652 Account of the Ruins of Mandavi. [Aug. 



Vi'rji. In the course of time the child who had been abandoned, 

 grew in stature but roamed in the forest like a wild beast, understand- 

 ing only the language of the jackals, till one day he was observed by 

 a horde of brinjarries who sent their men to surround and capture 

 him. He travelled with these merchants, and nightly as the jackals 

 howl around their camp, the brinjarries ask him what they say, he tells 

 them to be on the alert, for from the cries of the jackals, plunderers 

 are at hand. On this account the merchants regard him as their pro- 

 tector and call him Sakni or prophet. By chance these brinjarries 

 stopt at the city in which resided Vi'rji with his mother and the mo- 

 ther of Sakni. Now the prince of this city made a practice of robbing 

 all travellers who passed through it, and the brinjarries being pos- 

 sessed of much treasure, he sent his servants to pillage them, but ow- 

 ing to the cries of the jackals and the warnings of Sakni, their efforts 

 were unavailing. Disappointed at their ill success the thieves deter- 

 mined on revenge, for which purpose they placed a katturah (drink- 

 ing vessel) of gold in one of the traveller's bales, and accused them 

 of having stolen it. The brinjarries, confident in their innocence, 

 offered their property to be searched, promising that if the vessel 

 was found amongst their bales, they would forfeit all to the men of the 

 city. The katturah was found, and these latter aware of the power of 

 Sakni demanded him to be given up. The merchants being helpless 

 yielded him and proceeded on their journey; the mother of Sakni 

 recognized her son and told the brothers of their relationship, they 

 both set out upon their travels, Sakni telling Vfrji that he must 

 go towards the city of Ujain ; that on the road he will arrive at a 

 mighty river ; that a dead body will float past him, on the arm of 

 which will be a tdwid (or charm), that if he possesses himself of this 

 he will become king of Ujain. Vi'rji requests Sakni to accompany 

 him, he does so, and Vi'rji having possessed himself of the charm 

 as foretold by Sakni, they reach Ujain where they put up at the 

 house of a potter, whose family were lamenting as for a dire calamity, 

 on asking the reason of which they learn that the city of Ujain is 

 possessed by a Rdkasa (demon) by name Agiah Betdl, who nightly 

 devours the king of Ujain ; that all men take it by turn to be king 

 and rule for one day ; the lot had now fallen on the potter, for which 

 cause his family were thus afflicted. The brothers consoled the potter, 

 and Vi'rji promises to supply his place. Vi'rji accordingly pre- 

 sents himself and with acclamations is proclaimed king of Ujain ; he 

 made Sakni his prime minister. At night armed with sword and 

 shield he betook himself to his sleeping apartment, the Agiah Betdl 



