1865.] On the Sena Edjds of Bengal. 153 



[A Kalpa is a period of 4,320,000,000 of years (constituting a day and 

 night of Brahma), after which period the universe is supposed to be 

 destroyed by Shiva, who assumes on the occasion the form of Kapalika, 

 having a tiger's hide for his dress, serpents round his neck, ashes over 

 his body, and a rosary of human bones in his hand. 



The carpenter in Marryat's " Midshipman Easy" was evidently ac- 

 quainted with the Kalpa theory.] 



^Tw^r i tHrsrfa f%frfxr #^ ^ffw i 



He acquired by his arms the government of the world, and gained 

 what was good for him in earth by his own powers. He has nothing 

 to ask for in this world ; but, Shiva, who hast the half-moon on thy 

 crest, bless him and give him in the end final absorption into yourself. 



^T^: *fa^facJ*PT § *P SRTW II ^ II 



It is Valmika and Vyasa who are able awhile to do justice to his 

 life ; Ave have tried this only to purify our words by emerging in the 

 holy river of his fame. 



[Valmika, a saint, is the author of the Ramayana, a famous and 

 beautiful historical poem, containing a life of Rama. 



I believe Rama to be Bacchus, or rather Bacchus to be Rama. I 

 have no authority for this idea beyond a curious similarity between the 

 fables of this country and the fables as told by the Greeks. 



Rama conquered the Continent of India, 

 and 



nunc quoque qui puer es, quantus turn, Bacche, fuiste 



Cum timuit thyrsos India victa tuos ! 

 Victa racemifero lyncas dedit India Baccho. 



Ovid. Art. Amorum i. 189, 190. Metam. xv. 413.] 



