21S 
Gr. A. Grierson —The Song of Mdnilc Chandra. 
[No. 3, 
The Queen spake. 
322. “ How canst thou wish to go to a far country ? Oh wait and 
pass the charms of Mayana through an ordeal. 323. Oh put her to 
the test of burning oil. If she survive that ordeal, then shave thy head 
and go forth a pilgrim.” 324. The king heard this and hastened to the 
hall of audience. 325. He sat in the audience chamber, and could not 
make up his mind. Often and often he called for his servant Khetu, his 
younger brother. 
TnE King spake. 
320. “ My servant Khetu, take heed unto my words. Go* unto my 
mother’s palace.” 327. On hearing this, the servant did not delay. 328. 
“ Say this to Mayana—(‘ Thy son) would put thee to the test (of burning 
oil’).” 329. Hearing these words, Mayana laughed. “ This is not thy 
thought, but a conspiracy between thy wives. All the thoughts they teach 
thee, will become barren. 330. Instead of one ordeal, I will pass through 
seven, and then will the Prince leave his house.” 
The King spake. 
331. “ I say unto thee, Khetu, and take thou heed unto my words. 
332. Build thou up a furnace deep and wide. Strip oft the three fibres of 
three cocoa-nuts, and place the bare (nuts round the furnace as supports for 
the cauldron).” 333. Khetu set a cauldron holding sixty mans upon the 
furnace, and into the cauldron he poured eightyf mans of oil. 334. He cast 
upon the flames fuel of sal wood, and set it blazing. Over all he placed a 
cover. 335. For seven days he ceaselessly added fuel. 336. One day, 
two days, five days passed. After seven days he lifted the cover. 337. 
“ The oil is hot, even as fire,” such words did Khetu speak unto the king. 
338. “ Thy servant was ordered to make (preparations for) the ordeal by 
oil. 339. What command hath the king of kings for his servant ?” 
The King spake. 
“ Go and say this unto my mother. 340. ‘ The ordeal by oil is 
ready before the king. The king doth summon thee • O Mother, come 
quickly’.” 
Mayana' spake. 
341. “ Ho I eat at thy fathers’ hand, or at the hands of the fathers of 
the king. At thy command, what ordeal shall I pass through ?” 342. 
* Note the force of here, and in vv. 328 and 332. It has entirely lost any 
special meaning of its own j and is used as a pure expletive to add strength to an 
imperative. 
f 8ic in original. 
