it was saved from the general massacre and it is very gratifying to observe that the parent tree still exists with all its noble branches and offshoots. One of the sons of Jadab was Maheswar, and though he himself could not escape from the horrible carnage, wonderful to say, his delicate wife who was big with child, saved her life by flight. In due time this helpless lady gave birth to a fine little son, who, in view of his miraculous deliverance was given the queer name of Ubaru. It does not appear where the daring mother had fled to, but there could be no doubt that it was an insignificant place, considerably remote from the royal seat. Poor Ubaru grew up in obscurity, and,
nature of his royal sire, lost no time in making his escape into the territory of some neighbouring potentate. Being sorely affected by the absence of her lord, Lakshman's young wife gave vent to her borrow in a Sanscrit couplet which she took care to inscribe on the front wall of the Temple of the Family Idol, in the hope that it might attract the notice of the king. The verses were as follows: —
পতত্য বিরতং বারি নৃত্যন্তি শিখিনে মুদা।
অদ্য কান্তঃ কৃতান্তো বা দুঃখ শান্তিং করোতু মে॥
(Rains are falling incessantly and peacocks are dancing in joy, this day my sorrow can only find relief either in my lover or in death.)
Fortunately these pathetic lines soon caught the eyes of the king who, being moved by the tender feelings they so eloquently expressed, instantly ordered the boat-men to his presence and solemnly made this declaration before them, that whoever should succeed in bringing up his most beloved son within a specified time should have their prayers, whatever it was, fulfilled to the best of his power.
Encouraged by the hopeful words of the king, some boatmen, bolder than the rest, offered to go in search of the Prince and launching a well-rigged vessel, at once started on their venturous quest, and, as good fortune would have it, erelong succeeded in their attempt. When Ballal Sen again sighted the face of his missing child whom he had almost taken for lost, his joy knew no bounds, and he readily asked the successful boatmen what their prayer was. They replied that their only request was that they might be permitted to wash his royal feet. The request, simple as it was, was there and then complied with and from that day the Kaibarthas whose water had hitherto been held polluted were permitted to serve the twice-born—a privilege which they still enjoy, even though Hindu rule has long since become a thing of the past. See Lai Mohan Vidyanidhi's Sammandha Nirnaya.
