296 On the Marriage Rites and Usages (Jung, 
appear to you, fear nothing; Brisr Nas then asked, But where am 1 
to reside ? He answered, In the following places, which will revive and 
flourish under your auspices, make thou thy Royal abode ;—Govardhan, 
Dtrghpura or Dig, Mathura, Mahaban, Nandgram and Barsana*.” 
The above six towns are considered the most distinguished of all 
the holy dans or places of pilgrimage in the circle of Brij. 
Close to the fort of Dég, which is only separated by a wet ditch 
from the bhowans or garden-palaces, are two places greatly distin- 
guished in the Mathura Mahdtama, or traditionary history of Mathura, 
and the Brimha Bybart, or transformations of Krisuna. One of 
them is called Krishna-kund, or the pool of Krisuna, and the other 
Sambar, a corruption of Swyambara, the free or self-election of a hus- 
band. 
At this public place the princes of the country used to assemble on 
great occasions of marriage. The lady having performed the tour of 
the circle where they stood, signified her choice by throwing a garland 
of flowers upon the neck of the Prince she preferred. There are many 
instances of this practice on record. In the pleasing history of the 
loves of N&uat and Damyanti, the poet elegantly describes the 
Swyambara or election of Damyanti, whose sagacity enables her 
to distinguish the real from the false NAuas, and whose affection teaches 
her to prefer the mortal object of a mutual passion, to the Deities who 
from envy and malice had assumed the form of her lover. 
The latest Swyambara perhaps known, occurred at Kanouj, and 
was attended with serious. consequences, as the animosity it excited 
between the father of the princess and her lord laid India open to 
Muhammedan aggression, and paved the way for European ascendancy ; 
(see Quarterly Oriental Magazine for 1825. The choice of Drovpant.) 
B. 
For the edification of the curious in such matters I subjoin the trans- 
lation of a Hindi paper, shewing the amount and quality of the pethya 
of a Rani. 
* For the satisfaction of the Sanscrit scholar I subjoin the Sanscrit shlok: 
~~ ON = 2 ~ 
tiaea Seyt weet Hersey | 
a ° 
aera crane erat craferfateas | y 
+ An elegant edition of Na’La and DAMYANTI, as contained in the Mahabharat, 
has been given to the public by Professor Borr. 
