century of the Christian era. Dāk-Tantra is also a book of authority with the rural folk of Bengal, but it is popularly known here as "Dāker-Vachana." The latter work gives a smoothed down version of its precursor and prototype preserved in Nepal; but there are numerous lines to be found in the editions of the book published by the Baṭtalā Presses of Calcutta[1] which retain their old and antiquated forms. It is impossible to get any clear sense out of such lines as:—
"আদি অন্ত ভুজসি৷
ইষ্টদেবে যেহ পুজসি॥
বুন্দা বুঝিয়া এড়িব লুণ্ড৷
আগল হৈলে নিবারিব তুণ্ড॥
আনহি বসতি আনহি গোয়ালি৷
হেন বসতের কি বাউলি॥
ভাষা বোল পাতে লিখি৷
বাটাহুব বোল পাড়ি সাখি॥
মধ্যস্থে যবে সমাধে ন্যায়৷
বলে ডাক বড় দুখ পায়॥
মধ্যস্থে যবে হেমাতি বুঝে৷
বলে ডাক নরকে পচে॥"
Probably the last portion refers to the rules for settling disputes by arbitration—a practice generally adopted in the old order of society. There are evident traces of Buddhistic views in these sayings. Buddhistic views.Buddhism, in its days of decline in India, became identical with scepticism. In Dāker-Bachana, we come across such views as these:—
"When we get a good palatable thing to eat, it is not wise to keep it for to-morrow. Enjoy- ↑ Published by Beni Madhab De & Co., 318, Battala, Upper Chitpore Road, Calcutta.
