
and yet no good comes of it: let us therefore imprecate curses upon the 
god of fire.’ At this juncture, Agni-déva (the Fire-god) appeared before 
them and exclaimed: ‘Oh Brahmanas, do not imprecate curses upon me 
under the influence of unjust wrath. Hach of your offerings is going 
to ruin through the misdemeanour of Trijata, one among you who are 
performing the sacrifices and other religious rites. For him, the sun 
and the other heavenly bodies do not accept your offerings: and this 
is why pestilence and mortality are day by day increasing in the king- 
dom. Renew your sacrifice, banishing this vile Brahmana from your 
company: then fortune and health shall smile upon the king, and 
perdition shall await his enemies.’ Hearing the words of Agni, the 
Brahmanas were very much ashamed, and said that it was impossible 
for them to believe that Trijata was polluting their Homa prepara- 
tions. Agni replied, ‘ Purify yourselves by bathing in the water of my 
perspiration in the sacrificial-pit (Homa-kunda). Rest assured, that 
your preparations have been corrupted by that man, on whose body 
appear pustules when he emerges out of the water.’ In obedience to the 
dictates of Agni, they, oneafter another, bathed in the sacrificial-pit : 
but pustules were seen on the person of Trijata only. Over-whelmed 
with shame, Trijata was then unable to uplift his down-cast head ; 
agony and repentance overcame him and he determined to retire to 
the jungle. Now in fact this Trijata was a great scholar, well ver- 
sed in the Védas; and for the disgrace incurred upon him, his mother 
was to be blamed. Becoming alive to his own wretched condition he 
applied himself to practise austere penance in a secluded forest. 
Highly delighted with the rigour and austerity of Trijata’s penance, 
Mahadéva appeared before him. Trijata fell prostrate at his feet 
and thus outpoured his heart :—‘Oh God of the gods, I have been, 
by my mother’s fault, very much disgraced before the people of Camat- 
kara-pura and the king of Anartta. Be thou so gracious to contrive 
