Dutt, Romesh Chunder: The literature of Bengal: being an attempt to trace the progress of the national mind in its various aspects, as reflected in the nation’s literature from the earliest times to the present day ; with copious extracts from the best writers (Calcutta, 1877)

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18 LITERATURE OP BENGAL.

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of some true fact or circumstance ; anyhow tbjy always
represent the impression of later ages regarding the life
and times of the earliest poet of Bengal. As such, some
of them may with propriety find a place in this brief
sketch.

A curious story is connected witb> the1' marriage of
Jayadeva with Padmavati. A certain childless' Brahman,
after many prayers and devotions, was favored by the
god Jagannatha with an only girl, whom the father
named-T-Admavati and nursed with extreme affection and
care. When she attained her youth, her father was
taking her to the god intending to devote her to his ser-
vices. In the way however he dreamt a dream, and the
god told him to give his child in marriage to a certain
devout follower of bis, named Jayadeva. The Brahman
did as this match-making god commanded. Jayadeva,
tiien leading a life-of study and devotions, was unwilling
to encumber himself with a wife; but the girl would not
leave him, and said she would follow him through life
though forsaken and abused. " One must love partridge
very well to accept it when thrown in one's face," would
be the sort of feeling one would naturally feel under
such circumstances, but our poet knew better; he re-
warded her persistent affections with marriage, and they
made a very affectionate and happy couple, ever after in
life.

The death of this Padmavati furnishes us with an-
other story. She is said to have been so affectionate a
wife that a false rumour of her husband's death caused
her death. Such virtue however dwelt in the name of