1896. ] N. N. Vasu— Nagaras and the Nagari-alphabet. 121 
some means, by which I may rise pre-eminent amongst all the Brah- 
manas.’ Mahadéva answered, ‘Wait for some time. Days are not 
distant, when your desire will be fulfilled.’ Saying this the god 
vanished. 
Meanwhile a great disaster occurred in Camatkara-pura. On one 
Naga-paticam? day, Kratha, son of Déva-raja of the Maudgalya gatra, 
went together with some other Brahmanas to bathe in the Nagatirtha 
and there taking Rudra-mala the son of the serpent-king, for a common 
water-serpent, killed him with the stroke of a rod. At this many 
venomous snakes, responding to their king’s order, crept into Camat- 
kara-pura in overwhelming numbers. Owing to the terrible destruc- 
tion caused by these poisonous snakes, all the men of Camatkara-pura 
youne and old, began to flee away, leaving their houses and 
articles behind them. Brahmanas in hundreds breathed their last, 
being bitten by snakes. Some Brahmanas becoming exceedingly ap- 
palled sought refuge in that forest where Trijata was engaged in 
penance. Hearing of the story of their misfortune, Trijata encouraged 
them, saying, ‘you have no occasion to fear.’ Hre long he again be- 
came absorbed in meditation of Mahadéva. The god appeared and 
said, ‘I am giving you an incantation (a mantra) the mere utterance of 
which shall render even the most ferocious of the venomous snakes 
void of poison.’ The mantra runs thus :— 
we faafafa ota 4 aati @ aTaz | 
aaa Paes TU TAlN 
ATL ATT Ta y YANTHAT | 
qa Meta ot ae vfawtat TU EEE | 
BY Vala els AAT] PTA | 
afaufa afaend aq alfafassag | 
amatsty a at faut ae: aeams | 
qe waa Beare faut aaa | 
gifaat aINaesaty BaaAAA | 
yateata stati ofa aaa aA Ij 
(T1TTWI Yeo | 9S — eR) 
*“O my good Brahmana, you are to proclaim in the city that the 
word gara signifies poison, but by my favour there is no poison at pre- 
sent. Any vile snakes that may dare to remain there after hearing 
you utter ‘na garam na garam’ (1.e., there is no poison, no poison), may 
dei LG 
