Page:Calcutta Review Vol. II (Oct. - Dec. 1844).pdf/337

332 him with every demonstration of joy. He afterwards, with a piece of cloth round his neck, and with his hands closed against each other, prayed the Brahman to satisfy him by stating the reason of his coming,—to which the latter answered as follows:—

“‘Hear me, O King! From various persons I have heard that you are surpassingly virtuous! Yesterday I fasted; therefore give me something to eat. But I have one fixed resolution, which I have formed, and that is, that I will not eat anything without flesh.’

“Datakarna listened to the words of the Brahman with profound respect, and made him the widest possible promise—that he should not deprive him of any kind of flesh whatever, which he might be desirous to eat. Out came immediately from the mouth of the Brahman the words ‘Blessed, Blessed, art thou! There is no other person in this universe equal to you in benevolence!’

“The flesh upon which the Brahman insisted, was that of Brasaketu, the son of Datakarna and Padmabati, who were enjoined by him to saw asunder the child, maintaining all the while a sprightly and cheerful demeanour, without betraying the least degree or symptom of sorrow. If they could thoroughly act upon this order, he would eat the flesh, and every thing would be prosperous; if otherwise, then would he return to his own home, while the unhappy parents must be sent down into eternal perdition. When Karna heard of this, he was thunderstruck, and sadly reflected how, after so long a time, destruction awaited him, and how the glory of his name must be for ever tarnished. With overwhelming anguish, he went to his wife Padmabati, and recounted to her this dreadful interlocution. She replied, that she would part with all her wealth, and sacrifice her own life rather than that of her son. However, after much altercation between them, they agreed to saw the child asunder in the way prescribed. When the child, who was only five years of age, heard that a Brahman was to eat his flesh, he exclaimed thus:—

“‘My life, after so long a time, become truly life! Is it possible that a Brahman will feed upon the flesh of such a wretched being as I am?’ When the head of the child was, by the mutual consent of his parents, severed: from his body, it cried out—‘Krishna! Krishna!’ Then it shrieked out with a loud voice, ‘Krishna, where art thou? Krishna, where art thou?’

“Padmabati then concealed the head in a private place, without the knowledge of her husband, in the hope that, when the Brahman departed, she might be able, by placing it before her, to bewail the loss of her child.

“As soon as the flesh was dressed in diverse forms, Datakarna, the father of Brasaketu, called the guest to eat it. But he said he would not eat any thing unless some flesh be acidulated. Datakarna, on hearing this, answered,—‘All the flesh is dressed, not a bit remains for acidification.’ The guest in return replied,—‘The head of the child is concealed by his mother. Go, therefore, and acidify it.’ Datakarna went and did accordingly. When everything was prepared, the guest was called to dine; to which he answered, ‘Divide the flesh and all other curries into four dishes, one for you, another for me, the third for Padmabati, and the fourth for a child. Go, therefore, and call an infant from the city.’ Datakarna went accordingly; and as he gazed on all sides, being overpowered with grief and sorrow, he saw his child Brasaketu. Datakarna instantly took him in his arms with great ecstasy of joy, went to the Brahman, and prostrated himself repeatedly in the very dust before him. Thereafter, Padmabati and Datakarna, with their hands folded against each other, supplicated him to make known to them who he was; if not, then they would immediately plunge a dagger in their breasts, and expire before him on the spot. The Brahman took compassion on them, resumed his former appearance, and ascended up into heaven.