Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/379

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Offerings to the manes might consist of—(1) water, (2) water and sesamum-seed (tilañjalî), (3) balls of food with water. The balls were chiefly composed of boiled rice, or rice and sesamum-seed.

"On the first day, or the third or seventh or ninth (after the death of a person), his kinsmen should change their raiment and bathe out-of-doors, and offer a libation of water with (tila) sesamum-seeds." (Vishnu-Purâna, bk. iii. ch. xiii.)

In days long since past, when Brahmadatta reigned at Benares, the Bodhisat attained to the position of Indra, king of the gods. At that time a certain brâhman youth, a native of Benares, who was studying all sciences at Takkasilâ, became accomplished in the use of the bow, and was called

It came to pass that his instructor gave him his daughter to wife because he thought him to be equal to himself in the acquisition of science. He accepted her and set out with the intention of going to Benares.

On the way he found that an elephant had rendered that district uninhabitable, and no one dared to go up that way. Although folks tried repeatedly to turn him from his purpose, nevertheless went up, along with his wife, right into the heart of that forest. But when he got into the middle of it the elephant started up. With an arrow he hit it on the temple; that arrow went right through it and came out behind, and the elephant forthwith fell down dead upon the ground.

After rendering that place safe for wayfarers came to another forest further on; and there fifty robbers obstructed the road. Up he went, too, into that forest, notwithstanding that folks tried all they could to dissuade him, and reached the place, near the