1840.] 



EepoH on the Mackenzie Manuscripts, 



12a 



F,^PRACRIT. 



Palm-leaf manuscript, No. 62. — Countermark 140. 



Mairavana Cheritra (G^mwi'Aa characters), stated in the commence- 

 ment to be taken fiom the J aimini Bhdrata. 



1. Adhydyam. Description of a fictitious town, with its various 

 kinds of inhabitants. 



2. Reference to the court of the visit of rishls to him. His 

 enquiries ; and their congratulations. 



3. Reference to tlie valour of Hanuman. The eulogy pronounced 

 on him by Agastya^ who narrates the tale. The sorrow of Havana, in 

 bis palace, at his defeat ; and complaint thereon to the inhabitants. In 

 consequence Mairavana, a racshasa, came to console him, and to point 

 out a scheme of revenge. 



4. Rdvana asks what can be done, not against men, but gods, Mai- 

 ravana engages to go down to his kingdom, the inferior world, and offer 

 a sacrifice to the evil goddess there. The wife of Mairavana dissuades 

 him from any enterprize; since it must issue in his destruction. He 

 {hen applies for counsel to his ministers ; being still in his kingdom in 

 the lower world. 



6. Mairavana sets out at the head of his army, from the inferior 

 world determined to make war. On the way evil omens appear. 



6. Vihushana, younger brother oi Rdvana, knowing all the prepara- 

 tions, which were being made, informed Hanuman and Sugriva. Rama 

 (as Vishmi), was then sleeping, and could not be disturbed. 



7. //a?m?»aw assumed a supernatural form; and bound his tail all 

 around the fortress, or camp oiRama, from the heavens down to the low- 

 er regions. He allowed only one entrance, at which he kept guard; and 

 despatching VibushanadiS a scout, he gave charge of the interior to Sw 

 griva, and others. It was now night. 



8. ilfmVavana sent a spy who reported the preparations made; ad- 

 ding that Fihushana only was outside, whose form thereupon Mairava- 

 na assumed, and going to Hanuman, told him to be on his guard : being 

 allowed to enter the fortress, he took Rama, and his brother Lacshmana, 

 both being asleep, and putting them into a box carried them down to 

 his inferior world. Fibushana was warned by evil omens ; and return- 

 ing, to see the cause, the deception was discovered. Hayiuman enquir- 

 ed for directions ; and, guided by a particular flower tree, came to the 



