KING.—­Then most assuredly he cannot be very angry with me.

KASYAPA.—­Nevertheless it becomes us to send him intelligence of this happy event, and hear his reply.  What, ho there!

PUPIL [entering].—­Holy father, what are your commands?

KASYAPA.—­My good Galava, delay not an instant, but hasten through the air and convey to the venerable Kanwa, from me, the happy news that the fatal spell has ceased, that Dushyanta’s memory is restored, that his daughter Sakoontala has a son, and that she is once more tenderly acknowledged by her husband.

PUPIL.—­Your highness’s commands shall be obeyed. [Exit.

KASYAPA.—­And now, my dear son, take thy consort and thy child, re-ascend the car of Indra, and return to thy imperial capital.

KING.—­Most holy father, I obey.

KASYAPA.—­And accept this blessing—­
    For countless ages may the god of gods,
    Lord of the atmosphere, by copious showers
    Secure abundant harvest to thy subjects;
    And thou by frequent offerings preserve
    The Thunderer’s friendship!  Thus, by interchange
    Of kindly actions, may you both confer
    Unnumbered benefits on earth and heaven!

KING.—­Holy father, I will strive, as far as I am able, to attain this happiness.

KASYAPA.—­What other favor can I bestow on thee, my son?

KING.—­What other can I desire?  If, however, you permit me to form
another wish, I would humbly beg that the saying of the sage Bharata be
fulfilled:—­
    May kings reign only for their subjects’ weal! 
    May the divine Saraswati, the source
    Of speech, and goddess of dramatic art,
    Be ever honored by the great and wise! 
    And may the purple self-existent god,
    Whose vital Energy pervades all space,
    From future transmigrations save my soul!

          [Exeunt omnes.

[43] A sacred range of mountains lying along the Himalaya chain immediately adjacent to Kailasa, the paradise of Kuvera, the god of wealth.

[44] According to the mythical geography of the Hindoos the earth consisted of seven islands surrounded by seven seas.

BALLADS OF HINDOSTAN

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS

BY

TORU DUTT

INTRODUCTION

If Toru Dutt were alive, she would still be younger than any recognized European writer, and yet her fame, which is already considerable, has been entirely posthumous.  Within the brief space of four years which now divides us from the date of her decease, her genius has been revealed to the world under many phases, and has been recognized throughout France and England.  Her name, at least, is no longer unfamiliar in the ear of any well-read man or woman.  But at the hour