1898.] M. M. Ohakravarti —Language and literature of Orissa. 337 
tolerated in modern society, it is impossible to quote them here. One of 
the least objectionable is the following song from the pen of Banamali 
Dasa; it will give some idea of the Oriya songs. The poet compares 
love to a sharp knife. 
HWfc I cTT^T WrlT '] 
iftfa fft ’KTW t I ^WjTTT t I sfal I 
TTcftr cfcfTJ | erf#?: %S I 
ATT Jlflfe, clfgT SfiSSf fall fqr^TT ^ I \ I 
<rte!i % ijr i Sbr *r cfftr i 
«ifk tift: JfiSTus;, ^ %i=i ftrit fjur 11 R i 
& %5? <fsN i 5fifci f os Taj Trfsra i 
«r TnftSf ^fft ftif toi ftnj, mm ft§3tT t I ^ l 
3*RTT5?t % fTt TW^5f TRTf Tfi: I 
*TT?T Tfftftl 3TC3C, 3PCK TpJJT t I 8 I 
Saqglta Sagara, first Taraqga, p. 28. 
“ Love is like unto a sharpened knife; its iron hand strikes at the 
heart; [chorus]. With care heating the love-iron, and with eye-tears 
toughening it, behold, the love god smith has made it carefully, its 
rust, alas, being poison-drinking. [1], Very, very sharp is its edge, on 
which eye cannot be kept ; it shines like a new mirror, looking new 
every time one sees through. [2]. He who touches that knife will have 
to forego caste and rank ; he who fails to seize it is sure to die, so deadly 
to separated lovers. [3]. Banamali says that this knife (of love) 
belongs neither to the old nor to the young; how much (stronger) the 
attachment, lo! so much (greater) is the uproar. [4].” 
A few words about the music of these songs might here be added. 
Oriya music is essentially southern. In the mediaeval times Tanjore 
was famed for its dancing and singing; and Teliqgana was not behind 
hand. The Telugu music attained its greatest developments during 
the later Vidyanagara rule. Telugu songs are still regarded as 
among the sweetest in the Indian vernaculars. Orissa which was long 
subject to the Telugu influence naturally borrowed from Teliggana its 
music. The rdgas or major tunes are almost exclusively Telugu which 
adopted mostly Sanskrit names, such as Dei^aksa, Kam5dl, Bhairava, 
Mukhari, Maqgala, Gurjari, Ghantarava, Kau^ika, Dhana^rl, etc. In 
course of time the major tunes were often modified by local peculiari- 
J. i. 43 
