139 
1884.] G. A, Grierson— The Song of Bijai Mai. 
in front of her. Up rose tlie Lady Sonmati and said, ‘ Hemiya. How 
is liis Highness ?’ (415) Up rose the Damsel Hemiya and said, ‘ O 
Lady, how can I say how his Highness is ? The prince is speaking evil 
words. He is asking the name of his father and of his brother.’ 
(420) Sonmati went taking with her a vessel of water, and a tooth¬ 
brush. She took with her cow’s milk and a bundle* of Magahi betel, 
(425) and went to the Ldl Barwdjd, where prince Bijai was sleeping, 
and stood by his head. ‘ Arise, prince, brush thy teeth, and bathe 
in the Ganges. (430) Drink a vessel of cow’s milk and chewf a bundle 
of Magahi betel. Give up the anger in your heart. (435) You are 
the support of my life; for you my whole day passes. Bor your sake 
have I been patient.’ Up rose prince Bijai and said, ‘ Sister, I will 
eat food and drink water, J when you tell me my father’s name. What 
happened to my brother ? ’ (440) ‘ When you were yet in your mother’s 
womb,§ your father died. The day that you were born, was the day 
on which my husband (your brother) took me to his house [j and on the 
same day your brother (my husband) died.’ (445) When he heard this 
he said, ‘ If you were not my sister-in-law, I would strike even you on 
the head and kill you. Sister-in-law, my father went to my wedding, 
and now he is suffering in prison. (450) Sister-in-law, my brother 
went to my wedding, and now he is suffering in prison. My wife’s 
father’s name is Bawan Siiba, and it is he who has put them in prison.’ 
When Sonmati heard these words (455) she began to weep bitterly, 
and went into the female apartments, where her friends and companions 
were. ‘ Hear my friends and companions, the prince went to play 
tip-cat. (460) Who has wakened up the wasp Friends, the prince 
remembers his father and his brother. He is going into his enemy’s 
country. Tell me what I am to do to prevent it. How shall I cause 
the prince to forget ?** (465) Up rose her friends and companions and 
said, ‘ Friend, put anklets on your legs, and on every hair plait a pearl. 
Take unto yourself the sixteen charms of a woman ; make and spread a 
bed, (470) and go and catch the prince’s arm.’ She took unto herself 
all the charms, and went into the Ldl Larwdjd, where prince Bijaiya was 
sleeping. She caught the prince by the arm, (475) * Prince, come with 
is a bundle of 200 leaves of betel for chewing. 
t The lit. ‘ champ’, from the noise (^^ ^’^) made by the teeth. 
The same root is also used for cutting grass with a sickle for a like reason. 
J Lit. I will eat from food to water. 
§ is long form of ‘ womb’. 
11 The ceremony of Ganna referred to in verse 179. 
^ i. e. his fiery nature. 
** -v/ VTT = Hindi >/ 
