188 Description of Ancient Temples and [April, 



city of blood, perhaps in commemoration of a battle stated to have 

 been fought there between Krishna and the Raja. The ' Sri 

 Bhagavat,' to which I referred, informs us that Banh was the son of 

 Bali', the generous, and that he had a thousand arms, which probably 

 means in a figurative sense that he was endued with immense strength; 

 this power is said to have been conferred on him by Siva, who also 

 promised to defend his capital against external foes, in return for the 

 pleasure he derived from the raja's musical performance, (a talent 

 in which he excelled,) when he played on some occasion before the 

 god who was dancing with his votaries. On obtaining this boon, the 

 invincible Banh subdued both gods and men, and returning to Sonit- 

 pur surrounded his capital with fortifications of water, wind and fire, 

 and lived there in perfect security ; but when he found after a short 

 time that none were able to oppose him, his heart was swollen with 

 pride, and repairing to the court of Siva he declared, that as he was 

 indomitable the boon bestowed was worthless, and wished to know 

 if there really was any one capable of resisting him. The god, dis- 

 pleased at his arrogance, presented him with a flag, which he desired 

 him to hoist upon his palace, and promised that whenever it should 

 fall an antagonist would appear to humble his power : delighted with 

 the gift Banh returned home, and waited patiently the fulfilment of 

 the prophecy. 



The narrative goes on to say, that Banh had a daughter called from 

 her extreme beauty, U'sa, or ' morning,' who was visited in a dream 

 by Anirud the son of Pradyu'mna and grandson of Ka'mde'va • 

 that on awaking from sleep the damsel indulged in loud laments, 

 and was inconsolable at missing the lovely form imprinted on her 

 memory, and which had occupied so large a share of her midnight 

 thoughts. 



One of her handmaidens, by name Chitra-likha or ' The Limner/ 

 daughter to Ku'mbhand her father's minister, moved by her excess 

 of sorrow, inquired its cause, and U'sa, reposing confidence in the 

 attendant, related her eventful dream regarding ' a man of sable hue 

 with lotus-eyes, long- arms, and clad in yellow garments, beloved 

 among women, who had abandoned her in the ocean of distress.' 

 Chitra-likha soothed her affliction by engaging to produce the object 

 of her love: she painted the images of gods, of demi-gods, sages and 

 powerful kings of the earth, of the house of Brishni', of Anu- 

 du'ndavi'*, of BALARA'Mf, and of Pradyu'mna, which last (being the 

 likeness of her father-in-law,) as soon as U'sa looked upon she was 



* Vasu-de'va the father of Krishna. f Foster brother of Krishna. 



