Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/99

II.] "The Lord is without any raiment.

"He begs from door to door.

"At dawn of day he rises, and goes out to beg.

"Some people give him alms; by others he is refused. Sometimes he lives on bayra and haritaki only. But Oh, how happy is he when they give him the begger's rice!

"I say unto you, O Lord, why don't you plough?

"By begging, you often have to fast, and you get rice only now and then.

"You must select a muddy soil for cultivation, but if you can't secure this, and dry lands fall to your share, you should water them well.

"When you have rice at home, how glad will you be to take your daily meal! How long will you, O Lord, suffer for want of food?

"Why not cultivate cotton, O Lord; How long will you wear a tiger's skin?

"You besmear your body with ashes (Bibhuti).

"Why not cultivate mustard and tila. (So that yon may have oil to anoint yourself). And be sure to grow plenty of vegetables. Above all, don't