14 Historical Remarks [Jan. 



[Tfcr*§ir*fzr^fai] 



In Act III. 

 To them, enter Soma-Siddhanta in the guise of a K6p&ltka {or man of skulls), 



with a sword in his hand. 

 Soma-Sid. {walking about.) 



With goodly necklace deck'd of bones of men, 

 Haunting the tombs, from cups of human skull 

 Eating and quaffing, — ever I behold 

 With eyes that Meditation's salve hath clear'd, 

 The world of diverse jarring elements 

 Composed, but still all one with the Supreme. 

 Buddhist. This man professes the rule of a Kapalika. I will ask him what it 

 is. — {Going up to him.) O, ho ! you with the bone and skull necklace, what 

 are your notions of happiness and salvation ? 

 Soma-Sid. Wretch of a Buddhist ! Well; hear what is our religion. 



With flesh of men, with brain and fat well smear'd, 

 We make our grim burnt-offering, — break our fast 

 From cups of holy Brahman's skull, — and ever 

 With gurgling drops of blood that plenteous stream 

 Prom hard throats quickly cut, by us is worshipped 

 With human offerings meet, our God, dread Bhairava. 

 Brahman Mendicant, (stopping his ears.) Buddhist, Buddhist, what think you 



of this ? O horrible discipline ! 

 Buddhist. Sacred Arhata ! some awful sinner has surely deceived that man. 

 Soma-SiddJianta (hi a, rage). Aha! — sinner that thou art, — vilest of heretics, 

 with thy shaven erown, drest like the lowest outcasts, uncombed one, away 

 with thee ! Is not the blessed husband of Bhavani the sole cause of the 

 creation, preservation, and destruction of the fourteen worlds, and his power 

 established by the fullest demonstration of the Vedant ? Let us yet shew 

 even you the magnificence of this religion. 



I call at will the best of gods, great Ham, 

 And Hara's self and Brahma, — I restrain 

 With my sole voice the course of stars that wander 

 In heaven's bright vault ; the earth with all its load 

 Of mountains, fields and cities, I at will 



