from the Ancient Books of the Hindus. 429 



conqueror placed the prince on the throne of Mlfra r the capital of which 

 was then caller! Fifva-drti-piira, or the City of Unherfal Fame j and, leav- 

 ing carried immenfe treafures to MocJIoe/a, he dedicated thern to the God of 

 the temple, rcfblving to end his days in peaceful devotion: by Padma- 

 Muc'ni'he had a daughter named An tar mad a \ and a fori,. Bha'le'ya- 

 na's, to whom, after the example of ancient monarchs, he refigned his 

 kingdom, when he grew old, and prepared himfelf for a better life. 



Before his death he was very defirous of performing the great facrijice of 

 a horfe, called Afwamedbj,, but considerable difficulties ufually attended 

 that ceremony ; for the conf^crated horfe was to be fet at liberty for a cer- 

 tain time, arid followed at a diftanee by the owner, or his champion, who 

 was ufually one of his near kinfmen ; and, if any perfon fhould attempt to 

 flop it in its rambles, a battle rnuft inevitably enfue: befides, as the per- 

 former of a hundred Afwam'edhas became equal to the God of the firma- 

 ment, Indra was perpetually on the watch, and generally carried off the 

 facred animal by force or by fraud ; though he could not pre/ent Beli 

 from completing his hundredth facriflcej and that monarch put the fu- 

 premacy of the Devas to proof, at the time, when the Padma-mandira 

 was built on the banks of the Cumudvaii •> nor did he prevail againft Ra- 

 giitj, whnfe combat with Indra himfelf is defcribed by Ca'lidAs in a 

 fryle perfectly Homerick. The great age of Cape'nas obliged him to em- 

 ploy his fon in that perilous and delicate fervice -, but Indra contrived to 

 purloin the horfe, and Bha'le'y ana's refolved never to fee his father or 

 kingdom, unlefs he could recover the myftical victim : he wandered, 

 therefore, through forefts and over deferts, till he come to the bank of the 

 Ganges near Av.i:a-pura> or Alacd-puri, about twelve crds N. N. W. of 

 Ba&ari-ndt h - t and there, in the agonies of defpondence, he threw himfelf 



