let fall from the hand of the gardener. My Lord took me up with love and increased my honor. I forgot the sorrow for my parents, and in the life of my husband my parents were, as it were, revived (deep sigh). All my griefs are rising up anew in my mind. Ah! If I be deprived of that husband who keeps every thing under the shade of his protection, I shall again become the same helpless orphan.
Nobin's Aunt. (Raising her with the hands.) What fear my daughter? Why become so full of anxiety? A letter is sent to Bindu Madhab to bring a doctor. He will be cured when the doctor comes.
Soirindri. My aunt-in-law, while I was a girl, I made a celebration of a certain religious observance; and placing my hands on the Alpana[1] (the white-washing prepared for the festival) prayed for these blessings; that my husband be like Rama, my mother-in-law like Kousalya, my father-in-law like Dasaratha, my brother-in-law like Lakshman. My aunt! God gave me more than I prayed for. My husband is as Raghunath (Rama)—brave and a provider of his dependants; my mother-in-law is as Kousalya, having a sweet speech and an earnest love for her sons' wives; my father-in-law was always happy in saying Badhumata, Badhumata[2] and was the brightener of the ten sides.[3] Bindu Madhab who surpasses the autumnal moon in purity, is dearer to me than was Lakshmandeva to Sitadevi. My aunt, all has taken place according to my desire; only there is one in which I find some disagreement: I am still alive. Rama is making preparations for going to the forests, but there is no preparation for Sita's going with
- ↑ It is a general custom in this country to apply the alpana on the floor nearly in all religious observances.
- ↑ This term signifies the wife of one's son.
- ↑ This expression "the brightener of the ten sides" signifies that he did good wherever he went. The ten sides are the north, south, east, and west, north-west, the top and the under sides.
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