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148 KUBESA AN0 HIS WIFE. CH. XXIII.
was awake and was sore grieved at heart that her god- like
husband was fasting. As she sat, she heard the temple drum.g
and bugles announcing that Lord Ranga was having his niglitoffering
of food, called the Periya-avccsara-m. This dibturbed
her musings ; and she gave vent to her feelings thas :
" Banga, when thy bhakta is fasting, how canst thou revel thus
in feastings ?" A cry of distress like this was of coarse heard
by the Lord ; and the cry, it is said, pierced his ears like
arrows.
Uttamanambi, a temple-functionary, was asleep on a
pial ; and he dreamt a dream in which Banga appeared to him
and commanded him thus :— " Nambi, my bhakta
Kui-esa is
fasting ; rise, go to my Temple, and carry on thy head the holy
A}-avanai-iood which has just been offered me, in right processional
style from the Temple to his honse. Uttama-Nambi
awoke, startled, and hastening to the Temple, did as commanded.
As the music and other din of the procession reached
Kur6sa's doors, he was disturbed from his sleep, and awoke^
wondering what was happening at that hour of the night; met the
processionists and inquired of them what brought them there.
Uttama-Nambi said "
: Sire, Lord Banga bid me carry you
His holy food. Pray accept." Kurfesa received the same devoutly
but he would not have the whole quantity. He said to the
messengers =— " Holy sires, I .should not deprive the Lord of His
income by disposing of this food as nsnal.
But I cannot refuse
it altogether, as it has been so graciously sent by Him. I
should but take two morsels, one for myself, and the other for
my wife. Lord Ranga has so fully made me His own that I
do not stand in need of anything on earth. I thank you,
sires ;
please retire with the remaining food to the Temple."
After thus dismissing the Temple servants, Kurfesa sat down
and asked his wife whether she thought of any thing in particular
when he was asleep. She confessed to him she did so. She
said she envied Ranga enjoying his last sumptuousconrseof food
for the day, while His hhakta was hungry. " Good lady," said
Kuresa petulantly, " you should not have been thus guilty.
Do not this again." And they both devoutly partook each,
one of the two morsels that had been retained ; and Kur6sa