28 F. S. Growse— The Prologue to the Mdmdyana of Tulsi Dds. p$ i 



the combined flood destroying the triple curse of humanity, is absorbed i 

 the mighty ocean of very Rama, The united stream of the Manas-born 

 Sarju and the Ganges purifies the pious listener, while the various tales and 

 episodes interspersed here and there are the groves and gardens on its op. 

 posite banks ; the description of the marriage and wedding procession of 

 Uma and Siva are like the innumerable fish in the water ; the joy and g-kd 

 ness that attended Rama's birth are like beautiful swarms of bees. 



Doha 49. 



The childish sports of the four brothers are like the stores of goodly 

 merchandise ; the virtuous king and queen and their court like the bees and 

 water-birds. 



Ohaupdi. 



The charming story of Sita's marriage like the bright gleam of the 

 flashing river ; the many ingenious questions like the boats on the stream • 

 the appropriate and judicious answers like the boatmen ; again, the argumen- 

 tative discussions show like crowding travellers ; the wrath of Bhrigunath 

 like the rushing torrent ; Rama's soft speech like the well arranged ghats ; 

 the marriage festivities of Rama and Lakshman like the grateful swell of the 

 tide ; the thrill of pleasure that spreads through the delighted audience like 

 the ecstatic feelings of the virtuous bathers ; the auspicious preparations for 

 marking Rama's forehead with the tilah like the crowds assembled on holi- 

 days ; and like the river mud is Kaikeyi's evil counsel, the cause of many 

 calamities. 



Doha 50. 



Like prayers and sacrifices effectual to remove every misfortune are 

 Bharat's virtuous acts ; while the corruptions of the world, and sinful men, 

 and slanderers are like the scum on the water and the cranes and crows. 



Chaupdi. 

 This river of glory is beautiful in each of the six seasons, bright and 

 holy exceedingly at all times. In winter there is the marriage of Siva 

 with the daughter of the snowy mountains ; in the dewy days the glad 

 rejoicings at the Lord's birth ; the account of the preparations for Rama's 

 wedding are for the delightful and auspicious spring ; Rama's intolerable 

 banishment, the story of his rough journeyings and exposure to the sun and 

 wind are the hot -weather ; his encounters with fierce demons, by which he 

 gladdens the hosts of heaven, are like the rains that refresh the fields ; the 

 prosperity of his reign, his meekness and greatness, are like the clear, bounti- 

 ful and lovely autumn* ; the recital of the virtues of Sita, that jewel of 



* The six Hindu seasons, to which allusion is here made, are Hemant, winter ; 

 Sisir, the early spring; Basant, the spring; Grishm, the hot weather ; Varsha, the 

 rains ; and Sarad, the autumn. 



