1833.] A Legend of Himdlaya—by Calidasa. 353 
25. 
As first, a thin streak of soft silvery light, 
The gleaming new moon in the West meets our sight, 
eminent in its properties, the ornament of the three worlds : but ever since, on 
the muttering of the clouds of the rainy months (July and August), imitating the 
sound of that prince of demons, are those beautiful vaidérya gems emitted, of 
varied lustre, and rapid effulgence as of a multitude of fiery sparks.” 
Mallinatha cites the second sloka of the above description, as from an anony- 
mous budha or sage, to point out the mount Vidira here meant by Calidasa : but 
‘the other Scholiast, Bharata-Mallica, erroneously explains Viddra here as praba- 
Jétpattisthanam, i. e. a place where coral is produced,—a sense unknown to San- 
Scrit vocabularies. Except for the substitution of coral for lapis lazuli, he coincides 
with the above quotation—citing for the extraordinary phenomenon here mention- 
ed the same Cabalistic authority from which we have the blazing herbs of St. 10 and 
30; WESUAITATA TaTACaNaaT : SfaarafsraAaaw: “ From the 
muttering of the clouds in the rainy months (July and August), darts of coral 
gems make their appearance on the earth. So says the A’gama (or Tantra).” 
The situation of Vipu’Ra, if we may trust the Scholiast on the following parallel 
passage from the 12th canto of the Naishadha of Sri Harsha, is identified with that 
of mount Réhana or Adam’s Peak in Ceylon. Among the many unsuccessful sui- 
tors of the beautiful Damayanti in that canto, is a Malabar prince of great riches and 
liberality, whom the goddess Sarasvati thus recommends to the fair virgin’s accept- 
ance :— 
saa Tahar eaitaar war faguigcgcal ai mat 
WAG AAU ARCA AT: | aa ama aa Aha | 
“Mount Vidéra, abundant in gems that spring forth at the sound of thunder- 
clouds, yet becoming unacceptable to the beggars (that before flocked to it) through 
this more munificent king,—shall, however remote as its name indicates, become 
so near (if you accept this Southern monarch) that it suall be to you as a pleasure 
mount.’’ As the Scholia referred to illustrate the words of Caliddsa before us, as 
well as those of Sri Harsha, they may be added for the satisfaction of the Sanscrit 
student. 
Va acai starfear farsa ZUSETTT C TEU TAGY TA IRILY VITA 
arate wait an ear aa yartu aaafanad werdad aa 
afaata faydisfarersd cuafey araag fray guna waaifas- 
ayarrarastercr aifqa: ware SAAT aT HAT Pal AAAI Bla: WE 
PA saHTaca: Na: uf<uar waa 1 FaeiaT fe AA HAMA TAT BUA 
ale aaa aaa afarg qBye Wa WaIMINAIVMaRe: BAT 
agyad @ Waaet ‘wale Bua TaayaIna Aistrdaens wraefa 
wfa aaiansafata ara: | 
St. 25. As daily new digits, &e.—The at or Indian digit, is not as with 
European astronomers, 7; of the diameter of the Moon’s disc, but 7; only. 
ZZ 
