• { 



1839] Report on the Mackenzie Manuscripts*. J 5 



nat'ha, before adverted to. Vencata Ramaiyar, states in this book, that 

 he epitomized in Telugu verse, not only this work but also 4he Haris- 

 chandra Nalopdgndnam, the Cavyam, and the Raghava-pandityam ; and 

 hence the term Cavi-carna-rasaya, is used by him as a general title of 

 all these works ; this book forming only a part. It contains the sub- 

 stance of the Ramayana of Vdlmica, herein divided into the Bala, Ayo- 

 dhya, Kishkinda, Sundara, and Fudha, Cdndams. The contents of the 

 Aranya section are blended with that of Kishkinda. 



The manuscript is complete, and generally in good order. The 

 first 25 leaves have the appearance of being very much older 

 than the remaining portion. Considered as a poem, it has probably great 

 merit in point of versification. To the author of the Harischandra 

 Nal op ay nan am, if this writer were the author, the composition of any 

 other kind of versification, must have been little more than amusement. 



Note. — The book is briefly entered in Des. Catal. vol. 1. p. 328 

 art. xxxi. 



3. Ballava raju charitra, the tale of king Ballana, No. 55 — 

 Countermark 345. 



4. The same, No. 57— Countermark 344. 



This is a story, or perhaps a satire, in which the principal persons 

 are the said king, and Siva under an assumed form, Ballana-raja, 

 was a very liberal king, who gave to all comers wdiat they desired ; and, 

 like the Chacravertis of old, on no condition swerved from a promise 

 once given. Parvali is represented as discoursing with Siva respecting 

 the exemplary devotedness of this votary ; and it is agreed on, between 

 them, to put the same to a severe proof. He accordingly assumed the 

 form of a very personable Saiva ascetic of the Janyama class, causing 

 great admiration by his appearance. On presenting himself before the 

 king, the latter asked what he wanted : and he requested to be presented 

 with a wife who could be certified to be virtuous. The king acceded 

 to his request, and then had enquiry made among four castes of females, 

 and from house to house, by his messengers. The result of the enquiry 

 being fruitless, the king was reduced to the necessity of offering his 

 own wife, which he preferred to breaking his word of promise. The 

 proof of devotedness being complete, Siva appeared in his proper form ; 

 and, after bestowing many gifts on his follower, returned to Cailasa. 



No. 55, is complete : the leaves are a little worn, or broken, at the 

 edges, but not otherwise. The hand-writing is rude, and old fashioned. 

 I think the MS. must have been copied many years since. 



