1885.] 
G. A. Grierson —Song of Gopi Chanel. 
49 
maid-servant, ‘ Go my damsel, 
and ask liis caste.’ With folded 
hands the ascetic saith to her, 
4 Damsel, believe what I say. I am 
by caste a Chhatiri. Go thou, and 
tell her that, and say 44 from his 
birth he hath been an ascetic of 
the highest degree (siddha ).” ’ 
The damsel said * * * 4 Thou hast hidden 
thy caste, and hast done well. 
for, lo, the sandal tree which hath 
been withered for twelve years 
hath become fresh and green’ 
Mu/ga (his sister’s servant) said 
4 for the sake of the withered, 
withered, sandal tree, will I give the 
Brahman food. The withered sandal 
hath become fresh and green. This 
is a wondrous ascetic.’ With four 
companions in front of her, and 
four behind her, in the midst came his sister. She opened the 
doors of the window and beheld. One glance fell upon the ascetic, 
and the other on the sandal tree. The queen saw the withered sandal 
tree fresh and green, and fell in a faint. 
8. Beverend sir; tell me what 
thou wantest to eat. Wilt thou 
eat cooked food of the king’s house, 
or wilt thou eat milk and fruit ?* 
4 For twelve years, 0 damsel, I have 
never burnt my hands (by cooking). 
I will eat cooked food of the king’s 
house, if it come in the hand of 
the Brahman Barua, nor also will 
I eat that which hath been touched 
by a maid-servant. My virtue as 
a Chhatiri would be destroyed. 
New troubles hath Ram given me. 
It was written in my fate that I 
should be an ascetic.’ 
9. When she heardf these 
words the damsel went to give 
notice about the food, but she for¬ 
gat.;]: She forgat also the other 
menial services, and no one paid 
attention to the food. At mid¬ 
night the ascetic played his fluto, 
8. The damsel Mu/ga came to 
ask him, 4 0 ascetic, what wilt thou 
eat ? Of what food wilt thou partake, 
wilt thou eat of the Raja’s food ?’ 
Gopi Chand replied, 4 A new cala¬ 
mity hath God granted to me. As 
I watch the smoke, the tears flow 
from mine eyes. As I see the 
fire, blisters are rising on my body. 
Tell the king’s Brahman to offer 
me food, and then will I eat.’ 
9. But the damsel Mu'ga forgat 
to send the food amongst her other 
duties, and the Queen forgat to do 
so in her dressing and adorning of 
herself. Barii the Brahman also 
forgat, as he ate his bhang. After 
a watch after midnight no one 
# The meal of an ascetic who 
will not eat corn,—only fruit. 
f =T ^ %. 
t vfHft = Jit- 
G 
