40 G-. A. Grierson — Some Further Notes on Kalulasa. [Xo. 1, 



fq^iT it «rr iz%\m \ 



Sf^^T^frjfHfTT t 



T^%rf«^^W ii 

 'WT'??^ ^ffr^r ii 



%T ^f^J^TT ?% 3 I 

 SR^fifwf^ I 



^f? ^ rfWT * II 



That is to say, — " Hail, King Bhoja, thy father was famed throughout 

 the three worlds as a virtuous man. The ninety-nine Jcrors of jewels be- 

 longing to me, which thy father took from me, do thou now restore unto 

 me. All the wise men who stand in attendance on thee know this to be 

 the fact, — or else, — if my words are false, — this poem of mine is an original 

 composition, and thou must pay to me the proffered prize of a lakh of 

 rupees." The three S'rutidharas dared not say that they had heard this 

 before, for that would be tantamount to confessing that Bhoja owed Kali- 

 dasa ninety-nine krors of jewels.* 



Before Kalidasa became wise, but after his marriage, his wife used to 

 try and teach him a little learning. One day she tried to teach him to 

 pronounce the word " ^^r" " a camel" (uslitra). But Kalidasa could not 

 form his mouth so as to pronounce the word, and at one time would he 

 would say " ^3t" (ur) and at another time ^3"^ (ush). His wife at length 

 lost her patience, and after saying — 



^f ^wfrT < 3T ^ 37 I 



f¥ f 3>tTf*r *? t& f% *rs: I 



fa? ^T ^TTTfrT ^ V? f% jJW II 



" He mispronounces ushtra with ra, and s7ia ; and yet God has given 

 him a round-limbed wife. What can He not do when he is angered, and 

 what can He not do when he is pleased," f she launched forth into words 

 of no measured abuse. When Kalidasa remonstrated with her on the foul- 



* I have met a story somewhat similar to this in Persian literature, and much 

 regret that I cannot lay my hands on it now. A comic version of the Persian tale can 

 be found in Punch, Vol. II, January to June 1842, p. 254. It is called " Jawbrahim 

 Heraudee." 



f i. e. He must he angry with me, inasmuch as he has given me a dolt for a 

 husband, and he must be pleased with Kalidasa, for he has given him me for a wife. 



