1876.] F. S. Growse— The Prologue to the B&m&yam of ' Tulsi Bis. 29 



faithful wives, is as the undented and excellent water ; the amiability of 

 Bharat as its unvarying coolness. 



Doha 51. 

 Their looks and words at meeting, their mutual love and laughter, the 

 true fraternal affection of the four brothers are as the water's sweet odour. 



Chaupai. 

 My suppliant address and self- depreciation and modesty correspond to 

 the singular lightness of good water, which is anything but a defect. This 

 marvellous lymph works its effect by the mere hearing, quenching the thirst 

 of desire and cleansing the soul of impurity ; it resuscitates true love to 

 Eama and puts an end to all the sin and sorrow of the world, draining life 

 of its weariness, comforting with true comfort, destroying sin and pain and 

 poverty and error, dispelling lust and passion and phrenzy and infatuation, 

 and promoting pure intelligence and detachment from the world. Those 

 who reverently drink or bathe in this stream, from their soul is effaced all 

 sin and distress ; those who do not cleanse their heart in it are wretches 

 whom the world has ruined, turning back, hapless creatures ! like a panting 

 deer that has seen a river in a mirage. 



Doha 52-54. 



Thus have I declared to the best of my ability the virtues of this excel- 

 lent water, and having plunged my own soul in it, and ever remembering 

 Bhawani and Sankara I proceed with my delectable story. I will first repeat 

 in substance the original conversation, with the questions put by Bharadwa- 

 ja when he found the Muni Yajnavalkya ; and laying my soul at the lotus 

 feet of Eaghupati and thus securing his patronage, I will sing the meeting 

 of the two great saints and their auspicious discourse. 



Thus ends the Prologue and from here the real action of the poem com- 

 mences. 



