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DURGESA NANDINI.
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"No harm," replied he.

They thereupon went into the next room and had Gajapati called in by a servant.



CHAPTER IX.

DIGGAJA'S TIDINGS.


When Gajapati Vidyadiggaja was ushered in by the servant, the Prince asked, "Are you a Brahmin, Sir?"

Diggaja replied with a wave of the hand,

"यावत् मेरौ स्थिता देवा यावत् गङ्गा महीतले,
असारे खलु संसारे, सारं श्वशुर मन्दिरं।"

[So long as the gods choose to inhabit the Himalaya, so long as the Ganges waters this sublunary sphere, in this unreal world, verily the only reality is the father-in-law's house.]

Jagat Singha suppressed his rising laughter and bowed down his head. Gajapati uttered the benediction, "May Khoda Khan[1] bless the noble Babu!"

  1. This is an extremely ludicrous expression, showing the ignorance of Diggaja, who had been recently converted to Mahommedanism. The word Khan, which is a Mahomedan title, is never used in conjunction with Khoda (God).