Ghap.VIIL 
the Eaft-India Pagans. 
879 
was teleas'd at her requeft, and Kifna 
confummated his Marriage with great 
Pomp in the City of Davarca. 
Sometime after it happen'd, that a ve- 
ry ftrong Elephant being feiz'd by a 
Crocodile in a certain Ciftern or Pond 
where the Elephants usM to drink, a fu- 
rious Combat enfu'd, which put all the 
Elephants that were Spectators thereof 
into no fmall Confufion. At laft feeing 
they were not able to aflifl: their Compa- 
nions, and prefs'd with Hunger,they went 
away, and left the poor Elephant in the 
lurch. He feeing himfelf thus deftitute 
kept on ftruggling with the Crocodile, 
fending up at the fame time his Prayers 
to Viftmm to deliver him from the Jaws 
of the Crocodile. 
Kifna de- But it being then the time of i^z/w^i'sap- 
^^^1 ^" pearing upon Earth, he heard his Prayers 
from "^a ^^^^^ days, and fending for Garroude 
Cmodlle. to carry him immediately to the Pond, 
he threw his Weapon at the Crocodile, 
and cutting off his Neck released the 
Elephant, who kneeling before iiTz/w^i, he 
told him he fhould ask what he pleas'd, 
and it fliould be granted him. Nothing, 
reply'd the Elephant, but that I may go 
immediately to Heaven, being quite 
weary of this World. Kifna granting 
his Requeft, took him into his Palankin^ 
or Litter, and carrying him to Heaven, 
order'd Garroude to convey him imme- 
diately back to Davarca. 
About the fame time one Rapa Boet- 
taenpat having two Wives named Somuta 
and Surifa, the firft brought forth a Son 
named Droe, and the other one named 
Rafepoeter ; but Surifa being moft belov'd 
by her Husband, Somuta when her Son 
Droe was about five years of Age, fent 
him very neatly drefs'd to pay his Re- 
fpedl to his Father, who being extremely 
delighted with him, highly carefs'd an4 
fet him in his Lap. Surifa having got 
notice thereof, fent immediately her Son 
to the King, whilft (he remain'd at fome 
diftance to obferve what pafs'd. But the 
King being fo much taken with Droe^ 
that he fcarce look'd at the other ^ Su- 
rifa enter'd the Room, and upbraiding 
him with Ingratitude, made him fend 
away Droe and take her Son in his Lap. 
Droe exafperated to the highcft degree 
at this Affront, went away without 
making his Reverence-, and making his 
Complaint to his Mother, told her, that 
he was refolved to retire into a Defert to 
fpend his time in Prayers. The Mother 
did all (he could to dillvvade him from it, 
but in vain i for taking the next oppor- 
tunity of his Motlu-r's abfence, he got 
privately out of the Houfe. He had ''^y)^ 
fcarce travcU'd 2 Cox from the City, when 
being met by the Learned Brahman Naret^ 
he ask'd him whither he was going ? He 
anfwer'd. As young as I am, I have taken 
a Refolution to retire from the World, 
where I find there remains nothing but 
Malice and Envy : Then relating all that 
happen'd to him, he told him, that he 
was refolv'd to pafs his days in the De- 
fert. 
Go on my Son, reply'd Naret^ thoii 
wile be heard by Ktfna: Then going 
forward, he came to a Forelt, where 
feeing a Manga-'Xxzz., he repos'd himfelf 
under its fhade, and fpent three days 
and nights in Tears, Prayers and Fafting. 
Kifna mov'd with Companion at his ten- 
der Age, appear'd to him, asking what 
made him pray with fo much Fervency ? 
Droe proftrating himfelf at the feet of 
Kifna faid, O Divine Kifna ! niy Requeft 
to thee is, " That the AiFront given me 
" by Surifa may turn upon their Heads, 
" that Ihe may be a Slave to my Mo- 
" ther, that I may fucceed my Father in 
" the Kingdom, and after my Death be 
" plac'd in fome pleafant place you lhall 
" choofe for me. 
Kifna anfwer'd. Thy Prayer is granted, 
go return to thy Parents, Surifa fhall live 
a Slave to thy Mother, thou lhalt fucceed 
thy Father in the Throne, and after thy 
Death I will place thee in the Heavens in 
the form of a Star, that (hall remain for 
ever in the Firmament, and ferve the 
Mariners for a Guide. Droe having paid 
his Reverence to Kifna, returned full of 
Joy to his Father's Palace. The old King, 
who had been almoft diftradcd at his 
abfence, rccciv'd him with more than 
ordinary Satisfaction, and for ever after 
fhew'd fo much AfFeaion to his Mother, 
that Surifa was in comparifon of her no 
more than a Slave, and after fome years 
furrender'd the Kingdom to him. He 
rul'd very fortunately for many years, 
and after his Death was plac'd among the 
Stars, being the fame the Benjans call to proe or 
this day Droe Katara, i. c. SteUa Polaris, the Norths 
or the North-Star. star. 
It happen'd fome time after, that Ra- 
£ia Nerkafeur, a moft Potent Monarch, 
having conquer'd 1 5ooo Kings, kept them 
clofe Prifoners with their Wives and 
Daughters ; thcfe ofFer'd their conftant 
Prayers to i^z/MiT for their delivery from 
this Oppreflion. Kifna confidering that 
they having fpent thefe three years in 
Prayer, it would be high time to deliver 
them, fent for Garroude, whom he order'd 
to carry him to Nietskanda, where he 
was 
