22 F. S. Growse — The Prologue to the Bdmdyana of Tulsi Dds. [No. 1 



declaring my merits and defects and again bowing my head to all, I proceed 

 to tell the glorious acts of Baghubar, by the sound of which all the sin of 

 the world is effaced. 



Chaupdi. 

 Now listen all in friendly wise while I relate the story as I have heard 

 it, as it was communicated by Yajnavalkya to the great sage Bharadwaja 

 It was first of all composed by Siva and graciously revealed to Uma and 

 again declared to Kaka-bhusundi, known to be chief among the votaries of 

 Kama. From him Yajnavalkya received it, and he recited it to Bharad- 

 vaja. These listeners and reciters were of equal virtue and had an equal 

 insight into Hari's sportive actions. Their intellect comprehended all time 

 as it were a plum in the palm of the hand ; other intelligent votaries of 

 Hari have also in different ways heard, understood and spoken. 



Doha 37-38. 

 I again heard the story from my own master at Sukarkhet, {i. e. So- 

 ron) # without understanding it, when I was quite a child and had no sense. 

 And how could such a dull creature, being both ignorant and eaten up with 

 worldly impurities, understand so mysterious a legend and a dialogue be- 

 tween such sage interlocutors. 



Chaupdi. 

 But my master repeated it time after time, till at length I understood 

 as much as could be expected ; and I now put it down in the vulgar tongue, 

 as well as my understanding allows me ; with my heart fixed on Hari's 

 messenger (i. e. Hanuman), I speak with all the little sense, judgment and 

 ability that I possess. The story that I have to tell clears my own doubts 

 as it does every other error and delusion, and is a raft on which to cross the 

 ocean of existence. The story of Kama is a resting-place for the intellect ; 

 a universal delight ; a destroyer of worldly impurity ; an antidote to the 

 venom of passion ; a match to enkindle the fire of wisdom ; the cow of plen- 

 ty of this iron age ; flowers of ambrosia to make good men immortal ; a 

 stream of nectar on the face of the earth ; destroyer of death ; a snake to 

 devour toad-like error ; befriending the good by the destruction of hell, in 

 the same way as Parvati befriended the gods by destroying the army of 

 demons ; like Lakshmi rising from the sea in the assembly of the saints ; 

 immovable as the earth that supports all the weight of creation ; like the 

 Jamuna, to put to shame the angel of death ; like Kasi the saviour of all 

 living creatures ; as dear to Rama as the pure Tulsi ; as dear to Tulsi 



* Soron, the modern name, is a corruption of Sukara-grama (Boar-town). The 

 place is still much frequented by pilgrims ; the principal concourse being on the festival 

 of the Varaha (or Boar) avatar. Sukara-grama = Suar-ganw = Suaranw - Soron. 



