A Digit of the Moon: A Hindoo Love Story

by F. W. Bain

[[3]] I have never experienced a stranger or more delightful sensation than when, as I was translating this work, I saw this very phenomenon on the Ghauts at Mahábaleshwar: a blood-red Moon going down into the hills at early dawn, with the Sun rising on the opposite peaks. Only the redness which the poet ascribes to the Sun was of course due to the haze of the atmosphere.

[[4]] Though I make no attempt to assign a date to this MS., the reader should observe that in India printing has not superseded hand work. The Hindoos have religious prejudices against printed books, and they will not use them in their temples, or for sacred purposes.

[[5]] A well written MS. in the Déwanágari character, is hardly if at all, inferior to print.

[[6]] At some future time I hope to translate the remainder, or part of it.

[[7]] Its principal beauty lies in the skill of its climax, which is lost by neglecting the order.

[[8]] The poem is written in shlókas, or anushtubh, with occasional deviations (as e.g. the conclusion) into more elaborate metres.

CONTENTS.

[For the convenience of the English reader I have drawn up this table. The original contains none.]

INTRODUCTION. [The Story of the Creation of Woman]
Day 1. [The Story of Ganésha and the Chárwáka]
Day 2. [The Story of the Brahman's Cows]
Day 3. [The Story of the Baby Rájá]
Day 4. [The Story of Bimba and Pratibimba]
Day 5. [The Story of Suwarnaskílá]
Day 6. [The Story of the Three Queens]
Day 7. [The Story of the False Ascetic and the King's daughter]
Day 8. [The Story of the Pilgrim and the Ganges]
Day 9. [The Story of the Repentant Wife]
Day 10. [The Story of the Wrestler's Pet]
Day 11. [The Story of the Domestic Chaplain]
Day 12. [The Story of the Elephant and the Ants]
Day 13. [The Story of the Mirage Hunter]
Day 14. [The Story of the Red Lips]
Day 15. [The Story of the Lotus and the Bee]
Day 16. [The Story of the Gem in the Snake's Hood]
Day 17. [The Story of the King's Dream]
Day 18. [The Story of Love and Death]
Day 19. [The Story of Kritákrita]
Day 20. [The Story of Conclusion]