Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/455

 iV. BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 419 studies, he restrained himself. During recreation- hours, he gave free scope to his eccentricities. Murari Gupta, an aged scholar, highly esteemed for his character and learning, and a Vaidya, or von physician, by caste, was passing by, one day, when scholars. young Nimai met and accosted him with smiling face. “Will you, sir,” said he, ‘‘kindly clear up some diffi- culties of mine in grammar.’’ ‘The veteran scholar liked the child for his handsome appearance and for his talent. He proceeded to explain the passa- ges required, but Nimaihad not approached him in the spirit of a dona-fide student. He wanted to puzzle the old scholar. In the discussion, that followed, Murari was completely beaten, and young Nimai triumphantly made some very impertinent remarks.t “You area Vaidya. Why should you read Sanskrit Grammar at all? It is a very difficult thing to master this science. It is not like books that teach how to prescribe medicine for cough, biles and indigestion.” Not only in Sanskrit Grammar but in Logic too he shewed particular proficiency. Gadadhara, a great scholar in Logic, was once challenged by him to a free discussion on several knotty problems in that Science, and had to admit that he was no match for Nimai. 1 “ প্রভূ কহে বেদ্য তুমি ইহা কেন গড়। লত পাতা লেয়। গিয়৷ রোগ দৃঢ় কর ॥ ব্যাকরণ শান্ধ এই বিষম অবধি । কফ, পিত্ত, অজীর্ণ, ব্যবস্থা নাহি ইথি।” Chaitanya Bhagabata.