1852.] Analysis of the Raghu Vans' a. 449 



Yet what is Earth to me with all its lovely isles, its precious gems, 

 When never from thy daughter here, a child — auother self — has sprung. 

 The Manes of my fathers see the Shraddha's offering must expire ; 

 Scarce can they now partake, but turn in sorrow from the sacred cake, 

 And all the holy water too, which I have poured, must cease to flow : 

 Foreseeing this they drink it now, all tepid by their woeful sighs." 



The Rishi having heard, remained fixed for a short time in medi- 

 tation, — still as a lake in which the fishes enjoy the repose of sleep, — 

 and thus replied : Thou wert once returning home to thy wife after 

 worshipping Indra and seeing Surabhi resting under the shade of 

 the Kalpataru, thou didst not pay her honour due ; on this she pro- 

 nounced a curse, " Be without offspring until you learn to respect 

 mine." The curse was not heard by thee owing to the noise made 

 by the elephants splashing in the waters of the heavenly Ganges, thou 

 canst not now see Surabhi as she dwells in Patala guarded by fierce 

 serpents, but respect her offspring as her substitute. As he finished, 

 Kamadhenu* the offspring of Surabhi made her appearance emerging 

 from the forest depths, when called by name, 



* Brown was her hue, all beautiful, soft, polished, like the freshest spray ; 

 Gleamed on her forehead a white mark, as the new moon in twilight gleams." 

 " The dust excited by her hoofs the body of the monarch touched, 

 And gave a purity as if the king had bathed in holiest spot.f 



The king was directed to conciliate Surabhi in every possible way. 



Move onwards, when she moves : whene'er she rests, rest thou beside her there ; 

 Recline, when she is pleased to couch : drink, wheresoe'er thou seest her drink, 

 And to the border of the wood, let thy queen also follow her, 

 With punctual care, at noon : and so, still meet her in the eventide. 



The king and queen soon after retired to repose in a hut of leaves 

 where Kusa grass bestrewed the floor. 



At early dawn the cow proceeded to the forest, the queen followed her 



* Kamadhenu the cow of plenty : like " the wishing cap" of fairy tales, she 

 could give whatever was asked. 



f This reminds one of the Mohammedan notions, that if water is not at hand to 

 perform an oblation, sand will suffice, just as the Hindus burn their dead on the 

 banks of the old Ganges near Baripur to the South of Calcutta though there is not 

 a drop of water in the ancient bed. 



