THE OLD BENGALI POEM, CANDI. 
i. 
The hero of the first part of the poem is Kalaketu. In his former birth 
he had been Nilambar, the son of Indra; but for an offence committed against 
the god Qiva in heaven he had been born on earth as a hunter . lie marries 
a peasant's daughter, Phullara , and lives with her in a hut in a forest 
which appears to be situated somewhere in the kingdom of Kalihga. Here 
he supports himself by his bow , and his wife goes to the neighbouring 
village and sells the meat which he brings home. They are plunged in the 
depths of poverty ; but they are devout worshippers of Candi, who is resolved 
to interfere in their behalf. One day the hunter has especially bad luck and 
wastes the whole day without capturing any game in the forest , except a solitary 
lizard. This spoil, however, little as he thinks it, is to be the beginning of 
his good fortune , for Candi has assumed this disguise to befriend him. He 
returns home in sad disappointment; and here we commence our first extract. 
Famished the hunter reaches home, but finds, alas! his wife away, 
For she is gone to Golahat to earn a pittance if she may; 
Soon she espies him from afar, and full of hope comes hastening home, 
But as she marks his empty hands her face is overcast with gloom. 
She smites her forehead with her hands, and hursts in tears for sheer despair : 
‘ ‘ Why with my husband still alive must I a widow’s miseries bear ? 
Where were the Ghatak’s*' senses gone so evil-starred a match to plan? 
My father must have lost his eyes to give me up to such a man ! 
* The Ghatak is the professional arranger of contracts of marriage. 
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