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)

182 literature op* bengal.

and1 dreamt a dream} how Havana wap victorious, and
brouglit Sita to Lanka. '

In trfe fifth book Maya sends a dream to Laksbfmana
who appears to him in the guise of his mother and asks
him to worship Chandi at her temple situated in the
north of LankU. He meets with a number of adventures
on his way to the temple where Uma appears in person
and blesses Lakshmana. Meghan ad also riseo with the
dawn from the embraces of Pramila, takes an affecting
leave qC his mother, and repairs to a temple to finish
Nikumbhila worship before going to war.

The sixth book describes the death of Meghanad, and

is in our opinion about the weakest in the whole work,

though not devoid of beautiful passages. Rama has not

the heart to let his brother go and do battle with the

terrible foe, but at last consents, and Lakshmana dressed

in celestial armour and accompanied by Bibhisan goes

to Lanka to where Meghanad is engaged in worship.

Maya conceals the two warriors from the eyes of all.

Meghanad sees his foe in the house of worship and mis-
c

takes him for a god in disguise, but Lakshmana undeceives
him. He will not allow Meghanad to don his armour
< or furnish himself with arms, but Meghanad throws a cup
which strikes Lakshmana on the forehead on which he falls
in a swoon. Maya revives him, Meghanad though with-
out arms attacks Lakshmana but is bewildered with,
strange sights by Maya, and Lakshmana kills him.
It is this portion of the work which we regret the most.
SEhfi death of Meghanad is not worthy of him. In his
anxiety to magnify the prowess of his hero the poet