1859.] The Sri-suJda, or Litany to Fortune. 131 



7. May the friend of the gods,* and Kenown, with the gem, be 

 secured to me. In this realm I was brought forth. Do thou be" 

 stow upon me fame and a prosperous estate. 



8. Calamity, squalid with hunger and thirst, the elder sister of 

 fortune,^ would I repel. Turn thou away from my dwelling all pover- 

 ty and want of increase. 



9. I invoke that S'ri to draw near : characterised by odour ; hard 

 to be conquered; ever teeming with harvests; resident in cowdung ; 

 mistress overall creatures. J 



10. May I obtain the wish of my heart, the object of my vow? 

 veracity of speech, the products of cattle, and the various descrip- 

 tions of edibles. § May prosperity abide in my habitation, and re- 

 nown. 



* Kubera, says the expositor. He is attributively called, to be sure ^p^^HJ*!! 

 * the friend of Trymbaka' or S'iva : but it is exceedingly questionable whether 

 any very ancient authority designates this divinity by the simple word «^, or 

 indeed, takes any note of him whatever. Kirti, or Renown, was daughter of 

 Daksha. The gem spoken of is said to be the famous ' jewel of reflection,' the 

 Hindu cap of Fortunatus. Or Manibhadra may be meant ; Kubera' s treasurer. 



A modern air, it is obvious to observe, infects the whole of this stanza ; and 

 the same remark is applicable to that which follows. 



f This relationship I find predicated in the Kartika mdhdtmya, a section of 

 the SanatJcumdra sanhitd. 



X The goddess is here viewed as one with the earth. It is still a notion every- 

 where current among the Hindus, that Lakshmi delights to lurk in cowdung. 



§ By the products of cattle the several modifications of milk are signified. 

 Esculents are classed as those to be licked, those to be drunk, those to be suck- 

 ed, and those to be masticated. 



This couplet, slightly altered, occurs in tbe Yajur-veda, Vdjasaneyi-sanJiitd, 

 XXXIX., 4 ; p. 973 of the edition of Professor Weber : 



ir^^t ^ wire ^£*i *reo ^ft« ^ftcfi *rfa m^x ii 



Mahidhara explains this to the following effect : ' May I obtain the desire of 

 my heart, the fruit of my toil, and truthfulness of utterance. May the ornament 

 of cattle, the savour of aliment, fame, and fortune, continue in my abode. Be 

 this oblation effectual.' 



s 2 



