ing to espouse the cause of Raju-pală, attacked and destroyed Shŭkadityŭ, and ascended the throne of Delhi; but afterwards lost his life in a war with Shalivahŭnů,*... king of Prutist'hanů, a country on the south of the river Normůda.

66

Vikrămadityŭ was the son of Gundhŭrvă-séně, the son of Indru, who was driven from heaven by his father for his lewdness, and doomed to appear on earth in the form of an ass. Through the interposition of the gods, however, he was permitted to assume the human form every night, While in this condition, Gündhurvüsénй persuaded the king of Dhară to give him his daughter in marriage; but it unfortunately happened, that, at the wedding hour, he was not able to shake off the form of the ass. After bathing, however, he proceeded to the assembly, and, hearing songs and music, resolved to give them an ass's tune. The guests were filled with sorrow, that so beautiful a virgin should be married to an ass: they were afraid to express their feelings, to the king; but they could not refrain from smiling, covering their mouths with their garments. At length, some one interrupted the general silence, and said, "O king, is this the son of Indru? You have found a fine bride"groom; you are peculiarly happy indeed; don't delay the marriage; in doing good, delay is improper; we never saw so glorious a wedding. It is true, we once heard "of a camel being married to an ass, when the ass, looking up to the camel, said"Bless me! what a bridegroom!" and the camel, hearing the voice of the ass, said, "Bless me! what a sweet voice! In that wedding, however, the bride and the "bridegroom were equal, but in this marriage, that such a bride should have such a "bridegroom, is truly wonderful." Other bramhŭns said, " O king, at the time of "marriage, as a sign of joy, the sacred shell is blown, but thou hast no need of that," (alluding to the braying of the ass.) The females cried out, " O mother! what is "this! at the time of marriage to have an ass! What a miserable thing! What! will "he give such an angelic female in marriage to an ass!" At length Gundhŭrvů-sénů began to speak to the king in Sungskritŭ, and to urge him to the fulfilment of his promise, reminding him that there was no act more meritorious than speaking truth; that the body was merely like clothes, and that wise men never estimate the worth of a person by the clothes he wears. He added, moreover, that he was in this shape

The era of Shalivahŭnŭ is now used by the Hindoos in their births, marriages, &c. and the era of the Hij ra in their commercial transactions. The first era commenced A. D. 78.

Of

from the curse of his father, and that during the night he had the body of a man. his being the son of Indrŭ there could be no doubt.' Hearing the ass thus speak Sungskritu, the minds of the people were changed, and they confessed, that though he had the body of an ass, he was unquestionably the son of Indrů: for it was never known that an ass could speak Sungskritů. The king, therefore, gave him his daughter in marriage.

Vikrŭmadityй was the fruit of this marriage. His grandfather gave him a good education, but no inheritance. He gave to Bhurtree-Huree, another son of Gundhurvă-sénů, by a servant-maid, the kingdom of Malooya, the capital of which, Oojjōyunee, was twenty-six miles long and eighteen wide. For some time Vikramadityă lived at the court of his brother, but in consequence of a quarrel was dismissed, after which he wandered from place to place in the greatest poverty, and at one time hired himself as a servant to a merchant at Goojjurată. Bhurtree-Hüree, at

length, disgusted with the world on account of the infidelity of his wife, to whom he was ardantly attached, became a yogee, and left the kingdom to its fate. In the course of his travels, Vikrămadityŭ came to Оojjayйnee, and finding the throne vacant, assumed the sovereignty, and reigned with great splendour, conquering by his arms Ootkülů, Vũngů, Kooch-véharů, Goojjărată, and Somunat'hu. Hearing of the fate of Raju-palu, he proceeded against Shukadityü, conquered his country, and ascending the throne of Delhi, reigned as a second Yoodhisht'hiră, till slain in his war with Shalivahunů, as above-mentioned.

Vikrümü-sénů, the infant son of Vikramadityŭ, was raised to the throne, but was supplanted by Samoodrů-palů, a yogēē. Vikrůmadityŭ and his son reigned 93 years.

Sămoodră-palů reigned 24 years, two months, and was followed in succession by Chundrŭ-pală, Năyŭnů-pală, Déshŭ-pală, Nără-singhŭ-pală, Sõõtŭ-palů, Lükshŭ-palŭ, Ŭmritŭ-palŭ, Mühēē-palŭ, Govindă-palů, Hŭree-palů, Bheemi-pală, Anŭndă-pală, Müdŭnů-pală, Kărmmă-palů, and Vikrămŭ-palů. The last king was killed in battle by Tilŭků-chůndră, king of Võhŭranch, who ascended the throne of Delhi after the kingdom had continued in the family of Sumoodru-pală for sixteen generations, or 641 year, 3 months.

Tilŭku-chůndră reigned two years, and was followed in succession by Vikrŏmůchündrů, Kartikŭ-chŭndrů, Ramů-chŭndră, Ŭdhărů-chŭndră, Kŭlyanŭ-chundră, Bheemă-chăndră, Bodhů-chăndră, and Govindu-chăndră. This last monarch was succeeded by his wife Prémů-dévee, after whom followed Huree-prémů, (a voiragee), his disciple Govindu-prémů, then Gopală-prémů, and Mŭha-prémů. M ŏha-prémů, preferring a forest to a throne, went among the wild beasts, and Dhee-sénŭ, the king of Bengal, hearing that the throne was vacant, proceeded to Delhi with an army, and assumed the sovereignty.

Dhee-sénu, (a voidyŭ) reigned 18 years 5 months. He was followed by Băllalůsénů,* Lăkshmůnŭ-sénů, Késhůvŭ-sénů, (the brother of the last king), Madhŭvůsénů, Shōorů-sénů, Bheemů-sénů, Kartikŭ-sénů, Hŭree-sénů, Shůtrooghnŭ-sénů, Narayünů-sénů, Lükshmŭnů-sénů, and Damodărů-sénă. The ministers of this last king conspired against him, and brought in Dweepü-singhŭ from the Shuttalakŭ mounThe voidyŭ monarchs reigned 137 years, one month.

tains.

Dweepu-singhu, (a răjŭpoot) reigned 27 years 2 months, and was succeeded by Rănu-singhǎ, Raju-singhŭ, Võru-singhŭ, Nără-singhŭ, Jeevănă-singhů. The last monarch, choosing an ascetic life, abandoned his kingdom, after the rujupoot kings had reigned 151 years.

Prit❜hoo-rayй, the king of Prat'hu, in consequence of this abdication, obtained quiet possession of the throne of Delhi, but was dethroned by Shuhabooddeen, after a reign of 14 years, 7 months. The immediate cause of this revolution was a quarrel betwixt Prit' hoo-rayŭ and Juyu-chundrü, the king of Kanyü-koobjú, of which quarrel sultan Shuhabooddeen taking advantage, sought the friendship of Juyă-chŭndră, and joining his army against Prit❜hoo-rayŭ, sent him prisoner to Gujnén; after which the

* This king, in order to distinguish the most learned men in his kingdom, instituted the order of Kooleenă bramhuns. The rules of the order require certain qualifications, but Bŭllalŭ-sénŭ continuing these honours among the posterity of those first created, it happens that the great body of this order in Bengal are amongst the most ignorant and corrupt of the bramhuns; but in some parts of the Doab personal merit is still required to entitle a man to these honours. During the reign of Ballală-sénă, two learned men composed a work on the qualifications of the order: this work is much esteemed at present, and is called Mishră.

sooltan, placing Kotŭb-ooddeen, an illegitimate child of his father, on the throne of Delhi, returned to his own capital at Gäjnén.

müllů.

To them suc

Thus for 4,267 years, from the beginning of the kulee yoogů, to the extinction of the Hindoo monarchy at Delhi, a number of Hindoo kings, of different casts, from Yoodhist hiru to Kshémůků, reigned on the throne of Delhi 1,812 years. These (of the race of the moon,) were of the genuine kshutriyŭ cast. ceeded fourteen generations of kings proceeding from a kshůtriyů father (Măhanundů) and a female shoodru, who reigned 500 years, viz. from Visharŭdů to BodhiThis mixture of casts gave rise to the rujupoots. After this, fifteen generations of the family of Goutămŭ held the throne 400 years. Then nine kings, of the Muyōōru family reigned 318 years, from Dhoorundhŭrů to Raju-palů. Next a king from the mountains reigned fourteen years, with whom 3044 years of the kŭlee yoogu,* and the kingdom of Yoodhist'hirů, passed away. The kingdom of Vi krůmadityŭ next commenced, who, with his son, reigned 93 years. From Sumoodrů-palů to Vikrůmů-palŭ, sixteen kings, yogees, reigned 641 years, and 3 months. From Tilükŭ-chundrů to Prémů-dévee, the wife of Govindu-chundrů, ten persons reigned 140 years, 4 months. From Huree-prémů to Müha-prémů, four persons, voiragees, reigned 45 years, 7 months. From Dhee-sénů to Damodŭrů-sénů, thirteen persons of the voidyu cast, from the east of Bengal, reigned 137 years, and one month. From Dweepu-singhŭ to Jeevŭnů-singhŭ, six kings (Chohanů růjůpoots) Prit❜hoo-rayŭ reigned 14 years 7 months. The kingdom of Vikramadityŭ thus continued 1223 years, at the close of which period 4,267 years of the kulee yoogŭ had expired. Hindoo monarchy.

reigned 151 years.

Here (about the year A. D. 1,162) closed the

To this succeeded that of the Musulmans, which continued 652 years, through the The first monarch or reigns of fifty-one badshahs, including the late Shah-alŭm. badshah, Shuhab-ooddeen was of the Goree dynasty, of which race twelve monarchs

* According to the chronology of Sir M. Hale, 3107 years transpired from the flood to the Christian era; the Hindoos compute 3105 years, from the commencement of the kulee yoogu to the same era; and from Fohi to the time of Christ, the Chinese chronology contains 2951 years.

Ꭰ

reigned 118 years, 2 months, 27 days. The next dynasty was of the family of Khéjur-khah: four persons of this family reigned 34 years, 11 months, viz. from Julalooddeen to Kötüb-ooddeen. The next monarchs were Turks, nine of whom reigned 97 years, 3 months, 19 days, from Khésro-khah to Mühümood-shah. After this four oomras reigned 39 years, 7 months, 16 days, viz. from Khéjür-khah to Ala-ooddeen. Three kings of the Pat'han tribe followed these, and reigned 72 years, 1 month, 7 days, viz. from Bühlōōl to Ebraheem. Next the family of Toimoor reigned: Babŭrshah and his son reigned 15 years, 5 months. After this the Pat'hans again obtained the ascendency, and four kings of this tribe reigned 16 years, and three months, viz. from Shér-shah to Mühümood-adeel. Then from Hoomayoo to the close of the reign of Shah-alum, including fourteen badshahs, the race of Toimoor reigned 258 years.

The work compiled by Mrityoonjůyŭ, a bramhŭn, and published in the year 1808, and from which the above history, beginning from the kŭlee yoogů, has been principally drawn, describes the effects of the Musulman power, when it became predominant, on the different Hindoo kingdoms in Hindoost'hanů;* most of which were subdued by it. As these events, however, have been published, and are generally well known; and as they succeeded the extinction of that monarchy which had been long considered as the head of the Hindoo power, the author thought it best to close

*This work says, that Shŭhab-ooddeen, before the taking of Delhi, had invaded Hindoost’hanŭ seven times, in which he was, in several instances, defeated by different Hindoo kings: Jůyŭpalů more than once proved himself superior to the Musulmans, but was at length taken prisoner by Muhůmood and slain, as was also Vijŭyŭpalo, another Hindoo king. Muhŭmood invaded Hindoost'hanŭ twelve times, The eleventh time he took Somůnat'hu, and destroyed the celebrated image found in the temple there, part of which he took with him to form the steps for a mosque in his capital. On his return home, he was attacked by Premŏ-devŭ and defeated. After this he invaded the country of Premů-devů, but was obliged to fly from the field of battle. The grandson of Muhŭmood twice invaded Hindoost'hană. Săms-ooddeen conquered several parts of Hindoost'hanŭ, broke down a temple of Muha-kalŭ, also many images that had been erected in the time of Vikromadityŭ, which he threw under a mosque at Delhi. Ala-ooddeen beat Kurnŭ-rayŭ, the king of Guzurat. Saieed-khejur-khah is said to have plundered many Hindoo kingdoms. Sikundur overcame six kings, and took Patna and Behar. After the Musulmans had reigned at Delhi 362 years, there were still, however, several powerful Hindoo kings in Hindoost'hană, one of whom reigned at Vijuyŭ-poorů and another at Oodăyů-poorů. Ourangzeb destroyed all

the Hindoo images as far as his power extended. In the reign of Alumgeer, a dreadful war broke out between the Hindoos and Musulmans, in which 3,000,000 of men are said to have lost their lives. This history also relates, that Jayu-singhu spent 36,000,000 roopees at the sacrifice of a horse.