52 
G. A. Grierson — Song of Gopi Chand. 
[No. 1, 
to see, I will buy a damri or a dokri* of poison and eat it and die.’ 
(Saitli sister Birna to herself) ‘ of low caste is she, and by caste an 
eater of broken food. If I go not at once, she will take a damri of 
poison and die, and I will be guilty of a sin.’ So she put on her father’s 
ring, her mother’s painted scarf, and her sister-in-law’s bracelet. 
Four companions went before her 
and four behind her. She took 
alms in a golden plate. £ Take, 
She maketh a mixture* of gold 
and silver, and goeth to give her 
brother alms. She sent it by the 
damsel Mugiya, saying 'Ascetic, 
take thine alms.’ 
15. The ascetic with folded 
hands maketh supplication. ‘ 0 
sister, who caretli for pebbles and 
stones (like these jewels which 
thou dost offer me). Hadst thou 
given me old clothes, for me to 
make a beggar’s cloth of, (it would 
have been better, what can I do 
with money ?).’ ‘ My maid-ser¬ 
vants and damsels get my old 
clothes. I have no clothes old 
enough to tear. I swear a hun¬ 
dred hundred thousand times by 
my brother that I have no old 
clothes.’ When his sister said this 
to him, he answered, £ may thy brother king Gopi Chand die. Why art 
thouf taking a false oath P ’ As he gave this curse the ascetic moved 
away, but his sister caught him by the cloth and detained him. £ I 
will tear my royal robes and give thee a cloth. Why dost thou curse 
my brother. I call upon thy Guru a hundred hundred thousand 
times. Mayst thou be ashamed of having drunk thy mother’s milk. 
Why hast thou cursed my brother ? ’ 
16. The ascetic claspeth his hand and giveth information about 
himself. £ Raja Raghubansi liveth in Banka. I am grandson of 
0 Reverend ascetic, (these alms), 
and leave my door.’ 
15. £ I left all such pebbles and 
stones behind in my mother’s house. 
If I take these pebbles and stones 
what can I do with them ?’ The 
sister replied £ I am offering him 
alms of gold and silver, and, lo, 
he hath turned them into pebbles 
and stones.’ £ If thou hadst a shawl 
or double-shawl out of which I 
might make an ascetic’s garment 
(I might take it.)’ £ The reverend 
ascetic will take nothing. Take 
not so terrible a resolution (literally 
oath). 0 leave my door. I have 
no cloth worthy of thee.’ 
* hi. a mixture of dal and * Two small coins, 
rice, hence of any yellow and white 
things. 
t 2nd pret. 
