452 Analysis of the Raghit Vans' a, [No. 6. 



wafted a sweet fragrance, the fire in waving flames towards the 

 right consumed the holocaust, while all things boded felicity on the 

 birth of one who was to be the deliverer of the world. With eyes 

 immoveable as the lotus sheltered from the breeze, the lord of 

 the world drank rapture from the face so fair of his son, nor could 

 he control himself any more than ocean's massy waves on seeing 

 the queen of night the moon.* The natal ceremonies being finished 

 by an anchorite brought from the sacred wood, Dilip's son shone out 

 as a gem dug from the stone, with radiance issuing from the polisher's 

 hand : a general gaol delivery was proclaimed : he named him Raghu 

 signifying he should go to the conclusion of the Vedas, and the 

 despatching of the enemies.-)* 



After the ceremony of the tonsure, Raghu entered by a knowledge 

 of letters as through the mouth of a river into the ocean of words ; 

 as the sun with his horses swift as wind passes through the regions of 

 air, so he passed through the four sciences of Logic, Ethics, History 

 and the Vedas. J He was soon married and the king relieved his 

 shoulders of some of the burthen of state affairs by making him 

 co-ruler. One day while making a sacrifice of a hundred horses, Indra 

 carried off the horse by the power of Nandini. Raghu acquired the 

 faculty of seeing invisible things, and he immediately recognised by 

 his hundred eyes unblinking, and his green steeds, that the spoiler was 

 Indra, he addressed him on the evil he had done, but Indra replied 

 that he alone was entitled to sacrifice one hundred horses. On this a 

 battle fierce ensued, arrows flying about in all directions horrid as the 

 view of serpents winged. Indra with his shower of arrows tried to 

 kill him, but as vain as the cloud by its waters strives to extinguish the 

 lightning which has issued from its bosom. The combat lasted long, 

 and Indra admiring his valour promised to give him whatever he 

 would ask except the horse. Raghu returned home. Dilip determined 

 to ascend to heaven on a ladder made from the merits of his ninety- 



* This seems to imply some knowledge of the laws of attraction. A similar passage 

 occurs in the Raj Tarangini. When we consider the mode in which the mysteries of 

 knowledge were shrouded from the vulgar eye in ancient times, it is not improbable 

 the law of gravitation may have been one of those known to the priests. 



t Respecting the naming of children, see Manu II. 30. 



% Like the quadrivium of the middle ages. 



