Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/250

 -220 BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. The two great epics have raised the character of the Bengali nation. Bhagavata has a pas- toralinter- est ; its con- tents, Krisna encoun. ters Putana, Trinavarta, Vaka, Kri- mira and other demons. [ Chap, gruous, crude and unpolished in them is, as I have said, due to the poets having adapted their works to the humble intellectual capacity of our uncultured peasantry, whom it was their aim to elevate. These poets have been, for ages, the fountain-heads from which have flowed wisdom and spirituality, strik- ing the finer chords in the hearts of multitudes of Bengal, and their works are up to the present, a living source of inspiration throughout the country. (c) Translations of the Bhagavata. Next to the Ramayana and the Mahabharata comes the Bhagavata in order of popularity through- out Bengal. The two epics have a universal interest for all the Hindus, but the Bhagavata is mainly res- tricted to the Vaisnavas. Though its circulation is thus narrower, yet its votaries admire it the more highly, in fact it is looked upon by them as the only with the Vedas. The Bhagavata has passages of high poetic merit; its sacred book and is revered descriptions of the pastoral scenes and rural sports of Krisna particularly are greatlyadmired ; they have found peculiar favour in Bengal. The scene is laid on the banks of the Jumng. Krishna, here, is not only the god of love, but retains his omnipotent character, even as a shepherd boy. King Kamsa of Mathura, bent on killing him, sends the demon-nurse Putana, who with poison in her nipples tried to kill the child, but Krisha while sucking her breasts draws out her life-blood and kills her. The great demon Trinavarta comes riding on a_ whirl-wind, and_ the shepherds, who were grazing their cows on the banks of the Jumna, are awe-struck, when Krishna, who is with them, pulls the demon down by his hair, and