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)

yJAYADEVA GOSWAMI. 19

Krishna, L'hat the poet uo sooner muttered that name
than^his spouse woke to life again.

It is impossible not to see in these stories the inven-
tion of the later Vaishnavas, but at the same time we are
not perhaps wrong in supposing that they indicate the fer-
vent and bourMlesstfaith in Krishna which marked the
life and actions of. the poet, and made him so great a
favorite.Tjvith #the Vaishnavas, and, indeed, which ren-
dered the invention of such stories possible. A story
more natural is told of the poet, which discloses^;/ very
amiable trait of his character. When he set out on his
travels he was attacked by a gang of robbers, who rob-
bed and mutilated him. Some time after, the poet took
shelter in the court of a king where he, to his great
surprise, saw these dacoits in disgu^e. The most na-
tural course for him was to demand ilstice and shame

* the villains, but he was moved at their kelpless condition
and publicly recognized them, not as robbers but as his
ancient friends and benefactors.

To this incident, which is probably a fact, a story is

, superadded. It happened that some attendants were
curious enough to enquire1 into the reason of Jayadeva's
kindness towards these persons. The latter replied that
once on a time a certain king had been offended with Jaya-
deva, and had/ ordered them (the robbers) to kill him.
Thej'-, however, were moved with pity, spared his life,
and only mutilated him, and that this was the reason of
Jayadeva's recognizing them now as his benefactors. The
attendants were satisfied with this story, but no sooner
was this foul fabrication uttered than the earth yawned,