Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/691

 VI.] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE.” 651 Sanskrit) which are found in the Vidya Sundara of Order for Bharata Chandra and are well known as “Chora °*esution. Panchagata’’ could also be interpreted as signifying praises in honour of the Goddess Kali. They have double meanings. The Raja was struck by this display of erudition and felt that he was no ordi- nary person, but as he persisted in his wayward- ness, at last gave orders to take him away from his sight and lead him to the place of execution. The handsomest young man that ever met the eyes of men in Burdwan, being cruelly bound hand and foot, was being carried to the execution- _ ground, and the citizens that witnessed the scene felt sorrow and sympathy for the prince, especially the women-folk who made all kinds of reflections, some of which were not in good taste, as. many of them expressed in an unreserved language their envy at the good fortune of Vidya in having pos- sessed him. These descriptions do not really represent the Hindu women whose natural shyness would scarcely allow them to overstep_ the limits of decency in such a gross manner. We have in our literature of to-day feminine characters like Ayesa and Kunda-nandini—imitations of Rebecca and Haidee, who though they do not actually come in gowns and hodices, display the heart of ‘European maids through the thin cover of Indian sadz. The feminine characters depicted in Vidya Sundara and the ideas attributed to.them are similarly foreign tous. They unmistakably show the stamp of the influence which the lhterature of an alien people left on our own. Saved by Sundara being taken to the execution ground, the Mother, prays to Kali for succour. The story of Crimanta